Don Kleiner's blog

Yesterday I spent a foggy morning guiding a family mackerel fishing trip with Capt. George Harris of Superfly Charters. Between us we had the grandparents and all of their grandchildren. We left Thomaston Harbor in thick fog but it lifted some before we had gone a couple of miles. We fished out around Caldwell Island with no luck and wound up in Port Clyde Harbor where everyone caught fish.

I enjoyed a great nature exploration canoe trip this afternoon; in spite of the fog and threat of rain. All of the recent rain has the river and ponds at very high levels so it was fun to paddle over the marsh at the outlet of Round Pond and well up into the brook at the north end of Seven Tree Pond. There was little wind when we started and only a light breeze when we returned. We had the place to ourselves as there was not another boat anywhere or a person at Ayer Park.

It rained heavily again last night and today we have drizzle and fog. This June is the wettest on record and I would guess that the number of sunny days is pretty low. The tidal portion of the Saint George looks like a chocolate milkshake and the freshwater section is out of its banks. Not very conducive weather for the sort of outdoor activities that Maine Outdoors offers in the summer.

The past week I have been near eagle nests on Damariscotta Lake, Megunticook Lake and the Saint George River. As the season has progressed it has been interesting to watch the young birds grow. Last week I first noticed that one of the adults was not always right around the nest. Indicating that the chicks had gotten big enough to lessen the worry of them being eaten by a crow or other bird had diminished. Then the young birds heads appeared over the edge of the nest and it was possible to see the them checking out the world below or begging for a fish from a nearby adult.

All of the rain lately has lots of freshwater flowing into the Saint George discoloring the water and putting the stripers off. I had cancelled my morning trip and decided to try the Weskeag River in South Thomaston because it is a very small watershed and I reasoned less likely to suffer the freshwater stain. The morning was overcast with a little fog as I tried spots in the river. I had not been on the water there for at least ten years and had forgotten what a pretty place it is.

The rain on Friday fell heavily and I knew that it made the Saint George rise quickly but got quite a surprise this morning on arrival at the boat launch on Megunticook Lake in Camden. The parking lot was almost completely covered with water! I had arranged to meet my client at his rental cottage on the lake so I had to launch. I was able to pull into the parking area and launch the boat into the flooded parking lot.

I was striper fishing this morning in the cold wind and wet. When I decided that I had enough and started for the harbor. I came around a bend in the river and saw a seal coming up out of the water. I shut off the outboard and drifted to watch as it was joined by a second small seal as they porpoised right past the boat about fifteen feet away. Seemingly not bothered by the boat they kept right on going even when I had to start the outboard to keep from crashing in to the riverbank.

In our fast paced world, fishing gives us a chance to slow down, enjoy an adventure outdoors, and spend time with those we love. May I suggest a gift certificate for a Maine Outdoors fishing trip for your father or grandfather? The big day has already been reserved by a thoughtful son but lots of other days are available throughout the summer.

Yesterday morning dawned foggy, drizzly and cold. Just like most of June. In fact I was quite cold on the morning striper fishing trip. But by the time I had driven from the harbor to home the clouds had broken up and we were treated to a perfect blue sky afternoon.

Just returned from the University of Rhode Island where I attended new student orientation with my youngest son. The overall experience was excellent. They did a great job of building a bond with the students and the families. On the parent end they did a great job of explaining the realities of having a child go away to school.