Don Kleiner's blog

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.

Striper fishing in the Saint George River has gotten off to a slow start this year. This week though there have been a few fish to make things interesting. Not the blitz of fish of years gone by but enough to keep me fishing the river.

All of the talk over the last six months or so about the banking system troubles have to be seemed sort of academic to me until the last couple of weeks. Guide services have never been really popular for small business loans and are still not; so no change there. Recent events though have driven the troubles home for me.

Maine Outdoors offers a variety of trips and custom adventures. Last week I had an excellent morning on the water on a custom trip. I was asked if I would do a special birthday gift trip for my neighbor Keith one of the owners and winemaker at Sweetgrass Farm. The trip was to be a surprise and on the upper stretch of the Medomak River.

I am often asked when the bass spawn takes place and always have a smart remark for an answer. Something about not being able to see the future very well. This year though the right answer is this coming week. I fished on a local lake this morning and had some very enjoyable smallmouth fishing.

Yesterday afternoon I had an appointment in Augusta. I left around noon and drove the back way out to Route 17 in Washington. I travel over the Calderwood Road a small narrow road there are no power lines so the road has a remote “in the woods” feel. At the bottom of the first hill is a medium sized brook, not a trickle but a year round brook that in the spring gets attention from trout fishermen.