Don Kleiner's blog

Over the years I have been invited to guest and guest host a local outdoor issues television show “Wildfire” many times. I was on last winter and the segment is available online, you can see it here.

We have had a few sunny warm days and spring is progressing rapidly. Many of the woodland wildflowers are wasting no time blooming to take advantage of the full sunlight on the forest floor. It won’t be long until the leaves pop and shade everything with full summer growth. Already the poplars and birches are sporting small bright green leaves. I see the buds of the beeches are swollen and very close to opening.

Every year I make an effort to fish on each of the waters I guide on at least once before guiding clients there. Not bad duty on a nice day. Yesterday I fished Megunticook Lake in Camden for the first time this spring.

Many clients and friends called to tell me that they had seen me in Parade Magazine’s what people earn issue on the weekend of April 10. It’s true and you can see me (and what I am paid) here. This is my second time in Parade.

New England is famous for the changeable weather but this spring takes it to the extreme. In the last week we have had warm sun, snow, rain and of course clouds and wind to make the picture complete. In spite of the variety this spring seems to be coming a week or two ahead of normal For those that fish the rivers and streams the alder leaves will be the size of a mouse’s ear after a couple more sunny days. It will then be time to chase trout in the river.

Yesterday afternoon was warm with a light breeze out of the north. I decided to take the afternoon off and make sure that I had everything I needed to guide fishing trips. There was not a lot of sun but there were bright blue patches in between the clouds and of course a few rain showers (it is April after all). I fished Seven Tree Pond and Round Ponds in Union. The water level has fallen pretty quickly from the flood levels of only a couple of weeks ago.

This spring is coming fast and early. Without checking my records it seems like we are at least a week ahead of recent years. The daffodils bloomed here in the yard last week, the maple trees are in bloom and by next weekend the lawn will need to be mowed.

One of the projects I have been working on for the Maine Professional Guides Association this winter.

“The Maine Fishing Guide” is a new, online service that will have anglers hooked!

We have enjoyed some amazing spring weather over the last several days. Temperatures were well into the seventies with lots of sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. This is of course to balance out the rainy month of March. Our local weather station reported over eleven inches for the month. Needless to say the river was out of its banks and the ponds are beyond bank full!

This is general information intended to help you have an enjoyable Maine fishing trip on your own. I would be delighted to have you as a guest on one of my trips but If you want to get out there on your own this should help you get started!