canoe trips

I always send a hand written thank you note my clients. But today I got this thank you. I really enjoy being part of outdoor experiences that provide so many great memories. That really is what Maine Outdoors is all about.

Hi Don,
Just wanted to say thank you for the terrific two days fishing/canoeing with you. The smiles in the pictures say it all!

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.

The first week of July offered us great summer weather, foggy mornings, sunny breezy afternoons and warm summer temperatures. I have run a bunch of trips in the last ten days with a good variety. Family fishing trips, several striper trips and an afternoon nature exploration canoe trip thrown in for good measure.

This afternoon was warm and sunny with a milky blue sky. I knew that once the afternoon sea breeze started the air would chill quickly. So I did the best thing I could think of, I loaded a canoe and headed down to the Saint George River for an hour or two. The ice is out of Seven Tree Pond enough so that I could launch and paddle up into the river. The water level is very high, those of you that have been on this trip will remember the rock up river that is at least six feet above the water level in the summer was nearly covered with water.

Part of offering packages with the Samoset Resort is an annual review of what is and is not working. When we looked at the past two years the canoe trip packages were not performing. As I continued to review my own sales information I saw the same pattern. A declining number of canoe trips while family fishing and other fishing trips were on a steep upward curve. So I got the same message twice in less than a month, canoe trips are not performing well.

This is one of the times of year when change is very noticeable to me. I have guided my last striper fishing party for the season and no longer need to get up and out by 5:15 AM, which makes it possible for Argy and I to walk each morning. Our morning walks are now in the near darkness marking the noticeable shortening of the day. I still have fishing parties at the end of the month and into November but the focus changes to mid day to take advantage of slightly warmer water temperatures.

Yesterday I had a canoe trip under perfectly clear fall skies. With the foliage changing a little more every day and a pleasant breeze the entire trip was picture perfect. The river is very low due to the dry weather and the beavers have completed the dam right below the Union fair grounds. I was able to slide the canoes over the dam easily and we were able to paddle up to the lodge and beyond. I did notice a few groups of trout in the sandy bottom behind the harness track. Only after I was home did it occur to me that they must be getting ready to spawn.