family fishing

The family fishing trip this morning started off with a sighting of a flock of eleven loons working over a school of perch on Megunticook Lake in Camden. As autumn gets going the loons gather where the fishing is the best so that we are often in the same places. There were other loons in other parts of the lake.

As we get late in the summer I spend many of my days fishing with families for perch. Often I anchor on a good yellow perch spot and go to work. But several times this week I have been able to get clients on to white perch chasing bait just like stripers. They chase a school of bait to the surface and you can see fish clearing the water as they feed actively.

Yesterday afternoon I was about to start a family fishing trip on Seven Tree Pond here in Union, when I cut the motor and was about to lower the anchor over the side of the boat I heard lots of eagle cries. I looked across the cove and could see an adult eagle in a tree with a young eagle perched right below it.

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!

Just to prove that fishing is not always easy even for an experienced angler chasing what should be easy to catch perch. Over the weekend the rainstorm that broke our hot spell produced some very good fishing. Saturday on Megunticook Lake in Camden before the rain started was excellent with lots of bass coming to the boat including several good sized specimens.

Over the last week I have guided a variety of fishing trips and can say without a doubt that we are enjoying some excellent fishing on freshwater and while the striper fishing is still slow in the Saint George there are fish in the river.

Last weekend was filled with family trips and lots of firsts. A couple of three year old twins were a total blast for two mornings as they took in their first fishing trips. One trip on saltwater where we saw lots of new sights and caught mackerel the second on freshwater where we caught bass, perch and pickerel. Another family with older boys fished for the first time and caught a tank full of mackerel.

Last Saturday was the 11th Mike Sabins Hooked on Fishing Event put on by my neighbors Scot and Mary. The event was held at Ayer Park in Union on Seven Tree Pond. We had almost perfect fishing weather with lots of fish caught and a good number of families in attendance. Kids caught a variety of kinds of fish; large and smallmouth bass, white and yellow perch along with sunfish. The alewives were in the pond in numbers along the shore letting everyone at least see a few fish. Hope to see you there next year!

This morning marked my first mackerel fishing trip of the summer. Well no that is actually wrong it was the first wildlife watching trip where we caught a few mackerel. It was grey and chilly on the way down the Saint George River with only a slight breeze out of the east. With calm seas and cloudy skies the visibility was excellent and there was a lot to see.

As summer vacation draws to a close I have run several family fishing trips with young kids. Usually for yellow perch but lately a few bass and white perch have gotten into the mix. Last week on Seven Tree Pond several nice bass were brought to the boat and two broke the line when hooked the drags on my closed face reels are simply not adequate for big fish. Pretty exciting stuff for young kids and old guides.