Black bear hunters must select a bolt action or semi-automatic rifle in a caliber no smaller than 7mm magnum, .270 or .280. Individuals choosing to hunt with lever action rifles should use such suitable selections as the .32 Winchester Special or .35 Remington. While dozens of other suitable larger calibers exist, these smaller calibers are the most common among the general bear hunting community. *Guide companies may require you to bring a rifle of much larger caliber to better insure you do not injure a bear should your shot placement not be prefect.
Shot Placement - Due to the relatively few weaknesses in a bear's defenses, it is vital hunters be aware that shot placement is much more important than caliber selection. The necessity to accurately hit a relatively small area directly behind the bruin's shoulder is of critical first importance. To accomplish this task, hunters must be well acquainted with how their rifle's optics function and ensure they are consistently accurate through regular shooting practice. All of the major ammunition companies carry high-end ammunition that can be effectively matched to your particular rifle and the distance you anticipate shooting.
Ammo Selection - Hunters need to select ammunition that is capable of successfully entering the bear’s chest cavity and providing enough devastation to its heart and lungs to rapidly cause a fatal amount of damage. This is possible by selecting a bullet that possesses attributes that allow it to expand and penetrate effectively. Favorites include Nosler’s Partition, Federal’s Barnes Triple Shot X or Remington’s Core Lokt.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
ATV Riding with Kids
The rains poured down from the heavens, like God was attempting to drown the entire citizenry of Maine. While the weather forecast had called for on and off showers, dark menacing clouds showed no signs of breakage. Typically such wet weather, would mean nothing to me and on many occasions, I have been exposed too much, much worse. Today, however, my concerns were focused on my four year old son, standing beside me, and what he was thinking, as I prepared to take him on his first ever extended ATV trip. Swathed from head to toe in water repellent vinyl, topped with a helmet and wearing his new goggles he looked so grown-up that he reminded me of a miniaturized version of a man. I looked at my watch and it read 11:15 AM and I knew that if I was to make this outing “fun” and henceforth successful, I needed to insure the trip be no longer than two hours. With anybody from kids to adults, it is critical that their first outdoor experiences be built on happy fond memories. Nothing will destroy a person’s interest and passion in the outdoors faster than having those first times afield spoiled by a negative happenstance. While nobody can control the weather, there are dozens of other things that you can do to insure your kids, family, friends and “sports” have a great time.
I knew of my little one, that being warm and dry were utmost importance, then food and drink and finally the quality of the trail we were riding. Bumpy, challenging trails with frequent stop starts are hard on backs and necks (when little heads wear heavy helmets) and can quickly become scary for youngsters. Being unfamiliar with this particular trail system, I learned from the outset that slow speeds would be necessary, if we were going to make it two hours. Rough trail conditions, made more challenging by two days of heavy rain, had the little one asking to return to the “ATV club house” after an hour. On the return trip, I could see his resolve slowly fading but promises of pizza and chocolate milk soon brought back that huge smile that everyday fills my heart with joy.
By no means was I discouraged in having to turn around early, on the contrary, I was extremely pleased that he had held out that long, in such challenging conditions. Later this summer, we have an extended multi-day ATV/camping trip planned and this initial foray was precisely what was needed to prepare him for the longer trip.
I knew of my little one, that being warm and dry were utmost importance, then food and drink and finally the quality of the trail we were riding. Bumpy, challenging trails with frequent stop starts are hard on backs and necks (when little heads wear heavy helmets) and can quickly become scary for youngsters. Being unfamiliar with this particular trail system, I learned from the outset that slow speeds would be necessary, if we were going to make it two hours. Rough trail conditions, made more challenging by two days of heavy rain, had the little one asking to return to the “ATV club house” after an hour. On the return trip, I could see his resolve slowly fading but promises of pizza and chocolate milk soon brought back that huge smile that everyday fills my heart with joy.
By no means was I discouraged in having to turn around early, on the contrary, I was extremely pleased that he had held out that long, in such challenging conditions. Later this summer, we have an extended multi-day ATV/camping trip planned and this initial foray was precisely what was needed to prepare him for the longer trip.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Maine Blogs to See!
I recently found this interesting listing of other Maine Blogs. There is some real writing and photographic talent in the state! Be sure to check them out!
Favorites include:
Favorites include:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Bear Hunting w/ Eagle Mountain Guide Service
I am excited to say, I have my calendar locked in to join Eagle Mountain Guide Service the last week of August, working in the official capacity of “Maine Hunting Guide”. Eagle Mountain offers quality bear over bait hunts in the remote wilderness of Washington county in Downeast, Maine. This area of Maine is excellent bear habitat with a strong population of bears. If you remember last season, I had the good fortune to join Eagle Mountain as a client and I am back this season, as part of their fine staff of professional Maine guides.
The head guide and owner of Eagle Mountain is Matt Whitegiver, an individual possessing a wealth outdoor knowledge and someone who has been hunting bears for over 25 years. Eagle Mountain has exclusive rights to over 35 bait sites on private land covering almost 150 square miles of prime bear habitat, providing hunters almost an infinite number of choice hunting opportunities. The Eagle Mountain stand sites are proven, as was seen by the number of bears taken last season, including the pictured 365 pound monster!
For more on BEAR hunting with Eagle Mountain Guide Service click HERE!
The head guide and owner of Eagle Mountain is Matt Whitegiver, an individual possessing a wealth outdoor knowledge and someone who has been hunting bears for over 25 years. Eagle Mountain has exclusive rights to over 35 bait sites on private land covering almost 150 square miles of prime bear habitat, providing hunters almost an infinite number of choice hunting opportunities. The Eagle Mountain stand sites are proven, as was seen by the number of bears taken last season, including the pictured 365 pound monster!
For more on BEAR hunting with Eagle Mountain Guide Service click HERE!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Car Camping for Dummies
For some perverse reason, I find great joy in organizing trips. I make no excuses for this obvious dysfunction, having always been a planner, list maker, organizer and perhaps even possessing a squirt of anal-retentive behavior. Those of us, who are slaves to logistics, are sure to understand and appreciate my degree of dedication to pre-trip preparations and packing. Anyone who experiences joy, in organizing an expedition, trip or jaunt, understands the finer points of, “a place for everything and everything in its place”. No doubt, there are lost souls out there, who are much less organized and would think not of haphazardly throwing gear and children into a wooden paneled station wagon with reckless abandon. To this rabble, I do pray that they someday find the light.
Perhaps, I should have seen the warning signs earlier, as four vehicles would be required to transport the “required” gear, Grammie, Curmudgeon, Kids, Wife, Dog and two other outlaws approximately 150 miles to Salisbury State Park, Massachusetts. Like Hannibal preparing to cross the Alps or Scott’s expedition to the South Pole, thus was the logistical equivalent of getting the family organized for a long weekend of camping, fishing and beach activities. Awakening at 4:30 AM Friday, I began the arduous task of packing, repacking and then packing again. A full two hours later, my task was nearing completion and I retired to the kitchen for a well deserved cup of coffee.
Family and friends who have followed my climbing and mountaineering exploits, are sure to be chuckling at my predicament, for they know I would saw the handle off my toothbrush and cut the labels from my clothes to save carrying a few less ounces on my back. However, what you would be forgetting is that “car camping” is very different from “backpacking”. After decades of going “ultra-light” and being a minimalist, a perverse satisfaction is obtained when weight restrictions are nominal and luxury maximized. To stress this point, the family size L.L. Bean’s BIG Woods tent, that I barely managed to cram into the car trunk, is three rooms and must weigh close to 100 lbs.
I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other night and he boldly mentioned that by bringing all that “gear” I wasn’t really “camping”. To him “camping” was a time to rough it, improvise or make do with the basic component of survival. As I hung up the phone, I shook my head and vowed to invite him on my next high altitude climbing expedition, with his only allowance a toothbrush and one change of underwear. See if that takes the poor boy back to “basics”! The point that my good friend was missing was the ecstasy that can only be achieved by a healthy dose of over indulgence, extravagance and excess that comes with car camping.
For the uninitiated, who have yet to take an extended car camping weekend with the family, it may pay to heed a few basic thoughts and suggestions. First, if there is room in the vehicle and you think that there is even the slightest chance that an item may be needed, bring it. Secondly, watch “National Lampoons Vacation” at least three times before departing. Thirdly, bring an air freshener . . . four days in a tent with a wet dog and kids still in diapers . . . enough said. Lastly, enjoy your time with your family, in one of the most fantastic ways possible to get your kids out and experiencing the great outdoors!
P.S. Its my birthday today! As a birthday present, anyone who read "Car Camping for Dummies" and enjoyed it please drop a comment wishing me a happy birthday!
Perhaps, I should have seen the warning signs earlier, as four vehicles would be required to transport the “required” gear, Grammie, Curmudgeon, Kids, Wife, Dog and two other outlaws approximately 150 miles to Salisbury State Park, Massachusetts. Like Hannibal preparing to cross the Alps or Scott’s expedition to the South Pole, thus was the logistical equivalent of getting the family organized for a long weekend of camping, fishing and beach activities. Awakening at 4:30 AM Friday, I began the arduous task of packing, repacking and then packing again. A full two hours later, my task was nearing completion and I retired to the kitchen for a well deserved cup of coffee.
Family and friends who have followed my climbing and mountaineering exploits, are sure to be chuckling at my predicament, for they know I would saw the handle off my toothbrush and cut the labels from my clothes to save carrying a few less ounces on my back. However, what you would be forgetting is that “car camping” is very different from “backpacking”. After decades of going “ultra-light” and being a minimalist, a perverse satisfaction is obtained when weight restrictions are nominal and luxury maximized. To stress this point, the family size L.L. Bean’s BIG Woods tent, that I barely managed to cram into the car trunk, is three rooms and must weigh close to 100 lbs.
I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other night and he boldly mentioned that by bringing all that “gear” I wasn’t really “camping”. To him “camping” was a time to rough it, improvise or make do with the basic component of survival. As I hung up the phone, I shook my head and vowed to invite him on my next high altitude climbing expedition, with his only allowance a toothbrush and one change of underwear. See if that takes the poor boy back to “basics”! The point that my good friend was missing was the ecstasy that can only be achieved by a healthy dose of over indulgence, extravagance and excess that comes with car camping.
For the uninitiated, who have yet to take an extended car camping weekend with the family, it may pay to heed a few basic thoughts and suggestions. First, if there is room in the vehicle and you think that there is even the slightest chance that an item may be needed, bring it. Secondly, watch “National Lampoons Vacation” at least three times before departing. Thirdly, bring an air freshener . . . four days in a tent with a wet dog and kids still in diapers . . . enough said. Lastly, enjoy your time with your family, in one of the most fantastic ways possible to get your kids out and experiencing the great outdoors!
P.S. Its my birthday today! As a birthday present, anyone who read "Car Camping for Dummies" and enjoyed it please drop a comment wishing me a happy birthday!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Birding in Your Backyard
One of the activities, that I have always enjoyed, is watching the comings and goings of the enormous variety of birds that frequent our bird feeders. While many of our visitors are commonly know (Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay), there are occasional “perching birds” that I cannot identify. Sure I could dig out my enormous copy of “The National Audubon Society Guide to North American Birds” but that means I have to wade through page after page of birds that don’t even live in Maine, an activity that I find annoying. For months, I had been looking for a quick reference guide that I could use to identify common Maine birds and that the kids could easily use as well. While in the bookstore the other day, I stumbled upon: A Pocket Naturalist Guide to “Maine Birds - An Introduction to Familiar Species" by Waterford Press and was immediately impressed.
The guide is a single laminated (laminated by the way equates to almost indestructible, a valuable trait around little ones) page featuring small photos of approximately 150 bird species knows to inhabit Maine. Additionally the guide identifies 22 birding “hotspots” across the state, from Lake Josephine in Aroostook County to Mt. Agamenticus in the south. Since we began using the guide, the kids and I are now able to successfully identify Tufted Titmouse, American Goldfinch, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe and American Tree Sparrow. Our quick education proves that you don’t have to be an ornithological nut to appreciate Maine’s rich birding possibilities, so get out there today and see what you can see!
The guide is a single laminated (laminated by the way equates to almost indestructible, a valuable trait around little ones) page featuring small photos of approximately 150 bird species knows to inhabit Maine. Additionally the guide identifies 22 birding “hotspots” across the state, from Lake Josephine in Aroostook County to Mt. Agamenticus in the south. Since we began using the guide, the kids and I are now able to successfully identify Tufted Titmouse, American Goldfinch, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe and American Tree Sparrow. Our quick education proves that you don’t have to be an ornithological nut to appreciate Maine’s rich birding possibilities, so get out there today and see what you can see!
Monday, July 12, 2010
9th Article Published!
The Maine Sportsman - New England's Largest Outdoor Publication – Will be publishing my 9th story in their July 2010 edition (Pg. 45-46). The article will be part of the magazines “special sections” and highlight Surf Casting for Stripers. The individuals featured in the photo accompanying the article is none other than yours truly and my own little wildman. For more information on the Maine Sportsman Magazine or to order a subscription click this link: http://mainesportsman.com. The article below is the originally submitted unedited version. Enjoy!
Surfcasting Maine’s Coastal Beaches
By Steve Vose
There is something distinctly awakening about standing on a sandy beach, watching the first rays of early morning light dance along the water’s surface. With naked toes buried deep in warm sand, listening to the music of the crashing waves, one could easily forget that they are fishing. Whether casting and retrieving a lure in turbid breakers or fishing bait off bottom anyone who has not tried surfcasting is missing out on a truly unique fishing experience. Even the most skeptical sportsman, will be hooked on this pursuit, from that very first electric zip of line being rapidly spooled off their reel, as a striper or blue threatens to haul their rod and reel to Ireland.
Fishing Locations
Maine provides ample opportunities for sportsman, interested in trying their hand at surfcasting. Our coastline is dotted with sandy beaches, perfect for catching stripers and occasional blue fish. While recent years have seen a marked dip in the number of stripers harvested, savvy surfcasters can increase their chances by staying updated on fish migratory movements. Reports are posted at all of the major bait and tackle dealerships up and down the coast. The trend in the past two years has stripers and blues holding to areas south of Cape Elizabeth. While it is possible to catch fish along the banks of the Kennebec up to Augusta and the Penobscot up to Verona Island your best chances, for the moment, have moved further south. To monopolize, focus efforts on areas such as Hills beach at the mouth of the Saco, Parsons and Cresent Surf beach at the mouth of the Mousam and points along the Piscataqua River. As summer transitions into fall, changing water temperatures drive stripers northward to the central Maine coastline as they follow their food supply. When this change occurs Pemaquid Beach Park, Popham Beach State Park, and Mile Beach at Reid State Park all offer fishing opportunities.
Gear
A basic surfcasting outfit need not break the bank. Sportsmen looking to try their luck chasing stripers or blues may already have a suitable beach fishing outfit. A medium weight rod and a reel, with a line capacity of 15-20 lbs, will work nicely when paired with a Kastmaster or pencil popper.
Beginners planning to fish off bottom, using bait and weights, should use a shock leader. This basically means tying a line (Stren Super braid) of higher breaking strength to your backing. The heavy “shock” leader absorbs the energy of casting. Without it you run the high risk of breaking your lightweight line after just a few casts and watching your rig sail into the sunset. The general rule is to use a 1 to 10 ratio or a 4 oz sinker to a 40 lb shock leader. Cut you leader long enough to wrap around your reel 5 times and run to the rod tip and back to your reel, this should provide ample leader for casting. With this in place, you will be able to cast with confidence.
The hobbyist surf fishermen, using fresh water fishing outfits, should be aware of the destructive power of sand and salt water. PVC pipes offer a cheap way of holding your rod and reel out of the gritty sand. Cut a 2 inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 32 inchs with one end square and the other at a 45 degree angle. Insert the sharp end in the sand the other end holds the rod. Fresh water rods and reels are not designed for continued use in saltwater and will quickly corrode. Care should be taken to rinse off rod and reel with fresh water upon returning home. Use a light spray of water so as to not force sand or water into the inner workings of your reel.
With a small investment, sportsmen wanting to become more serious about surfcasting can invest in rods and reels that are specifically designed to take the punishment of fishing in this rough environment. Reels come equipped with an almost infinite number of features and combinations. For someone new to the sport simpler is often better. Owning a Penn Spinfisher 750SSM or Penn 525 Magnum reel matched with a quality 10-12 foot surfcasting pole like Cabela’s Salt Caster series or Tica’s TC2 with graphite shaft is truly a moment of Zen. As your knowledge of the sport grows, you may eventually want to explore some of the other reel options including models equipped with a bait switch that permits line to be spooled out freely, with the bail closed, allowing finicky stripers to take bait without tension.
Casting
The easiest surfcasting technique for the beginner is to continue casting exactly as you currently do now. Your familiar basic cast will let you get your lure or bait out to an acceptable distance and run a significantly lower risk of hooking yourself or an innocent bystander. Always watch the beach populace on your back swings.
Becoming more advanced, there are two additional casts you will want to add to your repertoire. These should be practiced in a safe location free of people, as a busy beach during the height of the tourist season is no time to be practicing new-fangled casting skills. The first is relatively easy and is called the off the ground cast. Once this initial casting technique is mastered, the second more complicated pendulum can be attempted. The off the ground cast will help you develop the muscle memory and coordination needed to learn the significantly more difficult pendulum. Mastering the pendulum, will require you to invest considerable time practicing, however, when done correctly will allow you to chuck a lure or bait out to 100 yards. For further information and videos on how to successfully conduct both of these casts, perform a Google search for “off the ground surfcasting or “pendulum surfcasting”.
Lure & Baiting Considerations
Surfcasting lures come in a dizzying variety of colors, sizes, materials and forms. From soft plastic shads to hard plastic pencil poppers to metal Kastmasters and high quality homemade lures like those made at www.aoktackle.com, the choices are almost endless. If you are looking for a solid lure, at a price pleasing to the wallet, purchase a package of Storm 4” pearl shads. These relatively inexpensive and versatile lures are incredibly effective and hold up well to all but the most aggressive blue fish.
Slide rigs for fishing bait off bottom, are available at many fishing shops. If you select one of these premade set-ups, help and protect the fishery, by choosing one using circle hooks. It has been shown, that fish hooked with J hooks die 27 percent of the time, as opposed to 2 percent with circle hooks. If you are looking for a cutting edge sliding rig, guaranteed to maximize your casting distance, check out www.breakawayusa.com. They offer high end products that will elevate your surfcasting to the next level.
Frozen bait including mackerel, herring, shad and bunker are available from bait shops up and down the Maine coast. Places to purchase bait and an assortment of fishing supplies, on your way to the surf, include Percy’s Market in Popham, Wiscasset Trading Post in Wiscasset and the White Anchor Inn in Boothbay.
Safety and Other Considerations
Fishing Maine’s popular saltwater beaches, during the height of tourist season, certainly have challenges. To combat crowds, focus fishing to the prime early morning and evening hours when fish are most active and beach goers most inactive. Also, keep a close eye on your line to insure you don’t accidentally snag dogs or small children. Tidal changes can cause relatively calm areas to quickly become unsafe as sea level increases create rip tides and erratic currents.
Another danger of beach fishing is in the unsheltered exposure to the sun’s rays. To protect yourself from heat exhaustion/stroke, bring a portable seat for keeping off the hot sand, sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat and plenty of water for staying hydrated.
Ending Thoughts
Sportsmen all have their favorite species of fish and specialized methods for catching them. This may mean using worms and bobbers to catching brook trout, fly-casting for salmon, trolling downriggers for togue, jigging saltwater smelts or using tip-ups to catch perch and pickerel. Whatever your fishing passion, I challenge you to give surfcasting a try this summer, you may just ignite another outdoor obsession!
Surfcasting Maine’s Coastal Beaches
By Steve Vose
There is something distinctly awakening about standing on a sandy beach, watching the first rays of early morning light dance along the water’s surface. With naked toes buried deep in warm sand, listening to the music of the crashing waves, one could easily forget that they are fishing. Whether casting and retrieving a lure in turbid breakers or fishing bait off bottom anyone who has not tried surfcasting is missing out on a truly unique fishing experience. Even the most skeptical sportsman, will be hooked on this pursuit, from that very first electric zip of line being rapidly spooled off their reel, as a striper or blue threatens to haul their rod and reel to Ireland.
Fishing Locations
Maine provides ample opportunities for sportsman, interested in trying their hand at surfcasting. Our coastline is dotted with sandy beaches, perfect for catching stripers and occasional blue fish. While recent years have seen a marked dip in the number of stripers harvested, savvy surfcasters can increase their chances by staying updated on fish migratory movements. Reports are posted at all of the major bait and tackle dealerships up and down the coast. The trend in the past two years has stripers and blues holding to areas south of Cape Elizabeth. While it is possible to catch fish along the banks of the Kennebec up to Augusta and the Penobscot up to Verona Island your best chances, for the moment, have moved further south. To monopolize, focus efforts on areas such as Hills beach at the mouth of the Saco, Parsons and Cresent Surf beach at the mouth of the Mousam and points along the Piscataqua River. As summer transitions into fall, changing water temperatures drive stripers northward to the central Maine coastline as they follow their food supply. When this change occurs Pemaquid Beach Park, Popham Beach State Park, and Mile Beach at Reid State Park all offer fishing opportunities.
Gear
A basic surfcasting outfit need not break the bank. Sportsmen looking to try their luck chasing stripers or blues may already have a suitable beach fishing outfit. A medium weight rod and a reel, with a line capacity of 15-20 lbs, will work nicely when paired with a Kastmaster or pencil popper.
Beginners planning to fish off bottom, using bait and weights, should use a shock leader. This basically means tying a line (Stren Super braid) of higher breaking strength to your backing. The heavy “shock” leader absorbs the energy of casting. Without it you run the high risk of breaking your lightweight line after just a few casts and watching your rig sail into the sunset. The general rule is to use a 1 to 10 ratio or a 4 oz sinker to a 40 lb shock leader. Cut you leader long enough to wrap around your reel 5 times and run to the rod tip and back to your reel, this should provide ample leader for casting. With this in place, you will be able to cast with confidence.
The hobbyist surf fishermen, using fresh water fishing outfits, should be aware of the destructive power of sand and salt water. PVC pipes offer a cheap way of holding your rod and reel out of the gritty sand. Cut a 2 inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 32 inchs with one end square and the other at a 45 degree angle. Insert the sharp end in the sand the other end holds the rod. Fresh water rods and reels are not designed for continued use in saltwater and will quickly corrode. Care should be taken to rinse off rod and reel with fresh water upon returning home. Use a light spray of water so as to not force sand or water into the inner workings of your reel.
With a small investment, sportsmen wanting to become more serious about surfcasting can invest in rods and reels that are specifically designed to take the punishment of fishing in this rough environment. Reels come equipped with an almost infinite number of features and combinations. For someone new to the sport simpler is often better. Owning a Penn Spinfisher 750SSM or Penn 525 Magnum reel matched with a quality 10-12 foot surfcasting pole like Cabela’s Salt Caster series or Tica’s TC2 with graphite shaft is truly a moment of Zen. As your knowledge of the sport grows, you may eventually want to explore some of the other reel options including models equipped with a bait switch that permits line to be spooled out freely, with the bail closed, allowing finicky stripers to take bait without tension.
Casting
The easiest surfcasting technique for the beginner is to continue casting exactly as you currently do now. Your familiar basic cast will let you get your lure or bait out to an acceptable distance and run a significantly lower risk of hooking yourself or an innocent bystander. Always watch the beach populace on your back swings.
Becoming more advanced, there are two additional casts you will want to add to your repertoire. These should be practiced in a safe location free of people, as a busy beach during the height of the tourist season is no time to be practicing new-fangled casting skills. The first is relatively easy and is called the off the ground cast. Once this initial casting technique is mastered, the second more complicated pendulum can be attempted. The off the ground cast will help you develop the muscle memory and coordination needed to learn the significantly more difficult pendulum. Mastering the pendulum, will require you to invest considerable time practicing, however, when done correctly will allow you to chuck a lure or bait out to 100 yards. For further information and videos on how to successfully conduct both of these casts, perform a Google search for “off the ground surfcasting or “pendulum surfcasting”.
Lure & Baiting Considerations
Surfcasting lures come in a dizzying variety of colors, sizes, materials and forms. From soft plastic shads to hard plastic pencil poppers to metal Kastmasters and high quality homemade lures like those made at www.aoktackle.com, the choices are almost endless. If you are looking for a solid lure, at a price pleasing to the wallet, purchase a package of Storm 4” pearl shads. These relatively inexpensive and versatile lures are incredibly effective and hold up well to all but the most aggressive blue fish.
Slide rigs for fishing bait off bottom, are available at many fishing shops. If you select one of these premade set-ups, help and protect the fishery, by choosing one using circle hooks. It has been shown, that fish hooked with J hooks die 27 percent of the time, as opposed to 2 percent with circle hooks. If you are looking for a cutting edge sliding rig, guaranteed to maximize your casting distance, check out www.breakawayusa.com. They offer high end products that will elevate your surfcasting to the next level.
Frozen bait including mackerel, herring, shad and bunker are available from bait shops up and down the Maine coast. Places to purchase bait and an assortment of fishing supplies, on your way to the surf, include Percy’s Market in Popham, Wiscasset Trading Post in Wiscasset and the White Anchor Inn in Boothbay.
Safety and Other Considerations
Fishing Maine’s popular saltwater beaches, during the height of tourist season, certainly have challenges. To combat crowds, focus fishing to the prime early morning and evening hours when fish are most active and beach goers most inactive. Also, keep a close eye on your line to insure you don’t accidentally snag dogs or small children. Tidal changes can cause relatively calm areas to quickly become unsafe as sea level increases create rip tides and erratic currents.
Another danger of beach fishing is in the unsheltered exposure to the sun’s rays. To protect yourself from heat exhaustion/stroke, bring a portable seat for keeping off the hot sand, sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat and plenty of water for staying hydrated.
Ending Thoughts
Sportsmen all have their favorite species of fish and specialized methods for catching them. This may mean using worms and bobbers to catching brook trout, fly-casting for salmon, trolling downriggers for togue, jigging saltwater smelts or using tip-ups to catch perch and pickerel. Whatever your fishing passion, I challenge you to give surfcasting a try this summer, you may just ignite another outdoor obsession!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Popular Fishing Locations for Maine Striped Bass
Popular Fishing Locations for Maine Striped Bass
1. Presumpscot River at the rapids in Falmouth – use jerk bait to mimic disorientated baitfish.
2. Mouth of Mousam River at Parson’s Beach – the perfect spot to pull out your fly rod.
3. Kennebec River in Gardiner off the town pier – use sand worms and fish a slider rig.
4. Penobscot River – troll the shore between Ft. Knox and the power lines using 3 inch rubber Pearl Shad.
5. Pemaquid Beach Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig and bring a second rod with a red and white popper.
6. Popham Beach State Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig be sure to fish early morning or evening to beat the crowds.
7. Reid State Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig and carefully watch the water for jumping bait or diving gulls, as they are sure to mark the location of schooling striped bass.
For the Sportsman who has Everything:
1. Presumpscot River at the rapids in Falmouth – use jerk bait to mimic disorientated baitfish.
2. Mouth of Mousam River at Parson’s Beach – the perfect spot to pull out your fly rod.
3. Kennebec River in Gardiner off the town pier – use sand worms and fish a slider rig.
4. Penobscot River – troll the shore between Ft. Knox and the power lines using 3 inch rubber Pearl Shad.
5. Pemaquid Beach Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig and bring a second rod with a red and white popper.
6. Popham Beach State Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig be sure to fish early morning or evening to beat the crowds.
7. Reid State Park – use herring or mackerel on a slider rig and carefully watch the water for jumping bait or diving gulls, as they are sure to mark the location of schooling striped bass.
For the Sportsman who has Everything:
Friday, July 9, 2010
Striped Bass - Increasing Casting Distance
Casting - The easiest surfcasting technique for the beginner is to continue casting exactly as you currently do now. Your familiar basic cast will let you get your lure or bait out to an acceptable distance and run a significantly lower risk of hooking yourself or an innocent bystander. Always watch the beach populace on your back swings.
To become more advanced, there are two additional casts you will want to add to your repertoire. These should be practiced in a safe location free of people, as a busy beach during the height of the tourist season is no time to be practicing new-fangled casting skills. The first is relatively easy and is called the off the ground cast. Once this initial casting technique is mastered, the second more complicated pendulum can be attempted. The off the ground cast will help you develop the muscle memory and coordination needed to learn the significantly more difficult pendulum. Mastering the pendulum, will require you to invest considerable time practicing, however, when done correctly will allow you to chuck a lure or bait out to 100 yards. For further information and videos on how to successfully conduct both of these casts, perform a Google search for “off the ground surfcasting" or “pendulum surfcasting”.
For the Sportsman Who Has Everything:
To become more advanced, there are two additional casts you will want to add to your repertoire. These should be practiced in a safe location free of people, as a busy beach during the height of the tourist season is no time to be practicing new-fangled casting skills. The first is relatively easy and is called the off the ground cast. Once this initial casting technique is mastered, the second more complicated pendulum can be attempted. The off the ground cast will help you develop the muscle memory and coordination needed to learn the significantly more difficult pendulum. Mastering the pendulum, will require you to invest considerable time practicing, however, when done correctly will allow you to chuck a lure or bait out to 100 yards. For further information and videos on how to successfully conduct both of these casts, perform a Google search for “off the ground surfcasting" or “pendulum surfcasting”.
For the Sportsman Who Has Everything:
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Striped Bass Advanced Options
Line and Rigging Preparation (Advanced) - To improve my “rigging”, I will soon be to replacing the 20 lb mono with an equivalent braided line like “Fireline”. Potentially this will help with casting distance, better resistance to wear and improved bite sensitivity due to a lower amount of line stretch.
If you are looking for a cutting edge sliding rig, guaranteed to maximize your casting distance, check out www.breakawayusa.com. They offer high end products that will elevate your surfcasting to the next level.
Often it is hard to determine what the fish will bite. Advanced anglers use two fishing poles and fish one off bottom and another casting a popper or other lure. Surfcasting lures come in a dizzying variety of colors, sizes, materials and forms. From soft plastic shads to hard plastic pencil poppers to metal Kastmasters and high quality homemade lures like those made at www.aoktackle.com, the choices are almost endless. If you are looking for a solid lure, at a price pleasing to the wallet, purchase a package of Storm 4” pearl shads. These relatively inexpensive and versatile lures are incredibly effective and hold up well to all but the most aggressive blue fish.
For the Sportsman who has Everything:
If you are looking for a cutting edge sliding rig, guaranteed to maximize your casting distance, check out www.breakawayusa.com. They offer high end products that will elevate your surfcasting to the next level.
Often it is hard to determine what the fish will bite. Advanced anglers use two fishing poles and fish one off bottom and another casting a popper or other lure. Surfcasting lures come in a dizzying variety of colors, sizes, materials and forms. From soft plastic shads to hard plastic pencil poppers to metal Kastmasters and high quality homemade lures like those made at www.aoktackle.com, the choices are almost endless. If you are looking for a solid lure, at a price pleasing to the wallet, purchase a package of Storm 4” pearl shads. These relatively inexpensive and versatile lures are incredibly effective and hold up well to all but the most aggressive blue fish.
For the Sportsman who has Everything:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Striped Bass Basic Options
Line and Rigging Preparation (Basic) - Beginners planning to fish off bottom, using bait and weights, should use a shock leader. This basically means tying a line of higher breaking strength to your backing. The heavy “shock” leader absorbs the energy of casting. Without it you run the high risk of breaking your lightweight line after just a few casts and watching your rig sail into the sunset. The general rule is to use a 1 to 10 ratio or a 4 oz sinker to a 40 lb shock leader. Cut you leader long enough to wrap around your reel 5 times and run to the rod tip and back to your reel, this should provide ample leader for casting. With this in place, you will be able to cast with confidence. I used several hundred yards of quality 20 lb Mono backer to 40 lb Mono (Shock Cord) tied together with double surgeon knot or Albright knot to large swivel to 3 feet of 20 lb Mono leader to a #3 Octopus hook, baited with Mackerel. A three-ounce Triangular lead weight attached with a slider rig to the 40 lb Mono above the swivel, allows fish to take the bait without tension.
Suggested Reading:
Suggested Reading:
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Striped Bass Bait Options
Bait and Baiting - You can never tell what the stripers are going to prefer one day to the next, so it pays to have a couple of different bait options. I prefer mackerel, others swear by surf clams, herring and live eels. For casting off shore, I can’t imagine a live eel would survive many casts but I also have yet to try. For the other options, buy FRESH bait that has never been frozen. Fishing with old bait, is like trying to put a hook in hamburger and then attempting to cast it a 100 yards. You end up with bait flying off your hook and only managing to feed the seagulls. Fresh fish will stay solidly on your hook cast after cast . . . at least until the crabs pick it clean. I was “refreshing” my bait every 15 minutes with a new chunk approximately 2 inches across.
Suggested Reading:
Suggested Reading:
Monday, July 5, 2010
Necessary Gear For Striped Bass
Striped Bass Fishing - 6 Part Series: To celebrate the triumphant return of the striped bass to the Maine shores, I am offering a 6 part series on striper fishing that should be interesting for both the novice and the expert surf caster. The series will run M-Sat of this week and include the following titles: Necessary Gear (M), Bait and Baiting (Tu), Basic Line and Rigging Preparation (W), Advanced Line and Rigging Preparation (Th), Casting (F) and Popular Fishing Locations for Maine Striped Bass (Sa). Enjoy!
Necessary Gear – To be a successful surf caster, only requires a few necessary items. These include, a comfortable seat, sand stake(s), fishing pole(s), knife for cutting bait, cooler for bait and beverages and a small tackle box with replacements for everything. An open face “spin casting” reel that you can buy at any Sporting Goods store that holds 20 lb line will work but will quickly DIE a horrible death in the sand and saltwater around the time you hook into a slot fish. A small investment can procure a Penn Spinfisher 750SSM or Penn 525 Magnum reel matched with a quality 10-12 foot surfcasting pole like Cabela’s Salt Caster series or Tica’s TC2 with graphite shaft, build for the demands of this environment.
The hobbyist surf fishermen should be aware of the destructive power of sand and salt water. PVC pipes offer a cheap way of holding your rod and reel out of the gritty sand. Cut a 2 inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 32 inches with one end square and the other at a 45 degree angle. Insert the sharp end in the sand the other end holds the rod. Fresh water rods and reels are not designed for continued use in saltwater and will quickly corrode. Care should be taken to rinse off rod and reel with fresh water upon returning home. Use a light spray of water so as to not force sand or water into the inner workings of your reel.
Suggested Reading:
Necessary Gear – To be a successful surf caster, only requires a few necessary items. These include, a comfortable seat, sand stake(s), fishing pole(s), knife for cutting bait, cooler for bait and beverages and a small tackle box with replacements for everything. An open face “spin casting” reel that you can buy at any Sporting Goods store that holds 20 lb line will work but will quickly DIE a horrible death in the sand and saltwater around the time you hook into a slot fish. A small investment can procure a Penn Spinfisher 750SSM or Penn 525 Magnum reel matched with a quality 10-12 foot surfcasting pole like Cabela’s Salt Caster series or Tica’s TC2 with graphite shaft, build for the demands of this environment.
The hobbyist surf fishermen should be aware of the destructive power of sand and salt water. PVC pipes offer a cheap way of holding your rod and reel out of the gritty sand. Cut a 2 inch diameter PVC pipe to a length of 32 inches with one end square and the other at a 45 degree angle. Insert the sharp end in the sand the other end holds the rod. Fresh water rods and reels are not designed for continued use in saltwater and will quickly corrode. Care should be taken to rinse off rod and reel with fresh water upon returning home. Use a light spray of water so as to not force sand or water into the inner workings of your reel.
Suggested Reading:
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Nick Names be Damned!
Duck Hammer, Diesel, Duckman, Slink, Liquid, Hot Rocks, Chub, Wildman, the Savage, Ham Bone and a slew of other nicknames have, depending on your viewpoint, seemly enriched or cursed our hunting and fishing adventures for years. I suppose at some level, affording someone an alternate name is a way of heightening camaraderie and facilitating their integration into the dynamics of the “tribe”. Much like the Native Americans of old, the assignment of a nickname or perhaps better said “tribe name”, is determined based on ancient rites of passage. Unfortunately, unlike in those decades past, long gone are sweat lodges, smoking weed, hallucinations and the usage of the really cool tribe names like “Big Bear”, “Screaming Eagle”, “Crazy Horse” and “Sitting Bull”.
Instead, the more modern approach incorporates the use of beer, bad cigars and black coffee to test the resolve of new camp candidates. These “tests” setup newbies to perform particular actions or in-actions, upon which a tribe name is determined. Care must be taken to ensure you are assigned with a “tribe name” that is righteous, as it may end up on your gravestone. Loathe be the individual, who doth procure the nickname tiny, stinky or pig pen. Imagine, “Here Lies the Body of “TINY” may he Rest in Peace”, etched into your granite headstone . . . if that doesn’t give you goose bumps nothing will!
For a “tribe name” to be considered valid, it must be assigned by a majority vote by all tribe members. This consensus is mandatory for the new name to be considered legal and legitimate. I once had a friend, who attempted to bestow upon himself the nickname “T-Duck”. This major breach in etiquette, brought forth the swift punishment of being called “Coco the Love Monkey” for a period of one entire calendar year. By the end of the sentence, the scenario had digressed to the point where when my phone would ring the name “Coco” would appear and his personalized ring tone was the scream of a chimpanzee.
It is possible that in some cases, an individual could have two or even three different nicknames depending on what “tribe” he is associated with at any set period of time. For example, at deer camp one might be know, around their hunting friends, as “Bubba” while a few weeks later at fishing camp another group of friends might refer to him as “Mayo”. The number of groups an individual is associated with and the number of friends that participate in these other various camps only confuses the scenario further. In worst case scenarios, we have resorted to wearing name tags at hunting and fishing camp to sort out the chaos.
So, do “Tribe” or “Nick Names” actually work to heighten camaraderie? This question is still open for debate but preliminary studies have shown that in 90% of cases they do at least have a cursory effect in increasing ones worth within the tribe dynamics. It is also interesting to note, that the worse nicknames tends to be, the more it is used and the more the tribe tends to shepherd or protect this “handicapped” individual from the ills of the world. For example, tribe members tended to share soap and shampoo with “Stinky” and offer second helpings of food to individuals named “Slim”. Well, it is no doubt that there is still much data to gather and stats to crunch, so I am off to fishing camp for the week to do more research . . . please don’t ask me with who exactly, since I don’t really know any of their real names!
Instead, the more modern approach incorporates the use of beer, bad cigars and black coffee to test the resolve of new camp candidates. These “tests” setup newbies to perform particular actions or in-actions, upon which a tribe name is determined. Care must be taken to ensure you are assigned with a “tribe name” that is righteous, as it may end up on your gravestone. Loathe be the individual, who doth procure the nickname tiny, stinky or pig pen. Imagine, “Here Lies the Body of “TINY” may he Rest in Peace”, etched into your granite headstone . . . if that doesn’t give you goose bumps nothing will!
For a “tribe name” to be considered valid, it must be assigned by a majority vote by all tribe members. This consensus is mandatory for the new name to be considered legal and legitimate. I once had a friend, who attempted to bestow upon himself the nickname “T-Duck”. This major breach in etiquette, brought forth the swift punishment of being called “Coco the Love Monkey” for a period of one entire calendar year. By the end of the sentence, the scenario had digressed to the point where when my phone would ring the name “Coco” would appear and his personalized ring tone was the scream of a chimpanzee.
It is possible that in some cases, an individual could have two or even three different nicknames depending on what “tribe” he is associated with at any set period of time. For example, at deer camp one might be know, around their hunting friends, as “Bubba” while a few weeks later at fishing camp another group of friends might refer to him as “Mayo”. The number of groups an individual is associated with and the number of friends that participate in these other various camps only confuses the scenario further. In worst case scenarios, we have resorted to wearing name tags at hunting and fishing camp to sort out the chaos.
So, do “Tribe” or “Nick Names” actually work to heighten camaraderie? This question is still open for debate but preliminary studies have shown that in 90% of cases they do at least have a cursory effect in increasing ones worth within the tribe dynamics. It is also interesting to note, that the worse nicknames tends to be, the more it is used and the more the tribe tends to shepherd or protect this “handicapped” individual from the ills of the world. For example, tribe members tended to share soap and shampoo with “Stinky” and offer second helpings of food to individuals named “Slim”. Well, it is no doubt that there is still much data to gather and stats to crunch, so I am off to fishing camp for the week to do more research . . . please don’t ask me with who exactly, since I don’t really know any of their real names!
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