Winter Arrives

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Lou

Right after the new year, I traveled to Florida to see my new granddaughter, Mary Louise. My daughter lives on a small lake with some pretty good fishing. The crappie were certainly active and that was fun. We caught them on squirmy wormies and small white soft hackles with a zig hook.

I do not get to fly-fish for crappie all that often and it is a hoot.

In mid-January, winter arrived – four snowstorms totally 30 plus inches in just 10 days, followed in early February by the coldest windchill temperatures ever recorded in Portland, Maine and the surrounding areas – 40 plus below zero.

On the morning of February 4, my thermometer in Windham at 630 AM registered minus 18 degrees, the coldest I have ever seen other than a minus 20 in my old house in Pownal, Maine in the late 90s. The cold was short lived before temperatures returned to normal, but it was enough to finally freeze local ponds and lake coves sufficiently to ice fish safely.

Incredible sunset caused by polar air starting to move in from the west. Ambient temps. would drop 50 degrees in the next 24 hours.

18 below looks like any other cold, still winter morning.

After the wait, I got out on the ice with a vengence. Chaffin Pond yielded just one small brookie, but Dundee Pond produced half a dozen fat brook trout in short order with a few pickerel mixed in. Speaking of pickerel, they were biting like crazy on Panther Pond and we pulled almost a dozen on the ice with a few largemouth mixed in. The real monster five plus pounders we were after didn’t materialize. Oh well, that’s ice fishing.

Pickerel, Brook Trout, and Largemouth Bass; where I fish locally, you never know which species will come up through the ice.

I did hear of a couple five plus pound brown trout taken through the ice in early February on lower Range Pond. That is such an under utilized and unsung fishery.

An update on the book availability of my Flyfishers Guide to New England: It is out of stock almost everywhere as my battle with my printer continues. I have a new 2023/2024 updated version ready to go. I will keep you updated. In the meantime, the kindle version is available and certainly provides you will all of the information you require although the maps don’t work quite as well.

For those of you looking for a printed version, I still have a few I can sell you directly from my website and I will sign them. Rangeley Fly Shop, the Maine Flyrod Shop in Yarmouth, and Selene’s Fly Shop in Gardner have a few although they will go fast. My other two books are still in stock.

May 7 Fishing report

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Lou

First some basic info: If you are accessing this blog from your phone, for more information about my books and how to purchase them scroll to the end or click on the appropriate tabs above. Follow me on Instagram @mainelyflyfishing

Because of Covid 19 retailing restrictions and Amazon prioritizing restocking of essentials, it is not easy to find my books these days. But when you are stuck at home and not fishing, consider doing some reading instead of watching the news. You can purchase directly from me on this site by PayPal or call me at 207-233-4481 and I can take your credit card. You can also email me with your address and send me a check.

Fishing Report: So far the month of May has continued the weather pattern of the last few months – colder than normal with occasional snow. We are expecting snow on Saturday over much of Maine – on May 9th!!! Lakes in the Rangeley Region are still frozen.

I have been exploring new streams lately. It is like a game, recognize what looks like good holding water and see if you are right. I was fishing a stream that I discussed in my book, Flyfisher’s Guide to New England, but fishing several sections that I was unfamiliar with. I hadn’t raised but one fish in more than an hour, when I noticed this section (see photo below) where all of stream’s current was funneled together and then passed under a fallen tree. Nearby was deep, still water. If this wasn’t a prime brookie or brown spot, I don’t know what is.

a perfect trout holding spot – concentrated current, cover, and nearby deep water.

Lo and behold, my wife and I caught a half dozen from this spot. I get a kick sometimes from catching trout in unexpected places. This part of the stream was so near Route 302, that if I had lengthened and changed the direction of my cast I might have almost reached the shoulder.

One brook trout of several I caught from under the fallen tree

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While I consider exploring remote wilderness rivers, the ultimate fly-fishing experience, I get a kick out of catching fish out of streams that flow through quaint New England towns, under covered bridges, and besides old mills or farms. It is like a fly fishers Sturbridge Village. Here are a few photos from the same trip

A beautiful run near an old barn.

And a willing brook trout in that run took a soft-hackle streamer with brook trout colors

Not too far upstream, an interesting covered bridge for a hiking trail

People ask me all the time for more information about the CoSoHammer (Conehead Soft-hackle) streamer because I talk about it so often and write about it in my books. This pattern is a derivation of a Jack Gartside tie. I just made a video showing how this fly moves under water. It is on YouTube but I will imbed it here.

https://youtu.be/xXSBSkm1A_8

Odds and Ends

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Lou

Hello friends,

This entry is going to contain a whole bunch of unrelated little items. Should be fun to read but maybe a little all over the place!

I have a column in the recent July issue of the Maine Sportsman with fly fishing tips for smallmouth bass. I mentioned at the end of the piece that my brother and I have fished for bass together for 45 straight years (missing just one year) but that he was moving to California. With the moving van practically packed up, he came up to Maine for a day to cram in a bass fishing trip to Damariscotta Lake. This is a photo of his last bass before he had to return to his family to drive cross-country. It may have been the largest bass he has ever caught. What a way to send him off to the west coast!

In other news…Wilderness Adventure Press is releasing in early July a new edition of my first book, “Flyfishing Northern New England Seasons” with a new additional section that contains tactics and tips for catching large (trophy-sized) wild brook trout and landlocked salmon. This addition has a new cover color (green) to minimize confusion with my other orange-covered books.

Such conditions require prolonged and/or unexpected hospitalization cheap order viagra and/or reoperation. It would not be wrong to say that tablets viagra online it also uses electromagnetic fields to make it work and that more and more couples are now struggling to have a fulfilling sex lives and are not able to conceive. It is something different and is worth the hard earned money and a lifetime http://new.castillodeprincesas.com/directorio/seccion/salones/ rx generic viagra achievement of dreams. They are now thankful to the medicine for make a night http://new.castillodeprincesas.com/descarga/ generic levitra wonderful for those who always plan the weekend nights for sizzling and rocking sex. I am releasing a brand new book in January of 2019 that is entirely about my chase over the last 40 years for trophy wild and native brook trout and landlocked salmon with strategies, tactics, and tips. The new chapter in my Seasons book is a brief synopsis of what the entire new book will be about.

Changing topics again…The weather for most of central and southern Maine for May and early June was very dry. Streams and Rivers rapidly moved to summer flow rates and I became concerned that we were going to experience a major drought again this year. A good line of Thunderstorms last Monday dropped a good amount of rain but we desperately need more rain to keep flows healthy. One upside is that I know a small run on the upper Maggalloway River that only fishes well when water levels are low. A long riffle above it seems to produce a lot of food that drifts down to this deeper run that offers shelter and depth for bigger fish. I visited it last week and was rewarded with a beautiful, fat 16 inch trout that took a size 10 Royal Wulff dry fly as it drifted along a back eddy. Big trout love to sit in back eddies facing downstream.

Looking ahead, in the Rangeley area, brown and green drake hatches should be starting any day now with brown drakes starting first. I will be heading up on the 24th hopefully to intercept them.
Continue reading →

Late July and early August Brings Summer Fishing Conditions

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Lou

When water temperatures warm to the point that river and stream fishing slows down, surface activity on lakes and ponds only occurs right before dark or first thing in the morning, and stripers start moving out from tidal rivers to deeper in Casco Bay, it is time to change fly-fishing locales. or species. While I have been prioritizing stripers, they are disappearing from near shore haunts as the water warms with the warm humid nights that we have had.

People have the false perception that it is the hot days that warm the water. More often, it is when the nights stay warm and humid, and prevent waters from cooling, that create the largest upswing in water temperatures.

When larger waters warm above 68 degrees, I sometimes move to small mountain streams that stay cold all summer. Wading wet, even if the day is a scorcher, can mean numb feet after awhile.

Small stream summer fishing means a 3-weight (or smaller) rod, a handful of flies, wet wading, and lower expectations. The native and wild trout, and even the educated stockers are easily spooked and won’t be must larger than hand-sized.

Men experiencing this condition can now purchase Penegra online to why not try this out purchase cheap viagra have an extremely positive change in their sexual execution, totally overlooking that baffling diagnosis. Without sexual stimulation, they will not exhibit their effect. cheap viagra order Ron is terribly disconnected commander viagra jealt.mx from his only male heir. The pills will get delivered at his levitra side effects doorstep. But I love the carved granite plunge pools of New England; no two are ever exactly alike, and the quicksilver trout can appear as if from nowhere in liquid-crystal pools to grab my offering.

The below photos are of the upper Ammonoosuc River where on my last visit a half a dozen hand-sized rainbows rose to my Puterbaugh caddis. I didn’t land a larger rainbow from one of the pools below.

Ice Out

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Lou

My email these days is filled with folks asking me fishing questions so for this blog post, I will just answer them!

When was ice-out?

In the Rangeley area, it was within the last seven days, in fact higher elevations ponds still have at least a partial coating of ice. Further south, ice has been out for two weeks or so. However, the water remains cold because of cloudy days and cold nights. Patches of snow still linger in the woods in the Kennebago area.

How is the fishing?

Fishing has been slow because of high and cold water. In fact the lower Mags is running at 2000 cfs versus 350 for most of last year. I don’t know if I remember it being that high . A heavy snowpack melted quickly in Rangeley, followed by occasional rain. This is resulting in the spring run-off being closer to historical norms versus several dry springs over the last five years. While this means a slow start to moving-water fishing, it bodes well for sufficient water flows later in the year and good ground water levels.

Smelt are running in places, but perhaps not yet where water temps are still hovering around 40 degrees. Lake and pond fishing where smelt are running up brooks is where I would want to be fishing.

Does the high water mean that spring runs of salmon will push up rivers such as Kennebago?

Moreover, these effects are nothing as compared to what smoking is doing to your lungs. cheap buy viagra The reason, more often than not, isn’t to deceive their greyandgrey.com tadalafil 40mg partner but for the simple reason that they won’t forget or omit anything. Some common adverse effects reported by people include dizziness, headache, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and numbness in feet and hands. greyandgrey.com viagra pfizer prix Metrosexual are not homosexual men but they have related cialis without prescription solutions for women too. Not necessarily. At least in Kennebago, salmon don’t really take advantage of high water flows until temps hit 50 degrees. Hopefully when the river warms up, water flows will still be high.

Do you have any fun fishing photos/stories?

Always. My guiding partner Abby from Kismet Ouftitters has been doing some drift boat guiding in western Mass. and found some really nice brown trout in the Hoosic River.

How is the new book selling?

Very well. We are going to start a second printing soon, which will allow me to update the book a little, correct a few typos and include a few more waters. “Flyfisher’s Guide to New England” can now be found in almost every fly fishing outlet in New England, but it does sell out quickly and doesn’t always find its way back onto the shelves in a timely manner. Remember, you can always purchase the book from me directly, signed of course. Just email me.

Enjoy the beginning of a new fishing season.

Lou

Fly fishing shows and presentations

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Lou

Hi Folks,

I continue to travel around New England giving presentations, talking to anglers about their fishing plans, and signing books. What fun. Recently, I was at the New Hampshire Fly Fishing show in Manchester NH (great show if you haven’t been), The Farmington Valley (Connecticut) Chapter of TU, and The Sebago Lake Chapter.

Next up, the Greater Boston TU chapter in Newton, Massachusetts on Feb. 27th, and a Cumberland Library presentation on March 9th. Then there will be a gap in the action as I will be bonefishing in Abaco for two weeks in late March.

It sometimes causes low or poor erection. generic cialis india Such issues basically arise after the age of 30 and becomes clinically significant by the age of 50 and complete ineptitude is seen in every sixth man by cialis prices find this link the age of 70. Avoid the use of fatty cheap levitra over here meals and alcohol before intercourse. Alarmingly, it has been accounted for that upwards of one in ten men experience the ill effects of this issue are not ready to accomplish a purchase viagra without prescription desired construct. Enjoy two videos that are a compilation of short video snippets of a number of waters in Vermont and Maine that I describe in my Flyfisher’s Guide to New England.

Winter events

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Lou

My schedule for the winter is starting to finalize. Here are some highlights:

Saturday, Dec 10th: I will be at the Rangeley Region Sport Shop all day for their open house event – tieing a few flies, signing a few books, showing some of my videos from 2016, and telling tall tales.

January 12th: I will be presenting at the Hammonasset Chapter of TU in Connecticut (hctu.org)

January 17th: I will presenting to the Pemigewasset Chapter of Trout Unlimited (pemigewasset.tu.org.

January 20,21,22: The Flyfishing Show in Marlborough, Mass: I am giving different presentations depending on the day. Friday, I have one of the big rooms and have an hour and twenty minutes to take people through a number of strategies, tactics, and flies to catch trophy brook trout.

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I haven’t given up on the fishing either. With another fairly warm fall, fishing was comfortable in November. I had a few beautiful days fishing the upper Presumpscot River and the Saco River. Didn’t catch much however for some reason. It couldn’t be because of any lack of skill on my part so I assume the fish disappeared right before I got there.

Last week, I ventured down to one of my favorite late fall fishing spots – The Lamprey River in New Hampshire – and I finally found a few nice rainbows..

I have also been working hard, editing video from this year including some great underwater brook trout action. they should be posted here and under the video tab in the next few weeks so check back.

Have a good holiday

End of Season

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Lou

For what seems like the 3^rd autumn in a row, September in the Rangeley area was dry and hot, and the trout and salmon didn’t begin to move into shallow water or run up the rivers until the last week of the season. Global climate change really seems to be impacting Maine. I remember that 20 years ago in the western Maine Mountains, by the last few days of the season all of the leaves would be off the trees, and sometimes it would spit snow and sleet. The end of September now arrives with the leaves still green and this year there wasn’t even a frost until mid-October.

I think that Maine’s Inland Fish and Wildlife Department should consider extending the regular fishing season to the first week in October. I know more water is being kept open later but prime waters are not. I don’t think extending the season by one week would negatively impact the wild fish and it would minimize the crowding during the last week in the season.

Although another “official” fly fishing season has come and gone, lots of water is still open. I guided two anglers in early October to upper Dam – still lots of heavy machinery working – but everyone there (up to 14 anglers in the late afternoon) seemed to catch a few fish. Most were 10-12 inches and very thin – I assume that they were resident to that area and that during this hot summer, the water had warmed too much for them to feed actively. A few fresh larger salmon and trout were caught – some in the 20 inch range, but I got the sense that the real movement of fish hadn’t started yet.
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I have some interesting photos and videos from the end of September that I will post as time allows.

In other news, I was able to stop into a new fly shop in Lincoln, NH – right at the end of the Kancamagus Highway. This new fly shop is good news for anglers in that part of NH who did not have a fly shop anywhere close by. The name of the shop is Mountain High Fly (www.mountainhighfly.com) and the owner, Sara, seemed quite competent and enthusiastic. They are on-line only during the winter, but the shop itself will be open again in the spring. Good luck with your new endeavor, Sara!

Fall Fishing is Here! Sort of.

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Lou

Early September has brought a few changes from August but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the lack of rain. Mid-August brought two rainstorms to the Rangeley region that dropped over 3 inches of rain in some areas, but the ground was so dry that much of it was absorbed with little run off. Still, it did raise and stabilize river flows in some areas. However, we have had little rain now for over a week and air temperatures are rising again into the upper 70’s during the day this week.

We did have cool nights (into the low 40’s several days) and water temperatures are dropping with rivers and streams falling into the 60’s. As a result some spawning fish are starting to move. Anglers are hooking a few nice fish in the upper Magalloway, a few nice salmon in the lower Kennebago, and seeing some big trout in the upper stretches.

Best bet is to fish early in the morning, be patient, and be satisfied with maybe one or two nice fish.
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Fish are also starting to move into shallower water in the lakes and ponds and people are reporting the beginning of good action – although still with mostly smaller fish. Today on Kennebago it was cloudless, 75 degrees, and calm, but fish were rising at mid-day as tiny trico-like mayflies emerged in shallow water and mixed with a few tiny flying ants. Go figure.

In literary news, my new book is becoming more widely available and is now found in most fly-shops, sporting goods stores, and specialty book stores in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts including Bass Pro in NH, and Kittery Trading Post. Not LLBean yet. If you don’t see it at your favorite store – ask for it! Of course, you can always buy it directly from me. Good luck with your September fishing and keep praying for a good tropical storm to reach northern New England.

Mid Summer Fishing and Book News

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Lou

Late June and early July brought relatively cool weather and precious little rain for anybody. While parts of New England enjoyed some hit and miss thunderstorms that kept rivers and streams running, other areas were bone dry. For example, Kennebago River never had any real spring salmon run because of continued low water. On July 5 its temperature was 72 degrees, not good. In late June, I fished through the gorge of the Diamond River in the Dartmouth Grant because of water running at only 50 cfs. I fished with folks that have fished there for 20 years and have never fished the gorge because usually it is impossible if not dangerous.

The Rapid River and lower Magalloway both were at 300 cfs for most of this time, also extremely low. Charlie, the owner of Evening Sun Fly Shop in Massachusetts told me that the Squannacook River in early July reached record low levels. It makes for tough river fishing, although I have heard good reports. The West Branch of the Penobscot has been fishing well because that area received a bunch of thunderstorms and cooler weather (and of course it is a bottom-release dam draining a huge watershed).

A gentlemen I know sent me this photo of a 26.5 inch brown he took from the White River.

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That river does not give up its fish easily but those who take the time to know its idiosyncracies, catch some impressive fish.

On the new book front, “Flyfisher’s Guide to New England” is now out and available. It has received some early great reviews as “THE where-to-go resource for New England”. Retail distribution will slowly increase over time but right now it is available at the Evening Sun Fly Shop in MA., Rangeley Sport Shop in Rangeley, ME., Maine Sport Outfitters in Rockport, and The Tackle Shop in Portland, Maine. It is also available at Amazon and from me directly signed if you send me an email. By all means go into your local book store or fly-fishing store and ask for it. That will give them the incentive to order it for their store.

Mainely Fly Fishing Blog

Fishing report from the Western Maine Mountains and Beyond

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