I went for a ride on Saturday night to check out the surf. When my wife first mentioned it, I thought she had gone crazy. Pam’s the kind of women that doesn’t take danger lightly. She learned how to whistle while hiking a trail in Yellowstone Park with me. I had told her "the more noise the better" to keep the Grizzlies away. She was whistling a storm by the end of that hike!

So…I agreed to go for a ride. Pam first mentioned going to Camp Ellis, but that area is notorious for loosing roads every time there is a storm. We settled on Biddeford Pool and Fortune’s Rocks. As I made my way across mile stretch, I could smell the ocean mist, and the clam flats of Biddeford Pool. Pam piped up “Smell those Maine Surf Clams!” “I though you were tired of Maine Surf Clams!” I replied. At that moment, I hit a large wash which covered the truck with water. Pam smirked “let’s not end up in the Maine Surf Clam flat Marco!”

As we made our way around the shores of Biddeford Pool, we could see the distant lights of Cabot Cove. The surf was crashing hard as I stopped for a look at the old Coast Guard Station and its associated ramps which were once used to launch small rescue skiffs. The station was sold over twenty years ago and is now a private residence. Again Pam exclaimed “Smell those clams!”

My mind drifted as I made my way around the point. I began to think of all the Maine Surf Clams that were being brought closer to shore by the rough seas. And with the seas being over twenty feet, I was getting excited about the prospects of them rolling onto shore during the next low tide. Hen clams and Quahogs acquired the nick name of Surf Clams for that very reason

When seas are rough, the large Maine Surf Clams are picked up by the crashing waves and rough seas. They are brought closer to shore as they roll around on the ocean floor after being dislodged from the sand. At times they are actually thrown onto shore after a northeaster. That's what I was dreaming for!

When I awoke the next morning, I was actually grumpy about having to turn the clock back. The low tide was at 9:30, which meant I had two hours to waste before making my way to the ocean. I farded around and waited until it was late enough to go. And what did I find?

I found out that a Clam that is a Clam is a Maine Surf Clam! And that they wash up when they want to!

If you are interested in clamming, I will be conducting a free Maine Surf Clamming seminar at 2:15 on Saturday, November 4th. We will be going out on the beach. You will learn how to locate, harvest and clean surf clams. Interested parties can e-mail me for directions by posting a comment below. All Maine residents can partake with out the need of a license; remember surf clams live in the sand, not in the mud, so it will be a nice walk on the beach anyways!

Be safe and have fun clamming!

What? Why aren’t you fishing? With all this beautiful Fall weather, I hardly see anyone out Fall fishing in Maine. You can’t tell me that all Summer fishermen do it just to eat fish! Or is it the temperature of the water?

I know most people are in hunting mode, but it makes sense to do some Fall fishing in Maine too!

Here is a list of Maine Fall fishing opportunities existing during the month of November. It’s really not to hard to figure out if you have a regulations book. But many fishermen are coming from out of state.

So here’s to you Maine Fall Fishermen:

Opportunities in Cumberland County

Opportunities in Kennebec County

Opportunities in Knox County

Opportunities in Knox County

Opportunities in Sagadahoc County

Opportunities in York County

I have also provided this county map for those of you unfamiliar with general county locations.

And although the Androscoggin River regs are posted under Androscoggin County, the river is also open in Oxford County

For a complete copy of Maine Fishing Regulations
click here.

While fishing Rangeley Lake last year, our day went from fact to legend in a matter of moments.

Richard Bartlette and I rented a cabin on the shores of Rangeley. We wanted to enjoy some late season Salmon fishing. I believe the time was mid September. We planned on fishing four times and had luck every time out.

The third outing of the weekend happened to take place in the evening. We were catching fish in the two pound range, but had caught nothing of any size when Richard’s rod struck gold. He lunged for the spinning rod and could feel the thumping of a Landlocked Salmon. He started playing the fish. As the salmon approached the boat, it started a run. Richard’s eye’s grew with excitement. As the Salmon approached the boat again, she started a second run. That is when we began to speculate on its size.

On the Salmon’s third approach, we got a good look. "Nice fish"....I exclaimed as I approached the fish with net in hand. My catch and release net made it difficult to net as Salmon started it’s death roll. Then it lunged below the boat and surfaced beside the motor. I approached it again with the net…snap! The fish was gone.

We looked at each other, sulking as we realized the fish was gone. It is always hard to loose a fish you truly respect. Then….Splash! A Salmon jumped a foot and a half out of the water broadside to the boat. Richard look at me in bewilderment, and I gave the same look back while replaying the scene in my mind.

The fish that jumped had a fly line between its jaws. We had been fishing a fly line when the salmon struck and never took it in. I grabbed the fly rod, stuck it in Richard’s hands and said “Reel, Reel, Reel….set the hook!” He did!

He began playing the Salmon. When it got to the boat it started swimming in and out of the swim platform, getting tangled all the while. I started screaming"ah,…ah, ah, ah" and I was handed the Boga Grip to latch onto the fish. We boarded the Salmon to find the previous bait and hook still in its mouth.

This is no BS. It happened to me!

We thought about the story, looked at each other and said “nah…no one will ever believe this!”

From fact to legend in a matter of moments!

After much wait and anticipation, a deal for Cabela's in Maine has been finalized. Cabela's has decided to change its Northeast expansion strategy to include a store in Scarborough, Maine. After filing for a tax decision from the State of Maine, the store's development was put on hold. This was due to the State of Maine's desire to have Cabela's collect sales tax on in-state catalog sales. Yesterday, in a letter to the developer and the town of Scarborough, Cabela's management stated that a change in expansion strategy was causing them to withdraw their request for a tax decision.

Since Cabela's Internet, catalog and retail endeavors are incorporated as separate entities, Cabela's disagreed with Maine's opinion that in-state catalog sales should be taxed. LL Bean's catalog business, also located in the State of Maine, was opposed to allowing Cabela's to have an in state presence with out being obligated to collect Maine tax on catalog sales. LL Bean cited this as creating an unfair competitive advantage.

Cabela's stated that a change in expansion strategy has allowed it to withdraw its request for a decision from the State Tax Office. People are speculating whether Cabela's plans on making an in-state presence with its other entities. This would allow it to forgo any precedent type interpretations from states where Cabela's has an in-state presence but is not required to collect taxes on in-state catalog sales

I posted my concerns about "Man Knocked Cold By Goose" on Cabelas forums and got a reply from Yooper.

This is what Yooper had to say:

When you shoot at a goose flying towards decoying geese/ducks, most of the time you have a breast shot. With this in mind, once you shoot them, they are going to fly/fall in the same direction they were flying (right for you and your blind).

Canada Goose Knocks Man Cold!

The early Canada Goose season is nearing its end. September 25th marks the end of the early season of hunting for the air born sledge hammers. And it is a good thing for us fisherman!

Last year I heard a story of a pike fisherman getting more than he bargained for while he fished for his Northern prey. While fishing the graveyard of a small pond, he heard a flurry of activity. As he rose from his relaxed bait fishing position, he heard shots blasting from the other side of the point. At that very moment his float started to twitch. He made his way for his rod but was knocked cold by one of the Canadian Sledge Hammers falling out of the sky.

He awoke to find his rod missing and a ten pound Canadian lying on the bottom of his boat. Since he didn’t have a hunting license and he hadn’t shot the goose, he proceeded to place the bird in the water. But before doing so, he rigged the bird with several treble hooks and an empty one gallon milk jug he used as a float. He fastened a line from the boat to the bird and jug; he then proceeded to catch the largest Northern Pike of his life. And the Pike was still connected to his fishing pole!

The question I have is did he act legally by using the bird for bait or is he fishing to become a jail bird?

Estes Lake in Southern Maine is a great spot to pick up a variety of species. It is known to have Small and Largemouth Bass, White Perch and Pickerel. I really like the area in the middle of the lake where people gather to fish off the bridge and exchange fish stories and luck.

Estes in actually a part of the Mousam and Littlefield Rivers and is positioned at the confluence of the two. And, as with any river, fishing activity is effected by rainfall. Turbid water that storms provide require us to use vibrating blades or scents. Estes Lake is open to fishing this time of year but it is catch and release only for most species. Make sure to check the regs. I find Estes a great place to relax while taking in the colors of fall and exchanging fish tales with others on the bridge. I've been told that there are Northern Pike in Estes, so large bait fishing may produce positive results. A few Brown trout show up from time to time also!

Be safe and have fun fishing!

Now that the fishing season is extended well into the fall, fisherman should be aware that duck hunters are prowling the waters too. You may stumble into there line of fire without ever knowing it. Be on the look out! The outdoors is for all sportsman and the extended fishing season can put us directly at odds with one another.

The far end of Sabattus Pond, in Sabattus Maine, is full of duck hunters. It is an easy place to stumble over each other. Keep your eyes open for hunters in blinds hugging the shore and around the graveyard. And, with all the camouflage they have on, they can be hard to spot. But if you are aware, they will show up for you.

While passing the launch on the Saco River the other day, the same situation was evident. I could see several people fishing while hearing the explosions of shot guns firing from further up river. If you haven't stumbled onto any duck hunters while fishing this season, you will!

Look for duck hunters adjacent to still water areas like swamps, tidal basins and areas of low water flow with plenty of brush growth. Hunters will build blinds that are adjacent to shoreline brush, cat nine tails and burble. Most waters will have hunters present this time of year. Only highly developed shore lines will be free of them. The more cover, the better, for hunters. Hunters will also camouflage there boats. I've seen some real battleships out there. I'm glad I don't have wings!

You have to remember that duck hunters wait all season for the beginning of the migration to take place; they are as excited as you to be out on the water. So, when it comes to fall fishing, keep your eyes open for those camouflaged monsters that inhabit the shores this time of year, and we'll all have a good day out on the water!

Be safe and have fun hunting and fishing!