Last week it was cold and snowy; much too cold to fish. Today we have sunshine and 50 degrees with little wind. I took an hour off this morning and fished in the Saint George River looking to repeat the trout fishing I had last December. No luck though, the weather was pleasant, the water level about perfect the only thing not in my favor were the fish.
Over the years I have worked for a couple of conservation groups and the state fish and wildlife agency. Since adding legislative work to my duties for the Maine Professional Guides Association last winter I have had opportunities to work on issues that also involved various conservation and environmental groups.
Their discomfort with working guides has become crystal clear to me; as if earning a living outdoors was somehow not appropriate. This thinking has been communicated in a dozen ways from outwardly calling guides “dirty” to forming and funding their own “guides” group.
The weather in Maine usually turns markedly colder around Thanksgiving and this year was no exception. Temperatures have been well below normal all week and many of our lakes and ponds are already ice covered. I am usually able to get out for a little fishing in late November and early December. I tried on Wednesday I really did but the high for the afternoon was thirty one degrees with a northeasterly breeze and snow flurries.
