It seems almost impossible that it could be true. The idea that became Maine Outdoors has survived for 20 years. That first summer we offered only canoe trips on the Saint George River and it was one of the wettest on record. Not only did it reduce the number of folks that wanted to go for a canoe trip but I had promised Argy that we would go out to lunch every rainy day that I was not on the river. Not realizing that that there would be more rainy days without clients than sunny days with clients that summer. Needless to say it was not a profitable first year.
Maine Outdoors was incorporated the next winter and the rest is history. Fishing trips and upland bird hunting were added in the next year. Our family added Noah our oldest son now soon to be 19 and graduating high school in June. Argy and I had a second son Nicholas in 1990. We offered winter cross country ski and snowshoe trips for a few years and added striper fishing. Things have really changed from the first aluminum fishing boat, a fourteen footer for lakes and ponds, to a twenty foot skiff on the salt water. In those early days I added a strip built Grand Lake Canoe that served me for many years and was only recently replaced by a new one from the same builder.
One thing has remained the same for all of those years and that is the great people like you that I get to spend time with each season. Many I see each year and some only once every few years but each trip is a pleasure. I have enjoyed meeting every one of you and spending time with you even when it rained or the wind blew. Every trip is a great memory, even if only to commiserate about how lousy the weather or the fishing was. The best part of talking with clients when they make a reservation is reminiscing about our last trip together.
Of course today there is much more to Maine Outdoors than a guide service, we offer a variety of outdoor adventures from the canoe trip that launched it all 20 years ago to custom adventures in the North Maine Woods. There is an online store, small business seminars for other guides and consulting for businesses and conservation organizations. I am privileged to represent the Maine Bowhunters Association at the Maine Legislature and many other places.
The twentieth year looks like it will be busier than any other. Reservations have been coming in steadily all spring and I am looking forward to the return of the stripers to the Saint George River in a few weeks. Thank you all for helping to make Maine Outdoors a success and creating great memories for both of us.
Best regards,
Don Kleiner
Master Maine Guide
PS. If you have not made a reservation for your trip this coming season I would encourage you to make one soon. I would hate to miss a chance to share another outdoor memory with you!
