The summer is here and already off to a great start. There seem to be plenty of eagles and ospreys this season and they are almost always part of the early season striper fishing mix. Last Saturday afternoon really made that point. Capt. George Harris of Superfly Charters and I were fishing on the Saint George between Thomaston Harbor and Warren Village checking to see if the stripers had arrived (not that day).
At one point on our trip upriver we had four immature eagles in the air in front of us at once. We also saw a couple of adults as we rode along. We passed one of the nests and were treated to the adult eagle sitting and watching over the chick in the nest below. I am sure that they will be on and around the nest for the next month or so and am looking forward to sharing them on Introduction to Birdwatching trips as well as Striper fishing trips.
Seeing all of these eagles really made the point that they have recovered to enough to be removed from the Maine endangered species list last week. There were also a bunch of ospreys around the harbor and in fact were very good markers for schools of baitfish. We were chased from the water at the end of the trip by a very dark storm cloud and put the boat back on the trailer just as the first raindrops fell. I drove home and as I worked around the house that evening I had two ospreys pass over low both carrying alewives so I would say that the fish have arrived in this part of the river.
Since the last newsletter I have been elected as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Maine Tourism Association. I'm looking forward to working with the board and staff to help our members succeed over the next couple of years and fitting my chair duties into my guiding schedule. Summer is here and as you make your plans I hope that Maine Outdoors is on your list for a new outdoor memory this season. Please get in touch using any of the new media listed later in this newsletter or of course you can reply to this e-mail or simply call 1-800-203-8549 and arrange your trip today!
I have been helping my neighbors put on a kids fishing event at Ayer Park in Union for several years now. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th from 10 AM to 2 PM in memory of Mike Sabins. Ayer Park is on the shore of Seven Tree Pond located about a mile south of the Union Common on Route 235 and was chosen because it is easy to find and is well suited to a children's event. The event is sanctioned by the Hooked on Fishing program. The public is welcome and no pre-registration is required. Fishing equipment and bait will be provided, along with refreshments. Children are encouraged to attend the event with an adult but no licenses are required to fish at the event.
This event annually draws over 100 kids, parents and volunteers. Many kids catch their first fish at the event. Hooked on Fishing is a program to promote youth and family togetherness through fishing, and is run by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to encourage youth fishing activities. If you are in the neighborhood please stop in.
The latest Maine Outdoors brochure is hot off of the press and I am delighted with it. The improved look was prompted by a request from the Samoset in Rockport for a couple of lobby displays. Something to be on display at a location like that needs to be of a better quality than I can turn out on my best day. So I turned to Chris Mathan of the Sportsman's Cabinet, I had worked with Chris on projects when I was with the Ruffed Grouse Society. I like the look of her work and was sure that I would be pleased with the result. She has also arranged for the pointers in my kennel.
As we proceeded it also was clear that we needed images of a higher quality than I had available so I turned to Joe Devenney a local photographer. We spent an afternoon shooting photos with a family, Argy and Mary Devenney. I would have preferred to have a completely green background but we simply could not hurry spring any faster. Over time I am sure that I will use many of the images we got that day but Chris had to choose only a couple for the new brochure and display. I am sure you will agree it is a huge step ahead for Maine Outdoors.
It's easier Than Ever to Stay in Touch!
Times have changed and there is a list of new ways to stay in touch.
You can now friend me on Facebook (Don Kleiner) or become a fan of Maine Outdoors there as well. I am also on Linkedin and Twitter (DonKleiner) if you would like to stay up on the goings on here. Of course I still update the blog on the website at least twice a week and am available to chat on AIM, Googletalk or MSN when I am at my desk. Although I will be spending less time at my desk time now.
You can also visit the Maine Outdoors web site and submit a contact form. Of course I still use e-mail and the telephone still rings in the office if you would like to plan your next trip or just say hello.
Forward this newsletter to a friend and recommend a trip with Maine Outdoors to them. When they go on their trip, two Maine Outdoors ceramic mugs will be theirs and two will be shipped to you the same day. Great memories for your friends and family and a nice reminder of those memories for everyone.
