This week I was humbled to have been presented an award from the Maine Forest Products Council. The Abby Holman Public Service Award is given annually to an individual who has demonstrated a level of passion loyalty and dedication to Maine’s forest products industry to good government and a robust economy much the same way MFPC’s former Executive...

So far September is a continuation of the wet summer we have had with a hurricane on the horizon. It rained enough overnight that when a raised the Lund off of the hitch on the 4 runner this morning. The bilge pump went on! Took me a minute to figure out what was going on. I was also surprised that the pump ran for several minutes even though the...

A beautiful book of poetry and images exemplifying the seasons

It’s the little things that keep life interesting that is for sure and fill in lots of holes in my calendar. Today I had to drive to Augusta to be fingerprinted for a background check to renew my Maine Guides license. A program initiated to guarantee that every Maine Guide is a good person to spend time with.

As you might imagine I am in a lot of pictures with fish. Either trying to get out of the way of a happy client with a fish or me holding it for them both of us with big smiles. I usually tell them to pretend that they are having a good time.

Over the years I have seen a oon showing an angler with a line tangled in a tree with a hornet’s nest right above. Sometimes there is a guide in the picture.

The weather forecast for today called for rain and wind. I drove to Thomaston Harbor in the early morning darkness with a few raindrops hitting the windshield. When I arrived there was a breeze but much less than was  forecast. Fish were at best grumpy not completely unwilling but surely  not what I had in mind.

I've been on a variety of fishing trips over the last month or so fishing for pike bass stripers and even a few perch. Catching perch with young kids is still one of my favorite fishing trips.

Raining hard here this afternoon. This has so far been a very wet summer with lots of rain and fog. The Saint George is high and swift. It is tempting (and I often hear) that we have never seen anything like this before. We have and I remember it well.

The work of biologists and those that protect Maine's fishery resources is dependent on the funding provided by our license fees. That is why I became a license agent (30 years ago now) to ensure that all of my clients help to fund the resources we enjoy and appreciate. Licenses are required by law on fresh water and saltwater for everyone who fis...

I get a lot of nice reviews and am delighted that clients enjoy their time outdoors with me. However these are my favorite reviews!

I love this picture. Not because of the fish (although it is a very nice striper) but because of the sheer joy on my son’s face. Nicholas and I fish together each year for his birthday and father s day. It is always a highlight of the summer for me.

I had a free morning and thought that I would take advantage of the good striper fishing in the Saint George lately. No need to rush down to the river as the tide was best late morning so a leisurely breakfast and a slow trip to Thomaston. Light fog and a falling tide. Pretty much perfect conditions.

Yes there are stripers in the Saint George. Not large numbers but enough to keep things interesting. I guided two trips there in the last three days and had success on both trips. If you want to keep a fish the new slot limit will make that more of a challenge. The slot is now one fish per angler between 28 and 31 inches.

This season will be very busy like the last several with half day trips mornings and afternoons. When the season is at its busiest it all falls into a rhythm. Striper trips always start in Thomaston Harbor and are on the Saint George River.

29 degrees here this morning. Not a surprise for Maine in May but because we are well into spring it feels colder and unlikely. My fishing trip yesterday morning was windy and cold forcing me to fish behind islands and points while seeking sunny spots on those shores. A huge change from the day before that was cloudy and warm. Summer is coming cle...

I just returned from the three-day Orvis partners meeting in Vermont where we spent a good part of a morning talking about conservation efforts that the company and partner businesses might take. The discussion got me to thinking about all that has already been done and what I have been involved with over the years.