July 2006 Almanac

This Month: The Big Question: What to Go Fishing for Next

July begins like more of June and ends like August with hot, humid, hazy weather. During its 31-day span, it produces the hottest temperatures of the year.

On brook-trout ponds in Northern Maine, July begins with caddis and mayfly hatches continuing each evening on a predictable timetable until hot weather slows the action.

A quarter-century ago, fly-fishing for trout pretty much ended in July, but these days, modern fly rodders chase Hex and blue-winged-olive (BWO) hatches all month. Silt-bottomed ponds have Hex hatches and most Maine rivers have BWOs from May through November.

On these same ponds on windy days or during blistering hot spells, bottom-dredging puts a steady bend in rods. Modern fast-sinking lines and weighted flies make this technique easier.

In the North Country, July starts with brookies spread out in brooks and small streams, but by month’s end, these fish are stacking up in spring holes.

Cold rain sends landlocks and brookies up rivers, often rivers empty of other anglers.

Coastal action in the open ocean and tidal rivers explodes in July as many Maine anglers give up on salmonids and black bass and head to the ocean for stripers, blues and mackerel.

Party boat businesses really do well in July as folks seeking cod and haddock fillets head to the salt.

Blue-shark fishing begins in mid to late July as these long, skinny sharks head to Maine waters where they require at least 400-foot depths.

Black-bass fishing attracts legions these days, and July is a fine month for black bass, particularly after dawn’s first light.

Pickerel, white perch, panfish, hornpout and eels feed heavily now.

As a general rule, black crappies grow much larger than white perch, so are endearing themselves to Maine anglers.

Northern pike begin July at 20-foot depths in an average year but drop deeper by month’s end. Dawn finds them in shallow coves, though.

Bear baiting starts 30 days prior to the Aug. 28 opener. Call the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at 1(207)287-8000 for details.

Woodchuck hunters get out now, and serious ones head to the huge fields in Aroostook County.

Folks scout for deer, bear and moose now.

Archers start shooting in earnest, as do smoothbore enthusiasts and rifle hunters. Clay-sports ranges pick up considerably in July.

Gardens produce leafy veggies, summer squash, stringed beans and peas.

Blueberries ripen as do potherbs and tender roots.

Flowers of all colors splash fields and woodlands. Scenic photographers with an eye for lush greens and colored blossoms do well now.

Next Month: Lot’s of Fishing Action in Fresh Water and Salt

August once passed as a sleepy month with hunters shooting a little and waiting for September trout-and-salmon fishing and fall hunting. These days, August rocks.

For starters, in coastal Maine, folks chase stripers, blues and mackerel with a vengeance all month. Angling might slow in tidal rivers, but the open ocean has marauding schools of the big three.

Party boats after cod and haddock do a brisk business.

Black-bass anglers who know how to work a jig down 10 to 20 feet do well.

In Northern Maine, bear hunters bait all month because the hunting season opens the last Monday of August — Aug. 28. Bear hunting, important to rural economies in the North Country, proves to be a very big deal these days.

Northern Maine brookie ponds might have predictable evening hatches if no hot spell prevails, but often, bottom-dredging deep holes is the name of the successful, trout-fishing game.

Lake trout concentrate in deep holes now, where folks with knowledge of the bottom can troll effectively for the state’s largest char.

In streams and brooks, brookies hover over spring holes, easy targets for folks with knowledge of such springs in target waters.

In the southern half of the state, anglers find brown trout and black bass in shallow coves at dawn.

Pickerel, panfish, hornpout and eels attract a few dedicated souls.

The second half of the split crow season runs from Aug. 1 through September 30.

Bowhunters shoot a lot now.

Smoothbore enthusiasts pick up their shooting on clay targets.

Rifle hunters work up loads and/or perfect their trigger squeeze.

Gardens produce the staples now — corn, early potatoes, summer squash, maybe winter squash before month’s end, carrots, cabbage and more.

Wild-food gatherers have potherbs, berries and tender roots.

Photographers have hazy-warm days and subdued colors splashed with wild flowers — great for mood shots.