June 2007 Almanac

This Month: June Fishing Is Bustin’ Out All Over The Place

In early June, the Emerald Isle has nothing on Maine, particularly the North Country where June, July and December produce the most inclement weather, turning the land into a viridescent explosion in late spring and early summer.

In the south country, May produces the most rain (and on rare occasions snow). People often view April and November as the rainiest months in the bottom third of the state, but May statistically wins the honor. November is typically one of the drier months. May rains set June up as lush-lush.

Four huge fishing events occur in June:

1) Northern Maine ponds and lakes have predictable hatches, and trout and salmon take advantage of nature’s bounty. This is when folks have those 20 and 30 fish days. In early June, hatches to be early afternoon affairs, but by month’s end, evening emergences get the nod.

2) Cow and bull striped bass show up on the Maine coast each June, so here and now are the times to catch a 40-inch-plus striper.

3) Black bass move onto spawning beds, and slab-sided largemouths and smallmouths become somewhat commonplace.

4) In Northern Maine, rains raise rivers and large streams and brookies and salmon charge upstream. This ranks as the fourth most important event because it depends on weather and is less of a gimme’ than the other three.

Maine has more fishing opportunities, though, much more:

Brooks and small streams rock as brookies begin moving toward deep holes, and these colorful little char are ravenous. This is pretty much the story across the state.

In the bottom third of the state, dawns produce good action for browns, rainbows, salmon and brookies in shallow coves where salmonids forage after the night cools the water.

Trolling can be exceptionally good now, and even in the south country, fish still prowl in relatively shallow depths — say down to 20 feet.

Lake trout move to deep holes, concentrated targets for folks who know how to work the bottom structure with trolling gear.

Warm-water fish such as pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, sunfish, hornpout and eels bite fast and furiously as water temperatures rise.

School stripers rush up tidal rivers now, and folks catch 3- to 7-pounders with ease early in the month. They’re spawning now, though, and fishing can be slow as the month progresses toward July.

Near month’s end, dairy farmers begin haying, exposing woodchucks — distant brown dots that attract folks with flat-shooting, high-velocity calibers.

For most hunters, though, June is a month of lots of shooting practice — rifles, shotguns and bows.

One exception is this: Bear hunters scout hard now, looking for a place to put baits out at the end of July.

Backpackers, canoe trippers and vehicle campers get out in full force as soon as school ends.

Day hikers also hit trails after school closes.

Gardeners begin harvesting leaf veggies now as well as radishes. Garden salads tend to be simple this month and rely solely on ultra-fresh lettuces and radishes picked minutes before.

Wild foods lean toward leafy greens and new roots — with one exception. A wild berry attracts legions now — the ever wonderful strawberry.

Next Month: July Means Go Fishing, But Think Hunting

July ranks as Maine’s hottest month, although August’s humidity makes the eighth month seem like more of a scorcher. For the highest temperature, though, July reigns.

In north-country brookie ponds, evening hatches and rising trout make for a predictable affair, particularly early in the month when Hexes hatch.

These same trout ponds up north have deep holes and springs where brookies congregate. Bottom-dredgers with super, fast-sinking lines and weighted flies haul them up from the depths.

Unseasonably cool rains activate northern rivers and large streams, too, as brookies and salmon run upstream. Folks with the knowledge to hit these waters now often find solitude, quite a change from June when crowds form at places like the Kennebago, Cupsuptic, Grand Lake Stream, Fish River thoroughfares, etc.

Lake trout have definitely concentrated in deep holes, ideal targets for skilled trollers who know how to work the bottom.

Black-bass anglers who know how to work a jig down to 10 and even 20 feet haul in plenty of fish now. Drop-offs near last month’s spawning beds attract bass in July.

Stripers, blues and mackerel rove around the coast and up rivers now, and folks take advantage. In coastal Maine, the salt wins over the hearts of salmonid anglers who head to the ocean and catch fish far bigger than any salmonid that roams in Maine.

Warm-water species attract more anglers now that salmonid fishing slows, so folks head to shallow ponds and do well with white perch, yellow perch, black crappie, sunfish, hornpout and eels now.

Pickerel and particularly pike have their fans, and July is the time to fish for them.

Party boats off the coast go after cod, haddock and any other salty critter that can provide action for a boatload of fun-loving anglers slathered with sun screen.

Blue sharks begin hitting more by mid-July, and folks targeting this species with a chum line do well as mid summer heads toward fall. The secret to catch blue sharks is as simple as getting into water at least 400 feet deep.

Backpacking, canoe tripping and automobile camping hit high gear now.

Bear scouting picks up in intensity as folks prepare to start baiting at the end of July.

Hunters shoot more as summer drifts toward fall. Rifle shooters perfect the squeeze and work up new loads, smoothbore enthusiasts shoot clay sports and bow hunters work on a consistent anchor point, perfect release and rock-steady bow arm.

Folks with bird dogs work them hard in the dawn cool, preparing them for Maine’s all-too-short bird seasons.

Gardens start producing summer squash, stringed beans, leafy veggies and more as this hobby gets to be more and more fun as summer progresses and all the goodies ripen.

Blueberries ripen and blueberry pancakes, muffins, pies and berries and dumplings become common fare.