The late Bill Silliker, a world-class photographer, extolled the quality of September light and used adjectives such as “golden” and “sweet” to describe images he shot in the ninth month. He worked himself to a frazzle to take advantage of the month – perhaps the best month of the year for photography.
One need not be a photographer or painter to appreciate Maine in September. It rivals Provence or the French Riviera for favorable light that’s so dazzling it adds to any outdoors experience.
This month, weather has a quaint charm, too, which also feels odd just about every day. Days start out like early fall, but by later in the morning, it’s summer again.
Let’s say someone goes bicycling at 7 a.m. and immediately heads down a hill lickety-split. The wind generated by speed feels ultra-cold and goose bumps pop out on bare arms. By 10 a.m., that same pedaler will be sweating up a long, steep hill under a glaring sun. That’s September.
Striped bass, black bass and salmonid action picks up this month, so folks get snapping with their fishing plans – a busy month as warm summer water starts cooling, activating game-fish feeding sprees.
Hunters after bear, moose and certainly deer in the expanded archery season also stay busy now. None of these sports attract a lot of people, but the ones who do them are dedicated.
September strikes many folks as an in-between month, though, and they do stuff such as ATVing, hiking, backpacking, canoe tripping, road bicycling, off-road bicycling, photographing wildlife and landscapes, harvesting staples from gardens, foraging for wild foods and on and on it goes, including preparing leisurely meals with fruits from forests, waters and backyard gardens.
Folks need not be foragers to enjoy the month’s tasty offerings. In the dining department, it is also a time of seasonal foods in every supermarket from Kittery to Fort Kent. If folks cannot feel close to the earth in September, they never will.
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Every month our writers strive to bring you lots and lots of useful information. And, man, have they done an outstanding job with the September 2011 issue!
This issue offers a cornucopia of advice and information, ranging from when to hang a deer tree stand, to a fabulous new ATV multi-purpose trail in the Millinocket area, to explaining the complex rules governing who needs to register to fish in salt water.
There is a wealth of information about September fishing hot spots, as well as the techniques to catch them. Whatever kind of fish you’re after, you’ll find it covered here: stripers, mackerel, bass, perch, pickerel, togue, and landlocked salmon included.
This is our annual shooting sports issue and you’ll find features on the best deer rifles for trophy bucks and great advice about accessories to make your rifle shoot better.
Naturally, all the usual great features are in the issue too: the Almanac with tides and sunrise/sunset tables, the Maine Wildlife Quiz, a listing of current hunting and fishing seasons, and even a couple of outdoorsy cartoons.
We top that off with lots of ads about products and services of interest to sportsmen. Here you’ll find the best sporting camps and outfitters and everything from ATVing to trapping supplies.
So grab a copy and spend some time with Maine’s long-running publication devoted to bringing the best of Maine’s outdoors.
Posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 by Maine Sportsman Categories:General
In a Maine July, average highs reach the upper 70s and average lows drop into the 50s, perfect temperatures for the human body – neither too hot nor too cold.
It is little wonder we consider July a touch of paradise, and everyone wants to be outdoors fishing, barbecuing, hiking, camping, swimming — or you name it – as long as we’re outdoors.
As July begins, though, that lawn just won’t quit, so we mow every three to four days, making us wish we left lawn fertilizer in the store last spring – where these chemicals belong.
July has one feature in common with August. Folks look at these two months as ideal for camping, whether hiking, backpacking, canoe tripping or vehicle camping.
Meanwhile, anglers find opportunities and more opportunities:
If bluefish are ever going to come, it’s by the 7th month. Please do not put money on bluefish arriving at a dependable date. This species has become the definition of hit-and-miss fishing.
Because of the severely declining striped-bass population, though, bluefish have become an important target species for folks with bigger fish on their mind than mackerel, harbor pollack, cunner and the usual pan-sized suspects.
Mackerel provide plenty of fun, though, and for a typical Maine native, they taste mighty good, too. We love our mackerel, despite the oil and stronger fishy taste.
Brook-trout ponds have dependable hatches in the first half of July, particularly over the Hex hatch, a huge mayfly that brings big brookies topside. Bottom-dredgers concentrate over deep holes and springs and do well, hauling brookies up from the depths.
Several caddis species emerge, too, and often get trout chasing them as they rocket to the top. A down-wing wet fly with no tail often draws aggressive strikes when a fly rodder strips the fly beneath the surface.
Brookie brooks in Northern Maine still produce now as long as flows hold up. If a pond or lake lies up or downstream and flows drop, anglers can depend on trout running to still water.
The same holds true for rivers and big streams. Trout and salmon run from flowing waters to still waters to spend summer months until September lowers water temperatures in tributaries and outlets.
Lake-trout anglers find these big char concentrated into deep holes. They work these places, knowing togue lie there, thanks to fish finders showing them the way.
Black bass move to deeper water along drop-offs near shallow coves, and while on the topic of warm-water species, pickerel crowd weed beds, white perch stay deep as water temps rise and ditto for black crappies, sunfish and yellow perch.
Party boats get big crowds after July 4th as they ply the depths for cod, haddock and more – a great way to get a mess of white, flaky fillets. This sport is social, too, and folks have as much fun talking as they do fishing.
Hunters have woodchucks now. Bear hunters do their scouting in July, and start baiting 30 days before the August 29 start of the season.
The August issue of The Maine Sportsman is special. Maybe a better way to say that is the August issue is full of special features on both fishing and hunting topics.
For those interested in bear hunting, we’ve got a special feature on the best bear baiting techniques to draw in those ever-so-wary big bruins.
Upland game enthusiasts will want to read the special article about the benefits of hunting with a close working flushing dog.
Saltwater fans should focus on our special feature on fishing for a greatly improved population of codfish and another about techniques for taking bluefish in August.
Added to those specials is a report on what has become a serious question for the Fish and Wildlife Department: How many moose are there in the State of Maine?
That great Special Feature lineup is all added on top the usual array of columns and features you’ll find in every issue of The Maine Sportsman. We’ve got regional reports that go from Aroostook to Washington counties and columns that subjects ranging from guns to paddle sports.
Thinking about all that great outdoor reading, I guess it really is fair to say that the August issue of The Maine Sportsman really is special.
Posted on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 by Maine Sportsman Categories:General
In a Maine July, average highs reach the upper 70s and average lows drop into the 50s, perfect temperatures for the human body – neither too hot nor too cold.
It is little wonder we consider July a touch of paradise, and everyone wants to be outdoors fishing, barbecuing, hiking, camping, swimming — or you name it – as long as we’re outdoors.
As July begins, though, that lawn just won’t quit, so we mow every three to four days, making us wish we left lawn fertilizer in the store last spring – where these chemicals belong.
July has one feature in common with August. Folks look at these two months as ideal for camping, whether hiking, backpacking, canoe tripping or vehicle camping.
Meanwhile, anglers find opportunities and more opportunities:
If bluefish are ever going to come, it’s by the 7th month. Please do not put money on bluefish arriving at a dependable date. This species has become the definition of hit-and-miss fishing.
Because of the severely declining striped-bass population, though, bluefish have become an important target species for folks with bigger fish on their mind than mackerel, harbor pollack, cunner and the usual pan-sized suspects.
Mackerel provide plenty of fun, though, and for a typical Maine native, they taste mighty good, too. We love our mackerel, despite the oil and stronger fishy taste.
Brook-trout ponds have dependable hatches in the first half of July, particularly over the Hex hatch, a huge mayfly that brings big brookies topside. Bottom-dredgers concentrate over deep holes and springs and do well, hauling brookies up from the depths.
Several caddis species emerge, too, and often get trout chasing them as they rocket to the top. A down-wing wet fly with no tail often draws aggressive strikes when a fly rodder strips the fly beneath the surface.
Brookie brooks in Northern Maine still produce now as long as flows hold up. If a pond or lake lies up or downstream and flows drop, anglers can depend on trout running to still water.
The same holds true for rivers and big streams. Trout and salmon run from flowing waters to still waters to spend summer months until September lowers water temperatures in tributaries and outlets.
Lake-trout anglers find these big char concentrated into deep holes. They work these places, knowing togue lie there, thanks to fish finders showing them the way.
Black bass move to deeper water along drop-offs near shallow coves, and while on the topic of warm-water species, pickerel crowd weed beds, white perch stay deep as water temps rise and ditto for black crappies, sunfish and yellow perch.
Party boats get big crowds after July 4th as they ply the depths for cod, haddock and more – a great way to get a mess of white, flaky fillets. This sport is social, too, and folks have as much fun talking as they do fishing.
Hunters have woodchucks now. Bear hunters do their scouting in July, and start baiting 30 days before the August 29 start of the season.
Photographer Bill Silliker Loved
