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.
Whether you hunt or fish, the July issue of The Maine Sportsman is packed full of great articles. Of course, if you do both, it’s a virtual cornucopia!
For instance, there are not one, but two articles about fishing for big sharks, plus a large directory of charter boats and a new listing of saltwater bait dealers.
On the hunting side, we’ve got special features on both moose and bears, plus lots of ads by the best guides and outfitters for both of these specialized hunting activities.
Other features this month include two big game grand slams and an excellent article focused on the boat launch available on beautiful Schoodic Lake.
Naturally, the July issue also has a fact-filled Almanac section, including both sunrise-sunset and tide tables. Our regional reports provide plenty of where-to and how-to information on the top two angling targets of the summer months: smallmouth bass and lake trout.
Summer is a busy time for sportsmen, but taking a couple of hours to read the July issue of The Maine Sportsman is an investment that pays off big in more fun and excitement!
Posted on Monday, June 20th, 2011 by Maine Sportsman Categories:General
As summer races toward autumn, fields turn golden and trees take on a ragged look, but in the sixth month, Maine is green all right – as lush as Ireland ever gets, thanks to June rains and cool temperatures.
Fishing offers excitement and more excitement as folks cast to black bass on spawning beds, brook trout in backwoods ponds, landlocked salmon and brookies in rivers and saltwater species such as stripers and mackerel in tidal rivers and the coast.
Kids and general anglers cast to pickerel, pan-fish such as yellow perch, sunfish and white perch now and often eat their catch. And did we say hornpout fishing?
Groundfish are coming back and party boats do a brisk business between June and September as folks jig for cod, haddock and more, often getting a huge pile of fillets while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow anglers.
Automobile camping, canoe tripping and backpacking pick up now as kids get out of school, and reservations at campgrounds make sense to insure a spot for the night or week.
Hunters shoot clay pigeons, rifle targets and arrow butts now, perfecting shooting skills because hunting seasons lie just around the corner. Archers combine shooting practice in the woods with scouting.
Canoeing and kayaking draw lots of participants now, particularly kayaks. These days, nine out of 10 crafts sold at canoe-kayak businesses are kayaks. Who’d have thought that in a state like Maine that calls itself canoe country?
There’s plenty going on all right, including bicycling, hiking, gardening, gathering wild foods and a jillion others too numerous to mention because summer in Maine is a busy place for the outdoors.
Observant People See Fall Coming Now
