Not Your Grandfather’s Kayak!
“In the old days,” fishing from a kayak could be difficult and uncomfortable. You were low to the water. There was no place to store your rod and tackle. And that was that double-bladed paddle, always in the way.
Well, that was then, and this is now, as illustrated by our cover model, expert kayak angler Sam Cushing of Belfast. His Hobie brand specialized fishing ’yak has a raised, comfortable seat and plenty of storage space, and it’s propelled by foot pedals connected to a pair of underwater, pivoting fins that can move the specialized floating platform forward, backwards and sideways. Cushing’s specialty is catch-and-release fishing for largemouth bass. He competes in kayak angling tournaments, and has already photographed and released four certified lunkers in the 20” – 22’ range (those are 6 and 7 pound fish!).
Inside the July issue of The Maine Sportsman, the fishing theme continues, whether you’re in search of information on brook trout (pages 39 and 46), Moosehead togue (page 54), rainbow trout (page 65) or salmon (page 67). Also, read our exclusive write-up and photo of Maine’s newest invasive species, the rock bass (page 29), which is now found in great numbers in the waters of the lower Androscoggin.
Get your moose permit yet? If so (or if your buddy’s, or soon-to-be-buddy’s, name was drawn), get yourself ready with two excellent primers, “Planning Your Moose Hunt” on page 32, and “A Moose-Summer Night’s Dream” starting on page 75.
And it’s time to get out on the saltwater, too – Mike Barry checks in with his annual striper update for Sportsman readers (page 6); Tom Seymour covers tasty pollock (page 17), Ron Dupuis shares his experience as a saltwater guide in “Best Saltwater Fishing Boats” (page 26), and Barry Gibson reveals secrets to hauling in schoolie stripers (page 30).
In this summertime issue, we cover high-tech (GPS and inReach units, as well as interconnected trail cameras) and low-tech (digging softshell clams out of the mudflats), smelt poaching, roadkill, moose calling, bear baiting, a fur auction, big bucks and two more Youth Writing Contest winners (see the entire list of contestants and their entries here).
All this, and the best jokes and cartoons found above Lower Shirley Corner and below Upper Dam! So use your masks (remember them?) for kindling to light your Fourth of July bonfires, and enjoy all the outdoor sports and recreation offered by Maine’s summer, giving your business support and patronage to restaurants, guides, sporting camps and outdoor supply stores.
We deliver or mail our magazines each month to stores all across the state, so look for us at your nearest newsstand. And if you subscribe for yourself or for other outdoor enthusiasts, a copy will arrive in the mail (or a digital copy will arrive on your screen) each month. Request a print or digital subscription here, or by calling our friendly and helpful office staff at 207-622-4242.
It is with great pride that with this July issue of The Maine Sportsman, we offer you the results of the hard work and inspiration of our writers, sales staff, office managers and distributors. Thank you for your continued readership support.
– Will Lund, editor
The Maine Sportsman magazine
