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Why we fish in Maine!
Key Points to Selecting a Deep Sea Fishing ReelAugust 23rd, 2010Have you ever thought of fishing as an extreme sport? Most people don’t. The usual image for fishing is serene and calm, a chance to get away from noise and to retreat into the quiet of nature. Deep sea fishing, though, is anything but calm. Imagine hooking and landing an 1100 pound marlin. It isn’t calm; it’s a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping adventure of man against fish. It makes sense, then, that you’re going to need equipment that can handle the fight. Included below are some key points on the right way to select a deep sea fishing reel. The Reel Story In addition to the type of fish, you need to know its environment and feeding preference. For example, some fish feed in the surf. Others prefer to hunt for food on the bottom. Still others prefer to eat in shallow waters. To successfully fish for any of these fish, you’ll need a reel that fits the conditions. Choose the wrong reel, and the chance for adventure will rapidly become an experience in frustration. Saltwater Reels Not all saltwater fish weigh in at half a ton, however. Smaller fish include grouper and red snapper. With these fish, you’ll need a lighter reel and lighter fishing line. Technique and Complexity You also need to match the reel to your preferred fishing technique. If you prefer medium speed trolling, a kite fishing reel will just catch you headaches. Likewise, a medium speed trolling reel will spell disaster for deep drop fishing. The last thing you want is to be out on the boat, hook the “big one” and discover your reel can’t handle the job. Getting Information Any-Deer Permit Lottery Applications Now AvailableJune 29th, 2010
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is accepting applications for the annual Any-Deer (Antlerless) Permit Lottery, and hunters will find it easy to enter online. To apply, go to www.mefishwildlife.com and select “Any Deer Permit†from the top or right side of the screen. The Department no longer mails paper applications to hunters who have entered in past lotteries. By moving the application process online, hunters are finding it faster and easier to enter and receive instant confirmation that their entry has been accepted. The Department is issuing 48,825 Any-Deer (Antlerless) Permits this year for Wildlife Management Districts 12, 13, 15-17, 20-26, 29. It is Bucks Only in all other Wildlife Management Districts. The permit allocation is: 32,907 for residents; 12,208 for landowners; 2,649 for non-residents; and 1,061 for Superpack holders. (Superpack and landowners must meet certain requirements. See the Department’s website for more information.) The deadline for online applications is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 16. The drawing will be held on September 10, 2010. If an applicant does not have access to a computer or the Internet at home, we offer the following suggestions:
If those options are not available, please visit one of our 840 licensing agents and they will assist you in applying online. There is an additional $2 processing fee if you apply online through an agent. If for any reason an applicant cannot apply online, we offer these options:
The address is:
The deadline for paper applications to be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Department’s Augusta office is 5 p.m. on Friday, July 30. Applicants must possess a valid Maine license to hunt big game in order to apply or a valid Superpack license to apply for a Superpack Deer Permit. (The Superpack license is available to Maine residents only.) If you applied online for an Any-Deer permit last year, all of your information is pre-filled into this year’s online application. To start, type in your first name, last name and date of birth as you printed it on last year’s application. We’ll look up your information. Please review your personal data and make any necessary changes. It’s easy! If you fill out an application this year – and happen to move or change your phone number before the application deadline – you can go online and edit your previously submitted Any-Deer permit application. Once you’ve filled out your application, you’ll be able to print out a confirmation page. Also, a confirmation will be e-mailed to you. This way you have a printed record of the day/time of your application as well as all of the information you provided to us. For more information about the Any-Deer Permit Lottery, visit our website at www.mefishwildlife.com and select “Any-Deer Permit†at the top or right side of the screen. Deborah Turcotte Green Drakes are Hatching NowJune 28th, 2010One of the most eagerly awaited events of the Maine fly fishing season is the Green Drake (more accurately ‘Hex’) hatch that takes place on trout ponds throughout the state. Green Drakes are very large mayflies that spend nearly their entire life as nymphs that burrow into the soft sediments of trout ponds. During this life The Green Drakes aren’t a particularly easy hatch to fish. The adult flies usually begin to emerge just as the sun drops below the tree line. And the trout feeding activity usually peaks just when it’s getting too dark to see your fly on the water. The most maddening thing is that one evening there will be a massive hatch with fish gorging themselves like pigs, and the next night, there will only be a few sporadic rises. When you hit it right though, the Green Drake hatch can be an unforgettable experience. Fishermen who live in Maine know that 2010 has been a very early season. The ice went out earlier than ever before, the smelts and suckers spawned weeks ahead of schedule, and the Green Drakes are already hatching. I saw rafts of empty nymphal shucks on one of the trout ponds that I fish on June 19 (2 weeks earlier than usual), and fished Drakes successfully a few days after that. So if you are waiting for this year’s Green Drake hatch, wait no longer, it is happening NOW. Please feel free to call or email me to discuss Green Drake fishing in Maine. Kevin Tracewski, (Tracewski Fishing Adventures), info@fishguideme.com, (207) 827-3110 Maine Fish & Wildlife magazine spring edition now online!June 14th, 2010MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE Maine Fish and Wildlife Online! Just click http://www.flipseekllc.com/maine2010spring.html Media: For more information, call IF&W Spokeswoman Deborah Turcotte at (207) 287-6008 AUGUSTA – The spring edition of Maine Fish & Wildlife, the magazine of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, now is available online only. The magazine can be viewed at http://www.flipseekllc.com/maine2010spring.html or by visiting www.mefishwildlife.com. The quarterly magazine is a snapshot of what people love – Maine’s outdoors. Each issue features programs, initiatives and projects being worked on by MDIF&W employees, with video and web links to resources readers may find useful. The spring issue is timely, with sections on:
Other articles include a synopsis of a recent oil spill drill in southern Maine, written by Wildlife Biologist Jordan Bailey, who participated in the drill, and MDIF&W wildlife management area Fahi Pond, which has wondrous wetlands. To make the online publication appear like a printed one, MDIF&W works with Ohio-based FlipSeek LLC. The company’s software allows users to flip through pages as if they are thumbing through a magazine, and zoom into text. Text and pdf versions of the magazine also are available on the Department’s website. As stewards of Maine’s natural resources, the employees at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife work on endeavors that are essential to preserving and protecting the state’s quality of life and its economic foundation. Combined, outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, boating, ATV riding, and wildlife and bird watching, contribute $2.4 billion to Maine’s economy. Deborah Turcotte Maine Fish and Wildlife Online! Just click http://www.flipseekllc.com/maine2010spring.html 2010 Maine Moose Permit Lottery Drawing Set For June 17June 14th, 2010
AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Danny†Martin is pleased to announce that the 2010 Moose Permit Lottery Drawing will be held Thursday, June 17, at L.L.Bean in Freeport. The drawing of names will begin at 6 p.m. under the moose lottery tent near L.L.Bean’s Hunt and Fishing Store. This year, 3,140 permits will be drawn for the fall harvest. Last year, 82 percent of hunters were successful. No more applications for the lottery are being accepted as the deadline has passed. Since 1999, the Moose Permit Lottery Drawing has been held at different locations throughout the state. Two years ago, the event was hosted by an outdoors retailer, and vendors were on hand to display hunting products and tips, and last year, the St. John Valley community carried that theme when the drawing was held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. This year, L.L.Bean is scheduling moose hunt education programs, covering topics such as gear, shooting techniques, moose calls, and “secrets†from “moose masters.†An indoor archery moose hunt and a five-stand public shoot also are planned. “Over the last couple of years, the Moose Permit Lottery Drawing has evolved into a spectacle where hunters can gather to swap tips, learn how to improve their skills, and share their favorite hunting stories,†according to Commissioner Martin. “This year is no exception. L.L. Bean is planning an event that will leave hunters better informed on how to make a hunt a success. And, possibly, the hunters also will leave knowing their names were drawn for a permit. I thank L.L. Bean for its support of the 2010 Moose Permit Lottery drawing and I look forward to attending this well-planned event.†Ken Kacere, senior vice-president and general manager of retail, L.L.Bean, said the retailer is thrilled to be hosting this year’s event. “We are very pleased to have been chosen by the Department to host the 2010 Maine Moose Permit Lottery Drawing,†Kacere said. “For generations of hunters, the Maine Moose Lottery has become an annual tradition that celebrates Maine’s rich outdoor heritage. We are honored to be a part of it.†Commissioner Martin said that IF&W staff from Augusta and local biologists and game wardens will be on hand at the event. The Department will be conducting a panel discussion on how to make the most of a moose hunt beginning at 5 p.m., one hour before the lottery drawing commences. “This is a great opportunity for sports enthusiasts and the general public to interact with our personnel,†Martin said. Added Mac McKeever, senior public relations representative, L.L.Bean, “In celebration of the Maine Moose Lottery Drawing, we’re offering a fun, festive array of family-oriented activities throughout the day to really enhance folks’ enjoyment and participation in the event.†Activities are set to begin at 11 a.m., with most scheduled under the moose lottery tent next to the L.L.Bean Hunt and Fishing Store. They include:
For more information, visit www.llbean.com/stores and select “upcoming events†or www.mefishwildlife.com. MEDIA: For more information, contact MDIF&W Spokesperson Deborah Turcotte at (207) 287-6008 or (207) 592-1164 And L.L.Bean Senior Public Relations Representative Mac McKeever at (207) 552-6078 Deborah Turcotte |
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