I be bassing..

After a three hour drive the prior afternoon, a late night including some candle pin bowling, and enough lies to fill any bull with shit, the early morning proved a bit rugged as Steve (The Maine Outdoorsman) and I made our way to North Pond to find a toothy bastard.  What I learned is that bobber fishing really isn't fun...

A nice bucket mouth...

True I caught a decent smallmouth bass early, but I told Steve that I didn't drive three hours to catch something that I could get 25 minutes from my own house.  After no northern pike and a two hour sail across the lake in Steve's portaboat powered by a three horse outboard motor, I simply opted to go into search and destroy mode.  Armed with a life jacket and a spinnerbait, I began firing all cannons and scored a decent largemouth.  Eventually, we knew our chances for a nice northern were over.  Tired as we were with slight headaches, we needed to get home and consume a good meal in order to prepare for the afternoon bass attack.

Rabid's first bass of the day...

Number 35, morning of day two...

Refueled and filled with enthusiasm, we hit the landing and pushed the aluminum canoe into the shallows.  I had two goals... 1) catch a ton of bass and 2) destroy Steve... both weren't too difficult to come by as the pre-spawn bass were reacting to our offering.  The size wasn't exactly up to my liking, but a few nice bruisers found themselves caught and released.  When the short afternoon jaunt conceded, around fifty bass had been garnered including 31 from my position.  It was definitely a fun evening and certainly worthy of a return the next morning.

After reassessing our gear and replenishing the weapons of demise, our morning fared far better than the previous and the bass at first strike were certainly of a better quality.  Within several hours, over 35 largemouth had been hauled in from the bow while Steve made a quality run with at least 25 of his own.  There were plenty of casts, plenty of strikes, and plenty of action resulting in one fine tenure in central Maine. 

We had to quit around 10:30 because there was an important double top secret engagement scheduled at noon.  Many thanks go out to my good buddy Steve for having me stay once again, I look forward to getting down in a few weeks for a chance at an old tom.

Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

Awesome April Break Begins

The sun has risen on my vacation, may it never set...

Let's see how many get crossed off...

We'll see how this plays out, but so far the nine days known as April vacation rest before me with a variety of opportunities, hopes, and dreams.  Today, I must take a firearms hunting safety instructor course, attend an Easter egg hunt part II spectacular, and venture south to visit my buddy Rabid whose entire family is polluted with the puking flu.  Hell or high water, I'm heading down but never will I entire the abode de Rabid.  The garage will be my quarters and base of operations.  On taps, northern pike Sunday morning, all sorts including largemouth bass Sunday afternoon, and more fishing Monday morning.

Further out in the plans, include a family hike or two... including some geocaching after some monster erratics left behind as the last ice age receded, day trip to duck camp for some finish work, paint the bottom of the lobster boat, work on some traps, and maybe a local canoe trip.

We'll see how many Awesome April events get crossed off, but 9 days of trying to do something is way better than not being able to because of work.  Let's roll....

Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

Hunter Safety Weekend

As the early spring has spurred some early open water action, my participation to date still counts at zero.  A variety of professional and personal obligations pushed any outdoor based opportunities aside and left me withdrawn like quitter hankering a smoke.  Even though benched for the first week of April, my trip this upcoming weekend to central Maine for northern pike and largemouth bass offers the potential of a walk-off home run ending this two week losing streak of fishing non-participation.  Now back to the title of this post.

I've opted to become a bow hunter, everything about it makes sense.  More hunting hours and warmer temperatures in October, less hunting pressure, and something new to get excited about.  The primary step was to take the bow hunting safety course offered by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIFW).  It is important to mention that anyone who wishes to purchase a basic hunting, archery, crossbow, or trapping license, they must complete the respective education course.  For this spring, I opted to travel 40 miles west for a two-day affair immersing myself into a variety of bow hunting topics including but not limited to:  equipment, proper hunting methods, responsibilities, and general safety.

After 10 hours of laws, safety, bow hunting equipment, first aid, survival skills, map & compass, ethics, and landowner relations, I took the 50 question test and am certified to bow hunt in the state of Maine.  Most of the course was technically a refresher from my guides training, but it was great to draw back from prior knowledge and offer some input into the program.  Needless to say, I'm excited about the prospects of getting a new bow and practicing this summer. 

During this course I was chatting with Harland Hitchings, the DIFW regional safety coordinator and grandfather of Steve Vose the Rabid Outdoorsman.  I inquired about becoming a volunteer firearm safety instructor and it didn't take long for Harland to oblige.  Since I have completed two basic safety course as a student, I was able to complete an application take a written examination on the spot.  I now need to attend an instructor training course and then I can participate in training aspiring hunters in firearm safety. 


We'll see how this goes, but I'm a teacher of 14 years including 2 at the junior high level and a serious passionate ambassador for everything outdoors in our great state.  I look forward to helping our future hunters promote themselves in an ethical, positive, and safe manner down the road.

Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

300 posts

On Monday, May 19th, 2008, I began a process to document my outdoor activities for friends and family. Today as I near the 4th anniversary of my efforts, the game has somewhat shifted... there's video production, networking, gear reviews, and other opportunities in the works. The Downeast Duck Hunter has been very good to me and for me. Years from now, there will be this wealth of stories, thoughts, and memories for my beauties... One of whom is up for the 300th post dedication...

This one is for you Leah...   You are growing so fast but you'll always be Daddy's little beauty...
  
Strong, stubborn, and very opinionated, you will succeed so well in life.  Even if it means steam rolling your way to your dreams.  Smart, pretty, and full of personality, I wonder who will dare to win your heart.  He will need the patience of your dad, and that is one tough card to play.

I love you beauty, I love how you roll, and I love watching you grow up...

First brook trout

When we returned, she jumped in...

Checking out the jewelry on Daddy's banded eider

Messing with Daddy's cooling hose on the lobster boat

You love pink, but you make brown look great

Best Man Abuse: Happy April Fools Day

You thought you were safe Mahoney... There would be no way that I could even come close to past year's debauchery plus I promised it would end... However, sometimes things just can't die...  So I'll make you a deal... For one million dollars, I will destroy the once missing but now found video shown above.  If you do not correspond with me, I will quietly leak out portions of discriminating evidence  which includes your best rendition of the Blair Witch Project shown below... Life is good...  Happy April Fools Day!!! Boom!!! Pow!!! Poof!!!