Another
year in the books #85
It’s hard to believe that I began to write these blogs back
in 2012. December 2, 2012 to be exact. The blog has grown to over eighty four
in number and I have tried to cover as much ground as I could. It seems as though
time passes all too fast and as I look back on 2012, I remember not really knowing
where I would go with the blogs I wrote , but I only knew that I wanted to
showcase the beauty of our Northern Maine lands and the enjoyment you could get
from taking time to take it all in. I have the perfect backdrop here in the
North Maine Woods and know that they are only a few miles away from my home. TC
and I have come to know many of the people that work here and have spent many a
night at some of the sporting camps within the NMW boundaries. When many were
traveling outside our state for vacation or just some R&R, TC and I were
making our way into the many ponds to fish or the many roads that held some of
the best grouse hunting in the world. We often made day trips, leaving early in
the morning and coming home late at night. Then, when we felt like really
getting away, we would book a night or two at two of our favorite camps. Red
River Camps on Deboulie or Chandler Camps on Chandler Lake. The hospitality and
the food at both were world class and had us coming back as often as we could.
Over the 2016 fishing season, we spent more time in the Deboulie region, which
had us staying at Red River Camps. Jen and Gloria were great hosts, and we
always found it exciting when we arrived, and saddening when we left.
We experienced some good fishing in 2016 and also made some
memories. As an example, we fished a pond in Deboulie that TC’s dad and I went
to many years ago. Crater was once a good pond for trout, I saw it decline over
the years due to the water levels. This year, it was back in a big way and we
caught some very nice trout there. We hiked into the Blacks and gave it a go.
Yes, the Blacks. We tried our hand at North Little Black and although we did
not catch anything, we could say we had been there. We fished Upper where on a
good evening, just before dark, the water would boil with fish rising to the
surface. We spent time on Island pond in the evening. Island is the pond where
Red River Camps operates from. But I think the best memory I have of 2016, is
when TC caught her first fish on a fly she had tied herself. Take it from me,
there is nothing greater or more satisfying than that.
My final remembrance of the 2016 fishing season is called “Cast
and Blast”. That, my friends is when you fish on the last day of fishing
season, wake up the next day which is now hunting season and you go hunting. TC
and I experienced that time of year for the first time together and it was fun.
So, 2016 is in the books, fishing season came to a close.
But I will have a lot of fond memories of our journeys. It’s not often that you
can say that your fishing partner is your wife and that she has as much passion
for the outdoors as I do, so I consider myself very lucky. Thanks for a great
year TC and I look forward to loading the canoe with you in 2017.
