Punching In
The new Helios finally got a workout at the hands (figuratively speaking) of a hefty landlocked salmon measuring at just under 23 inches and close to 4 lbs. He put up no fight, instead opting to put the brakes on my streamer while he held his ground. My first impression was that I had snagged bottom, but a few nasty head shakes took care of that theory. More (and better) pictures to come, along with a full fishing conditions report for early April. Stay tuned!
Tight Lines,
-Ben
It’s Coming
As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, Up’North is counting down the days until the 2012 open water fishing season arrives on Sunday, April 1st. I’ve been writing for the better part of three hours, but my excitement dealt a knockout blow to my grammar and organizational skills before I could put the finishing touches on my “Gear in Review” post. Check back tomorrow for the finished (and hopefully polished) piece offering an inside look at some of the gear I’ll be testing throughout the 2012 season. Great products from Loon Outdoors, Orvis, L.L.Bean, Lamson-Waterworks, and more. For now, enjoy a little photography from this past Fall at Round Pond. I’ll come back atchya’ before you know it!
3 days and counting, waiting about as patiently as you might expect.
-Ben
Bartender, on Ice!
I know northern Maine is far from the only place experiencing unusually warm temperatures lately, but this is downright frightening. I have watched the Fish river thaw in the front of my house for the better part of a month, but I never expected it to be free and clear of ice before April 1st. The first official day of open water fishing is rarely a day that sees me on the water, but mother nature seems to have other plans this time around.
March 20 is the earliest I have ever personally seen the Fish river running clear, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. The strange weather will likely result in a less-than-predictable Spring fishing season; and unless we get some rain in the near future, running the river through late May will be a chore. Regardless, I have less than two weeks to make my final preparations before I open the door on my first full season of fly fishing northern rivers in nearly six years.
- Fish River free of Ice, March 20, 2012
Meanwhile, I was lucky enough to haul one last brook trout through the ice this past saturday before the end of the ice fishing season. The temps climbed well into the 60s as we watched our flags from lawn chairs parked in the middle of the lake. In addition to the trout we landed nearly a dozen perch and a lonely chub before the sun sank down behind the mountains. Only eleven days left until open water fishing, and I can’t wait to trade the snowmobiles and ice traps in for my canoe and fly rods. Viva la ice-out!
- 16inch Brook Trout fresh from the ice.
See you on the river,
-Ben
On The Menu
..................... . . . . Coming soon on Up'North
What did you think “On The Menu” meant?
- Up’North’s marketing debut: Who’s guiding your insurance decisions?
- A photographic timeline: Dad’s cedar strip canoe build Part 1.
- Book reviews: The Alaska Chronicles, Guaranteed to Last: L.L.Bean’s Century of Outfitting America, Lines on the Water:
A Fly Fisherman’s Life on the Miramichi - Fall 2011 photography feature: The lost collection.
- Gear 2012: A look at Up’North’s favorites from L.L.Bean, Simms, Ross, Orvis, and more.
- Battle Ready: Choosing a fly rod for northern Maine rivers.
It all kicks off this weekend, don’t go far!
Tight Lines,
-Ben
“When I Grow Up”
….I want to be part of the research and development team for Loon Outdoors.
No seriously, whoever originally pitched this idea at the Loon product meeting should get an instant induction into the fly fishing hall of fame. Something so simple, so useful, so brilliantly perfect in every way. It’s like they followed the Up’North crew on a fishing trip, reviewed the footage, and designed a product based on what they felt would make our time on the water more enjoyable. The R&D for these nippers must have been priceless, how could it not be? They probably didn’t need to test them on the water, but who would pass up that opportunity? I’ve always been a fan of Loon products, but this addition tops them all. Extra wide thumb pads, hook-eye clearing needle, and…….a bottle opener. This nifty little tool is a long time coming in my neck of the woods.
- Click to purchase the Loon Outdoors “Nip N Sip” tool!
The people at Loon Outdoors undoubtedly realize that R&D doesn’t stop once your product reaches fly shop shelves. Constant testing in the harshest of environments is a necessary part of product development, and I for one would be more than willing to lend a hand in the process. What better place than northern Maine to put your gear through the necessary paces? No such place exists. Please note, I accept free samples for testing purposes. Just sayin’.
In all seriousness, this product is one of those little innovations that just seems to make sense. I commend the people at Loon Outdoors for bringing some refreshing (no pun intended) originality into the nipper department. This is sure to be a huge product for them in 2012, and is already creating a worthy buzz among industry insiders and average Joes alike. Just another “must have” tool to have handy when the Spring salmon run pops off (again, no pun intended) after ice-out.
Pray for hasty thaw!
-Ben
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