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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Where Did the Summer Go?
By Mike Guarino It's hard to believe that this is the last article of the year. Where did the summer go? It seems like only yesterday we were salmon fishing on a perfect opening day, dodging ice bergs and floating debris while chasing silversides with sewn smelts on slow sinking fly lines. Somewhere in between then and now, we managed to catch some beautiful fish, get into a massive fight with a stubborn downrigger, buy a new boat, watch the eagles, see way too many sunrises, and laugh a lot with the kids. Oh, and let's not forget about making memories that last a lifetime too! That's the most important part of fishing and playing in the outdoors and this season was definitely a year of special moments. For example, my 5-year-old discovered that she has amazing patience and can fish for hours off the end of the dock. She learned how to catch worms at night with the help of a flashlight, she can now bait her own hook (sort of), and she learned that sunfish have very sharp dorsal fins too. The amazing part is that she learned all of these things without the help of a television or a remote control or a Gameboy! Alas, fall is here and suddenly I'm spending a lot of time on the soccer field, coaching a wonderful girl's team at Messalonskee High, and my kids are getting ready for the lessons of the classroom rather than those learned on the water. Don't fret though, there's always time to fish and fall in Belgrade Lakes is prime time to catch a few more big fish in a wide variety of species. September is a lost month for many anglers. Maybe it's because the kids go back to school or fewer hours of daylight, or maybe it's because some people are just tired of fishing — can you imagine that! For whatever reason, the lakes and rivers in this area see a drastic reduction in fishing pressure even though September is arguably the best fishing month of the year. Of course it's chilly outside early in the morning and the boat is covered in fall condensation. So make sure you bring a towel and a heavy jacket or fleece. Last week when the cold front hit, I needed to wear a winter hat because cruising across a flat calm lake during sunrise at 40-miles per hour can freeze a fella's forehead! Lately the fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass has been excellent. The fish have been hitting wacky worms in watermelon and black with purple sparkle, along with rapalas and in-line spinners such as gold roostertails and mepps. This time of year anglers are advised to fish through the middle of the day too. Usually, during the dog days of summer, fishermen hit the lakes at dawn and dusk for the best action. Once the crowds leave and the pressure subsides, the fishing activity increases around midday when the water temperatures warm up. This is especially true with bass, perch and pike. It's always cool to catch big fish during lunchtime when most anglers are back at camp! There is one added bonus to getting up early this time of year and getting out on the water. The migrating ducks are arriving in droves. They are so much fun to watch as they scream over the water looking for a comfortable place to land. On Tuesday, August 22, we saw canvasback ducks on Great Pond. There were four in the group and they landed near us, close enough for me to see their features. We do not see many canvasbacks around here, but I grew up on Lake Champlain near the Canadian border were canvasbacks are more common. I was surprised to see these beautiful birds — just goes to show that as the seasons change, you never know what's going to show up next. On a personal note, I'd like to thank everyone who e-mailed or called this year. Your photos and fish stories were welcomed and appreciated, and even the few of you who "stretched the truth" a little helped add a great deal to this column. I'd also like to thank my wife Kellie for letting me go fishing all the time. I'm so thankful to live in this beautiful area and have you and the kids to share it with. I hope everyone has a wonderful fall and winter — see you on the water! Good luck. Mike Guarino can be contacted at | ||
