The Maine Highlands

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12/15/09--05:13: Welcome... (chan 2091643)

Welcome to The Maine Highlands, the natural wonder of Maine. A place where the pathways are yours to create. Where adventure is not choreographed and the wilderness of the land is not just a memory. Welcome to a stunning tapestry of mountains and lakes, rivers, hills and valleys. Welcome to life at a different pace, rich in life's finer and simpler pleasures. Welcome to a place that will make you feel just that - welcome; where the smiles are as genuine as the land itself.

The Maine Highlands invites you to a vacation experience like no other in America.

A natural region for people with a passion for wildlife, we have Canadian geese, songbirds, abundant species of ducks and even bald eagles! In this rich and wild ecosystem, sightings of moose, fox, deer, and bear are quite common.

There's a perfect body of water for every level of experience and any length of excursion. Guided expeditions by canoe and kayak can take you far into the wilderness with expert instruction, catered meals and the best provisions. From whitewater rafting to freshwater fishing, it's all in The Maine Highlands.

With hundreds of miles of well-marked trails and three area ski mountains, both cross-country and downhill skiing are widely enjoyed. Plan a snowmobile-oriented tour and vacation for the thrill of cruising over frozen terrain or well-groomed trails. And don't forget ice fishing...to get a second shot at the one that got away!

Experience the outdoors with a bit more adrenaline in The Maine Highlands. From Mountain biking to whitewater rafting, and rock climbing to the revered tradition of hunting, the landscape here was made for extreme activities in the wild.






12/18/09--11:07: Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping in the Bangor, Maine Region! (chan 2091643)

We are really lucky here in our Bangor region to have something for everyone when it comes to shopping, eating and lodging.

This is great for a few reasons, one is different people like different styles of shopping. If you like Mall Style shopping, we have a large mall area with over seventy stores as well as manyothers located around the property. We have several discount stores, added to the mix in recent years on Union Street and Broadway in Bangor, as well as Wilson Street in Brewer for great buys on familiar items- and who doesn’t need to save money?

For those that enjoy more intimate shopping, like a "downtown" style we have several wonderful downtowns like, Bangor, Brewer, and Hampden where you have a more boutique style experience, easy parking and great restaurants that are not franchises but locally owned where the owner is often "in the store" or better yet, "behind the bar" or "in the kitchen." Unique Irish food or old fashioned pub grub, or if you are in the mood for some Caribbean flair, it is all downtown! All are family friendly with plenty of booster seats!

As a local tradition, for several Saturdays in downtown Bangor, we have had Mr. and Mrs. Claus located on Main Street for photos with the kids, as well as a "Festival of Lights" parade on December 5th, complete with light snow and lots of hot chocolate!

Our region really is great for people traveling in groups that may enjoy different experiences. Hardcore shoppers may drop the "amateurs" at a movie theatre, live theatre, museum or restaurant while they do their work! Everyone has a great time and nobody feels abandoned!

Put our Bangor region on your list of great places to visit to shop, eat and stay, we have something for everyone!

~Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau






12/29/09--05:17: Warm Wishes from Katahdin! (chan 2091643)

Snow is falling, and we’ve just put the finishing touches on our snowmobile trail system, with a new bridge spanning the river on Route 11 from Brownville, opening up that east-west corridor going right into downtown Millinocket for dining and entertainment.

We’re eagerly awaiting the opening of Pelletier Loggers Family Restaurant, that extensively renovated downtown space, due to open in January. You’ve got to check it out! The Discovery Channel reality series, American Loggers, features the Pelletier family of Millinocket, giving the world a snapshot of “La Vie de Bois” or “life in the woods”.

East Branch Sno Rovers recently announced their schedule for MSDRA (Maine Snowmobile Drag Racing Association)races, and their plans for Sno Weekend. Check out their website at www.eastbranchsnorovers.com

Stay warm and think snow!

~Jennifer Olsen, Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce







01/06/10--05:48: Is Global Warming Affecting Moosehead Lake? (chan 2091643)

We all know global warming will affect weather patterns in different ways with some areas of the world becoming colder in the winter. Many scientists believe that the Gulf Stream may slow down which will result in significantly cooler temperature in Great Britain. Here in Moosehead the weather has changed; with the past two years bringing lots of snow.

How many of you snowmobile, cross country ski, snowshoe, dogsled or ice fish? In the winter that is what there is to do here and without cold weather accompanied with lots of snow, things do not go well. I guess what we are all wondering is, will 2010 be another great snow year? Has global warming changed Moosehead’s winters, will we continue to have the snow we need to play? If the first few days of 2010 are any indicator the answer is a resounding YES. I spent all day Sunday shoveling and snow blowing and that’s after roof raking most of Saturday. I know I am complaining but I am also excited that the year is starting so strong. As a Registered Maine Guide, I know how hard it is to get my clients happy about the winter when we don’t have enough snow.

The cold weather is making lots of ice on Moosehead and in the next few days we will haul our ice shacks out and begin fishing. This year everyone of else will be out on the ice trying to catch a togue (lake trout for those of you from away) to match Bill Maynard’ s record setting 31 pound, 41 inch monster caught during 2009. Even though we have all asked Bill where he caught his togue, he has been less than cooperative and I would guess that a number of anglers will be following Bill on the lake this year, I have too much pride to be one of them.

So Moosehead may be experiencing colder snowier winters because of global warming but that’s not the whole story. Every year since 1848 records have been kept for ice-out on Moosehead and guess what? The average date keeps getting earlier and earlier. Which is great because once May comes along we need the ice out of there to begin our traditional spring fishing. So maybe we have the ideal winter weather with lots of snow when we need it and the lake ice free for the start of open water fishing on May 1st.

~Bob Hamer, Executive Director for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce






02/04/10--05:53: Winter Events in February! (chan 2091643)

Don't miss these events!!

Moosehead Lake Area - FMI www.MooseheadLake.org


The Sixth Annual Moosehead Lake Chocolate Festival
February 14, 2010

Chocolate Festival Cookie Takes place on February 14, 2010 1-4 pm at the Masonic Hall in Greenville. Once again you get to choose 12 Chocolate desserts from over 35 delectable delights for only $10 per person. A special Children's Corner will once again provide unique food, games and prizes for $5 per child. And as always you can place your bid on the great items in our Silent & Chinese Auction. Plan on coming early to be sure to get your share of these fabulous chocolate masterpieces: last year we had over 400 people attend.


Saturdays
Cross Country Skiing Outings
Bring your skis and a bag lunch. Children accompanied by adult welcome. Every other Saturday starting January 2nd.


Wednesdays
First Wednesday Ride/Breakfast
Continues for the rest of the season. Half and full day rides!!!!Starts February 3rd 2010.


February 6, 2010 at 09:00 AM
100 Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race
Due to weather conditions, the 100 mile race has been canceled but the 30 mile race is still on. There will be over 20 teams. A meet and greet with the mushers at IF&W is 8-9:30 and the race will start at 11:30 at Mountain View Rd. During the race AMC will have snowshowing and there will be a bonfire at IF&W at 4PM to welcome back the teams.


February 7, 2010 at 08:30 AM
Family Ice Day at Sawyer Pond
Learn the basic skills required to catch fish under the ice. Bring warm clothes and your fishing license.Fishing equipment will be supplied or you can bring your own. Hot food and drinks will be provided. Participation is limited so call and leave your name, number of participants and your telephone number.


February 12, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Moosehead Riders Chili/Chowder and more Cookoff
Annual cookoff featuring many of our best local chefs.


February 13, 2010
Annual Cook Out-Cook In
The Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club invites you to come enjoy Deep Fried Turkey, Hamburgers & Hotdogs inside and make your own S'mores on the fire. Kids can even roast hot dogs on the fire! Lunch is free - donations appreciated. All are welcome by sled or by car.


February 13, 2010 at 09:00 AM
Snowmobile Scavenger Ride
Come to the Moosehead Riders Clubhouse on ITS 85/86 to get your map and start your adventure! The map will guide you to some of the most scenic vistas in the state, where you will find a "treasure". Once you have found all of the treasures, it's back to the clubhouse for our annual Cook Out-Cook In and prizes!


February 14, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Annual Moosehead Lake Chocolate Festival
A tantalizingly delicious event sponsored by the Moosehead Chamber of Commerce. A great place to take the whole family. Choose 12 samples from a selection of 30 delectable chocolate desserts. For the kids there is a special Children's corner with unique food & prizes. And as always you can place a bid on the great items in our Silent & Chinese Auctions.


February 16, 2010 at 09:00 AM
Family Ride & Kids Eat FREE Lunch
Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club continues their SNO-FEST celebration on Tuesday with a scenic guided ride for the whole family. After the ride, kids eat FREE lunch followed by a coloring contest and prizes for all.


February 18, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Horse/Wagon Ride-Fireworks and Fun
Horse/wagon ride starts at 10 to about 2. There will also be a clown, juglers and face painting at the Museum with free hot chocolate at Auntie M's. Later that evening will be fireworks on the ice by the Forestry Dept. All is free and sponsored by J&L Waitkus


February 19, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Snowmobile Parade & Bonfire
Moosehead Riders SNO-FEST culminates with a snowmobile parade and bonfire. Meet on the East Cove for a lighted parade on the lake followed by hot chocolate & cookies at the bonfire.


February 26, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Second moonlight ride/cookout
Meet at clubhouse at 6:00pm, bring campfire food and drinks and WARM CLOTHING!



Katahdin Area - FMI www.KatahdinMaine.com

Winterfest 2010

Friday, February 12

6:00 p.m. Snowmobile Parade down the main street from Stearns High School. All are welcome. Prizes will be awarded for Best Business Float, Family Float, Best Antique Sled, and Best Modern Sled, courtesy of KACC
Bonfire and Concessions at Veteran’s Park with Northern Timber Cruisers
7:30 Fireworks at Millinocket Recreation Complex

Saturday, February 13
4-6 Baked Bean Supper, Northern Timber Cruisers

Sunday, February 14
7a.m.-11, Pancake Breakfast, Northern Timber Cruisers

Saturday, February 20
9-3: Family Fishing Day at Jerry Pond, courtesy of the Fin and Feather Club
10:00 a.m. Downtown Trailhead Ribbon Cutting and Trail Ride to Suspension Bridge start at Veteran’s Park
11:00 a.m. Suspension Bridge Ribbon Cutting, Trail ride to follow, ending at Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. Lunch at Timber Cruisers (self purchase)
12-4 Snowmobile Museum Open
4 p.m. Pig Roast at Northern Timber Cruisers
7 p.m.-12 midnight DJ Dance BYOB at Northern Timber Cruisers


Sebasticook Valley Area Events - FMI www.OurChamber.org

* Hit the slopes or trails on your downhill or cross country skis.
* Snowmobile on one of the Sebasticook Valley’s groomed trails.
* Pine Tree Ride-In Snowmobile Parade held on the first weekend in February. Take part and drive your sled through the center of Newport.
* WinterFest Dexter, ME Snowmobile Radar Run. For more information call Roger Wyman at 924-5902. Snowmobile Parade. Prizes awarded to the top three places in three competition categories. Snow Sculpture Competitions. For more Festival information, call the Dexter Town Office at 924-7351 or visit the Town website at wwww.dextermaine.org.
* Annual David D. Merrill Memorial Sled Dog Challenge At the Big A Snowmobile Clubhouse Newport, ME, the last weekend in February. Take a ride in a dog sled!
* Other outdoor winter activities include snowshoeing, ice skating and sledding.
* Friday Feb. 27, 2009 7 - 10 pm Country Music Show, at the Irving Tanning Community Center in Hartland Admission is by donation only for this event whose host will be the Maine Country Music Association Northern Chapter


Join us for the
Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp
Fri., Feb. 5 - Sun. Feb. 7, 2010 - Newport, Maine

Join us for the kick-off celebration at the Millennium in Palmyra on Sat., Jan. 30, 2010!
The 2010 Snowmobile Ride-in in Newport, Maine will feature a wide range of community events fun for the whole family. The event draws snowmobilers from all corners of Maine as well as people living in the greater Newport area.

The Ride-in not only raises money for Pine Tree Camp, but is also an event to celebrate the commitment and hard work of snowmobilers. Clubs throughout Maine raise money for Pine Tree Camp throughout the year and “ride in” to Newport to make their donations. Since 1974, the Snowmobile Ride-in has raised more than $3.6 million in support of Pine Tree Camp.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Pine Tree Camp, an extraordinary summer camp for Maine children and adults with disabilities, is one of the many programs of Pine Tree Society.

2010 Dexter Winter Festival Events and Schedule
On the weekend of February 12th thru the 14th, 2010, the Town of Dexter and Wassookeag Snowmobile Club will host the 10th Annual Winter Festival on Lake Wassookeag.

Friday, February 12:

* Presentation of the School Snow Sculpture Competition Cash Awards at DRHS Gym at Noon
* Chili Cook-Off at Maine Highlands RFCU 11 AM-2 PM at the CU to benefit Ending Hunger in Maine judged by the public
* Story Time Tea at Abbott Memorial Library 4 PM - These events will be at the Wassookeag Snowmobile Clubhouse to benefit the Hal Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Fund
* Spaghetti Supper 5:00-6:30 PM (Donations accepted)
* Snowmobile Ride 6:30 PM

Saturday, February 13:

* Snowmobile Club Open House 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
* Snowmobile Radar-Run on Lake Wassookeag - 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
* Snow Sculpture Competition at the Wassookeag Recreation Area
* Roller Skating at Town Hall – 2:00-4:00 PM
* Old time contra dance at Universalist Church 7 PM
* FIREWORKS! 7 PM on Little Lake Wassookeag
* Festival Adult Dance at the K of C Hall - 7:30 PM

Sunday, February 14:

* Snowmobile Club Open House 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
* Snowmobile Parade-11:00 AM (Forming at McFarland Street at 10am)
* Snow Sculptures & Parade Awards Presentation at Snowmobile Club-Noon
* Drawing of the "Where's the Beef Raffle" at noon at the Snowmobile Club (Need not be present to win). Two prizes of $250 worth of beef with tickets available from Ripley Trail Riders and Wassookeag Snowmobile Club members

Saturday, February 20:

* Snowmobile Club Open House 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
* Dexter Ice Wars Drag Races – Registration 7:00-8:30 am


Greater Bangor Area - FMI www.VisitBangorMaine.com

1st Annual Paul Bunyan Pond Hockey Tournament
Date & Time: Feb 6, 2010 (All Day)

Welcome to the 1st Annual Paul Bunyan Pond Hockey Tournament, located in Bangor, Maine at Bass Park. PBPondHockey is an event to bring together players and teams from across Maine and beyond. Every hockey player that ever laced up a pair of skates and went out onto the "pond" knows that feeling when the blade cuts into the ice and a cool breeze hits your face. The years may have past, but that feeling is still there, just waiting to be awakened with the first stride across a clear sheet of outdoor ice. The games will be like old times on the pond. Your participation in this event will help Bangor Breakfast Rotary Club support some local charities to benefit the kids of Maine. So be ready to lace up the skates, put on the extra t-shirt under that old jersey, and be ready to be a part of the Paul Bunyan Pond Hockey Tournament.

Snowshoe Trek
Date & Time: Feb 13, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Location: West Penjajawoc Grasslands and the Penjajawoc Marsh

Snowshoe Trek at West Penjajawoc Grasslands and the Penjajawoc Marsh February 13th, 2010, 10:00am Get off the beaten path, leave the trails behind, and see the Penjajawoc Marsh as you can see it only in winter. Take advantage of the ice and join us on a snowshoe walk. Look for tracks and critters. Dress warmly and bring your own snowshoes or cross-country skis. Meet at the BLT kiosk at the end of Fox Hollow Lane. To get there, go north on Essex St approximately 3 miles from the intersection with Stillwater Ave, passing Chestnut Trail and taking your next right onto Fox Hollow Lane. Stay on Fox Hollow Lane until you reach the cul-de-sac parking area at the end.

Penobscot Winterfest
Date & Time: Feb 20, 2010 (All Day)

Fun filled weekend for all ages.






02/18/10--04:39: Come Visit Us! (chan 2091643)

In or around Boston this weekend? Well...come visit us! We will be at the Boston Globe Travel Show in the Maine Pavilion all weekend long!!

The show is located at the World Trade Center and here are the hours:


• FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19
  Trade Only | 3:30P - 5:30P
  Open to All | 5:30P - 9P
• SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 | 10A - 6P
• SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 | 10A - 4P

There will be special guests: Patricia Schultz (1,000 Places to See Before You Die), Arthur & Pauline Frommer, and Julia Dimon (travel experts), speaking throughout the weekend. As, well as different performances and showcases from countries from all around the world!

Tickets are $10 each and children under 18 are free! Don't miss this event!!

FMI: www.BostonGlobeTravelShow.com







02/23/10--08:22: Feeling Bored?? (chan 2091643)

This time of year it is easy to just want to stay inside and peek out the window. But then, you realize when you get back to work, lots of people did cool things and you missed out on them! Spring is well on its way and getting some fresh air will do us all good. But what to do, what to do?

Here is a link to a online calendar (http://www.maineevents.com/search/distance:25/location:04401/daterange:365) that truly shows the diverse activities you can find within 25 miles of Bangor. For a small city there is much more to do than a movie. Movies are great and we have a big multiplex out by the mall, but just this week you could go to a show at Penobscot Theatre, train to be a volunteer at Spruce Run, check out the Maine Discovery childrens’ museum, or take a chance on winning a car at Hollywood Slots, these and many more are all listed on this Maine Events (http://www.maineevents.com) site.






03/16/10--09:45: The United States Cross Country Snowmobile Association is Coming to the East Coast!!! (chan 2091643)

The United States Cross Country Snowmobile Association is coming to the east coast! After years of races in the mid-west the USCC will hold their first ever race in Maine on Saturday, March 20th. The USCC looked all over Maine to find the best location for the race and chose Moosehead Lake. The event will include Pro, Semi-Pro & Amateur races. Victory Motor Sports of Abbott and Indian Hill Trading Post are the two main underwriters of the races along with support from another 30 local and national businesses. One of the most anticipated races is the Indian Hill Trading Post Maine Amateur 100 which will see amateurs from all over the state competing for the bragging rights of being the USCC’s Maine Amateur winner. The event promises lots of action and a chance to see some of the top Pros and their sleds. Check out www.maine100.com for more info.

The Rockwood Ice Fishing Derby just finished this past weekend and the winners this year were:
Charlie Mcennis of Rockwood, ME 18 pound 6 ½ oz 37 inch Togue
Joe Hardison of Rockwood, ME 2 pound 6 oz 19 ¾ inch Land-Locked Salmon
Hunter Willams of Bryant, ME 1 pound 5 oz 17 inch Brook Trout
Ian Boniakowski of Greenbush, NJ 8 pound 11 ½ oz 32 inch Cusk

Bob Garner of Topsham, ME was second place in the togue division with a 12 pound 10 ½ oz, 32 ½ inch long togue. But the real story is that Bob was using 6 lb test leader and asked a nearby angler to help get the fish through the nine inch hole. After grabbing the fish and getting it on the ice both men noticed that Bob had actually hooked a 14 inch salmon and the togue had grabbed the salmon for a quick snack and was unable to get free!

While the Derby was going on, I was down in Suffern, NY manning The Maine Highlands booth at the World Fishing and Outdoor Exposition, the largest outdoor show in the northeast. The turnout was great and we had the opportunity to talk with several thousand show attendees about The Maine Highlands. It always amazes me how many people I meet at the shows who have not heard of Mt Katahdin, Moosehead Lake or Gulf Hagas, three of the natural wonders of Maine.

That’s why we do the shows, to get the message out to outdoor enthusiasts that our region is hard to beat. Our booth has photos of white water rafting, ATVing, hiking, canoeing, fishing and other activities available in the area. One look usually brings people over to ask questions and gives us the opportunity to brag about our beautiful region. We spent a considerable amount of time discussing fishing since we have so many “Fly-Fishing Only” waters all of which offer excellent and in some cases “World Class” fishing. While many other areas of the United States have equally great fishing few can offer the peaceful and uncrowded experience available on our streams, rivers & ponds. Most of the crowd we talked with planned on visiting Maine this summer and hopefully many of them will check out the Maine Highlands. The one negative note was everyone’s fear that fuel prices might go back to $4.00 a gallon. Let’s hope not.

Roger Currier of Curriers Flying Service is running a Moosehead Lake Ice Out contest on his Curriers Flying Service Facebook page. Roger is offering a flight for two in one of his float planes to the lucky winner of the contest. This year if I was guessing I would think ice out would be around April 15th. Remember that the earliest ice out date since we began keeping records in 1848 was April 14, 1945. For more info on this subject check out my earlier blog of January 6, 2010, on Global Warming.

Bob Hamer, Executive Director for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce






04/08/10--07:02: Ask me I live here.... (chan 2091643)

A bunch (10) of professional women from the Bangor Area were sitting down to a informal networking lunch. This lunch has become a weekly event, we go for sushi. Didn’t know Bangor had sushi? Well, it has a wide variety of restaurants- Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Indian, Irish as well as our favorite local spots.

But this post isn’t about the great restaurants, it was about the conversation around the table. One woman said, “Of all the places I have lived, I have NEVER had better FRIENDS than I have had since I moved here."

At that point I asked of the 10, “How many of you would consider yourself a Bangor area native?” Only 3 people said they were. Then the conversation ensued about how open, safe, welcoming and supportive the community is to new people (or people “from away” as we call them.) How easy it is to get to know people and how friendly the atmosphere is.

One woman said, “I am originally from metro New Jersey and at first I found myself thinking it strange that all these people were reaching out to my husband and me, then I realized I was the one that was strange! Now I find myself LOOKING out for people downtown that need directions and talking to complete strangers helping them find their way around here!”

We all got a good laugh and shared our own stories, each one though unique, was similar in tone. Our region is friendly, safe and a great place to be. Whether you are looking to vacation, spend a weekend or move here. We have great arts and museums as well as great shopping. We also have walking trails the list goes on. If you are ever looking for things to do, you may check out this calendar; Bangor CVB Event Calendar when planning your stay. And when you start seeing the signs in the windows “ASK ME I LIVE HERE” we truly mean it and we hope to see you soon!






04/30/10--04:11: "Ice Out" - Moosehead Lake (chan 2091643)

For all of you eagerly awaiting Moosehead’s ice out news; on April 15th at 10:33 we had the second earliest ice out since we started recording them in 1848. The earliest recorded was April 14, 1945. The interesting thing this year was that the weekend of April 10-11 high winds were predicted which would have opened the lake up very quickly. But the high winds never materialized and instead we just had snow. Yes snow. Well early ice out means that everything is a few weeks ahead of normal. Moose have started coming out to the roads, loons and other water birds are showing up in large numbers, and fishing is already very good. This past winter we received very little snow so by the middle of April most of our snow had disappeared. Now at the end of April most of our dirt logging roads are dry and drivable. Mud season has just about ended which means that May is going to be a great month to get out and drive the back roads looking for our many boreal bird species and visiting our hundred plus waterfalls. We have had numerous visitors in already raving about the amount of water at Moxie Falls. This is also a great time of the year to hike with most of the trails seeing few hikers or bugs until June. The deciduous trees and shrubs are just staring to bud so visibility is excellent in the woods and on the trails. This is also a great time for photography with some crystal clear days for landscape and other long range photos. Come warmer weather haze will be present on occasion. I try to get up in one of our local float planes for aerial photos as early in May and June as possible to get crisp clean photographs.

Moose Mainea starts in a few weeks and runs through our Crafts Fair on June 12th. This is the best time of the year to see moose along the paved roads. All the road salt we used this past winter ended up in the ditches and the moose come out to get the salt and fresh shoots along the roads. Early morning and evening are the best times of the day but the lure of salt is so strong to moose who have spent the past five months in the woods that they can be seen throughout the day during May. The other great thing about moose in May is that the cows start having their young towards the end of the month. Moose mothers do not hide their young so as soon as the baby moose can walk he is expected to trail behind mom where ever she goes. Over the years we have seen week old moose walking through the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center! Every year a fair number of twins are born and believe it or not once in a while triplets. This is also a great time to walk the woods looking for moose antlers. Male moose lose their antlers every winter and start regrowing them in the spring. Rodents and people spend the spring combing the woods for these cast off antlers; the rodents for the salt and minerals in the antler. Many stores locally sell these cast offs; with large racks selling for hundreds of dollars. I have collected many antlers over the years but in all that time I have only found one set, usually you find one side but not both.

Fishing is very good as I mentioned and is about to become excellent. May is our traditional trolling month with action starting around two weeks after ice out and continuing until the lake warms up. May trolling requires no special equipment just a canoe or kayak and your fishing gear. This is not deep down rigger trolling but near shore trolling a few inches to a few feet below the surface. Wild brook trout, land locked salmon and lake trout all can be taken in shallow water at this time of the year. Most experts recommend a trolling speed around five miles per hour or just above walking speed. This type of trolling was so much a part of early spring fishing in Maine that a special ‘tandem fly” was developed in numerous patterns to help the angler with short striking fish. I know a lot of people who are not comfortable fly fishing so they will tie a Gray Ghost or other tandem fly on their spinning line to catch fish. Fly fisherman will be watching for our first important insect hatches which should start soon. Once the hatches start we will have about six weeks of concentrated hatches in cool trout friendly waters before the rivers warm up and the fish look for cool holes. I know I will be floating a few dry flies every evening I can for awhile. See you on the river.

Bob Hamer
Executive Director for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce






06/10/10--09:55: There is more to Bangor than what meets the eye! (chan 2091643)

Bangor is a fun city! Bangor is a safe city! And once you get here you will know it is also a historic hamlet of statues, monuments and various landmarks. And yes, we have museums, too. But this post is to call your attention to 3 very cool landmarks (or visits to landmarks) that are FREE or near free to visit and interesting to visitors of all ages. Have you heard of Stephen King? Stephen King (http://www.stephenking.com/) to the world is a famous author. To us in Bangor, he is a wonderful citizen and philanthropist. I make it a practice to buy several copies of his books for Christmas gifts to give to family members throughout the year. Local guy, does great things to support our Region! The Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.VisitBangorMaine.com) also boasts of a "Tommy Knockers and More" Tour ($20/fee) http://bangorcvb.org/content/4012/Stephen__Tabitha_King/ that includes many landmarks that are in Stephen King's books.

For those of you that are looking for a "slice of Americana" Bangor has a large statue of Paul Bunyan right at the gateway to downtown http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10327 - there is plenty of parking there too! Hard to drive by there without somebody taking a "photo-op" - and it has recently been restored so the statue is in its glory.

We also have this thing called a "standpipe." Most people that come here notice it towering on a high hill above the city, but they don't know what it is. The Thomas Hill Standpipe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hill_Standpipe is essentially is a large structure that holds a bunch of water. And when it was built back in 1897 for firefighting as well as for water storage. There are tours a few times a year (unfortunately it is not handicap accessible). Even if you are not visiting during a time when a tour is scheduled, it is worth the ride up to the highest point in the city for a look. There is lots of green space around there for a picnic too!

When you come visit our city, we have these and many other landmarks available for you and your family to see!






06/28/10--13:17: Article 0 (chan 2091643)

This has been a great spring for bear watching and waterfall viewing. Bears are being seen throughout the region with one female and her cubs on display regularly on the Rockwood Road (Route 15) near the intersection with the Burnham Pond Road. I usually see four or five bear each year but this year my count stands at seven with most of the summer remaining. Visitors often ask why they do not see more bears since Maine has so many. The reason is that the Moosehead region has over 5 million acres of working forest which provides lots of hiding spots for our bears. In an earlier blog entry I predicted that waterfall viewing would be very good in May and June and it was. Several of our waterfalls including all four at Gulf Hagas, Moxie Falls and Upper Little Wilson Falls continue to have sufficient water to be impressive. If you are in to hiking this is the time of the year to do Gulf Hagas. No bugs and the water is warm enough to enjoy a brief dip. The Gulf is a great destination on overcast days since most of the views are below the horizon and the soft lighting is ideal for photography.

My wife and I visited Maine for the first time in October 1999 and three months later we owned a home in the Moosehead area. The decision to move from Jekyll Island, Georgia to Moosehead was an easy one for me because I like to hike, kayak, and fish in peace and this area provides exceptional outdoor activities without the large crowds usually associated with most popular destinations. Every spring for the past ten years my brother comes up and we take off a week to fly fish (we do the same thing every September). This year the fishing was fantastic! Sibling rivalry requires us to keep track of the fish we catch each day and the totals were the best to date with just over 300 fish caught and released in seven days between the two of us (please note that we are not getting better with practice, we are still the same unexceptional fishermen we have always been). Now that’s fishing! This year we timed it just right and almost everywhere we fished was productive. We started off at the mouth of the Moose River where it enters Brassua Lake, fished the Moose below the Brassua Dam, fished the Moose above and below Demo Bridge, fished East Outlet from top to bottom, fished some of the upper pools and the mouth of the Roach River, and First Roach Pond. The majority of fish we caught were Brook Trout with my brother taking 10 brookies in 10 casts from one position on the Moose River, I had five brookies in five casts three times during the week. We caught a good number of Land-Locked Salmon with the larger ones coming from the Moose River below the dam and some from the upper pools on East Outlet. I am not a fly fishing purist but usually I do try to use a fly that mimics the insects, fish and other animals eaten by trout and salmon. Not this time, when it became apparent that the fish were grabbing everything I started going through my fly boxes and tying on every fly I had and guess what they all worked, some better than others but everyone of them took fish. During the seven days of fishing we saw a total of 14 other fishermen within 100 yards of where we were fishing. From June through mid-September I often do not see another angler during a day of fishing; this year my brother’s visit was over the Memorial Day weekend and we had expected to be surrounded by anglers. Not so. One thing my brother learned was the value of a wader belt. While wading the Moose River he stepped into faster moving water and quickly ended up floating down stream several hundred feet. He did get water in his waders but the wader belt kept most of the water out and allowed him to float until he could get his footing. Since he might read this I should mention that the same thing happened to me but I already knew the value of a tight wader belt.

A lot of people pass up fishing because they think they need a boat to access the better spots. We used a canoe for two of the days but the other five days we waded and the fact is that most of the fish and all of the larger trout and salmon came while wading. A good wading stick and a tight wader belt is all it takes to make wading a great way to catch fish. Another misconception about fly fishing is that the equipment is too expensive. In fact $40-$75 will buy the basic equipment you need to get started catching fish and if you decide you need a pair of waders they are available starting around $50. I learned to fly fish reading books and practicing but today Netflix and other movie rental companies have great instructional DVDs on fly fishing and fly casting. If you need advice on fishing of any sort contact the Visitor’s Center where you will be vacationing, we all have staff members able and willing to help you have a memorable experience.


Regards,
Bob Hamer
Executive Director
Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce