BurrStone

Belgrade lakes region might suit you. Lots of water to explore, plenty of bass. But tack another hour of travel.

The majority of those at risk of dying from this virus have already been identified and isolated .... people over 60 years old, with comorbidities like COPD, obesity, Type 2 diabetes; many already in nursing homes or under doctor's care. Yet, at present, Maine will require every business to complete "COVID-19 Prevention Checklists" earning themselves the opportunity to open under strict conditions and earning them a badge to be posted on their door. Instead of focusing on the specific identified weak spots they're creating Chinese fire drills for everyone to play along with! Insanity.

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/04/28/politics/gov-mills-proposed-timeline-for-reopening-maines-economy/ The governor announced a phased reopening yesterday. The first 2 phases are strict enough, but the Phase 3 opening on July 1st includes "the 14-day quarantine on people entering Maine” and could theoretically extend the quarantine until September. This is still tentative. Right now lodging can't be booked until July 1st, depending on further edicts from the governor. Cancelling my Maine smallmouth safari for June. 2 new boats, 4 guys. Feel bad for the small operators - like the camp we booked.

Duly noted on the micro. Looks like I'm going to have to sell some stuff on ebay!

2019 Ranger RT178, bought new last month. 60 hp mercury 4-stroke, 70 lb/24 volt Minn Kota Edge trolling motor. Need to add a fish finder to the bow - the rear/console came set up with a Lowrance hook5. I'm still weighing my anchor options but will likely get a Power Pole micro at the stern and Minn Kota deckhand for the bow. Since I took the photo, Ranger mailed a nice cover which is now on the boat. The boat "just fits" in the garage but negotiations on that front have broken down. Just had a right hip replacement on Monday. Should be able to get out on her in a few more weeks. Can't wait.

Was there last spring when it was still too cold and got skunked. But ... ahem ... I see the potential. Beautiful place.

Final disposition is a 70 lb 24v TM, 60 hp outboard. Can't get more than that with all the negotiating I did up to now ... and not with the dealer, either. ?

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to see if I can do a swap out w/the dealer before delivery ... if I proceed.

Thinking of getting a boat and have my eyes on a new Ranger RT178 w/60 hp Merc. The trolling motor is a minn kota edge 70 w/45# thrust, 12v. Will I end up wishing I had more trolling motor?

Got up to Washington County, Maine for bass fishing on Grand Falls Flowage. Still in late stage of pre-spawn up there. First sunny stretch of days they'd seen all spring. So we got lucky. Mostly used weightless t-rigged senkos (submerged stumps everywhere). Caught my biggest bass on a tiny Keitech swimbait, t-rigged. Got mauled by black flies the whole time.

Will you be on Big Lake in Washington County? Hope you have good numbers. I'll be in the same area the following week, with a college buddy no less!

I joined the snapping turtle club today. I knew it was big, and alive, but it definitely didn't feel like a fish. As it got to the side of my yak the hook came loose, I think from his front foot. We were both lucky. Couple of years ago I was night fishing with a jitterbug and an owl tried to take it but I was lucky enough to see it coming and pulled it away.

"We only caught 24 bass this day" sums it up nicely. Can't wait to get up there.

Got skunked today on St. Catherine. Main lake was barely 50 degrees. Going to try Somerset Res. tomorrow. But not expecting much for a few more weeks. Glad to see you got some.

Looking for a day on the river later this week and have already noted the levels are safely below flood stage. Just curious if anyone has had any luck out there so far this spring. Going to make the trip up there regardless, but weighing whether to go in that direction or over to Lake St. Catherine or Somerset Reservoir. Need my river smallie fix.

I kayak fish all over the state and you really can't go wrong. Look at all the lakes in Litchfield County. Tons of spots east of Hartford, too. The CT DEEP has all the maps, ramps and regulations posted on their website. https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=322708&deepNav_GID=1630

I was spotter last year and we did fine. Fact is all that structure has to help. And we were and are strictly catch & release, including largemouth and pickerel. Probably going to be there the second week of June. Thanks for the great advice.

Speaking of Washington County, last June I spent a week fishing the Grand Falls Flowage. Stayed at Down River Camps. Had a blast and caught a lot. But as we plan a return I wonder - we were fishing over barely submerged tree stumps over the entire body of water. It kept us on our toes, was slow going between spots, and made using anything but t-rigged senkos nearly impossible. Are these the same conditions on the other side of the bridge where you have Long Lake and Big Lake? We never headed in that direction. And having asked that, is the fishing as good over there?

Jitterbug on a Zebco setup, 1974, Hopkins Stream, Mt. Vernon, Maine. The strike scared the hell out of me. Had it for dinner.

I use pink/green senkos in muddy water and catch 'em. Otherwise its more natural colors for me.

So I guess I'm not the only one where it happens that the Jitterbug gets hit at the end of the retrieve.

Fished Lowell Lake today and one 2.5 lb. LMB was it. Much better day catching smallies on the CT river yesterday, though. But it sure hasn't felt like there's a fall bite in effect yet on the lakes & ponds in southern VT.

i dropped my rod in 2 weeks ago luckily after removing the hook from a good sized bass. My excitement obviously turned to distraction. So I snorkeled for it the next day and found it on my second dive. On a private pond.

Caught this AM on a 20 acre pond in Vermont. I was about to give up as it was slow and I kept catching pickerel. Just throwing a keitech 4" easy shiner on a 3/16 oz. jig head with light tackle. The drag let out a scream and it was on. 4.3 lbs. Biggest one of the year, so far.

LeMans style sounds brutal! But that pond is a beauty.