jbmaine

Still here, just don't seem to have much to say. I'm still using the same rods, reels, tackle, boat for years now, and still fishing the same bodies of water, so not much new to report. Never could type worth a darn either so that doesn't help. Sorry I don't contribute more.

I have never stopped wanting to go fishing. Here's me and my dad, mid 1950's Here's a recent one of me. Same lake.

Me and the Mrs. have had days were we could do no wrong, and days we could do no right. But whatever kind of day we've had, at the end of it, we were both smiling and saying to each other " what a nice day to be on the water". Fishing is a passion of ours but we never let it erase the pure joy and amazement of just "being out with nature" we've been lucky enough to see eagles, loons, muskrat, otter, beaver, deer, bear, moose, a pair of sea run brown trout doing their mating dance in the upper reaches of a brook named after my family, many more things we'll never forget, long after we forget how many fish we caught. This, for us, is our " right stuff".

Bowled some back in the day. Just candlepin.

This post really has the " times gone by" feel to it. I'm old enough to have fished when we had A fishing rod and lures were held on by a snap swivel. Before electronics when there were stories of ponds with a bottomless hole . When your expertise with watercraft was measured by your skill in keeping your canoe on a straight line using a J stroke.

Our boat is a multi species style boat ,that for me, has very comfortable seats. Due to back and foot issues I mostly fish sitting down so comfort is top of my list. Our trolling motor is a MK Ulterra and I find using the remote works best.

I'm jealous. Friend of mine is on his way over here to help me remove the TM batteries for the winter. Then the boat heads for storage till next Spring.

No the oven was NOT on. The door had NOT been opened or closed. Wife was cooking eggs on the front burner. Stove is only a year and a half old. Scared the 💩 out of us and the cats. We picked up glass ten feet away. We have a extended warranty that covers anything mechanical or electrical on the stove for five years. Waiting to hear if exploding glass is covered.

Making breakfast this AM. BOOM!!! front of the stove blew out. Glass all over the kitchen. Stove is just out of warranty, but we have a extended warranty. So far I can't get on the site to file a claim. What a fun day😒

Late October day on the water in Maine

Hi all, Here in the area we live, Southern Maine, we are seeing ( or not seeing) the strangest thing. I've always lived in this area, and like now, always lived in the woods. As such, the MRS. and I love watching the wildlife. We have squirrels, chipmunks, ermine, racoons, skunks, deer, bobcat ,possum and years past we've seen moose. But what we see , or saw, the most of was birds. We have a large bird feeder and bird bath at the edge of the woods, 20 feet or so from the back of the house. We have always seen scores of chickadees, nut hatches, blue jays, gold and purple finches ( in the summer). We also have, had, four pairs of cardinals, several pairs of doves, owls, crows, thrushs, turkeys, gosbeaks and more. So here's the mystery. Last month hurricane Lee came thru this area. It wasn't bad, winds 30 MPH or so. Honestly, we've had Nor'easters that were worse. But all our birds have disappeared, gone, vanished. It's been several weeks now and not a bird to be seen. The bird feeder is still full from when I filled it weeks ago. We really miss them. It feels so strange to walk thru the woods and not see or hear any birds. Do any of you know what might have happened, or ever heard of or experienced something like this. I've tried contacting Maine fish and game to ask about this but so far it's leave a message ( which I did) and we'll get back to you( which they haven't). If you have suddenly found a bunch of birds in your area, looking lost, could you send them back our way. Thanks Jim

Timely topic. We just got back from the Dermatologist. We were OK this year, but both of us have chunks removed in the past. We both now wear sun protection shirts, sun screen, and " French foreign legion" hats that cover our necks and the side of our faces.

Oh Ya! big houses going up all the time. We hate seeing all the seasonal camps and undeveloped shoreline disappearing but there it is.

Jetskies, pontoon boats, loud music are right up there for me. However, my most hated sound isn't a sound but rather a lack of sound. I've been fishing the same waters off and on for 60 + years. Last few years I've noticed a rapid decline in water quality is some lakes we fish. Water visibility is cut in half. Green algae slime on the bottom. We noticed the turtles were disappearing. This year we noticed there were no frogs croaking along the weedy shore line. Also no sound of loons. Couple with the fishing has really gone down hill in these lakes and it makes us worried.

Been fishing Maine waters off and on for almost 70 years. I've seen some amazing things. I've told this story before, but with out a doubt it's one I think about even today. Quite a few years ago I was up in very northern Maine fly fishing for trout . I was on a remote pond, in my canoe, early in the morning. The mist was heavy on the water keeping visibility to a few feet. I heard some noise in the bushes on shore, then a noise in the water. Ripples in the water started moving past me. I was thinking it was a beaver, and waited for the splash of it's tail when it saw me. However, as it got closer I could see it was a bull moose, swimming right at me. I just froze in place. When it saw me it snorted and changed course just enough. I can still see it's big eye staring at me as it swam past. I don't know why I did it, but as it swam past, I put my hand out and touched it's antler. I caught some real nice native brook trout that trip, but it's the moose I remember best.

My dad's been gone 12 years on Sept 8, like many he served in WW2 and was my hero. He taught me to fish, shoot, hunt, swim, waterski, and so many more things. His last gift to me was when he was in hospice. He stayed with us until seven AM Sept. 8 2011. He hung on until the day after my birthday so his passing would not be my forever birthday memory. Here's a picture of him and me taken around 1957.

Born and raised on maple syrup. My family made maple syrup for many years( no longer, mores the pity). Personally think anything labeled 100% pure maple syrup should do just fine. It does take a discerning palate to pick up the nuances from one brand/ grade to the next.

As a fellow Mainer I believe you are underestimating what you need to do. A 2' whopper plopper may be OK for the smaller bass, but for the " once in a hurricane Maine big fish bite" I wouldn't be afraid to try 2 1/2 - 3' size WP.

Our state is pot friendly but haven't been stoned since around 1970.

Lake I fish had high water one spring. Someone had stored cords of fire wood next to the lake shore. It all went into the water and floated off. For weeks we were dodging floating firewood in the lake.

Great looking boat. Welcome to the Lund club.

OK, Thanks

Is this to help them?

Hi everyone, This is the first year we've seen this. Hundreds of bees coming to drink out of our bird bath, most every day. We've lived here 25+ years and never experienced this before. They are not aggressive and will buzz around waiting while I change the water. I'm guessing they are either honey bees or ground bees. Can anyone tell me just what kind of bees these are, and is this behavior normal. We have looked around but can not see any signs of a nest. Here's a few pics. Thanks Jim

I've never lived more than 5 minutes from the ocean. Wife and I love to walk the beaches in the off season. I think I'd miss it too. If you ever wanted a remembrance we could send you a care package with some sand, shells, things with a good ocean smell.?