Voicemail:

"Young Mr. Robbins, this is Mr. Mitton calling. Next time you fill out a fishing guide's application, where it says, on line 17A-212, 'Have you ever been skunked,' make sure you answer it properly."

the lead fish above is probably pushing 6'. had this view more than once.

Big Fish In A Small Pond

Loaded the canoe Thursday night along with all my gear. The plan was to leave work and to try our luck on a small pond that we've heard stories about but that none of us had fished before. We knew the place fished well in the fall, would it fish well the week after ice out?

We arrived at 4p.m, dragged the canoes through the woods across a muddy root covered stretch. A few cars lines the road at the access point and brief conversation with those departing from the pond was lackluster.

Canoes in the water, and a bit of skepticism from the spincasters along the shore, we were the only fly rod toting crew on the water. Allagash ice out tactics were immediately employed. Blanketing the shallow water shoals with easy access to deep water drops. Within the first hour we had stung a couple but nothing had been well hooked.

At 5:45 the fish began to migrate up onto a submerged rock pile and it was game on. Troy, a bearded fly slinging carpenter I work with struck first. He discovered that long slow strips were the key to the solidhookup that we were seeking in the icy waters we flogged.

Four and a half hours of fishing produced fish for all, and their size did not disappoint. The icing on the cake was the first fish ever landed on the fly for a young guy that works with us, a bit of redemption for a man that snapped off his first fish ever hooked only moments before. The openwater fishing fire has been well lit under my ass.

A short hike, a new friend and no fish

North Newburgh, Maine is not a mecca for trout. There is no tailwater or honey hole, there are no falls, rips, or riffles....there is a mountain, a small one 1,800', that borders our property. From that hill water runs and collects in a low area a short hike from my bathroom. So , for the first time in my life, I went to see if there were any fish in my backyard stream.

I took a short walk with a new friend, an old guy. A 6' 2weight , 1958 Montague bamboo jobber. This was our frist time together and I think he will fit right in. I can see why those old guys love bamboo so much, smooth as whatever it is you like smooth.

Some spots looked like they might be fishy, the marsh drains in to a local stream that holds brook trout and I wished that they would work their way here..... they have not yet

Water was very low but I had a nice time hiking around......

I will try a few more times this year but was happy to be able to fish on my own property and felt stupid for not doing it before today.

Live Life
Jasper

Endurance Race

A good friend of mine Brad Marden, whom many of you have met, recently completed an endurance noridc ski race across the Alaskan Brooks Range. A 200 mile unsupported wild man race through sub zero days and nights. His team completed the race in 4 days 9 hours. This is the video his teammate shot along the race....epic.

that'll do pig

snap

Piscator to Venator, in The Compleat Angler

O sir, doubt not that angling is an art. Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? a trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk you have named, and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold; and yet I doubt not to catch a brace or two to-morrow for a friend's breakfast: doubt not, therefore, sir, but that angling is an art, and an art worth your learning. The question is rather, whether you be capable of learning it? for angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to be born so: I mean, with inclinations to it, though both may be heightened by discourse and practice: but he that hopes to be a good angler, must not only bring an inquiring, searching, observing wit, but he must bring a large measure of hope and patience, and a love and propensity to the art itself; but having once got and practised it, then doubt not but angling will prove to be so pleasant, that it will prove to be like virtue, a reward to itself.

Ancient Post Response Courtesy of Nick

Had to re-post this.

Nick's rebuttal to a remark Robbins made on an ice fishing post I made last January:

Nick said...
Did you just write a love letter to frozen water?

(Jesse later returned to the US, put on his cleanest shirt and drove out to Moosehead Lake—the site of so many memories.

After walking out beneath the blue moonlight, he stooped, kneeled, took out his portable drill and wooed his frozen princess.

After making love with much tears and passion, Jesse took his laptop from his truck,set out a blanket, and he and the lake stayed up, holding each other and watching The Notebook.)

What? It's a slow day at work.

January 15, 2010 3:21 PM

And So It Begins

Well yesterday was the opener, had the day off from work, but mother nature had bigger plans for our area. 16 inches of snow fell and 40mph winds blew, not the kind of day that entices a man to the water. I felt guilty all day that I was unable or unwilling to get out and wet a line. Had high hopes today to get the snow cleaned up and connect with Robbins & Billy in southern Maine on the Crooked. Again, hampered by the snow removal process around the house, I was unable to stick to my projected plan. A late afternoon huff finally drove me to the water and I was balls deep in 34 degree water by 3:30p.m



Standing high atop a jagged submerged rock I hooked into my first fish of the season. A brookie or possibly a brown was played to within yards of my position, at which point I ate shit, fell into 4 feet of water, and proceeded to dash all hopes of an early season net job...major bummer.

All was not lost however as a few minutes later I was tight again and this time Poseidon let me play the specimen to net.



Its not often that a man is offered up any sort of action at this point in the season, God knows it's been quite a few years since I've stung much of anything around the opener, but I must say it is a significant confidence boost and a welcomed reminder of the months ahead.

2011 open water skunk is off....