Appreciating the wildlife around us.

[Got Stripers]

Our family vacation has been in Maine for the past 7 years and you can't beat the wilderness of Maine for wildlife and a sense of being a part of it. Two years ago I hit the mother load, when we changed lakes that year. On a scouting trip in the spring we had a moose come out of the woods both going in and coming out on the access road. Then come the August vacation, I caught a moose swimming across a stretch of lake and got some great photos, before she finally clammered ashore.

We had the usual osphrey, eagles, assorted ducks, owls, but my personal favorite loons. Man, I could listen to the loon songs all night, if I could only stay awake....lol. Loons are weary of man, but on this particular lake (about 1-1/2 hours NE of Bangor), the loons were actually looking forward to fishing right along side you. There was a spot that the guides would all anchor up off Perch Island and for obvious reasons, since their clients were after white perch. The loons would arrive after you anchored up in this 30 foot hole and would swim right under your boat to snatch the smaller white perch being released. It was such a trip to watch them swimming right under your boat, quite a sight indead.

If it weren't for the long winters, I'd be packing up my family and moving to Maine. I just love that state, the wilderness, the wildlife and man the fishing is just tops. Of course I'm also a smallmouth bass nut, but Maine has some good striper fishing as well.

Tight lines.