…now none of us Monsters have ever run into Dave up that way yet…but he seems pretty friendly, and if we ever do, I’m sure he knows a couple good spots to throw a line in…
Mar 182010
Mar 132010
J&K tag-teaming a pool
Spring fever has officially set in for this Monster, and the First Flys Out expedition comming this June in Rangeley dangles like T-bone steak over a pack of Dingos…. A few almost 60 degree days in March here have me tossing shovels and skis aside, dragging fishing gear into the house, and spooling new line on reels in my living room while watching fishing shows on weekend mornings.
At his point the base camp logistics are set. Three nights, large site, on the shore of Rangeley Lake with access to both lakes and streams producing some of the best salmon and native trout fishing anywhere. It hardly seems like three nights will scratch the surface…..and it wont. Strategy and tactics will be debated,… Troll the lakes with streamers?, bang the rivers with flies, nymphs and emergers?… The bottom line is everything gets taken up —boats, waders, lead core, tippet… Ok, so next weekend is Spring Fling at Shawnee Peak. Sking in a sweater, people “pond” skimming on skis wearing bathing suits… maybe there’s one more day on the snow for me… but thats it! I’m turning the clocks ahead this weekend, checkin tackle….
E=Mc2
Mar 052010
Maine Tuna Fisherman
Fed’s tuna stand could hurt ME fishermen
By The Mainebiz News Staff
Today
A decision by the Obama administration that would prevent Maine fishermen from exporting bluefin tuna is getting heat from Maine’s congressional delegation.
The Obama administration supports listing bluefin tuna as an internationally endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which would effectively shut off valuable export markets like Japan to Maine’s fishermen, according to a press release from Rep. Chellie Pingree. However, the CITES listing would not prevent Maine fishermen from selling tuna on the domestic market.
Pingree said she was “outraged” by the decision and that it could put Maine fishermen out of business. “Maine has a strong tuna fishing tradition and in these tough economic times, the ability to catch and sell a tuna makes the difference for coastal Maine families. This is the worst possible time to place this unreasonable burden on them.”
Sen. Olympia Snowe also criticized the decision, calling it “a reckless decision that will ultimately prove ineffectual and cause disproportionate harm to the U.S. bluefin tuna fishery,” according to MPBN.
Sen. Collins Announces Funding For Fishing Industry
March 2, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CQ Transcriptions, LLC) — U.S. Senator Susan Collins has announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) will provide $10 million in additional funding to support New England’s groundfish industry. The Maine Department of Marine Resources will receive $2 million to set up a permit bank for fishing permits, through which fishing opportunity will be preserved for small and remote communities in Maine.
“This funding is critical to sustaining Maine’s fishing industry and our fishing communities,” said Senator Collins. “As fishermen and their families struggle with strict regulations and other burdensome costs in this difficult economy, this assistance is welcome news.”
In total, NOAA plans to spend $10 million to assist New England’s fishing industry as follows:
- $5,000,000 to support permit banking programs. Permit banks are collections of fishing permits purchased and held by an organization to provide access rights such as days-at-sea and annual catch shares for qualifying fishing vessels.
- $546,000 in direct aid for fishing sector managers and vessel operators
- $4,000,000 for dockside and at-sea monitoring, which will create jobs for monitors and observers in local communities.
- $485,000 for NOAA’s Fisheries Service for infrastructure and programmatic support.
Feb 282010
This will be the base camp for “First Flys Out” for the Monsters. End of June. Cold nights,.mild days,…mosquitos and black flys only starting to awaken. The legendary watershed of the Rangely Lakes region ground zero for spring salmon and native trout.
SMK Kristen came through as usual with the spring accommodations logistics—-extra large site suitable for three tents, on the shore of Rangeley Lake. Bonus feature: Boat launch… leaving multiple fishing platforms possible. Hike into the legendary boundery water rivers of native trout and salmon fishing?… troll the clear lakes?. I say both… with four days to kill….all options are on the table.
The Rapid River. Rangeley Maine
Oh,…now that’s fishy. Comming end of June 2010
Feb 282010
The Monsters Of Fishing will not sleep. Smeltapolooza 2010.
Fishing through the ice. Why?…….. because they are down there…
Feb 142010
This last weekend the crew headed out on the annual mission we call Smeltapolooza. The little buggers were elusive this year and the final weigh in of our catch rang up at 0.0. We were not alone though. It seems that no one else was having much luck either. Perhaps it was the unusually mild temperatures, or unfavorable barometric pressure, maybe the little guys had a big breakfast before we got there, who knows. But that’s Smelting and you know it going in.
Jim's Smelt Camps
Seconds before the"pot holder"sticks on the woodstove top burst into flames
Shrimp ala Propane
Having said that, we still consider the trip a great success. We did after all eat “well”. Troy’s new hot cheese dip, then garlic shrimp, deer/moose burgers, marinated sirloin tips…a four pound block of aged cheddar, all served with traditional side dishes: Chips, beef jerky, and a particularly fine bag of cheezy poof balls.
Jimmy making the rounds with 4lbs of cheddar
Bambi & Bullwinkle
Monsters Of Fishing Brewing Company’s Smeltapolooza 2010 Amber Ale was served by creator Dean. Thanks to The Hop Shop for keeping Dean on the straight and narrow with his brewing. It came out damn good.
The Amber Ale
Jimmy still wants pizza delivered
nuff said
Really the only unfortunate incident of the whole trip came as we were packed up and heading off the ice to catch our ride. Seems I got into a bit of a scuffle with my rolling cooler as I was pulling it up the (steep, slippery) incline of the gangway that leads up off the river to the bank above. I don’t know who started it and witnesses opinions vary. I contend that it wasn’t me and my cooler was being belligerent going up the ramp. All I know is words were exchanged and next thing I know me and the cooler were locked in a death match. Last thing I remember is looking up the ramp at Troy at the top and he was just shaking his head slowly back and forth as if thinking to himself “ok, this is going to be ugly”.
Well me and the cooler tangled and cart wheeled backwards down the ramp and wound up in a heap on the river ice. I’m pretty sure I had the upper hand on it for awhile, after all I weigh in at 178 lbs and the cooler at 10lbs at that point and, I clearly had the reach advantage. But, ultimately the cooler rallied and wound up pinning me at the bottom for the win. Fortunately it didn’t do any damage to me, and I managed to bust off his latch in the process. We made up after that though, and I even promised to pay for the repairs to his latch.
Feb 142010
We had the launch sequence initiated. 
This was probably the last time a “camera” was used correctly. MOF members from left to right: Boyd (the instigator), Jimmy(the actual sane one), The Darkone, Troy(our all time hero). We actually met this time in the morning with the intention of being early to the smelt shacks. This was to cut down on the amount of “pre launch consumption” that might have taken place…
We traveled here, and yon…..over the mighty Turnpike……to where we arrived at our destination…(hotel arrival shots not included…they weren’t impressed that we walked through the lobby with a propane gas powered stove)…but we arrived at our destination….and the managing board
of directors announced…that we had indeed arrived and the fishing could begin…….Notice the “right hand”….festivities began….It only got worse folks….
We started with a “pre-shift” meeting….we had to make sure we had the taxi cab number preloaded and all “adult beverages” were accounted for. This is a logistics thing that must be taken into consideration with the utmost care.
This was followed by the rules committee meeting to determin “how many” one can hold while smelt fishing…It seems the rules committee stated that more than one was acceptable (board member Jimmy approved)…But……
We Had to pay homage to the fish gods….and our other board member …..to be sure that the Smelts would bite….
(folks…it only got worse from here)……
Feb 112010
Now, long range planning has always been a challenge with us Monsters. There’s something instinctive about “hey what about next weekend we.…” and then we all start scrambling to clear schedules, family, work,…. and plan and pack and go. But, there are a few trips that have become annual “must do’s” and Monster sistah Kristen sees to it that we get some dates cleared well in advance for those. It might be a girl thing,….we’re not sure, but, it’s good because it always nails down a good fly-fishing trip the end of June. So, four days during the last weekend in June have been locked in. Two possible locations have been tabled and will be discussed, with one being decided on this weekend during the Smeltapolooza expedition. One is a Monster favorite, and the other location is fairly new to us but sounds intriguing. Research has been conducted, various knowledgeable sources have been vetted and debriefed, aerial satellite reconnaissance is ongoing…
Potential 2010 End of June Fly-Fishing drop-zone.
Long/lat coordinates have been left out just until this place passes muster– but feel free to guess for now. As a side note for a future discussion: Geeking out with technology. You cant replace good old inside information, but topos, sat maps and handheld GPS units can kick things up big time. This is panned out a bit but at full drill down, I found some jeep paths, a few good places to pitch the tents, some rapids with “holes” -with approach trails….a couple of bodies.. and properly equipped, could drive/walk with hand held guidance right to within a few meters of any targeted spot….just sayin….
Feb 082010
Author: Dean.
As we build this site, and cover a myriad of topics from how we got there to “he/she was doing what” ?, we should introduce our governing body. We would also include our mission statement and goals as we “professionals” have done it, been there, and gotten the tee-shirt.
Mission Statment (see we already took care of the mission statment, aint got one yet)
This is the chairman of the board and our sys-op Boyd.
This man is one to watch out for. Boyd can be the quiet one in the group. One minute he is in the back or middle of the boat just as quiet as can be. We can be fishing on some pond or lake hugging the shore or pitching jigs or plastic into the weeds….the next minute when your back is turned, Boyd will dig deep in his tackle box, draw out the ugliest, nastiest, biggest “pos” you have ever in your life seen and cast that major monstrosity out in the middle of the freaking lake !!! Problem is…he usually brings in a hog of a fish !!! Boyd is also one of the camping masters of the group…(just ask him about his “condo” tent). This man, along with another to be mentioned later, can pack 4-6 plastic totes in his jeep, and be gone for at least 3 weeks, without resupply. Boyd should also be noted as a founding member of meeting room “G”
Troy
Here, Troy is calling to order MOF’s “Smeltapalooza 2009” Extravaganza. Leading this meeting, as you can see, required the proper tools as noted by the yellow cup. He is also one of the founding members of meeting room “G”. This man is also a master at setting someone up to get in trouble. We try to keep both eyes on this man at all times.
Jimmy
This is a man who owns more gear the LL Bean, Cabelas, and Kittery Trading Post combined. Jimmy also has the patients of a saint. I have seen him cajole, tease, and down right beg a fish out of a hole that no one would even think about fishing! He is also the top MOF chef. Never let it be said that when MOF hits the road, Jimmy aint got a tote/cooler(s) packed. Dont even think of asking Jimmy if he’s got a spare hot dog….Just sit down and watch the man do steaks over any flame with the greatest of skill. (ask Jimmy about the “rib-off”… the man took us hands down and did’nt even try) Jimmy is another camping master….must have 3-5 totes ready and on hand at all times…..
And now Kristen. Another meeting room “G” founder, and probably one of the most sane board of directors of MOF. We have to take a moment to say that if an angel did ever escape heaven, she came down to Maine to be our MOF angel. Kristen can put us to shame almost any day at any given time. I have personally come back to camp and said, “got 3 this afternoon”….to which she reveals she’s already caught 6-8…and “giggled”. Being married to Jimmy does present a problem at this point as, between Jimmy, Boyd, Troy, and myself we have bragged at catching 6-8 bass in a day, and then when confronted by Kristen, she’s got that many by herself. Jimmy then has to deal with the rest of us busting his chops.
And then there is me, Dean.
I’m the transplant of the group, from the great state of Georgia. (Go Dawgs) I came from bass and cat fishing. Trout were “stocked”. Until recently I did’nt know that you couldnt touch the water with your hands at end of Sebago lake (see the profile posting at the game warden site). I, being the junior member of meeting room “G”, get to sit at the outside of the table with the kids and those from “away”. I will be the “brewmeister” for Smeltapalooza 2010 (no guarentee that the MOF Amber Ale will be up to spec’s)
So that tells a bit about us and what we do.
Feb 062010
Smeltaplooza is a week away, and preparations are in full swing. All systems are GO,… shacks, hotel rooms, transportation logistics are all secured. Details of provisions, both solid and liquid, will gel in the next few days. In the mean time, I’ve tinkered with ideas for a new weapon to increase the odds of actually catching any significant number of the little smelt beasties, and have come up with the Smeltslayer 2010. This is the prototype that we’ll test next weekend. Developed after minutes of research and reflection on past experience, I am very optimistic. The technical details of the rig’s construction are complex, but I’ll summarize in brief: Use 4 really small jigs with glow-in-the-dark eyes and some legs or hairs on them (think tiny krill). Tie on jigs 14 inches apart and on 2 inch loops along six feet of clear line. Put a swivel on both ends. Put an ounce of lead on the bottom end and hook the top to your provided line. Bait with little pieces of bloodworm and put in water. Jig around. Reference picture below.
Results of the Smeltslayer 2010 will be posted following field trials next weekend……