It's that time of year again; my annual trip to northern Maine for about 60 hours of chasing lake trout and shed antlers. This year I went by myself--a sure-fire recipe for mayhem, since there's no one around to question my judgment.

This was the maiden excursion for my new boat, which I just picked up in Vermont last weekend. It's a 15' Adirondack guideboat that rows like a dream. Slides on top of the Subaru, and off I go, in search of big fish and big adventure. What will the lake offer me this year?

The first thing it offered me was a bath, because I lost my balance as I was trying to sneak ashore at midnight. Why was I sneaking? A bit of explanation is required:

Although there's a primitive campground with 10 or 12 tent sites at one end of the lake, there is only one such campsite on the rest of its shoreline. That's the one that I try to get each year, and for this reason I try to arrive in the middle of the night on Thursday, ahead of any weekend fishermen. Most of them have sense enough not to boat across a 40º lake in the middle of the night--which is why I get the spot most years.

However, when I arrived at 10:30 PM, there was a truck and an empty boat trailer parked at the launch ramp. The logical explanation was that someone had beaten me to the spot...but I had to be sure, so I launched the boat and rowed across the lake, hoping against hope that I might get lucky.

I relied on the moonlight, so as not to wake anybody up by shining a flashlight around if they were already camped there. Very polite of me...and likewise, rather than just beach my boat and make that tell-tale crunching of gravel, I kept the boat about a foot off-shore. My plan was to leap ashore nimbly, tiptoe up the banking to check for tents, and then slink away undetected if there was someone there. I didn't want to ruin anyone's evening.

Instead, as I tried to walk down the middle of the boat full of gear, I lost my balance, tipped the boat, and fell on my ass in the lake with a giant splash and a vigorous cussword. So much for the stealthy approach!

The boat filled with water and my gear started floating around. I grabbed it as quickly as I could and heaved it all ashore, beached the boat, and staggered up the banking.

To my great relief, the campsite was empty! I decided that the Gods of the Lake had just been having a little sport with me, but that ultimately they had rewarded me with the campsite that I coveted. As I pitched my tent and checked my gear, I realized that the only thing that had really gotten soaked was me; everything else was almost bone-dry. But there was one thing missing--the 1965 Browning Safari that I had brought along for stumping. Where the heck was my bow?

Have fun. I've always admired those Guideboats. Just rowing it on big water will be a hoot.

Which lake? The Richardsons? Mooselucmeguntic? (sp).

CS, were about's in N Maine are you fishing. The way the weather has been you might get a little le wet :-). Good luck.

Owing to the spectacular lake trout fishing at my secret spot, I will reply to GDS and Whittler via PM about my actual whereabouts.

Now, about that missing bow...if you've ever wondered about the seaworthiness of a 1960's rosewood recurve, I'm happy to report that they float quite nicely, and also that they don't drift very fast. A brief search of the landing area revealed it bobbing in the lake, grip up and string down, and only a few feet from where I had fallen in. By the next morning it was dried out and shooting as good as ever. Here's a group of four arrows from 25 yards; two in the log and two that creased the top of it. The second one in the log actually knocked the other arrow aside.

AAAAH George, the Mooselookmeguntic!

But now to the main purpose of my trip--the fishing! Because I hadn't gotten to bed until 1 AM, I wasn't on the lake until 5:30 or so the next morning. Between 5:30 and 7:30, I caught nine fine lakers that each weighed from 4-6 pounds. There was a bit of a feeding frenzy going on thanks to a smelt run in the little brook beside my camp, and just off the mouth of that brook is where I caught them all. No other boats anywhere on the whole lake--my private paradise!

These two swallowed the minnow lure a bit too deep, and suffered enough gill damage that I had to keep them.

Young Dr. Hardy to surgery...calling Dr. Hardy...

Luckily, there was an operating table of sorts right at the campsite, which came in very handy for cleaning the fish. By the way, the knife I'm using was a gift from Knifeguy, when he joined Peter and I on our elk hunt two years ago.

I don't carry a scale with me, but I know big when I see it...and I threw back two that were even bigger than these. The lower fish was a hair less than 25"; the upper one a tad more than. Naturally, I had to check their stomach contents...

Nice adventure Kerry. Those fish look dark, but shouldn't be spawning this time of year. Must just be the tannins in the water.. :) Show us any sheds you find (and where) LOL!

Surprise, surprise--smelts!! The smaller fish had 16 in its belly. Now, my inner Yankee struggles with this dilemma--I hate to waste perfectly good smelts, and with a little heat and olive oil these would probably taste pretty good. However, I'm enough of an epicure that I can't quite bring myself to eat fish secondhand. Perhaps I'll overcome my squeamishness one of these years...but this year, the seagulls got the smelts.

By 8:00 I was ashore having coffee and breakfast, and the soggy beginning to my trip was all behind me. Perhaps the finest moment of the day was when these guys showed up, a day late and a dollar short, and did a slow drive-by...only to see me in possession of the precious campsite, living the life of Reilly. Better still, the fish had stopped biting! Better luck next year, guys--NOT! Heheh...

Hmmm, smelt doesn't even taste that good the first time around...

Ah, good to have you join us Trapper--now let's talk sheds!

I have to say it was a challenging year in that department. About all I had to show for ten miles of walking over two days was this two-year old antler. It's a dandy though, and very heavy. I looked hard trying to match it up, but had to just settle for the one. Here it is, "as it lay," with my folding saw for scale. The saw is two feet long...well actually 8" long.

I think the problem was that the paper company had just resumed cutting in the area, so the moose had an easy winter of browsing on the freshly-cut tops in the wood yards. The older cutovers where I go looking had much less moose sign in them this spring; I bet the antlers all went to the lumberjacks.

However, I was happy to have the "Horn of Plenty," as I call it. It's big enough to hold the Five Basic Food Groups, as you can see.

Nice pic's! I haven't eaten smelt since I was a kid in Upstate NY.

I did see plenty of antler sign in the course of my hiking. This is just one of dozens of saplings that the resident bull had mangled last fall. Lots of times they'll even snap these right off.

The scowl on my face is not normal; in fact I was very happy. But taking good pictures with these cell phones is a tricky business, and requires deep concentration...especially since I had just taken two in a row with the camera facing the opposite direction of what was intended. Rotten contraptions...

White Falcon, me either, and I live there again (after 30 yrs away). I am in no itchin hurry to re-acquire a taste for them. I love fish but I thought they sucked actually. :) Kerry, that is a really beefy medium/large sized moose shed. It looks '3D' on the blade. Its gotta be big if it holds a Fat Tire! Nice find. That's a great trip you do every year. 9 of those fish is 9 more lakers than I've ever caught. Thanks for sharing.

Oh, and that's one more eastern moose shed than I have too.. Found a few in MT though. "Better still, the fish had stopped biting! Better luck next year, guys--NOT! Heheh..." You're cruel, Dude! hahahaha. The picture...That reprod looks like a great place to get lost looking for sheds. But there's two there somewhere.

I used to catch lake trout in Montana in Glacier N.P. Brings back memories. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for taking us along.

Even when I don't find antlers, there's plenty to see and enjoy--like these mayflowers in bloom...

Or look at this; obviously the work of some teenage vandals with a hatchet!

Believe me Trapper--I felt nothing but pity and sympathy for my fellow sportsmen as they putt-putted past my campsite. I was deep in remorse and guilt, as you can see in this self-portrait that I took at the time.

Speaking of the Royal Campsite, I should show you some more photos from there. They will be very instructive in the "Do's and Don't's" of camping.

For instance, Don't fall in the lake at midnight with the only source of fire (a cigarette lighter)in the hip pocket of your pants. You might have to go to bed cold, and fiddle around until noon the next day trying to get the darn flint dry enough to scratch out a spark, before you could finally sit down to some hot food and coffee. I mean...that could conceivably happen to someone.

And here's an important Do: always seek balance. You will note in the photo that my noontime "breakfast" features both coffee and beer, to wash down the toasted English muffin with turkey, lettuce and melted cheddar cheese. Either one of these beverages, by itself, might make a man too lively or too logy, as the case may be. But by enjoying both with my lunch, I was able to keep an even keel...and raise the beer bottle in a mock toast to the three unhappy campers as they motored past.

Sadly, the Gods didn't think kindly of my mockery, and were quick to smite me back into line. As I was cooking, my elbow nicked the lovely bottle of Fat Tire just enough to tip it off the grill, and ten precious ounces of it drained into the ashes. Nothing left but a little foam...that will teach me.

I was good with the coffee and beer, then you just had to bring up the lettuce, turkey and cheddar cheese. I was thinking a roasted weiner or smoked sausage and a bun with some dirt and leaves from being dropped on the ground. Looks like a wonderful time in all seriousness...and northern Maine is gorgeous with it's lack of big towns and honking horns. Honking geese are okay though.

Love that boat- wish I hadn't seen it (wanting one)

Have a great time and trip- Be safe

I see your still holding to the theoretical application about getting the “unlucky” part of the trip out of the way right at the first. A very important factor for any outdoor excursion. I’m glad to see that the knife is getting some use too! Even if it’s fish and not the mighty Wapati. Thanks for the narrative and the photos; I’m looking forward to more from CO later this year with Peter and you in that beautiful country. And perhaps an elk or two! Good journeys, Lance

Andy-- You probably remember the thread last year about canoes vs. kayaks as to which was the better vessel for a hunting trip. Well I've got news for them all--the canoes and kayaks are fighting over second place. For a solo trip in northern lake country, this is the rig.

Here it is pulled up at the campsite. Whatever you do, don't check out the Adirondack Guideboat Company's website...you might take too close a look, and decide that you need to take the plunge...and I don't mean the "midnight plunge" either.

That is truly a beautiful Maine-theme picture there Kerry. Moose paddle with bow really makes it! That could be an award winner, or some TBM cover contest winner for sure. I bet it is worth an annual after hours dip in the drink to squelch those boaters' parade... With that all around success - fish, shed, campfire grub and (almost) beer, (I see you still have your masonry skills intact), boat, etc. I think you should be satisfied for the summer at least...

I can belive it Have a sea Kyak and a canoe that thing looks like the best of both worlds

Spilled beer is not the only hazard on a solo trip. In fact, young Dr. Hardy had to perform a second surgery--on himself! I fell victim to a fisherman's worst enemy--a hook through my own skin.

It happened because I don't use a landing net; I hate it when the lure gets all tangled up in the mesh of the net. Instead, I just tire the fish out enough so I can grab it by the nape of the neck with my left hand, and remove the hook with my right. Unfortunately, the trout gave a mighty twist at the moment of truth, and the lure transferred from him to me in the blink of an eye; sinking in beyond the barb in my left wrist.

Once that happens, you can forget about taking it out backward. I had to cut the hook off with some needlenose pliers, and then twist it and push it out through a new hole. Once it was out, all that was needed was to apply some alcohol...which I took by mouth. As an extra precaution, I rubbed some tea tree oil into the wound--and in all seriousness, every outdoorsman ought to carry tea tree oil; it is a remarkable antiseptic for any wound or bite.

The worst thing about the fishhook incident was that it took me out of the action just as the fish were biting furiously, at the start of Day 2. I had already caught four big fish in the first hour; who knows what might have been.

After the successful Rapala-ectomy, I did some more hiking. Here's a few shots of the sights of that country. For starters, check out the size of this white cedar, on the right--about three feet in diameter, and eighty feet tall. You don't see many of them that size nowadays.

Thanks for taking us along Kerry!

Turkeytail mshrooms on a dead beech tree...

Great pictures and great adventure! Thanks for taking us along.

Reishi, also known as hemlock varnish shelf, a medicinal mushroom...

Of course, I had the wrong lens in my camera when I walked up on this young bull moose. Hard to see, but the bulbs for this year's antlers have just started developing. They aren't much to look at this time of year, what with being about halfway through the processing of shedding last winter's fur.

Here's a shot at the end of Day 2--back out on the lake, and looking towards my campsite. The lake is five miles long, and once again I had it to myself this evening. You can see the light gray band of hardwood trees on the hills behind my camp; lots of sugar and red maple there, and moose maple too; that's where I go looking for antlers.

The fish weren't very lively that evening, but the lighting on the lake was plenty of reason to be out rowing around...

And the later it got, the prettier it got...

Even right at the end of the day, it was a picture waiting to be taken everywhere I turned. Those of you with sharp eyes will notice the lake trout rising in the background--this was a good sign, as it meant that the smelts were starting to work their way back for another nighttime run up the brook.

Great pictures and stories Kerry. Reminds me of our week long salmon fishing trips to Square Lake up in "the county", late May as soon as ice went out, back in the 80's.

Nothing better than fresh, pan fried smelt, makes my mouth water! Stay safe.

When the fishing is that good I'd just bend the barbs over and avoid potential for buried hook pass-through removal. I had to do that to a fishing buddy once. He had a big one stuck into his shoulder, and I had to poke it through. It was like sticking a butter knife through a piece of leather. It was all I could do to get it through, and he didn't make a peep - tears streaming down his cheek and all. Is good to have all the remedies on solo trips like that. Unplanned swims, buried hooks, spilled beer. Better have extras of all... We have those red medicinal mushrooms around here. Are they a good substitute for spilled beers???? ;)

Loved the pictures. Looks like fun.

Trapper, taking the spilled one into account, I made it through sixty hours on a rather spartan budget of sixty fluid ounces of beer, and perhaps that much coffee as well...plus a half-gallon of drinking water and another half-gallon of milk. Other essentials included two dozen chocolate chip cookies, a half-dozen bagels, a jar of peanuts, and plenty of dried apricots...cheese, sausage, tomato sauce, onion, eggs, and ziti...no matter how far I paddle or hike, I never lose any weight when I go there!

Thanks for taking us along. God, how I miss those woods and lakes. As for Smelts, used to get them at the market in Chicago, came in 30# boxes, fresh from Lake Eire. Once a year treat. I also see the baits haven’t changed either still have a couple Rapala’s from 30+ years ago. Maybe I will get one more trip before I hit the pine box?

Very nice thank you.

Morning of Day 3, and I was up and at it early. Sadly, there had only been the last trickle of a smelt run the night before, so the mouth of my little brook was no longer the center of the Universe for the fish. However, I found a cluster of activity a bit farther out in the lake, and things heated up a bit.

Here's a three-pounder that hit the lure on my lead line. While I was fighting him, my other line's lure was just floating on the surface a hundred yards back...and suddenly a big fish smashed that one too! Like Trapper said, it's good to have extras of everything.

One of the guideboat's many attributes is that the oars are pinned in their locks, so when a fish hits you can just let go of the oars and grab the rod--or in this case, the rods. However, when you're fighting two fish with a rod in each hand, the reeling can be pretty tricky.

I had no choice but to hurry the three-pounder into the boat and release him, while hoping the other fish would stay attached the whole time. He did, and as I got him boatside I could see that a landing net might be a good thing...he looked too broad across the back to pick up in my hand.

This was a problem, but it was a good problem to have. The first two times that I tried to pick him up, he popped out of my grip like a watermelon seed. But on the third try I succeeded, and was able to lift him out and remove the hook. I don't know how big he was, but he was easily my biggest fish of the trip. He got his photo taken, and then got dropped back in the lake...no need to be greedy, unless it's about a campsite.

Man what a life/adventure

hows the tempatures up there?

91º here and humid

still drooling over that boat

The temps were no lower than 40, and no higher than 55. There were still a few small snowbanks in the shady spots, but the spring peepers were sounding off. Usually on this trip I'll wake up to ice on the guides on my rods at least once, but that didn't happen this year. Here's the sunrise on Day 3...too dark for the camera to even focus, but the color was incredible as the sunrise crept in under the gray clouds. Twenty minutes later, all the color was gone and a light rain had begun.

back in the lake?

I would of knifed him into a filet and to the cast iron -them guys are great eating- the one time I got to fish for them

Even an old phart like me gets 'pinin for the north woods with photos like that. You are having a wonderful adventure for sure.

George, a man pays the price for this kind of fun. In the picture of the big fish being held up, you can see several small puncture wounds on my left thumb--those are from fish teeth! You can paralyze a big bass by grabbing its lower jaw, but that trick doesn't work on the trout family--they have teeth both upper and lower, and on the tip of their tongue as well!

After the big fish, I caught a couple more--including the first fish of the trip that was less than a three-pounder. By 10 AM I was enjoying the last meal at camp: an everything bagel, with turkey, cheddar, and even cream cheese. Fonished it up with a couple of mandarin oranges, the last two cookies, and the last cuppa Joe. Time to pack it out and return to civilization--yuck!

I had to stop on the bridge across the West Branch of the Penobscot for one last photo. You can just see Mt. Katahdin looming in the background, with a ton of spring runoff charging down the river. It's pretty country up here, and I hope to nave a bunch more trips still in me. M60, find yourself a buddy and make it happen once more; you know it'll be worth it.

And here's one more look at the guideboat. This ought to be all the boat I need for the rest of my adventuring, and then my kids can fight over who gets to have it.

Justin and Ian Martin, the brothers who own the boat company, were great people to work with. Justin actually went out and found some beautiful figured walnut in order to make me some special request outrigger blocks, so that I wouldn't have to have my hands cross over when I row it (that's hard on the knuckles when they bump). The oars are cherry, as are the gunwales and seat frames. The hull is fiberglass and Kevlar, with a reinforced keel section that stands up tp sand and gravel. The boat weighs 70 pounds; perfect for cartopping--and of course, no woman could resist the offer of a ride in that passenger seat. Luckily, no woman was in that seat to see me go boots-up into the lake at midnight; you never want a date to end with them laughing at you.

Beautiful trip. I was curious how far from me.

Cameron, I'll PM you with the lake info. I'd guess you could be there inside of three hours. If you bring me bowstrings I'll even row the boat for you!

Deal lol.

That’s a great time you had their, Crookedstix. Thanks for the pictures galore.

A fine adventure indeed! Why don't you take the boat to CO this fall and hunt near a lake? Of course, we'd never hear from you again, considering how tippy the thing is.

Joe

CROOKED? GREAT PHOTOS AND THREAD! BLESSED BE!

Bee-you-tee-ful! Thanks for posting the breathtaking photos of your trip. Some guys really know how to live. God Bless!

Thanks Craig and Wayne, I feel pretty blessed to be able to take these trips, and I really enjoy sharing the photos and tall tales with you guys once I make it back...and ditto with the Colorado elk hunts, which will be here before you know it.

Of course, there's a lot of risk in telling the unvarnished truth about my many blunders--which is why I choose to lie instead, LOL. With a solo adventure, no one has to know all the pesky little details. I'm surprised that Frisky hasn't yet pounced on my one or two little missteps; he must still be asleep!

Here I am chained to my desk...took a break from my project and for five splendid moments was transported, lifted, and enchanted. Thanks Kerry - you may have officially replaced Frisky as my Leatherwall Hero.

Ah, I seem to have spoken too soon; Frisky has joined the campfire! But I must defend the boat; it's really very stable until you start doing things like standing up and tripping in it. I should have been holding an oar like a walking-stick as I tried to get ashore, or maybe even both oars...that would have kept me upright.

I must confess to one other small blunder, which was forgetting to bring the toilet paper. However, all was not lost--I always keep a beat-up old terrycloth towel in the car or boat. Without giving too much information, I will simply say that such a towel, dipped in the lake and wrung out, and then cut into 10-inch squares that are stored in one's pocket in a Zip-Loc bag, is a vast improvement over any roll of TP known to man. The cotton is biodegradable to boot--in short, I'm afraid it may have spoiled me.Hmm, maybe that IS too much information...but relax, this is not part of the photo essay!

He'll be a short-lived hero with that tippy craft! Kind of like the Short Happy Life of Francis McComber, lol!

Joe

Damn Lake Trout and smelt. Maybe I'll come and collect those elk steaks. Can I borrow the boat?

Now that's about as good a vacation as a person can have. Thanks for taking us along.

Sure thing, Todd...but if I know you, you'd be wanting to stick a motor on it someplace, and that can't happen...it's just not trad unless you row it, LOL.

Might as well torment Andy Man a bit more with one more picture!

Thanks for taking us along Kerry, what a great adventure. Jim

I just took a look online and found a chart that correlates length to weight in lake trout. It says that a 25" fish will average 5.75#, and a 26" fish will be about 6.53#. The big ones that I threw back on Day 1 were all in that range. The big one on Day 2 was probably 27" or so, which would average about 7.4#. I know they grow a lot bigger in the Great Lakes and Canada...some of those lakes I wouldn't dare to swim in!

Torment! thats right

already E mailing Justin

said already has me one ready in my specs

Beautiful and splendid post! Your guideboat is a smart trim looking watercraft. Thanks for showing us a good time. Scott

Well you can't hardly call that row boat Trad. since its fiberglass and Kevlar. Far far cry from that beautiful traditional ribbed wooden boat you sent me a picture of. So yeah I was thinking off knocking a hole in the back of it and dropping a jet ski engine it! Small one of course it could not handle the 175hp jetdrive river john of mine I use to have

Man that looks like a great time, thanks for sharing and very nice boat!

Frisky,

He is all packed up and heading out to Colorado

Jeeez Andy! Be sure to post the disaster photos after that boat gets ripped off the car by the wind pressure! Tell me that picture isn't for real- please:) JayInOz

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, when it comes to getting the boat to the lake. This is my previous rowboat, on the way to the same lake in northern Maine, back in 2001. 1990 Civic hatchback was all we had...so I made it work.

Jim (Andy)--that's great that you're talking with Justin!

That's the most disgusting, hillbilly pic I've seen in years!

Joe

A great adventure, indeed. I am envious of your boat..a solo fisherman's "dreamboat". Also glad to learn that old dalbergia bows float!

Sadly, I could provide you with many more pictures in a similar vein, all taken in the course of my daily life. You'd like the tinfoil wrap around my stovepipe that keeps most of the carbon monoxide out of my cabin...or the small mountain of returnables on my porch, waiting for that blessed day when I finally take them to the recycling center. Country living is a fine art!

Kerry, love that Civic! Great cars...great picture despite what Frisky said... ;)

Nothing wrong with Hillbillies. I am one of em :)

Fat Tire beer is make here in Ft. Collins Co. Good connection and even better story. Paul

You're killing me Kerry! That boat, and that lake - wow. I miss that country, haven't been up there in years. Reminds me of a backpacking trip we took in the Presidentials. Socked in for a couple days of rain and thick fog on the shore of one of those beautiful glacial lakes - Speck Pond I think? Got so hungry we netted smelt out of a feeder brook with a mesh baseball cap and cooked them skewered on a green stick over a smokey fire. Good times.

Paul,

It was a tragic moment in my trip when I knocked that almost-full bottle of Fat Tire off the grill and watched it disappear into the dirt. I took this self-portrait to document my suffering.

Perhaps you could cozy up to someone at the beer company and recommend me as a satisfied customer and possible corporate spokesperson. They might decide to supply Pdiddly and I with some liquid gold for our upcoming elk hunt in CO this fall. Just a thought...

I can see the pain with that loss of beverage in your face,,,especially when having to pack so light on such a trip..but I did see a near empty 6-pak...maybe make room for a 12er next time eh?! ;))

Love that that guide boat,,,it's got the makings of what I think I need for certain lakes up north of me. Kids have inherited all my canoes.

Awesome adventure, very envious and thanks for sharing it!

Justin is gonna owe you a rebate check for making a sale on one of those boats

They look nice

So Justin is who I need to talk to?...you pull the trigger Andy Man?!...could be more than one rebate coming for CS.

Whoops, I had intended to show you a photo of my dinner on Day 2. I assembled this around 4 PM in the afternoon, so that I could fish until dark and then have an easy late dinner by just warming it up.

There's a pound of ziti boiling over the gas stove; meanwhile the skillet has a mix of sausage chunks, sauteed onions, and wild mushrooms from my freezer, all smothered in a whole jar of tomato sauce. Once the ziti got soft, I drained the water and added the skillet's contents to the ziti, grated some cheddar over it all, and left it simmering over what was left of the wood fire.

When came back four hours later, I just blew on the coals, added a bit of firewood, and in ten minutes I had it all piping hot. My only regret was that I had just one stomach to fill with the stuff! And luckily, there was still a couple of Fat Tires to pour into my Spare Tire. Sleep came quickly after dinner--no doubt as a result of all the hiking and rowing I had done ;-)

Gotta ask,,, did you haul that cooking grate and any other extras for the trip or did you have a private stash of such from previous trips hidden from Interlopers on your personal spot? Very cool if ya did. Btw, is that bottle still stashed in Colorado? ;)

Nothing sadder than a spilled beer

"No" to the question about hauling in the grill; that has been at the campsite for at least the last fifteen years. As to the bottle of "Canadian mouthwash" stored in the cavity of the fireplace in Colorado...one can only hope that it's still there. Reason enough to go there this fall and check!

Kerry, those look like hubcaps laying on that grill. Backups for the skillet? The grill is in remarkably great shape for being out in that humidity and rain/snow for 15 years! Surprised no bears came and grabbed your sausage off the fire while you were out fishing...

Yea ! got one coming

I live on the water and would be good morning or evening exercise for a old guy

easy on the joints

when I first saw Kerrys picture,I went to their web site - definately what I've been looking for

I went with the Ivory color (thought would be cooler for around here)

When I see these pictures and other treks that leatherwallers take us on and I'm like a kid in amazement. It befuddled me that some folks dont believe in God, especially when he gave us all this. Nybubba

Those "hubcaps" are just the lids in the ultra-light steel cooking pans that my son gave me. They're okay for making coffee or cooking pasta, but when it's time to fry the eggs and steaks I gotta have my good old cast iron. It's worth the weight!

agree with the cast iron

bout all I use even at home

Those Walmart pans and I don't get along very well - I have a whole wall of cast Iron in the kitchen at home

I've had much better luck with the antlers there in past years. I think this was the haul from two years ago...

very cool trip and write up!

So question here. With moose in the backyard, why go to Colorado?

What do you do with the antlers? JayInOz

Kerry, thanks for the trip and the laughs. I haven't snuck up on a camping spot yet, but I've taken the dunks. Enjoyed, thanks.

ill answer that oldbowyer. cause you can get a tag in colorado not a moose tag though:)

That looks like one fine trip. And that is a GORGEOUS boat.

BigHorn's got it right--a Maine moose tag is only by lottery, and the odds are not good. The other thing is that a Maine moose is a pretty easy thing to hunt, compared to a public land elk out West.

Jay--I mostly just give them to friends. They make great chew toys for dogs...but I also just like having a few around the house, to give it the proper redneck ambiance. Any porch that has a collection of returnable bottles and moose antlers on it, with banjo music coming from inside the cabin, is a good way to filter out the riff-raff among one's visitors.

Hahahaha!! Fair enough:) But aren't they any good for knife handles and such? Or scrimshaw? Or back scratchers for really fat people? Dog chews seems like an awful waste. JayInOz

Just looking at those antlers again, trying to think of something interesting to do with them. If you cut a design into the palm of one of those you could back light it- might look good. Like one of these for example-

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=bow+hunter+silhouette+clip+art&tbm=isch&source=hp&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjz9euY5bDiAhWg7nMBHZvYCc0Q7Al6BAgHEB8&biw=1340&bih=612 JayInOz

That link looks like it doesn't want to work. Just google "bow hunter clip art" This old bowsite needs to be dragged into the 21st century. Jeez! JayInOz

What a great adventure. The pictures are spectacular but the stories are better. Thanks!

"--I mostly just give them to friends." :) We're friends, aren't we Kerry? (JK). Love those moose sheds, esp the one on the right. "Dog chews seems like an awful waste" I totally agree Jay. I have trouble cutting them up for craftwork, much less to let dogs chew on them. Not so sure they are that good for dogs anyway, they can splinter and get in their mouth and gut esp the paddle sections. Probably mostly safe since canines evolved to chew bones, but a vet once told me to avoid using them for that. I like to make all kinds of stuff out of them and hate to cut the nicest ones up so I just keep those. If they are already chewed, they go to crafts. I have a big stash waiting for retirement when I can put quality time into them. even thinking of making a takedown with an elk antler riser and HHB limbs.

This was an awesome thread. Great narrative and photos. Takes a real man to relate misadventures during an adventure. Thanks for sharing doesn't cut it, but thanks for sharing.

Looks like a great trip - except for the midnight swim, hook in the hand, and spilled beer. Of course, those are the things that make you remember the trip.

It's quite true that the quirky stuff is what we remember! My fishing buddy and I still laugh about the year when he was still asleep when I was raring to get out on the lake. I kindled a smoky fire about ten feet downwind of his tent...and in a few minutes he emerged, in only skivvies and boots, and kicked dirt all over my fire, pissed on the ashes, gave me a glare that could kill, and crawled back into his tent for another two hours of sleep. What are friends for, LOL!

I’ll drink a tost to a great post and a great trip, enjoyed by many, thank you Kerry

Kerry,

Here's a good use for the moose antlers (if I attached it correctly).

Ralph

Really enjoyed this thread , well done !

Crookedstic really enjoyed following this thread! Thanks for posting!

Well that sucks that its hard to get tags

Kerry, that's a gorgeous boat. Thanks for the pics and great story.

Your midnight mishap reminds me of when I was in college and 2 buddies and I took my 15' Old Town canoe to Moosehead Lake, then down the river that comes out of it. We hit a rock and it took us half a day to repair the hole. To make up for lost time we went down the river at night, with a full moon for light. All of a sudden we heard a rushing stream just to our right... where none had been before. It startled us so much we all almost fell out of the canoe. Looking slighty behind us, we saw a huge bull moose rising up from the river. Just about 10' from us. What sounded like a stream was the water flowing off his antlers and back. That was quite a thrill for some young guys who never saw a moose before.

Beautiful trip. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here