Rain Ramblings

Noah would have been proud of all this rain. I don’t think I have seen this much continuous rain since I was in SE Asia monsoons. There is only one saving grace to this. Rain does not get fish wet, they are wet already, BUT the fisherman is another story altogether. Being wet to the skin, all your gear is soaked and you have water standing in the pockets of your vest is really not much fun. I don’t care what anyone says. Been there done that and got the T-shirt, I don’t need it. Yet all of us would be first in line if we thought we might catch a nice salmon or a 16+ trout. Right???? Fishing in the rain can be very productive and really a lot of fun. But this stuff we have now is totally ridiculous. I think it has rained for 30 + days straight. I really don’t think there is anyway anyone can even come close to matching whats in the water or experiment with a new fly. The water is roaring thru every stream, over all the banks and you cant get near the water with a big boat. The last time I was at Kennebago bridge, we sloshed thru 10 miles of mud, washouts and just plain rough road for not even a strike. We launched the canoe about 7 feet up the bank and then paddled to our normal put-in spot. Now that is insane. Is it ever going to stop raining? As soon as the sun comes out for 2 days straight you can count on Jim and I being at a few spots where we know the hatches will be happening. The hatches are way over due and even the larvas have floatation vest on right now.

To drift away from fishing for a second or two, this rain is raising pure chaos with the dirt roads coming into Kennebago for either side. The Canada road from 4 corners is in pretty fair shape so you can get to the little lake but then it isn’t traveled much except by folks who have camps on the lake. All the rain has forced the rocks up into the roadway and the ditches are flowing over the road in several places. Plus these roads are usually made out of dirt, clay, small gravel and anything else available. So when this stuff gets as much water as we have had it does not drain well and you have mud, slippery roads and wash outs. So if by some chance the sun does peek out for a day be very careful on the roads into four corners. What you think is maybe good hard pack, may in fact be a slippery mess and you end up with winches, ropes and all that spring time gear. This is experience talking here folks. I have buried my Dodge many times on lots of places on the Lincoln pond road. It sure screws up the fishing pretty quick. A friend of mine runs heavy equipment in the Stratton area and he said even his rigs are swimming and sliding everywhere. If a skidder has a problem you can pretty much figure your truck is going have a little rough time.

My truck, a 1996 Dodge 1/2T 4X4 with extra suspension and a few extra things I had added at the factory, is a great truck. Oh yes I bought it new and had it built just the way I wanted it. I don’t usually brag about any brands or anything like that but this one I really have to. I ordered it just the way I wanted it with extras that are no longer available for trucks. The best part is that it will go anywhere I want to go and want more. I have even driven up river beds with it. It’s not pretty because it has no chrome but it has no rust or anything else. From the outside it looks like a normal Dodge truck but when you head into the back country and start to get into tough going that’s where it shines. It has 124,000 miles and I take care of it faithfully. There is absolutely nothing on this truck that has anything to do with a car. It has a truck version of the 318 engine and trans, suspension from a ¾ T and it could move a mountain if I could hook on to it. The place where I bought it, have been really good about all the things I have done to it. I far from ready to trade it but even the mechanics are waiting for me to trade so they can buy from the dealership. It DOES have a reputation. Bottom Line, I do not praise or use name brands in vain nor do I advertise for them but this truck has earned its way and deserves to be mentioned. So when the going gets tough with all this rain and mud and sloppy roads, have no fear cause I will get there and all because I have a real guide’s truck. Jim has a cute little “wanna-be” truck, a Dakota. Its nice, red and comfy but for some reason when it gets tough going we always take my truck. I do have to chuckle a little about that.This is the long and short of my addition for this week so far. Got a guiding trip next week, sure hope they like the rain maybe we will go “rainbow” fishing, until then be safe, keep the camp fires burning and the fish are already wet so bent rods and keep the tips up Joe