The Kennebec Explorer 2018 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 58

Heritage Sports
Down home hospitality paired with
the timeless spirit of the outdoor life.
There’s a reason that sportsmen continue
to take advantage of the long-established
fishing and hunting available in the
Kennebec Valley. Curious? Consider
yourself invited for a chance to partake
in these time-honored traditions. You
might just make it a regular outing.
Hunt and stay in style.
Sporting camps or lodges, along with
the guide you choose, will make your
trip memorable. For those hunting for
black bear, white-tailed deer, birds like
ruffed grouse, rare quarry like a bobcat,
even our mammoth moose, our region
welcomes hunters like old friends and
makes them feel right at home. What
more could today’s sportsman want?
Check around to find a place that fits
your style and suits your needs. There
are nearly endless opportunities, ranging
from decades-old sporting camps to
updated cabins and ultra-modern lodges
set up to meet the needs of a sportsman
looking for something really special.
central Maine during the height of
the season. In the northern Kennebec
Valley head to the Brassua inlet streams
like Johnson Brook or Misery Stream;
hit Moosehead Lake, too. Down south,
visit Cobbosseecontee and other
Winthrop and Monmouth lakes for
more incredible bass fishing.
Storied fly fishing spots.
The fishing story in Maine’s Kennebec
Valley all started with fly-fishing along
the upper reaches of the river’s mighty
banks. The story continues every year,
with the best chances happening in the
early morning and late afternoon. More
thrills are found along the Old Canada
Road between the top of Lake Wyman
and The Forks, where abundant spots
for fall fishing with bright flies are
found. From The Forks north to Indian
Pond, spring fishing includes hooking
brook trout and salmon until the warm
water pushes the fish up to Harris Dam.
Between the dam and the gorge, anglers
can find good-sized fish (over 12”) up for
a fight.
Hardwater: a winter way of life.
Winter is hard in Maine—from those
first flakes to the last storms that blow
through in the early spring. That doesn’t
stop a hardcore angler. Bear up, grab
your traps and an auger, and make
friends with someone who has a heater
and a fishing shed. Finally, don’t forget
your license. Then give it a go. You may
end up trading stories and tipping back
several “cold ones,” but the time goes
quickly when you are among friends.
Maine’s Masters of Bass
The Kennebec Valley has a “big bass”
reputation that grows with each passing
year, making it the perfect destination
for your fishing expedition. Bassmaster
Magazine agrees, putting three of
the region’s many lakes on its Top 25
Northeastern Lakes lists—China Lake
at number 13, Webber Pond at 15, and
Great Pond at 18. Happily, for you, these
are all centrally located. Competitive
anglers should look for the Maine Man
vs. Bass Trail series that dominates
56 Make a Plan: KennebecValley.org
Maine Man vs. Bass Trail
KennebecValleyExplorer
Silverton Sporting Ranch
@kennebecexplorer
# explorerofmaine