The Kennebec Explorer 2020 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 56

Heritage Sports Down home hospitality paired with the timeless spirit of the outdoor life. There’s a reason that sportsmen have long take advantage of the abundant fishing and hunting in Maine’s Kennebec Valley. Curious? Consider yourself invited for a chance to partake in these time-honored sports. Hunt and stay in style Sporting camps or lodges—along with a Registered Maine Guide—will make your hunting trip memorable. For those looking for black bear, white-tailed deer, birds like ruffed grouse, rare quarry like bobcat, even our mammoth moose, our region welcomes hunters like old friends and makes them feel right at home. Look around to find lodging that fits your style and suits your needs, from traditional sporting camps to updated cabins and ultra-modern lodges set up to meet the needs of hunters looking for something really special. Maine, including the Kennebec Valley region, offers the most extensive intact populations of wild, self-reproducing brook trout in the many lakes and ponds. Plus, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks local lakes and ponds with brook trout, brown trout, lake trout (togue), splake, rainbow trout, and landlocked salmon. Fishers of all skill level will not go home empty-handed. Storied fly fishing spots The story of fishing in the Kennebec Valley all started with fly-fishing on the ponds and streams of the upper Kennebec Valley. The story continues year after year. Along the Old Canada Road, between the top of Lake Wyman and The Forks, abundant spots for fall fishing with bright flies are found. From The Forks north to Indian Pond, spring fishing includes 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. But that wont 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. The Best in Bass & Brook Trout 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 lakes on its Top 25 Northeastern Lakes lists—China Lake, Webber Pond, and Great Pond. Happily, they are all centrally located. In the Moose River area, head to the Brassua inlet streams like Johnson Brook or Misery Stream. Visit Lake Cobbosseecontee and the Winthrop and Monmouth lakes for more incredible bass fishing. 54 KennebecValley.org Maine Wilderness Tours KennebecValleyExplorer @kennebecexplorer Silverton Sporting Ranch # visitkennebecvalley Kennebec Explorer