Category Archives: Fishing

Ten things I plan to do in 2015

tomah stream

Thanks to my fellow BDN bloggers and their support during my time of healing (end drama here) I have ideas of what to write here. It’s hard to blog about what I’m doing outdoors when I’m not doing anything – including indoors. Here are ten things I want to do this year as scribbled on […]

Getting Reacquainted & Outdoors Fitness

Hi! Remember me? “How vain it is to sit down to write, when you have not stood up to live.” Henry David Thoreau I’ve been away from this blog for a while. I have been living so much I’ve barely written a word in months. We fished a lot this summer. I caught the biggest […]

Gear Review: Mosquitno Wrist Bands and Spots

Mosquitno Spots

Mosquitno Wrist Bands and Spots Black fly and mosquito season overlap in Maine. Black fly season starts just about the time the brook trout start to bite. It’s poor timing. Black flies are enough to keep even dedicated anglers away from the water. I went out as prepared as possible with a Mosquitno Band on […]

Because Dad taught me to fish

Bob "Ski" Olesky, Dow Air Force Base, 1961

In honor of my dad, Bob “Ski” Olesky, with thanks for the many lessons I learned because he taught me to fish. Dad taught me how to fish. I think we must have started the day after we came home from the Philippines because I don’t remember not fishing. He gave me a small pole, […]

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is offering a Spring Mini Session

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program is co-sponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Friends of Maine BOW. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman means becoming more competent, more confident and more aware. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman in Maine is accepting registrations for the 2014 Spring Mini. It will be held on Sunday, May 18 […]

Opening day of fly-fishing in Grand Lake Stream

Dedication. And passion. It takes dedication and passion to go out into two feet of snow, wind blowing, 26*, and cast a line into roaring water. Today is the opening day of fly-fishing and approximately two dozen fly-fishermen braved this April Fool’s Day weather to fish in Grand Lake Stream. If you are in one […]

Lifetime licenses are an investment in the future

Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

Lauren Cormier blogs over at Oh, Honestly!  She’s guest blogging with me today after purchasing lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for her sons (Her daughter isn’t quite two yet but will have hers in plenty of time.). Thanks, Lauren! I love to hear about kids who love the outdoors. By Lauren Cormier I grew up […]

Ice fishing with college students who help shape our outdoors

Taylor Follette and a 16" smallmouth bass

Before she went back to Unity College for the new semester Taylor and I made plans for a weekend of ice fishing, home cooked food and hanging out. She arrived home Saturday morning with Rebecca Zirlin, Grainne Dougherty and Connor Shaw. They unloaded the truck, changed into warm clothes and loaded the truck. Steve left […]

After the ice storm

This is what my corner of northern Washington County looks like after the ice storm, and before yesterday’s snowfall. These are the most recent photos I have. We lost WiFi during the storm so I’m using the limited service on cell phone’s hotspot. It’s going to be a while before the ice melts from the […]

Family and Friends

Kristin and Matt came home during their vacations. We spent a day last weekend with family and friends at camp, pigging out on lobster, hamburgers, hotdogs and salads, cruising the lake in Dad’s pontoon boat, kids tubing, and kayaking. We missed Taylor. She was busy checking in new students at college, getting settled in for […]

The underground railroad in Grand Falls Flowage

eagle on railroad tracks Dick Miles

A couple of days after I wrote about fishing on the Grand Falls Flowage I received a note from Dick Miles. He said, “Have you thought of doing a story on the old railroad bed in the GF Flowage? Great fishing in those coves too!” An old railroad bed? Under water? Really? I’ve lived in […]

Fishing on Grand Falls Flowage

We opted to try a new place to fish this weekend rather than go to my favorite spot, Spednic Lake. It would be nice to keep a couple of fish for suppers. Steve decided on Grand Falls flowage in Baileyville (Woodland). He fished there once in a tournament with Dad many years ago. It was […]

Bass Fishing on Spednic Lake

Spednic Lake Landing in Forest City

We loaded up the boat (By “we” I mean Steve. I haven’t mastered trailers yet.) and headed to Spednic Lake yesterday morning. Taylor’s home for four days from her summer internship and was able to go fishing with us. The landing is shallow and requires a lot of distance before the boat lifts off the […]

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, 2013 Intro Skills Weekend

Maine Game Warden Kris MacCabe teaches ATV Safety

It’s time! Last year’s Introductory Skills Weekend filled quickly and had a long waiting list. Emily MacCabe, coordinator of Maine BOW, released the workshop schedule and registration form (opens a pdf file) this afternoon. The cost of the weekend is $225. The fee includes meals from Friday’s through Sunday’s lunch, all equipment, bunking in a […]

Getting comfortable outdoors: 10 simple things to do

You don’t have to be a landowner or live in the country or woods to enjoy the outdoors. Here are 10 things that will get you going outside and maybe even learning new skills. Hike locally. You might not have to go far to find a hiking trail or dirt road. Check for no trespassing […]