This day was a day of polar opposites. Got to Lower Range Pond as the sun was coming up and the water was calm with no wind. The silence of the morning was broken up periodically by the calling of a pair of loons. That is a sound I will never get tired of hearing. Flights of ducks flew overhead and geese honked in the nearby cove. The only uncomfortable part to this morning was the brisk feeling that this stillness was bound to change with the coming storm. By mid-morning the sun had disappeared behind thick clouds and the wind began to pick up. This wind was the type that cut through the many layers that we had on and chilled to the bone. Having a good rain suit helps cut the wind as well as keeping one dry in these conditions. By the end of the day there were waves with small white peaks pushing against us as we made our way back to the landing.
Loon
Ice on Range
There was still some ice around the pond and a barrier of ice cut one side of the pond off from the other. As the wind pushed water against that ice you could hear the inevitableness of its demise with a magnified sound of waves against a sea of ice crystals. Of course we wanted to troll on the other side so I had to jump out of the boat to pull the boat between the shore and the ice. Glad I decided to put on my waders. By the end of the day that barrier was gone making the effort seem for naught.
Dan with Brown Trout
Dan Bringing in Second Trout
Trolling after ice-out tests any angler brave enough to sit in a boat with ice floating by and when rain comes one usually wishes that it was snow instead. At least you could brush that away. The fish that we caught only rewarded us for sticking through the tough conditions. Dan picked up two nice brown trout in the same area of the pond. When you catch one fish, go back and troll over that same area again. We caught another trout on the next pass. Silver lures were the ticket today.
Range Pond Brown Trout
Anglers need to take notice that much of the southern part of the state is under a flood watch until Wednesday morning with all of the rain we are getting. Northern Maine has some rivers that are dealing with ice jams. Ponds are now opening up and may be a better option than trying rivers and streams that may be too high to fish effectively or safely.