Green drakes on Kennebago Lake

Kennebago Muddler

Bill Stevens Registered Guide

 

 

I've been lucky enough to have been fishing Kennebago on and off since 1958.  Last Saturday and Sunday were perhaps the best two days that I have ever experienced.  I was set to guide a man and his wife for both days, and when I got up at 5am to brew the coffee and get ready for the day's adventures, I experienced something that I had only read about.

 

As I walked down to my 20' square-ender canoe to remove the cover, it was literally covered with dozens, if not hundreds of mayflies, mostly what seemed to be green and brown drakes. 

Remember the movie Jaws, when the captain said "we're gonna need a bigger boat"? 

I think I mumbled something to myself that "My clients and I are gonna have a pretty good day."  I was absolutely wrong....it was a fantastic day:)  And I knew I'd need some more tippit too.

 

It really didn't matter where we fished....the drakes were just about everywhere and the trout were on the "bite" for certain.  The weather cooperated with little or no wind, and a few clouds, but no thunder storms. 

 

The fly of the day was a #12 dark hendrickson, but my clients had success with a Hornberg, Royal Wulff, and even a Black Ghost the next day. 

 

One of the most interesting (and annoying) events of the day was a pair of loons, arguably the best fishers on the lake. Each of the critters followed our canoe and managed to steal a trout from both of my sports.  They showed no fear of us, and continually dove underneath the canoe in search of a free meal.

 

I chuckled to them that I could probably get them into fish using a bent nail with some red yarn tied on for good luck too.  By 10am the first day they stopped counting the number of fish caught and released.  Many were in the 6-10" range, but each sport caught 5-6 in the 12-14" range also.  

 

As they left Sunday evening one asked me if the fishing was always this good.....I smiled and said the fishing is always pretty good on Kennebago, but they were certainly witness to one of the best hatches and fish activity I've ever seen in this man's lifetime. 

 

A great time was had by all.

 

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