Today, the Lewiston Sun Journal is reporting that people in the Twin Cities are noticing the color of the water in the Androscoggin River that passes through those cities. The DEP says it’s because of the recent floods and washouts in the Bethel area last week.

The culprit, a DEP scientist said, is last week’s heavy rain storms that washed out Bethel-area streams.

“The streams that washed out left a huge amount of sediment in the water,” said Bureau of Land and Water Quality Director Andrew Fisk. The sediment flowed to the Androscoggin.

By Monday and Tuesday, DEP staffers could see a large, visible “plume of sediment moving down the river” that had made its way to Lewiston-Auburn. The moving mud could be seen in aerial photos, Fisk said. The event is unusual, he added.

I can attest to the validity of the Bethel wash outs causing the brown water. Tons of silt, sand and debris were disturbed as a result of the heavy rains. On Tuesday, I saw the Wild River, which comes through Evans Notch and empties into the Androscoggin in Gilead. The Evans Notch Road is still closed while they work to replace a bridge lost in the flooding. The water on Tuesday flowing under the U.S. Route 2 bridge was almost glacial in color. Typically the water in the Wild River is crystal clear but this was a milky, almost greenish brown, color.

I attempted to walk into the Chapman Brook watershed last Friday but I was cut off before I could get in there. The Chapman Brook is where Bethel’s water supply reservoir is located. The reservoir was completely destroyed. I did see some of the destruction below the reservoir and can attest that an incredible amount of debris made its way to the Androscoggin.

The below photo shows some of the damage caused by rocks and debris being forced down the brook as a result of heavy rains.

Tom Remington Photo

Further down the brook at the Northwest Bethel Road, sits the newly-built Angevine Park. The land was donated by longtime Bethel natives Ernest and Alberta Angevine, for the purpose of providing a swimming place for Bethel resident. The Park sits adjacent to Chapman Brook.

There was so much runoff from the flooding it pretty much destroyed the pool, filling it in with debris.

Tom Remington Photo

The pool area will need to be dug out again and allowed to fill.

The parking area, which sits on the opposite side of Chapman Brook, also saw a substantial amount of damage. If you look in the below photo, you can get an idea of the amount of sand and gravel that got deposited. Angevine Park is located only a few hundred yards from the Androscoggin River.

Tom Remington Photo

Further downstream on the Androscoggin, the Sunday River empties into the Androscoggin. Feeder brooks and streams that are part of the Sunday River watershed saw massive amounts of erosion. A brook that winds its way through parts of Sunday River Ski Resort, destroyed access roads, culverts and undermined one chairlift at White Cap Lodge.

Many of these brooks have cleared up since last weeks flooding but some are still experiencing some silting. As water clears upstream, the Lewiston/Auburn area will begin to see better water.

Tom Remington

Usually when I come to Maine for the summer, it is my “quiet” time. I cut my relentless hours sitting in front of the computer screen from 12 – 15 hours back to 6 – 8 hours. In many cases I’ve done that so far this spring but the other hours and more it seems I am spending going to meetings, interviewing with other news groups and running here and there gathering photos and stories.

Yesterday was a good example of that. Milt Inman and I rushed around yesterday morning and gathered enough gear together to head up on the Upper Androscoggin River to get photographs of me fly fishing and other interesting pictures to send to Whit Richard, a staff writer for MaineBiz.biz.

Once that was complete, we hurried back to my camp where I edited the photos and sent them on to Whit. Then we loaded up the car again and headed for Phippsburg for the annual Maine Moose Lottery drawing. Needless to say it was a long and busy day.

Whit is writing a couple stories about the river and one in particular is about the history of the river, including the decades long cleanup, and how this cleanup and transformation can be an economic help to the local and state economies.

Whit tracked me down through various channels to get information as I was born and raised on the banks of the Androscoggin River in East Bethel. I watched the river from the point that it was perhaps its worst to where it is today. At its worst, it was a blight, a scourge where nothing grew, at least that you would want to look at. Today I spent a couple hours just below Gilead doing a tiny bit of fishing and watching people enjoy the river. It was only a short time ago that if you spent 2 hours there, you’d be all alone. A while back I wrote a story about my perceptions of the river growing up and the changes it has undergone.

Here are a few of the pictures Milt took.

When we crossed the bridge in Gilead, we stopped to look around for a moment. We spotted two fishermen wading in the mouth of the Wild River where it dumps into the Upper Andro. We also found this group of three who were paddling the river. They had stopped for lunch and I’m sure were enjoying the scenery.

With a backdrop of scenic beauty, here I’m searching my box of flies trying to decide which one will catch me a big fat rainbow, brook or brown trout. I’m standing at the mouth of a small feeder brook that runs into the river from up on the side of the mountain to my back.

Once I got geared up, I waded out into the faster waters seeking an eddy or a deeper pool that might be hiding a fat trout. I had great time restraints and we had to spend our time focused more on capturing photos not fish. I’ll return though.

Tom Remington

*Update* Scroll down for a complete list of lottery winners

Last night Milt Inman (my good friend and photographer) and I traveled down to the tiny Maine town of Phippsburg to attend the annual Maine Moose Lottery at the Phippsburg Elementary School. The event was hosted by the Phippsburg Sportsman’s Club.

We arrived a bit late but there seemed to be a good and enthusiastic crowd on hand to join in the festivities but as usual most where there in hopes of hearing their name read from the list the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife computer randomly spit out.

Milt Inman Photo

We had arrived too late to see the announcement of the first winner who was in attendance. As it turns out, he was a member of the local Phippsburg Sportsman’s Club. In an interview being done by one of the local television stations, he said he expected some ribbing because of his organization hosting the event. I apologize that I did not get his name.

The second in attendance to be selected was John Chadbourne from Leeds, Maine. John is a registered Maine Guide. If I heard correctly his guiding business is called Adventure North. This was John’s second selection in the history of the draw. His first came in 2001.

Tom Remington Photo – This is John Chadbourne after receiving his t-shirt for being selected and being in attendance.

As luck would have it, also from Leeds and friend of Chadbourne’s, Randall Burgess heard his name called not long after. I believe I overheard him reluctantly telling a member of the local press that this was his fourth time begin selected for a moose hunt.

Tom Remington Photo – Randall Burgess walks away from the front of the room after receiving his coveted t-shirt. Well, actually it wasn’t the t-shirt that was most coveted. It was being selected for a moose hunt.

In attendance last night was a few reporters from the television stations – Channel 8 and 13 and members of the press.

Milt Inman Photo – In this shot, Randall Burgess had just received his prize of being selected and members of the press moved in to get the scoop. In the yellow shirt and back to us is Burgess. On the left if Kalle Oakes, writer for the Lewiston Sun Journal and an unidentified member of the Channel 8 News team. There was also reporters from Channel 13 and the Kennebec Journal.

There were many members and representatives of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Many of them worked the crowd, chatting up old times and answering questions as well as participating in the reading of names.

Milt Inman Photo – Michael J. Witte of New Harbor and member of the Advisory Council to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

I got a chance to meet new friends and talk in person to several people whom I had only communicated with either online or by telephone.

Milt Inman Photo – I am on the far left in this picture. To my left is Wanda Chadbourne. Wanda’s husband John had already been selected tonight and Wanda filled me in on past moose hunts, bear hunts and a host of other activities she and her husband participate in. Next to Wanda is Jack Duggins. I had communicated many times with Jack. He is a registered Maine Guide and operates a business, Mainely Smallmouth, out of Litchfield, Maine. Jack also writes some for Maine Hunting Today and Maine Fishing Today. He is also a staff member. In the far right of the photo and partially cut off is George Smith, Executive Director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

After working the crowd and bending a few ears, the reading of names continued. Milt and I decided it was time to begin working our way out the door, which meant working our way back through the crowd.

Just before hitting the exit, I heard them call the name of Bruce Simmons of Andover as a winner of a moose permit. Bruce is my cousin and this would be his first time ever on a moose hunt. I’m sure he was pretty pumped once he heard the news.

On the way out the door, I just couldn’t leave without talking with a couple more people.

Milt Inman Photo – Here I am shaking hands with Paul Jacques, Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Between us is George Smith, Executive Director for the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

Congratulations to all those who were selected for a 2007 Maine moose permit.

*Update* Find a complete listing of all the Moose Lottery winners here.

Tom Remington

Can you beat this?

Tom Remington

The Fish Geek has a story and photos of two-headed brown trout he hatched out this winter.

Tom Remington

And why would I be feeling so much guilt? Well, I’m not devoting quite as much time as a could be to my work. That’s one of the reasons my blog content has been a tad on the light side at times the past few days.

But I do have a good excuse and I think it’s better than “my dog ate my homework.” Today, I got hauled away from behind my computer to do something that, well, not everyone could do or would be willing to risk as much as I to do.

Never fear though because I have photos to prove that I was doing something extremely beneficial to all of mankind.

Can you imagine what would have happened if I had gotten wet? Very dangerous here. You can tell by the fear etched in the faces of those on board.

But that’s not all. Once I got finished with testing the gear aboard this sailboat on Long Lake in Harrison, Maine with my wife and good friends John and Dale, I had to test out this piece of equipment that I was told was too dangerous for anyone to use.

I will try harder to spend less time doing such dangerous things and spending more time behind my desk.

Tom Remington

Bethel, Maine and the BIG Adventure Center were the locations for the 2007 Free Family Fishing Festival. With showers on Friday night, I was fearful of another rainy day for the Family Fishing Festival but that wasn’t to be. The weather treated us all to a fantastic day of gentle breezes, glorious sunshine and tons of kids and adults to enjoy loads of fun.

With great weather, kids and adults crowd around the pond at the BIG Adventure Center to try their luck at hooking a rainbow trout put in the pond by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The event had several sponsors including the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance, The Mollyocket Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Wal-Mart, Coppertone and others.

Fishing rods and equipment were provided by the MDIFW Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs program. Also present during the event was the “Wall of Shame” traveling display assembled by the MDIFW. In that trailer you can find an entire assortment of animals and equipment that were confiscated by MDIFW and the Maine Wardens Service because of illegal activities.

Once rods were passed out to the very anxious kids, it took only a matter of minutes before the first fish was caught.

These three kids – one is partially hidden behind – are my grandkids who traveled down from Bangor, Maine for the Fishing Festival. For the two older ones, this was their second festival and a first for the younger. Although they weren’t able to land a trout, they had plenty of opportunity and had a terrific time.

As part of the festival, volunteers help any kid or adult who needed assistance to learn how to cast, bait a hook or land a fish. Instruction also included the proper way to catch and release a fish to minimize stress and injury to any fish an angler opted not to keep. These fishermen had their choice of release or catch and keep as part of a good meal.

Some of the volunteers were members of the Mollyocket Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Dick Walthers, head of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, assists a gentlemen interested in learning more about the fine art of fly casting. I was at the festival from start to finish and I can attest that Dick was busy from the beginning to end with his instruction.

Kids have a ball when it comes to fishing. Here a young angler gets some assistance from Dad as they both struggle to get a grip on a slippery, wiggly rainbow trout.

A big hit for the kids seemed to be the presence of some of the members of the Maine Warden Service. Always present and available to answer questions and assist the kids wardens Norm Lewis, Eric Blanchard and Tony Gray assisted in putting smiles on the kids faces. At one point they passed out replica badges to become a “Junior Maine Warden”. My grandkids were still wearing theirs when they headed back to Bangor on Sunday saying they wanted to be a policeman when they grew up.

Toward the end of the day when many of the participants had collected all their gear they had collected during the Festival, a couple of very interested anglers inquired about how to tie flies. As most of you know, one aspect of fly fishing is the use of artificial flies often tied by the angler themselves.

Nate Wight, a fourth generation Registered Maine Guide, was eager to sit down with some of the kids and teach them how to tie their very first fly, a Wooly Bugger.

On the left, Mike Lloyd, nine years old, learns from Nate Wight how to tie a Wooly Bugger. He ended up tying two. Mike had a great time as he took advantage of every aspect of the event. I also recall the expression on Rebecca’s face, that’s his mom, as she held the first fish she had ever caught and asked, “What do I do now?”

This young angler jumped in to learn how to tie a fly. Note the intense concentration. He was so excited about his very own Wooly Bugger that he immediately got help attaching it to a fly rod and trying it out in the pond.

In talking with Bill Pierce of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Rocky Freda, owner of Sun Valley Sports, they both concluded that the days events where a huge success. Bill noted that 95 kids and 45 adults had registered for the days events.

As part of the weekend long events, a Two Fly contest took place on the Upper Androscoggin River. Each contestant had two flies only that they can choose to use. They are given a camera to photograph their catches and document the information. Winners received prizes. As of this writing, I didn’t have any information but as soon as I get it I’ll pass it on.

Tom Remington

Chief Photographer for U.S. Hunting Today and Skinny Moose Media, Milt Inman, was out and about of late capturing in photos some of the spring events that brings all living creatures to a higher level of activity after a long and extended winter season.

Milt Inman, chief photographer, U.S. Hunting Today and Skinny Moose Media

Two young kids enjoying a day out and perhaps some fishing as they visit Basin Pond in the White Mountain National Forest near the border of Maine and New Hampshire.

This lunar moth had just hatched and had attached himself to a dead and dried stick while he dried his wings before making that virgin journey by air.

This moose was caught roaming about perhaps looking for some fresh green vegetation or just escaping the pestering mosquitoes and black flies. As you can see, his coat is quite scruffy as he sheds his winter coat for one that won’t be quite so warm.

These two young deer look like they are looking for mischief as they test the waters at the edge of Hicks Pond in Greenwood City, Maine. As Milt captioned his photo, he said, “The pic of the two little deer makes me think of two young kids sneaking there first smoke!”

Tom Remington

Oscar Hoffman Jr. of Madras holds up the 25-pound brown trout he landed May 19 in the Deschutes Arm of the Wickiup Reservoir.

Tom Remington

I received this photo yesterday from U.S. Hunting Today’s chief photographer, Milt Inman, as he has been out roaming the countryside looking for signs of spring. This comes after returning to Maine from his winter retreats in Florida, where spring arrived some time ago.

Tom Remington

I have posted a pictorial essay by Maine Hunting Today’s chief photographer and photojournalist, Milt Inman at Maine Outdoors Today. This is definately worth the trip over to see and read.

It is what happens when a cow moose meets up with a flock of Canada geese.

Tom Remington

This fabulous photo taken by Milton Inman of Greenwood, Maine, is a silhouette of two of his fishing companions.

Tom Remington