Below is a list of all the nominees and winners of this year’s Sportsman Channel Awards and the categories each show was nominated for.

Best Show Open

Adventure Bound Outdoors (winner)

Jon Brunson Outdoors

Predator Quest

Best Graphics or Visual Effects

Broadside Adventures (winner)

All Outdoors with Alan Probst

Sportsmen’s Outdoor Strategies

Best Original Song

Jon Brunson Outdoors (winner)

Aim Low Bowfishing Journals

Kids Hooked on the Outdoors

Best Videography

Patagonic Waters (winner)

IGFA Angler’s Digest

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures

Best Editing

The Outfitter (winner)

Lunkerville

Outdoor Connection

Best Writing

Hunting Across America (winner)

IGFA Anger’s Digest

Raghorn Adventures

Best Audio Recording/Mixing

A-Way Outdoors (winner)

Broadside Adventures

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures

Best Informational/Educational Episode

Taxidermy for the Sportsman (winner)

HuntFishCook

Raghorn Adventures

Best Small Game or Turkey Episode

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures (winner)

HuntFishCook

Predator Quest

Best Upland Bird or Waterfowl Episode

Evolved Habitat’s Outdoor Addictions (winner)

NonStop Hunting

Spiritual Outdoor Adventures

Best Freshwater Fishing Episode

Reel Outdoors with Chris Bailey (winner)

Lunkerville

MidWest Outdoors

Best Big Game Episode

Fair Game (winner)

Adventure Bound Outdoors

The Outfitter

Best Saltwater Fishing Episode

IGFA Angler’s Digest (winner)

Hook the Future

Reel Outdoors with Chris Bailey

Best Combination Episode

Raghorn Adventures (winner)

Evolved Habitat’s Outdoor Addiction

HuntFishCook

Best New Series

IGFA Angler’s Digest (winner)

Brian Doty’s Xtreme Outdoor Adventure

Outdoor Connection

Viewer Favorite Hunting Show

Southern Backwoods Adventures (winner)

Predator Quest

The Modern Day Mountain Man

Viewer Favorite Fishing Show

North American Fisherman (winner)

In-Fisherman Specials

Lunkerville

Viewer Favorite Combination Show

HuntFishCook (winner)

Alan Warren Outdoors

The G3 Sportsman

Viewer Favorite Personality

Keith Warren of “Best of Keith Warren’s Hunting Adventures” (winner)

Colorado Buck of “The Outfitter”

Mike de Avila of “Lunkerville”

Sportsman of the Year

Alan Probst of “All Outdoors with Alan Probst” (winner)

Keith Warren of “Best of Keith Warren’s Hunting Adventures”

Sam & Ruth McCuin of “The Outfitter”

Steve Easom of “On the Water, in the Woods with Cody & Cody”

Posted by Tom Remington

I am happy to announce that my two very good friends, Rocky and Lisa Freda, owners of Sun Valley Sports in the Bethel/Newry/Sunday River area were chosen as the recipients of this year’s Innovation in Tourism Award issued by the Maine governor, John Baldacci.

A friend and local business woman, Wende Gray, nominated the Freda’s for the award. Below is a copy of the nomination letter sent to the governor’s office.

In 1995 after 20 years as a field representative for an agricultural supply company, Rocky Freda found himself without a job, a casualty of the mid 90’s corporate downsizing. Rather than wallowing in self pity, Rocky saw this as an opportunity to change his lifestyle and pursue a career doing what he loved best: being in his beloved outdoors, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.

As fate may have it, his future was determined at a chance meeting at a snowmobile shop with the operations manager of Sunday River Ski Resort, who encouraged him to check out the Bethel area to set up an outfitting business. In the winter of 1995, Rocky purchased a 3 acre parcel on the Sunday River Road in Bethel. The real estate included an old mobile home (fondly nick-named the “Tuna Can”), and two 300 square foot hunting shacks. Not the most attractive facility to rent his fleet of 12 snowmobiles but Ricky was resolute. With the help of Mother Nature’s snowfall that year, his fledgling Sun Valley Sports was off and running.

Since 1995, Rocky has invested over a half million dollars in his outfitting business. The 3 acre parcel is now home to a 1200 square foot retail store that offers canoes and kayaks, and fishing equipment, clothing and accessories as an Orvis franchise; a storage and repair garage for his fleet of snowmobiles and ATV’s and two three bedroom pine-sided cabins, one which is his home and one, complete with outdoor hot tub for his sporting guests. He has a fleet of 20 snowmobiles, 7 ATV’s, three drift boats, two 15-passenger shuttle vans, a 4-wheel Suburban, and 60 canoes and kayaks..

Sun Valley Sports is a full service outfitter providing Orvis Endorsed fly-fishing instruction and guided trips, canoe and kayak rentals and shuttles on the Upper Androscoggin River, ATV tours, moose safaris, paddle sports youth programs, hunting trips, whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec in partnership with a licensed whitewater outfitter and guided snowmobile tours in the winter.

As a testament to Rocky’s indomitable spirit and Yankee ingenuity, last winter and again this year when Mother Nature did not co-operate with plentiful snowfall, Rocky hauled out his ATV’s, worked with the landowners to secure an ATV trail and provided his guests with wildlife tours. Unlike many other small snow dependent businesses, Sun Valley Sports survived an otherwise disastrous winter season.

In addition to Rocky and his wife Lisa, Sun Valley Sports employs a full time Master Maine Guide year round and part time receptionist. This summer Sun Valley expects to employ five additional Maine Guides.

Sun Valley Sports has aggressively marketed its business through its website, advertising, public relations and partnerships with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Orvis. Rocky has been instrumental in promoting the resurgence of the Upper Androscoggin River as a fishing destination.

This past summer Rocky had the pleasure of hosting visitors from Australia, the United Kingdom, Texas, Tennessee, California and Michigan.

Along with the demands of growing a small business, Rocky has served on the Bethel Chamber of Commerce as its Treasurer and President; board member of two local snowmobile clubs and project director for the Dept of Conservation’s Western Mountain Snowmobile region; Bethel Snowmobile Winter Fest Organizer, a member of Trout Unlimited and its regional director for the Androscoggin River and is now into his second, three-year term as a member of the Bethel Planning Board.

Of course, behind every good man is a good woman. In 1995, Lisa Freda gave up her position as a medical technician, earned her Master Maine Guide’s license and hitched her wagon to Rocky’s star. Using an appropriate outdoor metaphor, Rocky admits “I’d be up s____ creek without a paddle if it weren’t for Lisa.” Lisa is transportation engineer, IT manager, comptroller, reservations and housekeeping manager, professional guide, inventor of the “Lisa’s Leach” streamer fly, as well as Rocky’s appointment secretary, personal chef and mistress of their two labs, Buddy and Brookie.

Rocky and Lisa’s commitment to raising the standards of Maine’s outfitting industry, understanding of outdoor recreation and its integration with hospitality and tourism, and unselfish dedication to the Western Maine region is worthy of recognition by the State’s Tourism industry.

Congratulations Rocky and Lisa Freda!

Tom Remington

Flambeau Bazuka Standard Rod Case
Price: $39.99
Sleek and effective. Contoured blow-molded construction resists bending, crushing, and breaking. Features molded-in handle and hinged door top. Lockable. Color: Black. 4″ diameter Telescopes from 63″ to 87″ Holds 6 or more rods Contoured blow-molded construction resists bending, crushing, and breaking Molded-in handle and hinged door top Lockable

Posted by Tom Remington

Jiffy Stealth STX 3 HP Ice Auger
Price: $469.95
Engineered with the next generation of Stealth cutting technology, the Jiffy Stealth STX Ice Auger provides ice anglers with the ultimate in cutting power and speed. This high-powered auger combines a Stealth STX serrated Ripper blade and power point blades with Jiffy?s FirePower drill assembly system to provide positive starts and super-fast, smooth cutting while the Black D-Ice’r Armor prevents power-robbing ice build-up. Powered by a reliable three horsepower Tecumseh engine, the Stealth STX gearbox uses a special low temperature lubricant and PTFE on the friction surface to enhance the Stealth STX Auger’s performance down to -65 F and increase cutting power by 18%. Includes Stealth STX 1-2-3 limited warranty; one year limited warranty on the engine, two year limited warranty on the gearbox and three year Stealth STX blade sharpening or a blade replacement limited warranty. Made in USA Features: Ideal for initial drilling and redrilling of ice holes Stealth serrated power point provides positive starts and easy cutting Black D-Ice’r ARMOR prevents power-robbing ice build-up for fast clean cutting performance 5 cutting surfaces makes this the fastest and smoothest Jiffy drill ever built Serrated Ripper? Blade provides fast and smooth cutting 3hp Tecumseh engine FirePower drill assembly 10” diameter hole Weight: 38 lbs.

Clam Corporation Fish Trap Yukon Two-Person Ice Fishing Shelter
Price: $499.99
Designed to perform in the worst Yukon-like conditions, the remarkably generous Fish Trap Yukon two-person ice shanty features an extra-rugged, high-sided sled which supports a tubular aluminum frame, protective Ice Armor tent and two comfortable, padded swivel chairs. The Yukon is a flip-over style shelter designed with air exchanger safety vents, extra wide tent skirt, large D-door and two heavy-duty mesh storage pockets, both the rear and front windows are equipped with roll-up covers. Features: Trap-Link shelter connection system Air exchanger safety vents Large D-door Extra wide tent skirt Rear vinyl window with roll-up cover Removable cushioned swivel seats Two mesh side vent-windows One front vinyl windows with roll-up covers Two heavy-duty mesh storage pockets Four 2” x 6” outside corner safety reflectors Specifications: Set-up size: 86”L x 62”W Center height: 70” Weight: 107 lbs.

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Steve Remington of Skinny Moose Media, a major Internet media source for hunting, fishing and outdoor magazines as well as a bloggers network, audio and video presentation, announced on Tuesday his growing relationship with a nationwide program for the disadvantaged called, Hunt of a Lifetime.

I encourage readers to visit the Skinny Moose Media site and read the story which contains an interview with Tina Pattison, founder of Hunt of a Lifetime.

Tom Remington

Today’s New York Sun Travel section has a story written by travel and outdoor writer Jay Akasie who brags up the new found fishing destination as being, “the seat of one of the great fishing kingdoms of the world.” Now that’s a pretty big statement. I wonder if Akasie can support that with his story?

Go read and find out.

Milt Inman Photo

Tom Remington

With permission from Down East Magazine, the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance’s website has republished an article written by Roberta Scruggs for Down East about how the Upper Androscoggin River has evolved from one the top most dirty rivers in our nation to one that now claims to be a fishing destination.

You can read her article by following this link.

Tom Remington

Perhaps the conspiracy theory that I’ve heard about floating around that China is deliberately trying to kill us through contaminated food isn’t really true. It has been learned that an American company put melamine into fish food and some animal food.

How melamine is used in these foods is as a chemical additive that holds the food together, like in the form of a pellet. Melamine is used to make certain items of hard plastic. Remember the old melamine dinnerware created in the 60s and 70s? We used to eat off it now we just eat it.

The government isn’t requiring the recall of this fish food because the amounts used are small but it should be pointed out that the Food and Drug Administration has never approved the use of melamine in these foods.

Read more about this story here.

Tom Remington

For $50,000 you can have this rig to take ice fishing.

The SnoBear is a fully equipped fish house that can be driven along the ice on tracks and skis. It lowers itself at the flip of a switch, and built-in power drills cut as many as six fishing holes into the lake’s surface.

The vehicles, which cost from $33,000 to $50,000, can be customized with anything from satellite TV to GPS-enabled fish-tracking devices. They also come equipped with escape hatches, just in case.

Read all about it here.

Tom Remington

On Saturday, A. Sayward Lamb author of the new book “Deer Tails and Other Tales” had his first book signing at the Historical Society building on Main Street in West Paris, Maine. Pictured here in this photograph taken by U.S. Hunting Today’s Chief Photographer, Milt Inman is: Sayward in the center. His wife Cynthia to Sayward’s right and standing is longtime friend and wife of Milt Inman, Eleanor Inman. Looks like Eleanor has cash in hand and ready to buy Sayward’s book.

Tom Remington

The other day I announced the release of staff writer A. Sayward Lamb’s new book, “Deer Tails and Other Tales”. Here is a brief schedule of his upcoming book signings and speaking engagements.

Saturday, October 14th from 1 – 2 PM at the West Paris Historical Society building on Main Street, directly across from the Town Library.

Monday, October 23rd, Sayward will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the West Paris Historical Society. The engagement is at 7 PM and will be in the Historical Society building on Main Street in West Paris.

November 9th at 10 AM, Sayward will giving a talk and a book signing at the Bryant Pond Library on Main Street.

Tom Remington