Warmer water brings new fishing challenges

With water temperatures finally starting to warm up to typical summer levels, fishing has started to taper off for the summer in the large lakes up north. For us, this is one of the most predictable opportunities especially if you are targeting lake trout that are starting to stage at different depths. If you are hard core and are on the water by 4:30 a.m. and putting in four-five hours before the average guy is waking up, you will catch fish. Use your fish finder to determine where the thermocline has set up. Look for a light grey contrasted band on your screen. You may also notice a group of fish hovering in this band. While on vacation at Sebago Lake there were two established thermoclines – one at 60 feet and the other at 90 feet. This is the area you want to target with your lures. Use downriggers to get there or 10-12 colors of lead core line and troll as slow as the boat will go. Remember, we catch almost all of the fish before 8 am and the regular summer patterns are working, orange and gold flash kings and DB smelts are our lure of choice.Deer Project Leader David Stainbrook reports a total of 11,154 white-tailed deer harvested by licensed hunters during the combined 2011 seasons. By season, the total breaks down to 8 deer taken during the special deer season for paraplegic sportsmen; 3,765 taken in the archery season; 5,349 taken during the shotgun season; 1,959 taken during the primitive arms season; and 73 deer harvested during the Quabbin Reservation hunt. Deer populations are managed according to deer density goals established to maintain healthy deer populations in balance with the environment. Goals are set at levels that balance deer hunting and viewing opportunities with levels which minimize impacts on property damage, public health issues, and safety. Deer densities throughout the western and central parts of the state and some areas in the east with lands accessible to hunters are at or near deer management goals. High deer populations are still found in suburban areas in eastern Massachusetts where hunter access is limited, but recent trends in towns opening lands to archery hunting have shown promise for reducing deer numbers in these areas.Prospective hunters of all ages are reminded that it is never too early to plan and sign up for a Basic Hunter Education Course. Basic courses are available across the state and many will begin in August and September. Many veteran and new hunters fail to consider enrolling in a course until the weather turns cool in late September, when most courses have either begun or are full and the opportunity to hunt during the fall may disappear. Courses are scheduled through much of the calendar year, but most are offered in the spring and early fall. The 12-15 hour course is taught by volunteer instructors, and is usually scheduled over five or six weekday evenings. Occasionally, courses are conducted on weekends. Students must attend all scheduled sessions as part of the requirement for passing the course. All instruction and class materials are provided at no charge to the student. Funding is derived from the sale of hunting and sporting licenses, and from federal excise taxes on firearms and archery equipment. The sportsmen and women of the state have already assumed the expenses for the courses. Topics covered during the Basic Hunter Education course include safe handling and storage of hunting arms and ammunition, hunting laws and ethics, wildlife identification, wildlife management, care and handling of game, basic survival skills and first aid. Students who successfully pass the course will receive a Certificate of Completion which is acceptable for purchasing a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license and, for people 15 or older, making application for a Firearms Identification Card with their local police departments. These certificates are also accepted for the purchase of a hunting license in the United States and Canada. Massachusetts Hunter Education Program to