Ken
Bailey's
Wilderness Ways
Guide Service
Camden, Maine - Established 1978
Member - The Maine Professional Guides Association
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Ken
Bailey's |
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Tips & TalesYes, a drink can save your lifeSmallmouth bass rule Maine's big rivers
Yes,
a drink can save your life
By Ken Bailey When you come in from a busy day in the Maine outdoors, do you often feel totally exhausted and weak? If you are like me, you might have blamed that feeling on the fact that you’re just getting older and maybe a little out of shape? Maybe not. Ones age and physical conditioning may be a factor, but chances are if you have spent a day under the sun or a day in the summer heat taking part in some form of physical activity, you could be suffering from a potentially dangerous condition: dehydration. Dehydration is defined as "the loss of water content and essential body salts needed for normal body functioning." Most of us often don’t worry about getting enough water. When we are thirsty, we drink some fluid and forget about it. But behind the scenes, it’s water that keeps us alive and well. Every cell in our body, our tissue and our organs need water to function. In fact, water is the nutrient your body needs in the greatest amount. Individuals can, and have, survived as long as six weeks without food, but we can’t survive more than a week without water. A number of activities, such as fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, a physically demanding job or just being out in the mid-day sun, can lead to dehydration if the proper amount of liquids are not taken prior to, during and after your outdoor activity. Medical experts tell us that up to 80 percent of the body's water loss is through perspiration, as the body, like a machine, struggles to keep from overheating. Without the proper replacement fluids, the cardiovascular system becomes impaired and can't deliver the oxygen and nutrients needed to keep muscles functioning without undue strain, resulting in fatigue. In addition, if fluid is not replaced, the body can't maintain its cooling mechanism, resulting in other symptoms such as headaches, nausea and cramps. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, a fluid loss of as little as 5 percent can cause mild dehydration. A loss of 10-15 percent is considered serious and needs to be treated as a medical emergency. Health experts warn that dehydration can occur any time fluid loss is greater than fluid intake. Summer heat puts us all at a higher risk, with the most susceptible being children and the elderly. Dehydration can be prevented if individuals drink 16 ounces of water prior to exercising or leaving for a day of fishing in the summer sun. If a person does not urinate within an hour of drinking that water, they should drink another 8-16 ounces. It is crucial to maintain the proper hydration (fluid intake) during a day in the outdoors by drinking at least 6-12 ounces of water every half hour, especially while in the sun and heat. Don’t wait until you are thirsty before drinking more water. If thirsty, you may already be dehydrated. Water, lightly sweetened, and/or flavoured energy drinks are suggested to ward off this potentially dangerous condition. When choosing a sports drink it is recommended that you look for one with no more than 6-8 percent carbohydrate content (15 grams per 8 ounces). Avoid coffee, tea and caffeinated sodas, as they act as diuretics and actually increase the rate of dehydration. Taking that six-pack of Coke along for you all-day fishing trip is not going to help. Beer and other alcoholic drinks should be avoided for the same reason. No matter what outdoor activity you take part in, you should become aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration. The primary signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion may include fatigue, headache, dizziness, weakness, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, heat intolerance, muscle cramps, flushed skin, thirst, a decrease in sweating and lack of urination or dark-colored urine. Health experts also say that if you or any member of your family can not maintain proper hydration and begin to show the signs of dehydration, immediately remove them from the sun and heat and keep them cool while rehydrating with more “water.” If the signs and symptoms are significant, seek immediate medical attention. Individuals taking diuretic medications are at an even greater risk. Don't forget your pets and animals get dehydrated too. Failing to adequately replace the body's life-giving fluids, or allowing severe dehydration to go untreated, can lead to an accelerated heartbeat, seizures, permanent brain damage, low blood pressure, shock and even death. Other heat-related disorders include heat exhaustion, heat cramps, fainting, heat rash and heat stroke. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension brochure "Water/Hydration, Water Works," suggests the following health tips that should become part of a daily routine: take water breaks throughout the day; have a glass of water, or juice with your meals; never pass a water fountain without taking a sip; drink water before, during and after physical activity; take a bottle of water with you in the car, on the train or on the airplane; and remember than only decaffeinated coffee counts toward meeting the daily fluid intake goal of 48 to 64 ounces. Those of us who live in Maine endure long, cold winters so we can enjoy the fruits of a warm summer. Along with our summer season comes a number of enjoyable outdoor activities that, under certain conditions, can cause dehydration. Get out and enjoy your summer, but remember to drink plenty of the proper liquids to keep your body's systems up and running. Have a safe week in your part of the great outdoors. Let's go fishing!
Smallmouth bass
rule Maine’s big rivers
By KEN BAILEY Maine is the last great wilderness east of the Mississippi. The
country’s easternmost state is known for its extensive woodlands, hundreds of
lakes, ponds and rivers and variety of abundant wildlife. Anglers travel hundreds of miles to fish for a vast variety of
fresh and saltwater species, many now available year-round. To many ardent anglers, the feisty smallmouth bass is a primary
target either with fly rod or light spinning gear. And today, thanks to years of
environmental action and industrial clean-up, many of Maine’s rivers are
running clear and are home to this red-eyed king of the river, the smallmouth
bass. In some nonfishing circles a fish is a fish. And for some anglers,
a bass is a bass. After guiding clients over the past 27 years on lakes and
ponds and the Penobscot and Piscataquis rivers, I am constantly reminded that
there are countless differences in bass, especially river smallies. Although the Penobscot is better known for landlocked salmon and
brook trout in its northern stretches and Atlantic salmon near Bangor, the
river, from Medway downstream to Orono, is one of the nation’s premier
smallmouth fisheries. This fantastic bass factory and one of its major tributaries, the
Piscataquis, go mostly unnoticed by local anglers, even with increased publicity
and appearances on a number of nationally televised fishing shows. River smallies are among the toughest fish, pound for pound, that
will ever stretch a fishing line. Right from the moment they hatch, smallmouth
must fight the never-ending river current for their daily survival. This
toughness is evident as soon as they are hooked, when they display airborne
antics on the end of a line that are truly spectacular. The steady current that makes them tough also means river
smallmouth don’t often get to be as huge as some of their lake cousins. Even
so, the average river bronzeback approaches two pounds, with enough three-pounders
and an occasional four-pounder to keep the excitement level high all day. During trips to the Penobscot and Piscataquis, anglers can average
between 20 and 35 fish or more each day. This is not to say that you will
succeed like this every time out, but the number of bass caught on these rivers
will nearly always exceed even the best smallmouth lake or pond, especially
during the heat of summer. Hot summer weather doesn’t affect river fishing as much as it
does in fishing in lakes and ponds. Most stretches of these rivers, especially
in the Howland and Lincoln regions, have enough moving water and spring-fed
feeder creeks to maintain temperatures at a level that keeps the smallmouth
active from spring through fall. Another plus of fishing for river smallmouth is the ability to
catch fish throughout the day. Although there are small peaks of activity early
and late in the day, there are always shaded areas and current breaks that will
allow you to catch fish at high noon on a day when the temperatures are in the
80s. Although the fish are plentiful on these rivers, so are the rocks.
Taking a motorboat up and down the river channels can be a nerve-wracking
experience. Rocks and boulders the size of small cars appear without warning. Because these rivers were used many years ago for log drives to
Maine's famous paper mills, there are also numerous man-made pilings scattered
throughout, and you can go from 18 feet of water to nearly nothing in just a few
yards. When fishing big rivers, look for smallies hanging around rocks,
ledges, the outflows of dams, trees that have fallen into the water or any other
object that breaks the flow pattern of the river. Because the current is steady,
the fish look for a place to rest and wait for an easy meal to pass by. River fishing is also different from lake or pond fishing in that
you deal with greatly varying water depths, temperature changes and inlets
ranging from tiny brooks to major rivers. Although big rivers provide a high-quality fishing environment
throughout the summer, conditions can change on a daily basis. The water flow
and level is controlled by a number of upstream dams used for power production,
which often causes water levels to go up or down by a couple of feet or more
overnight. This feature can offer great opportunities but can also create
obstacles where none existed just a few hours earlier. Knowing how the bass
react when the water is rising or falling will also add to your success. Fish are taken regularly with top-water lures, small crankbaits,
spinners, jigs and grubs. Fly anglers connect with poppers and a variety of
weighted streamers and must always be ready for a flying ant hatch. I have seen
these ant hatches happen, and when they do, if you have an ant pattern in the
fly box, be prepared for some of the fastest fishing you’ll ever experience. With a proper presentation and a little practice in using the
current to your advantage, the smallmouth bass will not disappoint you. If you
are tired of dragging lures through deep water looking for fish, try your hand
at some smallmouth bass river fishing. Once you try it, you’ll know why some
folks travel hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of miles just to catch these
red-eyed fighting machines. To get into some excellent smallmouth fishing, think about trying one of
Maine’s premier rivers. The fishing and the scenery, including the
ever-present bald eagles and other wildlife, will make a day on the river one
you will long remember. It may just end up being a fishing experience you will want to repeat over and over again. |
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