A WEEKEND GETAWAY AND GREAT FISHING TOO!

Often times I find myself looking for a weekend getaway that can offer me a much needed break yet still allows me to participate in what I love best: fishing. There are times that I find myself in need of some quiet time to be along and enjoy my family. During these periods, I like to get away from the demands of everyday life and the general public that I serve daily. The perfect place for me to unwind and enjoy some great fishing is Kezar Lake in Lovell, Maine.

Kezar Lake is a nine mile lake that is considered one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. This picturesque lake is nestled at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. Kezar Lake has a reputation for crystal clear water, breathtaking scenery and a lack of rowdy "summer folk". If it’s a serene atmosphere and a secluded mountain lake that you are looking for, then Kezar Lake is for you.

Lovell is a small country village whose citizens place a high value on their community and their way of life. They take great pride in their community and don’t take kindly to any outsiders that come into their community and try to change the status quo or try to "citify" their beloved village.

There are no hotels or motels in town as we know them. There are lodges, resorts, cottages and camps that supply a place for visitors to stay. These locations are generally booked well in advance and an advanced call for reservations is highly recommended. There is a campground in town that is located just off the West Lovell Road. Reservations are a must in this popular campground. For a "spur of the moment" trip, staying in North Conway New Hampshire is probably your best bet and it is only a half hour or so trip to Lovell.

There is a marina located at the "Narrows" on the lake. Gas and repairs are available as well as a limited amount of dock space. There is a launching ramp for visitors with boats. Small boat rentals are also available at the marina. There is a public launching facility at the public beach at the "Narrows", another public launching facility is located in the Middle Bay in Center Lovell and a third public launching facility is located at the northern end of the lake in North Lovell.

Kezar Lake has three distinct Bays and each supports different species of fish. Depending on just what species you are looking for will determine what area you will fish. Overall, Kezar Lake supports both warm and cold water species of fish.

The Lower Bay is best for warm water species of fish. It’s shallow depths, numerous islands, abundant weed patches the inlet and the outlet make this part of the lake a favorite among most fishermen. In the Lower Bay fishermen score consistently on good numbers of largemouth bass, pickerel, yellow perch and sunfish. Kids enjoy fast perch action with some individual perch approaching weights close to two pounds. Largemouth bass that approach weights in excess of five pounds are common. Pickerel that tip the scales at nearly six pounds often times take serious fishermen by complete surprise and keep excitement levels close to a fever pitch.

One of my favorite places is Sucker Brook. There is sufficient room in the Brook to navigate a good sized fishing boat. I have caught and released pickerel to six pounds at the mouth of the brook. Many artificial baits work well in the salad that encompasses the mouth of the brook. I have enjoyed some of my best catches when working DareDevils and Johnson Silver Minnows. Small swimming plugs also work well when they are presented along the edges of the salad.

Largemouth bass also inhabit the Brook and can be enticed into hitting with plastic worms and live bait. Plastic worms in the six to ten inch range produce good numbers of strikes. They should be rigged Texas style in order to avoid battles with large "weedfish". For me, the darker colors always work best with black and purple favorites.

Working the islands can be very productive. Jigs and jig n’ pig combinations can be very effective in tricking good numbers of big bass when they are worked along the islands and the many points that are found in the Lower Bay. The mouth of the outlet, the headwaters of the Saco River, can be an extremely active fishing area. Good numbers of big bass, some weighing better than seven pounds, are generally found in this area. There are areas in the outlet that are very difficult to fish but these are often the most productive for trophy bass.

Moving into the Middle Bay, largemouth bass fishermen find themselves changing tactics slightly. More deep water, plenty of structure and numerous drop-offs make bass fishing much more interesting. Along with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass really kick it up a notch. The best areas for smallmouth bass catches are along the islands, the Apron Strings and the numerous rocky points that are very common throughout the bay. Also found in the Middle Bay are good numbers of white perch. Armed with plenty of night crawlers, evening into dusk fishermen score on good numbers of big perch. Hefty white perch make excellent table fare.

During the first of the fishing season, and just after ice out, both fly fishermen and bait fishermen take fair to good numbers of landlocked salmon. Often times fly fishermen score nicely when trolling streamers. The most popular patters year after year are the Grey Ghost, the Nine-three and most smelt imitations.

In the Upper Bay, salmon fishermen can be observed trolling from one end of the bay to the other. Special attention is paid to the area known as the "Ledges". Fishermen are sometimes surprised at the dark black clouds that appear on their fish finders. When this happens, vertical jigging can be very effective.

I find that when salmon fishing trolling is very effective for me. Small plugs can attract good numbers of hungry salmon but my best catches have been made on small spoons. The Mooselook Wobbler in the smallest size works well but my favorite spoon is the Abalone Demon made by Worth. It has been quite a while since I have been able to locate the Demon but Worth has a similar spoon called the Abalone Killer. This spoon appears to work almost as well.

During the spring season surface lures and flies are very effective and produce consistently. By the time spring comes to a close, it becomes necessary to fish at somewhat deeper levels. Downriggers make it much easier to reach the twenty to forty feet that is necessary to reach the fish.

Although summer fishing for salmon is passed over by most fishermen, this is my favorite time to look for this sought after and prized species of fish During the warm months of summer, I know that the salmon will be deep. At times, trolling at depth of between one hundred and one hundred twenty feet is necessary in order to reach summertime salmon. This is when a downrigger is worth it’s weight in gold.

Over the years I have come to realize the importance of using light lines. Of all the different lines that I have experimented with throughout the years, two pound test line in clear or green has been the most consistent for me..

The next time you are looking to get away from the fast pace of city life, strike out for the calming atmosphere of the mountains and the solitude of a crystal clear lake. Drift a worm, cast a plug or drag a spoon and get away for some great fishing. You’ll love it and are sure to return home with an adjusted attitude and a new outlook on the fast pace of city life..