Summer & Fall Programs
On September 14, Pierce Pond Watershed Trust (PPWT) partnered with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) and Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps to offer a full-day fly-fishing clinic on Pierce Pond. Twenty-one participants enjoyed a fully immersive day of learning. The clinic was designed for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced anglers who wanted to take their skill to the next level.
Clinic instructor Chelsea Lathrop, who is MDIFW Education and Outreach Coordinator, spent the first part of the day teaching casting, tying knots, and selecting flies, as well as reviewing fishing regulations. She explained fly-fishing terms and techniques such as stripping the line, setting the hook, and false casting.
Participants learned how to select flies by “matching the catch,” which involves choosing flies based on what the fish are eating at the time. Lathrop taught the group how to set up a rod and reel with a variety of clinch and surgeon’s knots. The goal was to teach participants the context for fly selection and casting techniques.
After lunch, participants were able to try out what they had learned, choosing whether to wade, fish from a dock, borrow a canoe, or rent a boat. Fishing gear was provided for those who needed it, including rods, reels, flies, and boots, and waders.
The Setting
The Pierce Pond watershed, with its deep, cold, clear waters, vibrant forests, and unspoiled shores, sustains abundant wildlife. Located in Somerset County, Maine, this unique undeveloped watershed offers unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities, at the center of which is Pierce Pond, a six-mile long, spring-fed lake encompassing 1,650 acres and surrounded by mountains. Accessible via dirt road, this remote 12,000-acre watershed includes eight other ponds at varying elevations.
Public access to Pierce Pond is via Lindsay Cove at the south end. Lindsay Cove is about an hour’s drive north of the small town of North New Portland on rough roads. Program participants are advised to plan accordingly.
Lodging: We’re excited to be partnering again with Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps, which will be our base. Cobb’s Camps was established as a sporting camp in 1904, and the Cobb Family are third-generation owners, carrying on a family tradition of providing guests with the services that will make your stay memorable.
Lodging reservations are made on your own, whether at other regional facilities or through Cobb’s Camps (https://www.cobbspiercepondcamps.com/). Call Cobb’s for details and reservations: (207) 628-2819.