Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-03
IN THE MAINE yoon.
. Trouting in Carrying Pl.c. Pond.

"us nshing IL TO be found az
anywhere IN the State. At this season of the
year when the trees are just putting on tbe;,
green foliage, or in the fall when the fore.,.
are all aglow with the changing tin,s If
autumn the drive along the river is most in.
'eresting. The route lays through Skowhe-
gan or Norridgewock, and then on past Mad
isoh' TO the attractive and thriving town. NJ
ooion and Bingham. Eight miles bevond
Bingham is John Carney's hosiery, in a de-
hghtfui location just back from the river and
encircled by green hills. Mr.. Carney is one
OF the best known men up the river and is a,
kindly spoken of as any man in Somerset
county. He has lived In this spot for forty
years.
al Carney's you leave the stage, or put IN
your team, preparatory to the journey to the
ponds, which lie across the river to the west.
ward. mile and half I'D stream i, tho
common crossing place, and novel exneri.
ence 1t is to stem the swift current. and avoid
the running logs with which the Kennebec ia
nlled at this season of the year. But the
powerful arm and long experience of tho
ooatman with the bateau soon serve to land
you safely on the other side Here is where
Arnold and hisadventurous little army forded
the river in the days of the revolution, when
on their way through the wilds of Maine to
the, siege of Quebec
In through the woods four miles from the
river by an easily travelled logging road lie
the Carrying Place ponds-three in number.
The first. and on the borders of which tho
camp is located, is a mile and half long ::
the second. mile farther into the forests, is
not 80 large quite; while the third is two or
three miles farther in, but not fished so much.
as the trout are not so plenty there.
log cabin and two other buildings COM
prise the camp, where the sportsman will be
entertained three times each day with boun.
teous and hearty fare suited to minister to the
ing the woods. cook is to be found here
all through the season, and fifteen or tw enty
people can be accommodated at time. The
charge for board, lodging and all the other
provided to rest your weary limbs upon are a
delight made as they are of the boughs of
spruce, hemlock or fir, and changed each
week for fresh ones, so that all through the
doors of the forest To the one suffering
from asthma or other bronchial trouble the
beds give immediate relief, and the nights are
not disturbed, but given to peaceful rest and
sweet dreams.
These ponds are entirely encompassed about
by deep forests, and the neighbors of the
camp are far away. The moose, the deer and
the bear often wander this wav, and their
tracks are occasionally seen within the pre-
cincts of the camp or along the borders of the
water. The nights in the depths of the
woods are sublime The winds are still, and
only the waves are heard gently ripping
upon the ro,ks. If the moon is up it adds to
the beauty of the scene. If not, the start
are thick overhead and send their brightes,
rays d ,wn through the tall pines. The wild
creatures of the woods now roam about, and
their cries are heard near and far in one di-
rection or another from the camp. The
screech owl is most noisy, and the various
cries and shrieks he is the author of leads you
to imagine the place surrounded by pack Of
bowling wolves. In the early morning the
| nnumerable birds awaken you with theil
songs and the concert they welcome you to
is truly royal.
The situation of the first pond is not so in
teresting as that of the middle one a mile
beyond, but the fish are larger, and are per
feet beauties both in shape and coloring
They vary in size from half pound to g
pound and half. The last of May they love
the worm best, but when the warm days Of
June come in they transfer their affections
and give preference to the deceptive fly.
In these ponds it is SAID the anticipations Of
the fisherman of large catches can always be
realized. Mr.. Carney says that for number
of years innumerable trout have been taken
out each season, but the supply seems to be
as abundant now, as when he first knew the
ponds. Great stories are told of the fishing
that has been done here, and the walls OF the
cottages are adorned with records of wonder
| full catches. few of the takes are noted
| which came under the attention of the writer
In one day, weok or so ago, two fishermen
brought in ninety-four trout, while the other
boats out at the same time had from thai
number down to fifty. In six days, the latter
part of May, two fishermen caught $40 trout
The smaller pond offers the greatest sport,
but the trout do not run as large. In 1884
C. C. Whittier and J. F. Williams of Skow-
hogan, with two friends, fshed half day
there, and landed 227 One day recently the
writer and another were at this pond, and In
less than an hour and half took in 70 trout
not changing anchorage in that time. Ii
seemed to be a school of fish, and reminded
one of mackerel fishing, for as soon as the
line was in the water, the bait would be taken
and the fish landed in the boat.
For nice drive and for plenty of fish try
Carnev's. The roads you pass over are ex
cellent "a a general rule, level and far better
m ride over than those found in KennebeE
county If you wish to go farther north
extending your tour to The Forks or to Par
lin Pond the roads are even better and the
ride more interesting.