4.
Summer Bass Fishing Secrets Revealed!
Dave Dorsa Discovers Big
Bronzebacks on Submerged Rock Piles (2004)
I started fishing when I was, well, as soon as I was
able to hold a pole. As soon as I set my eyes upon
East Grand Lake I was in love. The water is clear
and clean. What else do I need to say…heaven on
earth…
During the summer, the submerged rock piles are
where you catch the monster bass. Fishing over the
rock piles you can see all the way to the bottom. I
say monster because when fishing there sometimes you
think that you have snagged a rock but of course
it's a bass.
One of my favorite rock piles is just off the Five
Islands, which is straight out from Rideout’s. Off
these islands there are a couple of sand/rock bars
where the water drops off quick. I start from shore
and work my way out. I'll stay over the bars on the
way out and off to either side as I work my way back
in toward the shore. If the water is high enough,
you can also sneak in between the smaller islands,
be real careful and go slow. I don't advise this
unless you've been boating a while. I like to cast
when I fish, but sometimes I will troll also. Just
pick any of the islands, the fishing is great
anywhere in this area.
The other place I like to fish is in a cove to the
right of the islands. Drive straight out, from
Rideout's and veer to the right. Be careful and
watch your water depth, the rocks come up quick. I
cast over the rocks and drop the lure about a foot
above the rocks and hold on. The bass will hit
anything that is shiny and spins. I'll try a few
different lures until the bass hit. I usually stick
with a Mepps spinner number two or three. Gold works
best for me. I have tried the rooster tails, they
work, and Rapalas work well also.
It seems in the summer the bass hang out in
locations were the lake floor drops off hard into
the depths. Even though I catch more than my fair
share of fish, I always catch and release.
It is definitely worth the drive to go to Rideout's.
I live in Connecticut and my Dad in Florida. My Dad
turned me on to Rideout's. He drives up from
Florida, picks me up and we make the trek to
Rideout's. We plan on returning this year.
Ya know , I can't say enough good things about
Rideout's and the lake. The accommodations, the
food, the people, it just doesn't get any better.
Finally, on a very personal note, please keep this
lake clean. Whatever you take onto the lake, please
take it back with you….
5. Truly A Spectacular
Fighting Fish!
Joe Arnold & Linda
Martell Tussle With Maine’s Feisty Bronzebacks
(2003)
Catch a hundred a day, sounds too good to be true.
East Grand Lake? Danforth, Maine? Never heard of
either. We read of these things in The Maine
Sportsman.
A
call to Rideout’s Lodge in November 1999 was
answered with such enthusiasm and assurances of
great fishing that we booked for June 2000, with
high hopes. We were greeted upon our arrival by a
spectacular view of
East Grand Lake as we made our
way down the road to Rideout’s Lodge. We were then
greeted by that enthusiastic voice from the phone in
the person of Bob Jr. After getting settled in our
cabin we went fishing and caught 25 bass that
afternoon, the second day we caught 62 bass, the
“100 bass a day” claim might be attainable, but we
were having such fun fishing and enjoying the lake
and the Rideout’s hospitality that we never did try
again for numbers. We enjoyed the fishing, the
lake, and the people so much that we booked for June
2001.
That year the smallmouth bass fishing was again spectacular
with some very large catches and many large fish.
At times we caught a bass on every cast. We enjoy
using top-water plugs, crankbaits, and switching to
fly rods; you haven’t lived until you catch a
leaping, thrashing East Grand Lake smallmouth bass
on a 5-weight fly rod, especially if you tied the fly yourself!
Some
of the best bass fishing we ever had was in
Patterson Cove, on a hot early June day. We got
tired of catching bass! (not likely) White grubs
were the ticket that day. We really hated to head
home that year, East Grand Lake and Rideout’s Lodge
provided for another great fishing adventure.
For
2002 we invited my Son Peter to join us for a few
days in bass fisherman’s Heaven. He flew in from
his home in Virginia, and had a fantastic time
catching smallmouths with us in some of our
favorite spots; Dark Cove and Little English Cove
are two of the best. Small crank baits, both
shallow and medium divers on light line, seems to
work best, also white grubs worked well along the
bottom. Large flies in dark colors fished near or on
the bottom also worked very well.
We
have grown very fond of East Grand Lake, Rideout’s
Lodge and the friendly people there. So much
that we returned in September 2002 for a few days
more of fine Maine smallmouth fishing and fine
hospitality. What a wonderful place, can hardly
wait to return in 2003, our reservations are made.
Hope to see you there!
6.
Great Summer Bronzebacks!
Lunker Smallies Discovered on East
Grand By Rideout’s Guest Rick Carbonneau (2002)
It's July, my wife Susan and I are
planning a fishing trip, but where? We have fished
in many states over the years. We do a little web
search and find East Grand Lake in Maine. Okay,
looks nice, 16,000+ acres, let's find a place to
stay. Being avid fishermen, we have stayed in
shanties to elaborate hotels. First thing we look
for is a boat launch, second is power to charge
batteries, and third is boat docks. The rest is a
plus. Rideout's Lodge? Let's check this site,
perfect, everything we're looking for. Off we
go, beginning from Massachusetts. We have a little
haul, about six hours. Piece of cake, we are going
fishing! When we arrived, we met our hosts Bob and
Jami. They made us feel very comfortable and showed
us around. Bob had a meeting that evening to tell
us about the lake. He supplied us with a map and
some helpful fishing tips. After the meeting, Bob
took us into the tackle shop. Not bad, small, but
enough to get you fishing. Plastics worms, spinner
baits, jigs, grubs, tubes, some top water. Okay,
enough of that. "Come on Sue, let's putt around the
lake. Let's see what it looks like and mark some
spots for tomorrow."
It's morning, off we go! What a
beautiful lake, so quiet, and peaceful. Now, all we
have to do is catch fish. Our first stop is in
front of the Five Islands. I was throwing spinner
baits and Sue was throwing worms. We both caught a
fair share of smallies. It's only the first day,
but not what we expected for size, all fish under 2
lbs. Day 2 is similar to Day 1. Okay, need to try
something different. We notice a lot of drops and
rocky points that should hold bass. Day 3, we found
a little different structure. Hard, sandy bottoms,
with laydowns. We moved off the islands until we
found the first drop. BAM! First 3 pounder! Caught
on a white tube with 1/4 oz. jig head. As we move
along the islands, we caught over 15 bass in the 3-4
pounds class (yes!). We found them! Even though the
conditions were not there for smallies (bluebird
skies, no wind) we caught plenty of fish! Most of
them in the 3-4 pound range. We dropped one on
spinner bait, looked all of 5 lbs., but didn't get
it on the boat. So, just a story! If we catch fish
in mid-July this size, how big are they in spring,
and fall? Well, we are going to find out!
We have our own bass
boat, but Rideout's offers boats, gas motors,
trolling motors, depth finders, tackle, everything
you need catch fish. Sue and I found the people to
be very nice, and the rooms comfortable. Believe it
or not, the fishermen shared their spots. Like most
fishermen, we like the water to ourselves. So, if
you get out on the water and feel like you are
alone, you probably are. No pressure, I mean
no pressure. Well, on a last note,
if you don't have time to cook,
the food is great!!
7. Great Bassin’? You Bet!!!
Plentiful Smallmouths Discovered on
East Grand - By Rideout’s Guest Rick Bonura
(2001)
Maine is a long way from my home
state (North Carolina), but as I found out, it was well worth the
trip. When I first drove up to Rideout’s I
didn’t know what to expect. On the way up I had
read all of the literature, and the claims of great
fishing. I soon found out that there were
nice cabins,
good food
and colorful sunsets on a huge
clear lake, but were there any fish?
On my first day, Bob Jr. set me up
with
a new Lund boat, a trolling motor, a lake map
and a ½ hour discussion on water hazards and bass fishing
hot spots. I set out on the 22-mile long lake with
high hopes. By the end of the day I was convinced
that I had truly discovered a fantastic place to
fish! Although my luck varied some days because of
the wind, overall I had excellent bass fishing throughout
may stay...in fact, I would say it was exceptional.
On one day the fish were so aggressive that I just
decided to try every bass lure in my tackle box, to
see what they wouldn’t hit!
The only lure that remained untouched, no
matter how many times I cast it, was a neon green,
skirted grub with black speckles! (it was the only
lure that I could actually see resting on the bottom
of the lake). In other words, if I wanted to, I
could have actually caught 100 fish on that day as
Rideout’s says in its brochure...and this was in
late August!
I was able schedule a second trip to
Rideout’s in early September of the following year
(2000), but due to time limitations, I was restricted
to only two days on East Grand. I didn’t slay them in
the numbers I had the previous August, but I
did catch not only the largest smallmouth bass I had ever
caught but the largest smallmouth I have ever seen.
I didn’t have my scale with me, but it must have been
pushing six pounds. My girlfriend came along with me
on this trip and, even though she is not a
fisher-person, she found plenty to keep herself
entertained (sightseeing,
kayaking, swimming, etc.)
while I pursued the fishier denizens of the lake.
I highly recommend Rideout’s. I’m
not saying that you will necessarily duplicate my
good fortune, as weather and conditions vary, but I
can say this for sure: the fishing was great for me,
the people were friendly and the food was
wonderful....and not only that, the weather was
beautiful while I was there.
As I stated earlier, Maine is quite a
drive from North Carolina. When friends have asked
me if the long haul is worth it, I think back on the
beauty of East Grand Lake, the comfort and homeyness
of
Rideout's rental cabins,
and the excellent
Maine bass fishing, and
my only response is: “You Bet!”
8. Bass Fishing at It’s Best
Plentiful Smallmouths and More
Discovered on East Grand
By Rideout’s Guest Rick Vorias
(2000)
Having fished all over North America
for the past 30 years, it's difficult to choose a
"favorite" fish, lake and Lodge for most
people...but not for me....it’s smallmouth bass,
East Grand Lake, and Rideout’s Fishing Lodge.
Fishing's the lure, there’s no doubt
about that, but when you combine nonstop
smallmouth fishing action
with a crystal-clear
lake with minimal
fishing pressure; clean, comfortable
cabins
overlooking the lake; home-cooked
meals
(be prepared
to put on a pound or three); and, warm and friendly
hospitality from the Lorigans (who own and live at
Rideout’s Lodge), you’ve got an unbeatable package
and a place that "feels like home" to boot.
Last season, my son Ricky,
his friend Kevie (both are 13) and his dad Kevin, and I
drove up from Massachusetts to experience the
excitement of Rideout's Maine fishing once again (7th year
for all....18th season for me). The five days we
fished were loaded with smallmouth bass action. We
hooked somewhere between 50 to 80 bass every day.
From top-water explosions to jigging in deeper
waters, the average size was 2 to 3 pounds with 4+
pounders not uncommon...but we wanted the 5-pounder,
and for that I knew we needed Dave Barnes.
With over 16,000 acres of fish-producing,
pristine shoreline, East Grand Lake can be
overwhelmingly large. Dave, a professional bass
guide, is extremely knowledgeable and an
all-around good guy (kids love'm). He knows where
the lunkers are, and how to put a thrashing, 5-pound
smallmouth bass on the end of your line in two
shakes of a crankbait. And this is just what he
did for Ricky the first morning out. Some "almost"
5-pounders were landed (and released) and several were
hooked, fought and lost by all, but it didn't
matter. Close friends were back at Rideout’s,
guided by "Barnsie". For about an hour or so,
Barnsie took us to coves, rocky bottoms, and then on
to trees that laid half-submerged in the water. We
continued to catch a mess of smallmouth but then on
Ricky's 3rd cast around a sunken tree, the water
exploded and the fight began. For more than five
minutes, it was touch-and-go. Words of
encouragement by us and words of wisdom by Dave
finally paid off. Pound for pound, in my opinion,
there is not a better fighting fish (fresh or salt)
than a smallmouth bass. The "lunker" was netted,
photographed and then returned to where we first
found him (give someone else the thrill).
That evening, back at the Lodge, we
relived the entire day over grilled ribeye steaks
with all the fixin's, homemade breads and “just
baked” pies. Bob Jr. and his wife Jami listened to
our bass adventure, just as they listen to so many
other fishing adventures that take place at
Rideout’s day after day, year after year. That
night, while lying in bed and listening to the cry of
the loons, I knew why I'd been coming to Rideout’s
for the last 18 years -- and hopefully for the next
18: at
Rideout's Lodge, it feels like coming
home.
9. Bass Tips Can Lead To Catch of 50 Per Day (1999)
By Dave Barnes Sr., Rideout’s Guide &
1991 B.A.S.S. Eastern Div. Champion
If you’ve been looking for great
Maine smallmouth bass fishing,
then look no further: East
Grand lake is 22 miles of beautiful “God's country”.
Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the lake is
a fisherman’s paradise. Each year the action starts
two weeks before the first full moon in June. At
this time, the smallmouths go into a pre-spawn
feeding spree, and can be caught on top-water lures,
spinnerbaits, and soft- and hard-style jerkbaits. A
normal day's fishing will consist of up to
30-plus smallmouths, with many of
them in the three-to-four-pound range. The
next milestone occurs during the full moon, when the
fish begin spawning. During the spawn the
average daily catch will be 50-plus fish in the
three-pound range! Several lures are
effective at this time including top-water lures
such as pop “R”s, four-inch grubs, salamanders and
lizards.
Finally, during the summer and later into the fall,
the fish can be caught in either shallow or deep
water. Deep-water techniques include Carolina-rigged
lizards and grubs, or use spinnerbaits for
top-water action.
After a hard day's fishing you will
need a place to sleep and eat. What better place
than Rideout’s Lodge. The Rideout's
housekeeping cabins are
large, well-furnished and comfortable. But if you
are looking for a “no-hassle” vacation, then try the
American Plan.
All
Rideout's Lodge meals
are cooked on the premises.
The bread is baked fresh daily, as are all the
desserts on the menu. Talk about great food -
WOW! Try their fresh-baked turkey dinner, a juicy
roast-pork dinner, or charbroiled Black Angus
steaks...you can cut ‘em with a butter knife!
So if you are looking for a vacation
to remember, Rideout’s in Maine should be your first choice...and I guarantee that you will fall in love with
the bass fishing on East Grand!!
EDITORS NOTE:
For
more information about arranging a trip with Dave,
call (207) 445-4627...... you’ll be glad you did!
10. Great Bassin’ Draws TV Shows to Rideout’s
Nate Mitchell, Charlie Ingram &
Dave Barnes Sample Rideout's Lodge Hospitality (1999)
Several of you have mentioned that you saw Rideout’s Lodge
on national TV. In fact, both Rideout’s and East
Grand Lake were recently featured in three
different TV shows. It all started in June, when Dave Barnes,
Maine's premier bass angler, came to Rideout’s to film a TV show with noted
outdoorsman and Master Guide, Nate Mitchell. During
the filming with Dave, Nate took the opportunity to
tape a separate TV show for his own regular series,
which will feature bassin' on East Grand Lake out of
Rideout’s. While shooting the two shows,
the video staff from Ursus Productions reported that
Dave and Nate were boating and releasing 75 big bass
each day! Finally, earlier in the year nationally
recognized bass champion, Charlie Ingram of “Fishing
University” fame, was on East Grand filming for his own
regular TV series. This is the third year that
Charlie has graced Rideout's Lodge. He routinely brings
up a staff of at least six, including scuba divers
and photographers. When asked why they drive 1,300
miles from Tennessee to fish East Grand Lake they say
that it is because of the excellent bass fishery,
lack of crowding on the lake, clarity of the water,
and the
great food
and
accommodations
at Rideout’s.
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