They tell me it works for anything.

I'm not so sure about that, but I do know this: When guide Chris Russell introduced me to the Mepps Aglia lure last week, he introduced me to the most effective spinning lure for smallmouth bass I've ever used. It's got that twitch-and-flash combination that makes smallies -- and, certainly, largemouth bass, too -- have to strike just out of curiosity.

The Mepps comes in different sizes, with the size 3 being primo for the bass population. The French Mepps company also claims that the size 1 and 2 versions work great for perch and crappie, as well as trout. They come in silver and gold, dressed and undressed with marabou tails and such.

Stick with the undressed gold or silver and you're, uh, golden.

Chris told me his father only fishes the Aglia -- no matter where he is or what he's fishing for.

A lifetime on the water. That's enough proof for me.

The story of Chris' father raises an interesting point for me. Most of us become attached to what works for us and don't bother to try out new things. Granted, I'm in a unique position as an outdoors writer -- most of the time, I'm fishing out of my element. I'm with new people in new places fishing for new targets, both with spinning and fly tackle, and I'm wide open to suggestions on what to try or how to attack a game plan.

But if I'm out fishing with my brother or with a buddy, then chances are, I'm going to my comfort zone -- rubber minnow bodies on jig heads (works for most warm water species, I've found) or a small floating Rapala that attracts interest close to the surface.

But, like I said, I'm open to suggestions.

Technology becomes refined, friends stumble onto new combinations and pass those along, or a registered Maine fishing guide tells you to use something specific.

Take the advice. It's the only way to find the next Mepps Aglia.

So, the Little Man wants to know what kind of animals are out there in the dark, anyway?

He sure is a sight as he asks, too. All 4 1/2 years wadded up in a hooded sweatshirt, Red Sox cap and rubber boots thrown on over his camouflaged pajamas just before 9 p.m. — on a schoolnight, no less. He holds the flashlight as if he's trying to spot something 30 feet away, not 3 feet below his chest.

"It's like we're fishing for worms," he says, glancing over his shoulder to make sure there's no scary monster he can't see in the darkness. "It's like we're trying to catch them and put them in worm jail where they will die."

"But we don't want them to die," I tell him.

"Why not?"

"Because we want them to be alive, wiggling so that the fish will see them and want to eat them," I tell him.

He may not be convinced, though I am.

I was reading in an issue of Field & Stream magazine that live bait — despite all our advances in lures of all types, soft and hard, floating and sinking — still works best. Nature prefers things natural. It's the same reason we try and "match the hatch" with our fly rods.

It's also strange for me to play the role of "Dad" in the darkness, scouring the dooryard for nightcrawlers. But it remains one of many important steps I must take to pass on the outdoors heritage to the next generation.

Trying to use skinny fingers to beat nightcrawlers back into the ground is a simple step, but one that could one day hold the magic for Little Man the way it did for me as a boy.

And, as magical and mythical as the night can be, won't the process be even more magnficent for him the minute he hooks into a hungry little smallmouth bass — caught on the very same worm he arrested, booked and put into "worm jail" a couple of days before?

As long as they don't die.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has a great new service for Maine's fishermen.

Now, instead of having to peruse the season's listings all at once or hoping to catch a glimpse of a hatchery truck pulling up to your favorite not-so-secret fishing spot, DIF&W is updating its stocking reports daily.

That means you can find out what fish are being put where -- and when. That will certainly help take the guesswork out of early-spring angling, which can be touch and go at times.

Waters are grouped by county, listed by town, and include the date of stocking as well as the species, quantity, and size of fish released. Click here to see the updated fish stocking report page.

Staff photo/TRAVIS BARRETT

Look, I'll put it right out there. I'm not the heartiest of hearty souls.

Not by a long shot.

That, at least to me, makes it even more impressive to see a group of more than 100 people fishing in a steady rain on a day when the temperature never gets out of the mid-40s. That's just plain cold and raw, and these people all fished for 8 solid hours.

It's a lot to ask. But, in some ways, it's not a lot to ask at all. The 59 2-person teams were all competing in the Maine Bass Open, held for the 19th year at Andy Wess' Lakeside Motel and Cabins on the shores of Cobbossee Lake. Better yet, the tournament is a fundraiser for Maine Special Olympics -- always has been.

About the only unfortunate part of the entire event, held last Sunday, was seeing a team "from away" win the overall title with an 8-fish total of more than 32 pounds, highlighted by a 7.55-pound largemouth bass.

That's a lot of fish to be caught on a day when the water temperatures rivaled the air temps.

Read the complete story in Tuesday's Kennebec Journal.

Even if you couldn't make it to the event, you can still help out. To find out how to donate to Maine Special Olympics, click here.

-- TB

I've got a few random thoughts rattling around my head after a soggy weekend in the bush...

* It's a beautiful thing, being in the woods before sunrise, listening to all of the sounds. The songbirds as they greet the day, the wild turkeys gobbling off in the distance, the relentless hammering of woodpeckers.

Two toddlers in the house, plus an odd work schedule that isn't really on a schedule at all, makes early mornings difficult in the best of times. Still, every time I make the decision to get out while it's dark, I'm never disappointed.

* You know you're getting a little punchy there, junior, when a dog barking in the distance sounds like a tom answering your call.

* Kudos to the 118 anglers -- paired off into 59 teams -- that made it out to the Maine Open B.A.S.S. Tournament on Cobbossee Lake on Sunday.

It was wet, cold and rough going on the open water. But, as one of the fishermen put it, "Other than that, it was perfect."

* It's officially open water fishing season now. How do I know?

Well, it had nothing to do with ice-out or water temperatures and everything to do with permission. As in, when my wife turned to me and said, "You really ought to try to touch water with the canoe this weekend," I knew I was good to go.

* The red-winged blackbirds are back. It must be spring.

-- TB

You're bored. I can tell. I can see it in your face.

You say you're missing something -- the proverbial "it" -- and you want to find a way to challenge yourself and your senses, get out and feel like you're doing something. You're in luck.

WickedOutdoorsy.com has already filled the calendar.

It's 7 events designed to, in their words, "test the strength, stamina, and sanity of even the burliest New Englanders." From surfing icy Maine coastal waters to watching a Formula 1 race in Montreal, this list has it all. And, if you're going to do the loop, you're bringing me along. Remember, after all, you read about it here first, right?

“Spring fever is nasty this year,” said Drew Simmons, editor-in-chief of WickedOutdoorsy.com. “It doesn’t need to be warm, just get me out of the house.”

The criteria for the listing was simple -- it measured the ratio of discomfort versus reward and the likelihood that your wife/girlfriend wouldn't go even if you promised her a luxurious spa trip on the way home.

Without any further ado, here's the calendar. You've been warned...

* Surf Maine: The Kennebunk-based Aquaholics Surf Shop offers surf lessons starting April 1 with all the necessary equipment provided. Before you say, “that’s not manly, that’s just crazy,” you should know your instructor will be a woman.

* Ski Tuckerman’s Ravine: The quintessential backcountry skiing and riding spot heats up when warmer temps arrive in New Hampshire. With a variety of seriously steep terrain, the adventure begins with a 3-mile hike from Pinkham Notch, followed by a ton of hiking, just to reach a few minutes of glory. Definitely not for beginners.

* Raft the Dead River: As this winter’s record snow pack turns from white to whitewater, the local whitewater guides at Northern Outdoors in The Forks are expecting the Dead’s legendary rapids to be the biggest in the resort’s 32-season history.

* Blast Vermont turkeys: Home to New England’s most robust turkey population, Vermont will declare open season on these wild birds from May 1-31.

* Hang with 'Larry the Cable Guy': Sitting through Larry’s 2-hour comedy set at the Cumberland County Civic Center will require bravery, strength, and endurance.

* Catch stripers on the fly: Hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club, the annual Fly Rod Striped Bass Catch & Release Tournament is never canceled, forcing eager anglers to fish through rain, wind and bad early season baseball.

* Formula 1 racing in Montreal: F1 fans from all over the world will bring their mullets to Montreal on June 8 to see some of the world’s most talented drivers race for the checkered flag. Oh, and Cuban cigars are legal in Canada.

Here's something that totally amazed me on Friday morning:

Fishermen who were happily -- gleefully, even -- giving away their trade secrets.

Staff photo/TRAVIS BARRETT

"Look, I'm not one of those guys that won't tell people anything," said Greene's Terry Hill, who was fishing on Lake Auburn with a bunch of other people this week using a most peculiar method. "I want people to catch fish. It's fun."

Hill motioned to James Morin a few feet away.

"We just met a few hours ago, but we've been sitting here talking about all this stuff," Hill said.

That worked out great for yours truly, who had heard wild tales of how they fish on Lake Auburn before ice-out. It was worth checking out -- and I'm glad I did. And, to the guys gathered who let me tag along for an hour or so and pass the information along via that superhighway in the sky, thanks a bunch.

It was a blast.

--TB

Staff photo/TRAVIS BARRETT

Hey, I don't mind swapping stories when it comes to fishing.

I kind of like it, in fact, especially with the angling so slow this time of year and everybody feeling good just to get out. But, boy oh boy, is it ever rough when you feel like you're being accused for not catching fish.

Pulling up in a car, hopping out without a rod in sight and grilling people who are fishing about why they're not succeeding -- well, there's just no place for it.

Wanna know how I really feel about it?

Read the complete story in today's Kennebec Journal or Morning Sentinel.

-- TB

Took the boy out fishing today. Well, more accurately, we went out for some casting practice over on Long Pond, near Castle Island Camps.

The conversations between the several anglers there all went something like this:

"Are the fish biting?"

"Well, we've only been here about 10 minutes. But, no."

"That's what I figured."

It's still, obviously, very cold and the water is rushing around at a high level. It's not exactly flood level, but it's still high enough to cause problems.

Mostly, the 4 1/2-year-old in the group spent time trying to "catch" a piece of rope that was sitting at the bottom of the lake. This just in: the rope wasn't biting any more than the fish were.

When we got back to the house, my wife and daughter greeted us at the door.

"Did you bring back dinner?" my wife asked.

"We did if you're looking for saltine crackers and a bottle of water."

Funny, isn't it, how one week before you can catch all you want for a meal while ice fishing — only to not be able to induce so much as a nibble while "open water" fishing just a few days later?

Nature is a crazy world, indeed.

-- TB

What's that I always say? Never let the facts get in the way of a good story? Well, for the time being, fishermen and scientists may well be on the same page.

Conventional wisdom: "When the alders' leaves get as big as mouse's ears."

The science: "Yep, that's about right."

Maybe I'll wait a few weeks to hit the open water...

Read the complete story in today's Kennebec Journal.

JOE ALBEE AND DOG, SPECK/Staff photo by Travis Barrett

Why is it that I walk away feeling like I'm the one who needs the medicine, like I'm the one who needs to find a way to make myself feel better?

A few hours with Joe Albee will do that to a person.

Albee, 21, lives in Vassalboro. He's bound to a wheelchair -- having endured 22 surgeries in his life to try and alleviate the stress on his body from spina bifida. The disease, resulting from an incomplete closure of the spine, is as debilitating as they come.

Just don't tell Joe.

He's too busy fishing, 4-wheeling and racing down ski slopes to care. And too busy to tell people that things can't be done.

He does more most winters than I could ever dream of. Simply put, I learned one giant lesson from Joe this week. Don't take it for granted.

Don't ever take it for granted.

Read about an extraordinary person in today's Kennebec Journal.

One of my favorite "rite of spring" passages is a trip into the woods in Rome.

The hike up Mount Philip is great on snowshoes in the winter, but I prefer to make the trip in a pair of sturdy hiking boots. Two reasons -- the weather is a little warmer, obviously, so some of the snow melts, and once the trees start to bud, it's a gentle reminder of the promise of life which spring holds.

Timing is everything when it comes to this short, family-friendly jaunt.

Read the complete story in today's Kennebec Journal or Morning Sentinel.

WILTON -- As they say in Grand Lake Stream, he's just living the dream.
There was no life-altering moment, no soul-searching discovery that opened it all up as easily as the pages in a well-worn book, telling Paul Laney that he would make his living as a Maine guide. But at 32 years old, Laney finds himself following his calling and doing just that.

For bobcat, bear or lake trout, the Gardiner native is your man, and as the show coordinator for the Maine Professional Guides Association, he's putting his best foot forward this weekend at the 4th annual Pine Tree State Sportsman and Gun Show. The show, featuring dozens upon dozens of exhibits and seminars, runs through Sunday.

"I grew up hunting and fishing with my father, as soon as I was old enough to do it," Laney said. "At some point I just decided that I wanted to make a living doing it. ... I'm pretty happy everyday I'm able to go out and do it and able to make a living at it.

"Everything I've ever done, I've just put my mind to it and I've done it. That's the way my mentality is -- I just go out and do things right."

Read the complete story in today's Kennebec Journal or Morning Sentinel.

You know, it occurs to me, there ought to be a song with the name "Wilton" in it. Couldn't find any, not even on GoldLyrics.com. Too bad — could have sung it on the way back from the 4th annual Pine Tree State Sportsman and Gun Show this evening, which is being held in Wilton.

Nevertheless...

* Good news, all you open water fishermen. Seems that while we've been worrying about all this ice and snow and cold we're saddled with, some of the guys actually out there in the field aren't feeling quite so sorry for themselves.

According to Paul Laney, a Gardiner native who now guides out of Grand Lake Stream, ice out should happen right on schedule this year -- or pretty close to it.

"There's a lot of ice out there, but most of it is (iffy) ice," Laney said. "It's not going to take it that long to melt. Once it warms up."

Once it warms up. Of course... Granted, with extended forecast after extended forecast showing 30-degree day after 30-degree day, one's got to wonder if it ever actually IS going to warm up.

* Ran into the always good-natured Carroll Ware, one of the nicest outdoorsmen you'll ever meet over at the old Bass Shoe factory where the show is being held. He and his wife, Lila, run Fins and Furs Adventures.

Last fall, Carroll took me out on the upper Kennebec River to chase brown trout with fly rods. Long story short, Carroll left me to my own devices, and my devices snuck up on me and planted a size 16 right in my cheek.

Poor Carroll. He's probably apologized 237 times since, saying he felt bad for not acting as more of a guide and warning me about the pitfalls of leaving so much line out in a gusting wind. I told him that just because we went fishing together doesn't mean he has to be my guide, that he has reason to expect certain things from somebody who dubs himself an "outdoors" writer.

It's not his fault.

But that doesn't mean that when two prospective Fins and Furs customers turned away from the table I didn't take time to jab Carroll just a little.

"Did you remember to tell them about the free fly in the cheek with every trip?" I asked.

Thankfully, he laughed.

* After putting the show together themselves for the first three years, the people at the Bob Nichols Exposition Center have handed the reigns over the Vic Morin.

Morin now runs the Northwoods Sporting Journal, and, it should be noted, lives in Enfield.

That wasn't always the case. When I checked in at the booth upon my arrival on Friday, Vic was ecstatic.

"The Sentinel?!" he said. "I was born in Waterville."

Huh. Small world.

Vic expects between 8,000 and 10,000 people to visit the show on Saturday.

-- TB