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Smelt fisherman enjoy the ice as the sun sets Wednesday at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. Temperatures dipped into the high teens. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Smelt fishing returns to Cathance River in Bowdoinham
Rich Abrahamson captures people of all ages flocking to heated shacks at D’s Camps for seasonal fishing experience.
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D’s Camps is open for smelt fishing on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. The O’Brien utilized a shack Jan. 28 for their first time fishing for smelt. Others also braved the cold as temperatures dipped into the teens. The shacks are heated with wood stoves.
The camps offer veterans half off fishing rental on Wednesdays.
Charlie O’Brien, 12, left, along with her brother Ollie O’Brien 5, and dad John O’Brien of Lisbon carry gear Jan. 28 as they arrive to fish for smelt at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. It was their first time to fish for smelt, they said. John, who is a veteran, and other veterans get half off their fishing rental on Wednesdays. Temps dipped into the high teens. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this image35578# 20260128_01smelt BOWDOINHAM, MAINE JANUARY 28, 2026 Smelt fisherman Jeff Morrill, of Gray returns to the warmth of a shack he shared with brother Bill Morrill, of Durham while fishing at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River is Bowdoinham, Maine Wednesday night January 28, 2026. The shacks are heated with wood burning stoves. Temps dipped into the high teens Wednesday night. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageSmelt fisherman carry gear Wednesday as they arrive at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River is Bowdoinham. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageDerek Saxon, owner of D’s Camps, walks across the ice on the Cathance River in Bowdoinham, where Wednesday’s temperature dipped into the high teens that night. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this image35578# 20260128_01smelt BOWDOINHAM, MAINE JANUARY 28, 2026 Smelt fisherman Jeff Morrill, of Gray prepares his line while fishing with his brother Bill Morrill, of Durham at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River is Bowoinham, Maine Wednesday night January 28, 2026.(Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageSmelt fisherman Jeff Morrill of Gray, right, prepares his line Wednesday while fishing with his brother Bill Morrill, of Durham, at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageJohn O’Brien of Lisbon breaks out snacks to share with his daughter Charlie O’Brien, 12, right, and son Ollie O’Brien, 5, as they fish Wednesday at D’s Camps on the Cathance River in Bowdoinham. It was their first time to fish for smelt, they said. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageBob Lawler, a veteran from Lisbon Falls, checks his fishing line Wednesday as Charlie O’Brien, 12, of Lisbon, does handicrafts while the pair fish for smelt with O’Brien’s brother Ollie O’Brien, 5, and dad John O’Brien, also a veteran. It was the O’Briens’ first time to fish for smelt at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. Veterans get half off their fishing rental on Wednesdays. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this image35578# 20260128_01smelt BOWDOINHAM, MAINE JANUARY 28, 2026 Open water borders D’s Camps, left, as the sun set over the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham, Maine Wednesday night January 28, 2026. Temps dipped into the high teens Wednesday night. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this imageSmelt fisherman enjoy the ice as the sun sets Wednesday at D’s Camps on the frozen Cathance River in Bowdoinham. Temperatures dipped into the high teens. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Purchase this image
Rich is a career photojournalist and writer who got his start in newspapers in 1987 at the Fort Morgan Times in Colorado. His appreciation for photography and stories began as a kid while watching slide...
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Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
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