Cold temperatures this week means that the ice has finally set on many lakes and ponds in the area, and it’s time to fish. You will still want to check the thickness of the ice before heading out, as the balmy December means ice thickness is not quite what you would expect this time of year.

Every state has its own distinct lore and recognizable icons. Mere mention of Maine to most anyone across the country invariably elicits mention of lobsters, moose and L.L. Bean. Most Mainers — and a good many folks from away — are familiar with the tale of an avid outdoorsman named Leon Leonwood Bean who, a century ago, returned from a hunting trip with cold, damp feet and decided he could build a better boot.

AUGUSTA — A century from now, Mainers will look back and say the state’s fish and game department did what it promised, vowed Chandler Woodcock last week.