East Outlet Trip
July 31 – August 3, 2008
On Thursday, July 31, 2008, seven veterans departed the Togus Pond V.A. Hospital enroute to Greenville, ME for a Project Healing Waters fishing trip. Teri Olson, Recreation Therapist and David Sheaff, Trout Unlimited volunteer, accompanied the group. We arrived in the late afternoon and checked in to the lovely Moose Tracks Family Cottages on Prong Pond.
The new ADA equipped Sunrise cottage housed five of our crew. It is sited next to Prong Pond, with easy ramp access to the water. The other members stayed in Prong Mt. cabin located nearby. After getting unpacked and oriented with the Maine north woods, we went to the Rod and Reel Restaurant in Greenville for a hearty dinner.
Friday morning breakfast at Auntie M’s café, we were met by another veteran and our host Bob Hamer, Moosehead Chamber of Commerce. Our crew of eight fishermen included two men on active duty from Walter Reed Army Hospital.
At the head of the East Outlet of Moosehead Lake, we met our five guides led by Dan Leger, owner of Maine Guide Service. The 6 mile long float down the East Outlet provided us plenty of opportunity to catch native brook trout and land locked salmon. The guides were generous with hints and help to put us on the fish. A perfect shore lunch was cooked at the Beach Pool by the guides. After lunch we continued our float to the take out on Indian Pond.
For one of our veterans, the float down the East Outlet was his first experience with fly fishing and Project Healing Waters. We could see his enthusiasm grow as he fished and he spent time with his fellow veterans. By the end of the trip, he was fully engaged and ready for more!
Friday evening we traveled north to Kokadjo Trails Restaurant for an excellent dinner. On the way, we saw our first moose with a calf. Driving back at dusk we saw our second adult moose along the road. Lights out came early for some of us at Prong Pond.
Saturday morning, we were off to Kelly’s Landing on Moosehead Lake for breakfast. The guides met us again at the East Outlet, and we loaded up for a second wonderful float trip. The fishing and camaraderie were great. Lunch was provided on a scenic point at Indian Pond where we sat and compared fishing tales.
With little time to spare, we met the members and friends of the Greenville American Legion Post for supper on the shore of Moosehead Lake. After supper, we cruised the lake onboard the motor vessel, Katahdin. From the Katahdin, we had a spectacular view of the lake and shoreline, and a wonderful opportunity to visit with our hosts from the American Legion.
Back at Moose Tracks, we closed out the evening with a campfire and reflected on the fishing, scenery and wonderful people we met from the Moosehead region of Maine.
Sunday morning, the early birds got in a few more casts into Prong Pond before a wonderful breakfast at DKB’s. The trip back to Togus via Moose Alley, Jackman, the Forks and the Kennebec River valley was smooth and scenic. Several tired fishermen nodded off as we drove back.
David F. Sheaff
Project Healing Waters Volunteer
Kennebec Valley Chapter, Trout Unlimited
