There are many reasons why bass are the most-pursued of all freshwater fish – they are not picky about what anglers use for bait; they fight like the dickens, including impressive aerial displays; and they are easy to turn into tasty fillets.

But the best reason of all is evident when our readers glance at the excellent cover photo on the June, 2023 issue of The Maine Sportsman – the pure, unadulterated joy and sense of accomplishment that comes with pulling a trophy – here, a smallmouth – out of the water. This month’s cover shows a proud and happy Susan Nabreski as she hoists a hefty smallmouth bass that smashed a topwater lure. The photo was taken by her husband, Andy Nabreski.

Inside, our columnists and readers continue the theme. Lou Zambello (“Freshwater Fly Fishing”) shows us that size doesn’t always matter, as he recounts pulling a massive largemouth out of Damariscotta Lake using a relatively small fly-fishing popper; Tom Roth reveals how, when and where to locate smallmouth bass in Sebago Lake; and 12-year old Mabel Hawkes makes her first appearance in our pages (page 66, “Trophy Gallery”), holding a nice 17” largemouth she pulled from the waters of Great Pond, in Belgrade, while on an early-season trip with her father, Jim Hawkes.

A nice largemouth bass slammed the author’s green popper last year in early June on Damariscotta Lake. Lou Zambello photo

Jim Hawkes and his daughter Mabel (age 12) were trolling for brown trout in early April on Great Pond in Belgrade, when Mabel reeled in this hefty 17” smallmouth bass. Photo by Jim Hawkes

So what else is going on this month? How about:

• Women archers, including Staci Warren (“Getting Out There,” page 62) and newcomer Jessica Cobb (“Total Archery Challenge,” page 32)

The author practicing with her bow after work – and while still in her work clothes. Staci Warren photo

• A preview of the summer’s Maine fishing derbies (Steve Vose’s “Central Maine,” page 63)
• And, in preparation for the Moose Lottery being held in Augusta on June 10, a moose hunting adventure by Bethel resident Dale Stevens.

We also offer trout info, including how to tie and fish the “Goober Bug” (Bobby McLaughlin’s guest column, page 51), and how to succeed in your search for warm-weather trout (“Southern Maine,” with Val Marquez, page 68).

For comic relief and to give you all a break from those perfectly-posed trophy photos, King Montgomery (Sportsman’s Journal,” pp. 10 – 11) comes through in a big way, with “Tossing Fish” – his collection of fourteen hilarious photos illustrating what happens when a slippery fish fails to hold still for a trophy shot before being released.

The Toss following the Bend. A classic move, but the author says he couldn’t sell this photo to any magazine editor – until now. King Montgomery photo

So pick up a copy of The Sportsman’s June issue – from your mailbox, at your favorite store, or by calling our friendly office staff at 207 622-4242, to enjoy a full 84 pages of content, including informative columns and articles, great letters to the editor, and the best cartoons in print.

Questions? Contact the editor at [email protected] or the office manager at [email protected].

Good luck with your large- and smallmouth bassin’ this month!

Will Lund, Editor

The Maine Sportsman magazine