Where Cool Waters Flow: Four Seasons with a Master Maine Guide

by Randy Spencer

Master Maine Guide Randy Spencer knows the lakes, streams, and woodlands around Grand Lake Stream, Maine, like few others. He has learned the ways of the old Maine Guides-from the proper way to prepare shore lunches, to where to find the best salmon and bass, to how to survive in the wilderness-from some of the area's local legends. Now, in his first book, Where Cool Waters Flow, Randy puts you in the casting seat of his Grand Laker, introduces his many sports who come from miles away to decompress, brings you out on the trail during fall hunts, and takes you on many other adventures as only an insider can.

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting telling of this Maine Guides work in all four seasons in the lake and river area of Grand Lake Stream located in Washington County, Maine. Lots of practical info about the logistics of guiding as well as info about the people he guides and friends he fishes/hunts with. Told at a nice pace!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at a year in the life of a Maine Guide, a person who is certified as knowing the lakes and forests around Grand Lake Stream, Maine. For most people, it’s an isolated bit of northern Maine, with a population barely over 100. For those who take their hunting and fly fishing seriously, it is an important place to experience.

Winter is a time for repairs or preventive maintenance on their specially built square stern canoes, called Grand Lakers. Most people need a second job to make it through the long winter. The author is a singer/songwriter who released several CDs. Mud season happens somewhere between winter and spring, when it seems as if the entire world has turned to mud. It is also a time to curse the roads and trails, made by the timber companies, which are frequently little more than collections of ruts and potholes.

Spring means the return of guiding clients, called "sports." Many sports have become friends, returning year after year. It’s an important psychic boost to the year-round residents (and the money doesn’t hurt). April 1 means the opening of fly fishing season. It’s totally unimportant if there is still ice on the rivers, or if there are giant snowbanks leading right down to the water; serious fly fishermen will be there.

In summer, guides make use of every square inch of storage space in their canoes as they take sports out for an all-day fishing trip. The guide knows where trout or salmon are likely to hang out; it’s not enough to simply cast and expect the fish to bite. There are a number of occurrences where sports experience emotional decompression or confess things to their guide while in the canoe. To be the only human beings on a lake with no other signs of human habitation, and to watch an eagle snatch a fish out of the lake, or to watch a moose or black bear rumble past, the term "religious experience" comes to mind.

In the autumn, fishing season gives way to hunting season. Some people have to use the newest “guaranteed” rifle or hunting gadget, while others stick with family heirlooms that have worked in the past. Autumn is also the time for house repairs, and wood chopping, that weren’t taken care of during the summer.

Along with being a Maine Guide, and a musician, Spencer is also an excellent storyteller. He does a fine job of putting the reader in the canoe, or up a tree waiting for a large animal to walk by. For armchair sportsmen, and serious sportsmen, this is very highly recommended.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Cool Waters Flow is an enchanting, personal tale of a wanderer’s journey through Grand Lake Stream, Maine. Grand Lake Stream is a storied, historic town known for its idyllic scenery and tourism. The author’s story of relocating to Maine is inspiring, and makes the following narration more engaging. Randy Spencer, the author, vividly describes multiple characters in an authentic Maine way. Two of these characters that I loved were Harley Fitch and Drummond Humchuck. Harley Fitch epitomizes the true Mainah (the word preceding this is not a typo, I am using a Maine accent), he shows great storytelling and hunting skills, and reminds me of my father-in-law Louis Tardiff. Drummond Humchuck is a hardcore survivalist living a remote, barren and desolate region that is so remote it is barely recognized on maps, only as a letter or number code, like many other places in Maine. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages. This book is not complex and is a quick read, so I would much suggest reading it to your children at night. This gives a taste of Maine that only a Mainah could give, which is what makes this book so special to me, a Mainer. However, all things considered, I do wish that Randy could have spoken in a poetic Mainer voice. But, Randy’s work fills its role effectively in purpose, voice or no voice.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up while vacationing in Rangeley, Maine. Randy Spencer offers a series of vignettes and snapshots of the life of a Registered Maine Guide and the region he calls home. His recollections of visiting Drummond Humchuck, sprinkled throughout, are perhaps the most entertaining. I would love to read a whole book about him and his life. The book certainly did nothing to squelch my fantasy of quitting my job and moving north to live the simpler life, despite my being the least handy person I know.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book detailing life during the various four seasons in a rural Maine town. A lot of it reminded me of my childhood, but I learned a lot, too. Spencer rights with such warmth and such wonderful detail that I felt as if all his "sports" and friends were my friends, too, and every time tragedy struck any of them, I teared up and felt like I had lost someone, too. I was not as fond of the parts of the book detailing hunting for deer or bobcat and anyone who doesn't want to read about hunting may want to skip several chapters in the last fall/early winter part of the book. But otherwise, this was a wonderful book with a variety of naturalist detail and folksy humor and tales. The one major thing missing is a map! I wish there had been a map in the book that showed me where Grand Lake Stream is! I had to google it.

[JoAnn Plante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and will read it over several times. It is a true story based on the life of a Maine Guide. It is factual, funny, and sometimes moving. This book is loaded with tips to survive in the wilds of Maine. It also includes tips for canoeing. It also mentions several other famous guides from this area of Maine. There are recipes for fish dishes, too. The author describes the different kinds of fish in the lakes, how to tell what kind of fish they are, and how to clean and cook them. A remarkable book with so much information. After reading this, I felt I could canoe on the lakes of Maine and catch some fish for dinner. A must read!!

[Nolan McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sits you in a Grandlaker canoe with Randy Spencer in the stern. The stories, the other sports and the fishing all come to life. The pursuit of salmon and bass draw hundreds of sports to the northern Maine area. As a result, the guides of Maine have hundreds of stories and memories to tell. Four seasons as a Master Maine Guide can certainly get interesting and every guide needs to find a source of income for the winter months. Randy is an excellent musician and not only has several CDs out but he has written two books as well. A must read for any outdoorsman looking for inspiration.

[John Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in my opinion was a little to long.It starts at spring and then summer and then fall and then last there is winter.This book talks about fishing, hunting, and canoe making skills.This name that is repeated over and over in this book is Joe Mells.Every summer he goes hunting, fishing, exploring, camping, and canoeing.Joe was an astute reader of natural signs, an interpreter of animal movements and habit, a namer of birds, a survivor who knew how to build canoes and shelters from natural materials and how to supply fish and game for meals.Joe spends a lot of time in the outdoors.Joe has a teapot with cups whether he is watching birds, squirrels, or has some kind of precognitive power— this enigma, for me, is still under study.He goes fishing in the local lakes, and one day, in the face of a dismal forecast, to give the St. Croix River a try with me.Every morning in winter he would listen to the forecast.He thinks that people have a fear of winter.He knew a man and his name was Whitey Weimann.He was in his eighties.Whitey lived for ice fishing.

[Susan Daignault · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice read!

[cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really want to go fishing now but unfortunately it April. I also miss Maine.

[Lexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. To begin with, Randy Spencer has a lovely wrting "voice". He is thoughtful and insighful and I really enjoyed his writing style. In this, his first book, he takes us through a year as a Maine MAster Guide in Grand Lake Stream, Maine. While not a hunter of fisherman myself, I still oved "going along" on his adventures. A great portrait of a unique, special place.

[Bryan Mclellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I forget how easy it is to read stories when I'm usually reading more academic books. I picked up this book and read it in a couple of days. It has particular meaning to me as I waver over the balance a life in the city or returning to a life in the country.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Maine read!