I’ve seen my share of outdoor films, from hunting, fishing, kayaking and an myriad of good movies aimed at teasing the senses, creating fidgety in your pants and to get you off the couch. East by North East is really in a league of its own. It’s hot!

Let me first be a bit forthcoming in that some may think my review of this movie would be influenced by the fact that I know many of the players. In another life, I coached a little soccer, baseball and skiing. Carter Davidson, Luke Gray, Nathan Harvey, Jen and Stephanie Percival and Mitch Cummings all at one time or other were a part of my life and I coached them in various sports. At times some of them might have wished I wasn’t part of their life (as coaches sometimes can be) but I have to admit, I stand in awe of their accomplishments and the lives they lead.

Little did I know at the time, some 15 or so years ago, that Carter Davidson would find his passion behind the lens of a camera, that Nate Harvey would be navigating some of the most exciting white water in his kayak, or that the Percival girls loved fly fishing and Mitch Cummings would be the master of landing the big one.

What sets East by North East apart from other fishing movies is simple really. ExNE is original, creative and complete. ExNE isn’t like “all the others” but you need to get a copy to view for yourself.

Creativity begins with the title itself and never quits through 70 minutes of fun and adventure. Davidson and crew have captured the thrill that drives all avid fishermen, through unique shots, camera angles and the presentation of one-of-a-kind characters, all in some of the finest fishing waters in North America.

East by North East is a movie that isn’t afraid to expand the limits of fly fishing. The DVD begins with a trip to the British Virgin Islands, fly fishing for bonefish. Through the journey on film, the cast wets lines on the Upper Magalloway River with Rick Estes, hits some isolated back country native brook trout ponds with Erik Lippman and dazzles us with bass fishing with Mike Jones.

But it doesn’t end there. I laughed so hard I nearly spit on my computer screen watching Bill Pierce and Mike Jones trying to net a huge pike caught in downtown Lewiston, Maine on the Androscoggin River, a place that once was famous for toxic fumes peeling paint off houses.

Jump from there to Winterport, Maine and you’ll find the McKay brothers, Tait and Jax, all of perhaps 8 and 10 years of age, wielding their fly rods like pros and hauling in fish seemingly with little effort. Davidson says the two boys were born with fishing rods in their hands. I believe it.

The show isn’t all about success with every cast or fishing only. As Luke Gray physically headlocks and drags “Stoo” Mason from his distillery at the Sunday River Brewing Company, they head for Canada to do some Atlantic salmon fishing. They soon find out why the Atlantic salmon is called the fish of 1,000 casts as Luke exclaims, “It should be called the fish of 5,000 casts!” as he and the others got skunked.

Adding even more variety for your viewing pleasure, Davidson explains that Nate Harvey, an accomplished whitewater kayaker and instructor, finds fish for him while spending time upside down in some pretty wild and deep pools.

Of interest to me personally was a segment of the movie that touched on the history of the Androscoggin River. The Andy begins in the Rangeley Lakes area, meanders into New Hampshire for a spell, returning to Maine and eventually merging with the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay on the coast.

I grew up on that river many years ago. At one point of the film, Rocky Freda, a Maine guide and outfitter who utilizes the resources of the river in his business, tells viewers that few houses can be found built directly on the river because it once was so polluted, nobody wanted to live next to it. I did. I played on the banks of that river as a kid. I watched as the river went from one of the 10 filthiest to what it is today. It’s an incredible success story achieved mostly because the people wanted it to happen.

East by North East gives all a chance to witness the bounty this spectacularly scenic river now brings.

Still not complete, you’ll be entertained with legends and characters like Charlie Lowe, Will Gilson, Lefty Kreh and Rik Dow. There is nothing more entertaining than listening to Dow’s unique and often bizarre perspective on life in general, say nothing about fishing. Combine the two and you’ll walk away either scratching your head or laughing it off.

If all of this isn’t enough to capture your attention and hold it for 70 minutes, no other fly fishing film breaks between scenes with fishing tales as told by noted Maine humorist Joe Perham. I have to admit that the stories told in this movie are more on the line of “Tall Tales and Damned Lies” than the more believable fishing yarns often spun by some of Maine’s more colorful characters.

And to polish things off on a very complete and expansive movie, the camera zooms in on Charlie Lowe, to a face that has seen many years on the water, slipped on more rocks than most people see in their lifetime and caught more fish than………well, let’s just say he’s caught a lot of fish. His parting words to the camera, “Fish more and you’ll live longer.”

Now that’s complete!

If you would like to purchase a copy of East by North East you can find it at the following locations:

Online:
(soon) at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Store and,
Maine Guide Fly Shop

In Maine:
Aardvark Outfitters, Farmington
Eldredge Brothers Fly Shop, Cape Neddick
Fly Fishing Only, Fairfield
Maine Guide Fly Shop, Greenville (online available)
Sun Valley Sports, Bethel
Bear River Trading Post, Newry
Bethel Historic Society, Bethel
Tackle Shop, Portland
Van Raymonds, Brewer

In New Hampshire:
North Country Angler, Conway
WS Hunter, Concord
Fox Ridge Outfitters, Rochester

East by North East will be available at other fine tackle shops and outfitters, so check with your favorite store and see if they have a copy.

Tom Remington

From what I understand, everyday they post up a new product at a ridiculously low price. Visit the site by clicking on the banner above, or right here, and then bookmark it. Make it one of your daily or regular surfing habits to go there and see what deal is being offered each day.

I appreciate your consideration and I know Sportsmans Gear Daily will as well.

Tom Remington

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Best Original Song

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Aim Low Bowfishing Journals

Kids Hooked on the Outdoors

Best Videography

Patagonic Waters (winner)

IGFA Angler’s Digest

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Best Editing

The Outfitter (winner)

Lunkerville

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Best Writing

Hunting Across America (winner)

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A-Way Outdoors (winner)

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Best Informational/Educational Episode

Taxidermy for the Sportsman (winner)

HuntFishCook

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Best Small Game or Turkey Episode

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HuntFishCook

Predator Quest

Best Upland Bird or Waterfowl Episode

Evolved Habitat’s Outdoor Addictions (winner)

NonStop Hunting

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Best Freshwater Fishing Episode

Reel Outdoors with Chris Bailey (winner)

Lunkerville

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Fair Game (winner)

Adventure Bound Outdoors

The Outfitter

Best Saltwater Fishing Episode

IGFA Angler’s Digest (winner)

Hook the Future

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Best Combination Episode

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HuntFishCook

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Brian Doty’s Xtreme Outdoor Adventure

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Viewer Favorite Hunting Show

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Predator Quest

The Modern Day Mountain Man

Viewer Favorite Fishing Show

North American Fisherman (winner)

In-Fisherman Specials

Lunkerville

Viewer Favorite Combination Show

HuntFishCook (winner)

Alan Warren Outdoors

The G3 Sportsman

Viewer Favorite Personality

Keith Warren of “Best of Keith Warren’s Hunting Adventures” (winner)

Colorado Buck of “The Outfitter”

Mike de Avila of “Lunkerville”

Sportsman of the Year

Alan Probst of “All Outdoors with Alan Probst” (winner)

Keith Warren of “Best of Keith Warren’s Hunting Adventures”

Sam & Ruth McCuin of “The Outfitter”

Steve Easom of “On the Water, in the Woods with Cody & Cody”

Posted by Tom Remington

“Follow the dream team of Gray Ghost Production’s first adventure as they travel through New England, Patagonia and British Colombia in search of The One. Come explore the untouched terrain of Argentina with Michael Jones. Or hop in the jet boat for a wild ride hunting for steelheads. New England’s most prominent trout guru and director of the Green Meanie’s takes us into the back country of Maine and trophy brook trout water. Take a look back in time to rediscover the Rangeley lakes region and the famous trout flies originated in this area. Tag along with Luke Gray and Charlie Davidson as they hear the scream of the reel on some of New England’s large and small tributaries. Join these fly fishing junkies and their quest for, The One.”

Executive Producers: Matt Stanton, Carter Davidson
Producer: Charlie Davidson
Director of Photography: Luke Gray
Narration: Joe Perham and Carter Davidson

Movie trailer:

A movie premier will take place in Bethel in February. The release of the full length movie will be available to the public shortly after that.

Tom Remington

One aspect of this report that needs to be reported is that the numbers shown in this report are for numbers of participants for the years stated – 1996, 2001 and 2006. Any upward or downward trend in numbers from one reporting year to the next reflect only those reporting years. In other words, those surveyed answered questions as they pertained to that specific year. Some people may or may not have hunted, fished or viewed wildlife last year and that may differ from previous years. It is not intended to show yearly trends since 1996.

I am still studying the report but I felt that readers may find it interesting.

Tom Remington

Tom Remington

Go read and find out.

Milt Inman Photo

Tom Remington

You can read her article by following this link.

Tom Remington

A. Sayward Lamb writes of his adventures in the outdoors for U.S. Hunting Today, including Maine Hunting Today and Maine Fishing Today. A Maine native and 79 years young, Sayward spends as much time in the outdoors hunting, fishing, canoeing or just getting into trouble.

Sayward began collecting his stories years ago with the idea that someday he could pass them down to his family. Now he’s gone one step further and published them in a book.

This morning, the Lewiston Sun Journal carries a story by Rebecca Goldfine about the release of his book.

You can also visit Maine Hunting Today here and read more about the book and how to order a copy.

Tom Remington