Kayak, Canoe, Fly Fishing, Sculling: Learning Adventures in Mid-Coast Maine
Abkenoc (Ab-ken-oc) Guiding
We kayak, canoe, row, fish and learn on Maine's rocky coast
Year-round,families &all abilities
About the name AB-KEN-OC
Based in Phippsburg, our name honors the indigenous "people of the dawn land" here, the Abenaki, and their profound understanding of the natural world. Kennebec was their name for the vast river that defines our area. And the tidal lower section of this river, its estuary and its mouth, they knew as the Sagadahoc. Abkenoc is our aspiration to expand your appreciation of the natural world through learning adventures on land and water.
Experience the Natural World with Abkenoc guiding
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
In kayaks and canoes we can deftly explore the dramatic coastal shorelines and the pristine lakes, ponds and rivers efficiently and safely. We learn the ways and skills of this coastal world, working WITH the challenges of tide, current, weather and habitat to do and see what few others can. (Fly fishing, saltwater or fresh, is an especially exciting add-on. Have a look at our trips and get in touch to put something together that fits YOU.
Fly Fishing for Stripers
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
The sudden slam and surging power of a striped bass is all the more thrilling with the delicate feel of a fly rod and the satisfaction of a well placed cast among the waves and rocks. For freshwater anglers our world-class smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing on sublime lakes and rivers is exciting, beautiful and memorable. We can fish from kayaks, canoes or powerboats. While our reputation is for fly fishing, we love spin fishing as well. You get a champion fly casting guide, top shelf gear and 50+ fishy years experience!
Freshwater Bass Fishing
Kayaking and Canoeing Trips
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass on mid-coast Maine's freshwater lakes, pond and rivers is world class, Whether you choose fly fishing or spinning, the scenery and action are terrific. We use canoes and kayaks or for greater distances we have our 15 ft Tracker powerboat (2 guests max). A Maine fishing license is needed.
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
For those who choose to immerse completely in the dramatic world of Maine's coastal islands after kayaking (and fishing?), try the warmth and camaraderie of a beach campfire, tall tales, and our classic camp dinners under the canopy of stars. Our state of the art tents and other gear make for comfortable dreams, hushed by the surf and the salt breeze. We can even support more ambitious routes and "glamping" comfort and meals with support from our 18 ft boat Endorfin.
Rowing and Sculling
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
Rowing and Sculling
A beautiful and technically intriguing option is sculling in one of our sliding-seat singles. Unlike canoe or kayak paddling, sculling uses the whole body to apply power in a graceful, poetic motion that is a delight in itself. Oliver has over 25 years experience with sculling- instructing, touring, fishing and even enduring the famous 25 mile Blackburn Challenge. We offer guide boats and open-water racing singles (for the more experienced rower).
EndorFin Power
Overnight and Multi-Day Camping
Rowing and Sculling
"EndorFIN" is 18 ft of agile, seaworthy adventure. Its modified-V hull handles waves smoothly, but its shallow draft lets us get up close and personal- perfect for striper fly fishing. With this mobility a half or full day trip can cover a wide range of habitats, cruise lighthouses and forts, hike and picnic on remote islands We also offer support for ambitious offshore camping trips, bringing supplies that would fit in the kayaks or canoes.
Camp Nowhere
Learning .... and Much More
Photography Focus
Camp Nowhere is a step back in time to the hand-hewn world of a century ago.
It's a one room cabin of warm hemlock timbers, perched among trees above a tidal bay and marsh. The sounds of woodpeckers, geese, and rustling leaves tell their stories of a living world; the canoes, kayaks and trails offer entrance to their classrooms. The perfect place in Phippsburg for comfortable focused discussion or relaxed sunset stories after the day's adventures fly fishing, paddling, hiking and learning.
Photography Focus
Learning .... and Much More
Photography Focus
Photography has become essential and universal but knowledge of how to make images that are evocative, compelling and beautiful is not instinctive or obvious. While kayaking, canoeing, and fly fishing with you we can teach you technical and artistic elements of photography to enhance your vision of the natural world -even with a cell phone or point-and-shoot. We also offer to professionally document your trip with video and fine-art quality photographs.
Learning .... and Much More
Learning .... and Much More
Learning .... and Much More
All of our adventures in kayaks, canoes, in boats and on foot or while fishing are oriented toward learning the skills and insights to make the natural world more enjoyable, useful and safe for your continuing explorations. Your guide (me) is a PhD biologist, flight instructor, and lots more. I want to work with your interests .... photography, biology, history, weather, wildlife, etc ... so we learn while we explore together. Check it out.
Your Guide - Oliver Dominick (... and Winnie)
A lifelong passion for Nature
A lifetime of outdoor adventure
A lifelong passion for Nature
During my childhood summers in the remote wilderness of New Brunswick, leathered French-Canadian trapper/guides, “men with the bark on”, taught me the ways of the woods with just a canoe, a map and compass, a knife, some butter, and a fly rod as our means. My love of nature (and fly fishing) started then and has shaped my life ever since.
A lifetime of outdoor adventure
A lifetime of outdoor adventure
A lifetime of outdoor adventure
In college I became a research biologist and somehow made a career in behavioral physiology in between my constant excursions for mountaineering and fly fishing in canoes and kayaks. My love of research, teaching, and outdoor adventure has let me live, work and explore in many wild parts of the world, including six times in Africa. For th
In college I became a research biologist and somehow made a career in behavioral physiology in between my constant excursions for mountaineering and fly fishing in canoes and kayaks. My love of research, teaching, and outdoor adventure has let me live, work and explore in many wild parts of the world, including six times in Africa. For the past twenty-one years in Phippsburg, Maine I've loved helping people like you learn and enjoy the natural world that has been my life. Join me and see where you can go.