Adventures in Angling
Dedicated to the heritage of fly fishing

Preserving the Heritage of Fly Fishing
Don Wilson, Sr. playing a "big one" in the Kennebec

The love of fishing, bamboo rods and flies pass down from generation to generation.  Don, a fourth generation Maine Guide, grew up among the guides and sports that loved Moosehead Lake as well. 


The passion for the sporting life of fishing and hunting was passed down from his father Don Sr., Grandfather Alfred James and his Great-Grandfather Henry Wilson, the  founder of the Outlet House at Moosehead.  The years have passed, the hotel is gone, the name has changed, but the camps at East Outlet, now known as  "Wilson's on Moosehead Lake" live on under the management of Scott and Alison Snell.

 

The fifth and sixth generations of Wilsons are carrying on the tradition! Here we will share some of their big smiles with their own "big ones".
First Generation Wilson to settle at East Outlet

Henry I. Wilson


It began with Henry, the son of Ephraim Wilson and Elizabeth Bowen Hathaway of Westboro, Massachusetts. During the Civil War, he and his brother Thomas enlisted in the Massachusetts Cavalary, Henry being a member of Company F. 4th Cavalry.  After the war he traveled to Maine and set up stakes at the East Outlet around 1865, traveled to Canada on a fur-trapping expedition where he met his future wife, Maria H. Dall, in Quebec.  Of their six children, there were twins that died at birth,  Lillian, Charles, Alfred and Elizabeth. Charles operated the family business for a short time but then went on to become a Maine game warden and a prospector.  Alfred then carried on the family business.
Second Generation Wilson


Alfred James Wilson aka "Fred"

 

Fred spent most of his life operating the family business while cutting timber and guiding to supplement the business income.

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Third Generation of Wilsons

Alfred James Wilson, Jr. - "Junior"

Junior operated the camps with his father, Fred, guiding and trapping, while Don, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Maine pursued an engineering career. Junior's untimely death due to drowning off Pratt's Point on September 18, 1936 (his birthday) resulted in Don's abandoning his engineering career to return the East Outlet and assist his father in operating the hotel and camps.

Donald Henry Wilson - "Don" aka Don Sr.


 

While operating Wilson's at Moosehead Lake, Don became an accomplished fly caster, giving demonstrations at sportsmen shows and local events.  Both he and his brother, Junior, became well know for their casting ability.  Don also served several years on the Governor's Fish and Game Advisory Council as well as being on the Greenville School Board, trustee of the Union Evangelical Church, President of the Moosehead Lake Vacation and Sportsmen's Association (Rockwood) and President of the Moosehead Development Commission (Greenville).
Fourth Generation Wilson

Donald Alfred Wilson - "Don"


Don Wilson, "guest captain"at the helm of the Katahdin, during a family cruise on Moosehead Lake Don grew up among the guides and sports, fishing, hunting and, once old enough guiding the sports as well.

Fifth Generation of Wilsons share the passion
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