A person fishing in a river, standing knee-deep in the water with mist rising behind them and a hazy forest in the background.

What is A.L. Poland Art?

Lets start by saying A.L. Poland is the signed name of Alex L. Poland. For no reason other than anonymity this is how Alex signed his first painting and it stuck. Alex grew up in a family of artists. His great grandmother, grandmother, and mother were great artists and he grew up watching them. His love of sketching began as a young child. However, the journey of oil painting began after he found fly fishing! Self taught and mentored by his family he was inspired to not just sketch but play with the unmatched colors that fish display. The possibilities are endless with a brook trouts tones and vermiculation, or a smallies calico striatiions. A.l.Poland Art is place where fish stories are told, friends are made, and visual portrayals are shared.

Artist and Registered Maine Guide

WHo is Alex (A.L.) Poland?

Artist and Registered Maine Guide

Alex is a born and raised Mainer! He grew up in the same area he guides. He gained his love for the outdoors from the many generations of family that grew up in Maine before him. He began fishing at the age of 5 in a small brook trout stream that lined the backyard of his childhood home. This was how the journey began. Around 2014 the dream to offer vacation rentals, create art, and guide fly fisherman started. This was what fueled the journey till now. Present day, Alex is the owner of Western Maine Yurts and A.L. Poland Art. He can be found on any given day visiting with yurt guests, teaching classes, painting in the studio (at Western Maine Yurts), or floating a stretch of river with clients. He enjoys connecting people with the outdoors and sharing his passions with them. Alex has 12 years experience float fishing the Androscoggin from raft and drift boat. He enjoys sharing the history of the river, teaching the local entomology, or working of your fly cast. He is involved with his local Trout Unlimited (Sebago) Chapter. Conservation and the management for wild trout is a focus of his. Alex is in his element whether helping clients plan an enjoyable stay at the yurts, finding that special piece of art, or catching their very first trout. He loves seeing people smile!

I grew up within a family of artists. To me art was just everyday living and life growing up. I knew no different. Fast forward to today and I have the gift of being able to find inspiration from the rivers and fish that are part of my daily routine. I am constantly humbled to be able to paint and create visual pieces that speak to my peers in the fly fishing world and industry
— Alex

Crew

A smiling man with a beard and mustache wearing a beige and brown cap and outdoor gear, standing in front of a body of water with a natural landscape in the background.

Registered Maine Guide

john (Johnny) Scangas

John and Alex are close friends that spend much of their free time exploring and constantly learning from the watersheds they fish. John spends part of his summers guiding in Alaska. His love of the outdoors whether in Alaska or Maine shine through. John is regular on “Where Waters Meet” Podcast. He has an extensive knowledge of the Androscoggin watershed and how to effectively and ethically fish it. We are very proud to have John on our team serving the fly fishing community. Good times are had anytime John has you out exploring in his drift boat!

So thats how you’re going to do that?
— Johnny