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Androscoggin River
all-inclusive June and September

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Fly fishing the Rivers of New Hampshire
New Hampshire is blessed with a number of rivers worthy of the
designation "trophy waters." From the upper and Lower
Androscoggin and the Connecticut Rivers in northern New Hampshire,
to the Ellis and Saco rivers in east-central NH to the Pemigewasset
and Merrimack rivers running through the center of the state, you
can find great rivers, with decent to excellent hatches. Many are
open all year, while others close during the Fall for spawning or
the winter to give fish a rest. (Check local rule books for particular
local regulations and open seasons.) As you look at the pictures
of our clients on these rivers, you will notice two obvious things:
1. these are beautiful rivers and 2. the clients are clearly having
the time of their life! Enjoy!
Androscoggin River, Upper section in Errol
Best known for the "Alder Fly Hatch" in late June to
early July, this river is best fished from mid-May to early July
and in September and October when the water cools. It originates
at the outlet of Lake Umbagog, which is fairly shallow and heats
up considerably in the summer. There are plenty of deep spots to
provide refuge and rapids to oxygenate the water, so fish hold over
and there is evidence of some natural reproduction producing wild
fish. Access is excellent, but it is a large river and fishes well
from a drift boat. This is one of our favorite and most productive
rivers. It has great potential for protection by special regulations,
but remains open to general regulation fishing. We have put
together a special all-inclusive package for June and September.
See more details here,
or contact us
for more information.
Trip
Videos
September
Flash
June
Flash
When fishing the Upper Androscoggin some other places to stay are
the Akers Pond Inn,
Errol
Motel.and the Great
Northern Moose Lodge.
Androscoggin River, Lower section in Gorham and Shelburne
This stretch of river was recently protected by catch and release
regulations. Decades of pollution from paper mills in Berlin have
rendered the fish inedible, anyway. But make no mistake, this is
a beautiful stretch of river and it has done a good job of healing
itself. Whether wadinig or fishing from a drift boat or canoe, this
section offers the possibility of large fish for the skilled and
patient fly angler.
Ellis and Saco Rivers, Jackson to North Conway
The Ellis river is great for pools and pocket water. Caddis, stoneflies
and streamers are all effective, depending on the tiime of year.
Anglers on the Saco River need to contend with the "rubber
hatch' during the summer months as tubers and kayakers swarm the
waters during July and August. Better to fish early or late anyway,
as the waters warm considerably in the summer. Both rivers are well-stocked
and can provide fast action.
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is one of the prettiest rivers in southern
New Hampshire. The special regulations area in West Henniker
is particularly nice. In early spring it is a favorite of
white-water kayakers. Most years by mid-May the fishermen take over.
There are some good caddis and mayfly hatches and almost any evening
from June through September, you will find hatching insects on one
or more pools. Bring a wading staff and be careful wading
the Contoocook, since the granite boulders are slick with algae
and you might step over a boulder into a deep hole if you aren't
careful. The Contoocook is one of the few NH Rivers with an extended
season. The season closes November 30 and as long as the weather
is good the insects hatch and the fish will feed. <client
pictures1> <client
flash>
Pemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River starts in the White Mountains; flows through
the center of New Hampshire; meets with the Winnepesauke River in
Franklin forming the Merrimack River; and continues through New
Hampshire to Massachusetts, where it flows into the Atlantic ocean
at Newburyport. Good fishing for trout and salmon can be found
somewhere on this river just about all year. We like to fish
for trout in the area around North Woodstock, where the river gathers
enough water from tributaries to provide cover and food for trout
to survive and grow throughout the year. <pictures>
Run-off from the White Mountains assures a good flow of cool water
through the summer. In the area around Bristol and Franklin
we love to fish for the large broodstock Atlantic salmon in spring
and fall. Drift boat trips for trout and salmon are great fun!
<video> <salmon
1> <salmon
2>
Sugar River
The Sugar River is another south/central NH river worth exploring.
A major source of the Sugar River is the outflow from Lake Snapee,
a deep, cold lake that holds salmon, trout, smallmouth and lake
trout. Other tributaries assure a steady flow of water that enable
fish to survive the summer heat and winter cold. The fly fishing
only section in Newport is particularly beautiful. For almost three
miles an abandoned railroad "rail trail" parallels the
river. No buildings, houses or other signs of civilization can be
seen throughout the FFO section. Good hatches of caddis and mayflies
are present from early spring until late fall. And this river is
one of the most abundant producers of stone flies in the entire
state. It is not unusual to see streamside boulders festooned with
stonefly nymphal shucks through late spring and summer. Be sure
to bring plenty of Stimulaors, along with your favorite hatch-matching
artificials. <client
pictures-1> <clients-2>
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