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 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!
YouTube
Channel with videos of many rivers
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.
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. It is a
large river and fishes well from a drift boat, in addition
to some great wading spots. This is one of our favorite and
most productive rivers. The Fly Fishing Only section
is right across the road from our lodge. See some pictures
and videos here.
We have put together a special all-inclusive package for
June and September contact
us for more information.
Trip
Videos
When fishing the Upper Androscoggin one of
the best places to stay is the Errol
Motel. It
was recently renovated, nicely decorated, clean and reasonably
priced. Tell Kris and Mark we sent you!
Androscoggin River, Lower section in Gorham and Shelburne
This stretch of river is protected by catch
and release regulations. Decades of pollution from paper mills
in Berlin have rendered the fish inedible. Since the
Clean Water Act put the stop to polluting our rivers the fishing
has been great. 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 in the summer.
Both rivers are well-stocked and can provide fast action.
<Ellis
and Saco River fishing reports>
Contoocook River
The Contoocook River is one of the prettiest
rivers in southern New Hampshire. The special regulations
area in West Henniker, NH 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. <Fishing
reports> <client
pictures1> <client
flash>
You can't go wrong by booking a room at the
Henniker House
on the banks of the Contoocook River. Beautiful rooms, beautiful
view, great inn keepers and the river is right out back!
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 smallmouth bass 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. Drift boat trips for trout and salmon
are great fun! <Fishing
reports> <video>
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. <Fishing
reports> <client
pictures-1> <clients-2>
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