Welcome to the land north of the notches. The area we fish and guide extends from the northern slopes of the White Mountains on to the head waters of the Androscoggin River. This region holds some of the most diverse and beautiful water the state has to offer. The Androscoggin River is one of our biggest rivers and one of the best fisheries in the state of New Hampshire. The” Andro” is not only a great trout river, but it is also a super Smallmouth Bass fishery. Fighting a big Smallmouth on a fly rod is one of the most exiting experiences in fresh water fishing. The small streams we fish in this area are too numerous to mention, but there are a few that I concentrate on for their beauty and abundance of Rainbow and Brook Trout. These streams are the true gems of the north country. They are rock strewn and crystal clear. Most of these brooks run fast and tumble from one pool to another with shallow riffles thrown in the mix. They are also very rugged to fish and wade, but well worth the effort. Check out the fishing options and our rates, and then give us a call to set up your fishing trip.
Fishing options
Smallmouth Bass
The Pontook section of the Androscoggin River is where we fly fish for Smallmouth Bass. This section consists of about three miles of slow moving river. There are three large bays and numerous islands including some of the old "Boom Piers" left over from the logging days. It has been written that the Smallmouth Bass is, pound for pound the gamest fish in fresh water, after many years of pursuing these fish with a fly rod I have to agree with that. In addition to the Smallmouth, there are Pickerel and Yellow Perch here. Have you ever watched the wake of a big Pickerel coming through the water after your bass bug? Wow! There are Eagle and Osprey nests in this section, many ducks and geese, not to mention the moose that hang out here. This is a truly beautiful section of the Androscoggin River. The boat that I use for Smallmouth fishing is a 17 foot MAKO. This is a very stable and comfortable boat with plenty of room for two people to cast from.
Trout
There are a couple of options for Trout on the Androscoggin River.
A float trip in the Thirteen Mile Woods section of the Andor is the best and most comfortable way to experience trout fishing on the river. Half or full day trips are options. We could also do a combined Trout/Smallmouth trip on one section of the Andro. The boat I use is a 16 foot catamaran style raft, this is a very stable craft with seats fore and aft for two fly fishers to cast comfortably. The most abundant species here is the Rainbow trout, but Brook trout, Brown trout and the occasional Landlocked Salmon are also present.
Wading in the Thirteen Mile Woods section is another option. What we do here make stops along scenic Route 16 to wade the old “Andro”. Just be aware that wading here can be challenging as this is a big river with a lot of big slippery rocks to negotiate.
Another option for trout on the Androscoggin is canoeing the Shelburne stretch. Here we start below the Shelburne dam and canoe to different spots to get out and wade. This is a nice section that gets you away from the road and has the feel of being on a big western river. This section is strewn with islands and fast shallow riffles, perfect for the canoe, and for trout!
Small Streams and Remote Ponds
I grew up fishing these small streams for Brook Trout and I guess I’ll never outgrow them! These are some of the most beautiful little streams in the northeast. If crystal clear water and rugged going in the high country is something you like then you will enjoy this. Good wading boots, a light weight fly rod and just a few choice flies are all you need to spend a day in pursuit of Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.
The stream I spend the most time on is about 45 minutes north of the White Mountains located in a very large tract of forest. This is a remote area and this little river is well shaded by a canopy of spruce and hardwoods perfectly suited for the Brook Trout, in fact Brook Trout are the only fish you will find here. There are also some remote Trout ponds that see little fishing pressure and can be reached via logging roads and maybe a little foot work.
A good option here is to spend part of the day on the stream and finish the day in a canoe on a quite remote pond.
Other streams that we fish for Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout are Wild River, Peabody River and Ellis River. These small streams flow out of the White Mountains and are just a short drive from our home in Gorham. These little rivers are rock strewn, and gin clear. Often you can actually see the trout coming for your fly. The fishing usually starts a little later in the season on these brooks due to the late snow melt coming off the big mountains. The heavy snow pack of the Presidential Range helps to keep the water temps in these streams at a comfortable rate for the trout most all summer. Fishing these mountain streams requires some strong legs, good wading boots and a desire to fish in in some of the prettiest country New Hampshire has to offer.
For more information on any of these areas feel free to call or email me.
Thanks for your interest,
Dan