Fly Fishing

mainesean1

I've been watching the videos on this site for way too long, so I'm planning a camping trip to the West Branch of the Penobscot and the East Outlet of the Kennebec in early to mid June. I was wondering if anyone has any fly recommendations for that time of year. I don't know if smelt are still running or what bugs will be hatching. I'm trying to get a list together so I will know if I need to fire up the vice for any flies.

Thanks in Advance

Pzulick · Posted: Mon 03/16/09 1:34 pm Post subject:

caddis - tan & green. Dry, Pupae.
Floating smelt isn't a bad idea.
Soft Hackles (partidge & orange, red, green)
big ugly stones.

westbranchfisher · Location: Indian Island, Maine

Great topic
On the West Branch and East Outlet in early to mid June, you my friend just hit in my opinion the best time to fish these rivers!
Smelt usually stop running by the end of May, but fish that are fresh out of Moosehead Lake in the East Outlet had a diet of smelts from the lake, so the fish WILL take a streamer. I'd try a marabou black ghost, a grey ghost, or a montreal whore.In the West Branch, though, things change. The fish in the West Branch stay in the river their entire lives (so I've been told by a guide) and will eat what's available to them in the river system. During early to mid June, the caddis hatch brings both the East Outlet and the West Branch to life with back flip after back flip of fish trying to catch a caddis, but I tend to think the caddis hatch on the West Branch lasts longer and is WAY more epic! The big, picky fish want long tapered leaders, small and extremely detailed flies, a flawless presentation, and if you are fishing a dry fly or an emerger especially on the West Branch, keep your fly in the foam!!! So, back to topic, caddisfly patterns that are dynamite during this time on both rivers are sparkle caddis pupae, olive or bright green, size 14-18; elk hair caddis, olive or bright green, size 14-18; and serendipity, olive or bright green, size 14-20.

Tight lines Very Happy

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Olive conehead wooly bugger.

Grigs_ah · Posted: Wed 03/18/09 6:30 pm Post subject: Kennebec

If you end up in the Forks area drop me a line. The lower Kennebec is killer come June when the water comes down. Last year we had high water until mid June due to all of the rain. If it's still high there are more than enough ponds to fish.

Grigs