Fly Fishing - New England: Best Rivers, Areas, Suggestions?

Fly_and_Dry

Some friends and I are planning an annual trip for this year and wanted to go somewhere we haven't yet gone in New England. We have a few options that we've narrowed things down to:
1 - Kennebec/Penobscot, Maine
2 - Upper Connecticut, NH
3 - A smaller VT combo - Middlebury River, New Haven River, Otter Creek

Does anyone have any experience on these rivers who could give an opinion. Any and all thoughts are welcome.

Thanks a lot,
F&D

Boz · Location: Portland

F&D,

Can't speak for VT or NH, but I'm sure someone here can offer help there...

For Maine The Kennebec and Penobscot have a wide variety of species to fish for from Landlocked Salmon and wild Brook Trout to Wild Bows, Browns, Smallmouth, Pike, Stripers and Shad...

What are you looking to target?

Fly_and_Dry · Posted: Tue 03/02/10 1:02 pm Post subject:

Looking to fish for trout/salmon. Are either the Kennebec or Penobscot better than the other? Do they get a lot of pressure? Are they wadable or do you need to drift them?

Thanks

Speyguy · Posted: Thu 03/11/10 7:44 am Post subject:

The Kennebec is a big system from the outlet at Moosehead down to tidewater in Phippsburg. Each of several areas offers you some truly great fishing for landlocks (upper river), browns (upper to Waterville), bass (Indian pond to Augusta) and stripers (tidewater to Waterville). The Penobscot has some great salmon/brook trout water, but there is less of it than on the Kennebec.

There are some other smaller rivers that can produce well; Grand Lake Stream, and the Roach River come to mind, along withe the Kennebago. Just be sure to bring your bug dope!

Kennebecster · Posted: Mon 03/29/10 8:39 pm Post subject:

F and D

I dont know much about NH or VT but I have fished both the Kennebec and Penobscot systems and they both are excellent fisheries. I think that the Kennebec drainage has more coldwater fishing options to offer over its length, but The West Branch of the Penobscot is incredible fishing in its own right. I think that if you are after Salmon and Brookies the stretch below Mckay station on the penobscot might have a some bigger and more numerous fish to offer that the kennebec. That being said it is pretty serious water, big boulders and pounding rapids interspersed with some very nice runs and pools. I think that the kennebec offers more wadeable water. A canoe and a quick portage can get you into some very good stretches on the kennebec. The Kennebec is basically a series of tailwaters from the east outlet on down , and each offers its own particular brand of fishing. Again if the target is Brookies and Landlocks the further north the better on the kennebec.
Another critical factor is the time of year that you plan to make your trip, as water temp. at times later in the summer can slow the fishing. ( dont overlook the fall because october on the kennebec can be amazing fishing)

there are some other pretty good rivers and streams in the area of both these rivers that would be worth investigating as well.

Fly_and_Dry · Posted: Fri 04/16/10 12:49 pm Post subject:

Kennebecster,
Thanks for the info. I just revisited the site and saw your message now. We actually ended up booking at Libby Camps near Millinocket in June. I've heard good things but will post back here with our results afterwards.

Cheers,
F and D

TB · Posted: Thu 05/13/10 4:34 pm Post subject:

I've never fished the Kennebec or the Penobscot. I did a trip with friends to Otter Creek around Memorial day a couple of years ago and we killed it. Fished several miles north of the trophy trout stocking section and caught many, many bows (actually lost count) on a two day trip, all were small in the 10-14 inch range. I have my first trip to the Upper CT in Pittsburg planned for this June. Have a friend that swears by this section of the river, that is if you can tolerate the no seeums...