lots of fish, head to a pond known for holding many fish.
Time at a traditional Maine sporting camp, with your days spent fishing on remote and undeveloped brook trout ponds, is an experience you will not soon forget. While there, you will likely hear the haunting cries of loons. You may encounter secretive goldeneyes and buffleheads, curious otters, territorial tail-slapping beavers, graceful deer, elusive black bears, and the king of the North Woods—the majestic, albeit ungainly, moose. As for the fish, most anglers will agree that there is nothing more beautiful than a wild Eastern brook trout.
Fall brookie caught by Nate Pease. Travis Parlin
nosed Dace, Mickey Finns, and Zonkers; all stages of mayflies in gray, tan, and yellow, in sizes 14, 12, and 8 to 6, respectively; size 14 caddis in a range of colors; and a few sizes 10 to 8 caddis in green or olive; all stages of midges in size 18 to 20; and a selection of dragonflies, damsels, ants, and beetles. Also you will want to be sure to tap the fly shops and lodges for some local patterns.
BOB MALLARD has fly fished for over 35 years. He is a blogger, writer, and author; and has owned and operated Kennebec River Outfitters in Madison, Maine since 2001. His writing has been featured in newspapers, magazines, and books at the local, regional, and national levels. He has appeared on radio and television. Look for his upcoming books from Stonefly Press, 25 Best Towns: Fly Fishing for Trout (winter 2014) and 50 Best Places: Fly Fishing for Brook Trout (summer 2015). Bob is also a staff fly designer for Catch Fly Fishing. He can be reached at www.kennebecriveroutfitters.com, www.bobmallard.com, [email protected], or 207-474-2500.
Closest fly shops
Kennebec River Outfitters
469 Lakewood Road
Madison, Maine 04950
207-474-2500
www.kennebecriveroutfitters.com [email protected]
Rangeley Region Sport Shop
2529 Main Street
Rangeley, Maine 04970
207-864-5615
www.rangeleysportshop.com [email protected]
Maine Guide Fly Shop
34 Moosehead Lake Road
Greenville, Maine 04441
207-695-2266
www.maineguideflyshop.com [email protected]
Closest guides/outfitters
Refer to Closest full-service lodges
Closest full-service lodges
Libby Camps
Millinocket Lake, Maine
207-435-8274
www.libbycamps.com [email protected]
Bradford Camps
Munsungan Lake, Maine
May–November: 207-433-0660
December–April: 207-746-7777
www.bradfordcamps.com [email protected]
Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps
Pierce Pond, Maine
207-628-2819
Red River Camps
Island Pond, Maine
Deboullie Township
207-554-0420
www.redrivercamps.com [email protected]
Nahmakanta Lake Camps
Nahmakanta Lake, Maine
207-731-8888
www.nahmakanta.com [email protected]
Closest lodging
Refer to Closest full-service lodges
Closest food
Refer to Closest full-service lodges
3 . West Branch Penobscot River
The West Branch Penobscot is the finest self-sustaining, river-dwelling landlocked Atlantic salmon fishery in Maine—and arguably the finest in the country. While not native to the river, landlocked salmon have thrived in the West Branch since their introduction in the
late 1800s. This is due largely to an abundance of spawning habitat, a diverse forage base, and coolwater releases. The river also holds a
