There are many fishing reports in Maine, but we focus on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Offering detailed information on everything from road conditions to what flies are working. We love the West Branch and want every fly angler brave enough to venture this way, catching fish and enjoying a top notch experience. While we are happy to guide or rent a boat to you, we are happy to offer information to everyone. If you have specific questions, shoot us a message.
Road Conditions
Well, the grader is working over time, but the rain just won’t give the road a rest. As fast as the grader smooths it out, the water washes the road back to the potholed, familiar Golden Road. Just take your time and things will be ok. My wife found a sharp piece of shale last week. I laid on the ground and plugged the hole at the “Golden Road Crossing“, formerly known as the North Woods Trading Post, AKA Lake Store. A few days later we were at Katahding Motors getting a more permanent patch.
Brook Trout Ponds
In the past week, small ponds were where the fishing was. With the river running as high as 13,000cfs, nearly everyone except the spin casters retreated to the area trout ponds. Last I heard, people were still anticipating the annual Hex hatch, but the anglers have found hungry fish.
Northern Maine is dotted with small ponds full of brook trout. Some of these ponds have been designated as heritage trout ponds, because contain self sustaining populations of native brook trout. The Maine IF&W maintains a list of Heritage trout waters can be found here. (Heritage Trout Ponds). There are other ponds out there waiting to be discovered, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to find them.
River Flows
The heavy river flows finally ebbed on Monday, dropping back to 3,100cfs. Still relatively high, if you like watching people fall out of rafts in the gorge and cribworks, or collecting shoes and paddles at Big Eddy, you are going to love this water level. As a fisherman, it’s close enough! I’m sure everyone has a “perfect level” marked by the day they caught that monster. For me, anything between 1,800cfs and 3,200cfs is close enough. If you would like to check on the river flow on the west branch for your own self, here is the link. West Branch Water Flow at McKay Station
Water Temperatures
As measured today in Big Eddy, 60 degrees fahrenheit. I wish it would stay at 60 degrees all summer long. It’s perfect. At this temperature the bugs are willing to hatch and the salmon are well, lively. They jump, run and bulldog at the end of the your line. At 60 degrees they are strong, healthy landlocked salmon that bounce back well after a battle. Landlocked Salmon love 60 degrees.
Weather
Today we saw showers and clouds. Temps never hit 70. This weather pattern is forecast to hold through the weekend. So, the good news is, as much as I would love to feel some warmer weather, the water temperatures are not warm up any time soon, we should be seeing June salmon fishing well into July.
The bad news is, it’s been raining since early June, this weather has been perfect for the black flies, who have over stayed their welcome this summer, and the mosquitoes. Yesterday there was a strong breeze on the water which kept them at bay, but loading the boat was another story all together. I’m not going to lie, I’m about done with mosquito season. I’m looking forward to throngs of dragon flies patrolling the summer waters eating millions of mosquitos. They can’t arrive soon enough.
So, how’s the Salmon Fishing Post 13,000cfs?
All I can say is, amazing, good fishing. I fished with two 10 year old anglers today. Let me tell you what, these two could cast, recognize strikes, and by the end of they day, each had multiple chances to play some bigger fish. Like anyone else, your first time holding a big landlocked salmon on the end of your line takes practice and some times they just get off the hook. It’s part of the joy of fishing. At the end of they day they boated 3 fish over 15”, with one in the Big Eddy “keeper” class salmon.
We started the day fishing wet flies and streamer fishing in the morning and quickly picked up a few fish in the first hour of fishing, and honestly, I was testing to see how they handled rods, flies and fish. It wasn’t long before I was handing a 10 year old a nymph rig with split shot, two bead heads and an indicator. These boys were quick to set the hook often, and were rewarded by the heavy rod bending runs of thick sided landlocked salmon. It wasn’t long before CJ had the biggest fish of the day in the net. He played the monster like a seasoned angler.
After lunch we anchored in the tail out of the eddy, and fish were rising. The boys repeatedly drifted dry flies in the foam churned by the class 5 rapids above us. And found more fish, more landlocked salmon. Big Eddy was alive with rising salmon at 2:30 in the afternoon. Oddly, every fish we caught all day, was a landlocked salmon, not a single brook trout, not even a chub. You can’t have more fun fishing than that.
By the end of the day, I had relinquished the net, and all my guide tools and let them net and release their own salmon. If they learn to row, they won’t need me any more!
While the season started as a mixed bag, and the high water blew out a prime week of fishing, the trout and salmon are still here, enjoying the cooler water temperatures. New, bigger fish are moving into big eddy following the high water.
Flies
Streamer flies: Supervisor, grey ghost
Nymphs: Tan flashback pheasant tail, Bead Head Woolybugger – Green, Golden Retriever, Pheasant Tail – Brown.
Dry Flies: X-Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis
Come Join in The Fun!
To book a trip with us, visit www.horizonlineadventures.com where you can check availability and book on line without even making a call. We also have gift certificates available, a perfect gift for the angler in your life.
