Week Ending May 18th
This week, in the north woods, buds have popped and are as big as a mouse’s ear. The smell of the woods this time of year, reminds me of the flavor of Ben’s 100 and worm guts I could taste on my hands while eating a stream side sandwich. The brooks and small streams are coming into prime time. In the Katahdin Region, it’s been so cold there still haven’t seen much for biting insects so you can, for a short time, still fish without that layer of DEET.
In the larger rivers, it’s still early, but there are fish available if you want to work for them.
Road Conditions
They have already started grating the Golden Road. You can be sure this weeks rain will tear it up quickly. On the positive side, traffic is still pretty low. Additional good news – they filled the giant hole at the old gate house entrance to the Golden Road. Looks like dirt fill, we’ll see how long it lasts.
East Outlet
Water Temp: 47
Things were starting to move this week. It feels ready to go off but it was 75 degrees and sunny when I was there. I heard stories of ant hatches and I saw and small handful of early mayflies. We even caught a trout on a dry fly (size 14 Parachute Adams)
Before we get excited about dry fly action, most of what we caught on the East Outlet was still on nymph (size 14 bead head pheasant tail). On the positive side, we didn’t land a fish under 14 inches. Other guides reported they had a challenging, I feel like we got lucky. We didn’t change many flies, we just worked the river over hard looking for gullible fishing. Persistent fishing and focus.
We found almost all of our fish in seams and soft water, slow water in the eddies just on the edge of the current.
West Branch
Water Temp 45
The West Branch is a bit behind the East Outlet, which is expected. We had a short period of time Saturday morning when fish were agreeable. We landed a few on a White Zonker and a beautiful 20 inch Salmon on a Red Copper John. Conditions on the West Branch were still challenging. Fish weren’t moving much so if you wanted to catch one, you had to put the fly right in it’s mouth.
The good news is the fish we caught looked heavy and healthy. Bright silvery fish with round bellies. These were not racers who wintered over at Big Eddy, the fish we caught looked like lake fish, visiting from Ambejejus, so, over the next two weeks the fishing should improve as more fish move into the river.
While fish are packing a U-Haul and moving up river, a good place to try might be Nesowadnehunk falls. Sometimes fish stack up below the falls waiting for an opportunity to jump and swim to the upper river.
Planning Help
Planning a Trip to the West Branch? Here are some links that may help you out.
Big Eddy Camp Ground is right in the middle of the best fishing on the West Branch.
New England Outdoor Center, if you are looking for something your wife will enjoy. While its not Sandal’s in the Bahama’s, it’s the finest resort you are going to find in the Katahdin Region.
Big Moose Inn
The closest lodging to the river. It’s about 30 minutes up the Golden Road to great fishing, or Baxter State Park trout ponds.
https://www.bigmoosecabins.com
Golden Road Crossing
This roadside stop has a little bit of everything. If they don’t have it, you don’t need it. They also have some of the best sandwiches you will find. According to my Dad, they make the best Ruben he has ever had.
https://goldenroadcrossing.com/
If you are looking for help or information about the Katahdin Region, feel free to email us at horizonlinefishingadventures@gmail.com We are happy to answer questions, or visit our website
