What is a Landlocked Salmon?
When a person thinks about the best known places to fly fish, here in the North East, we think of Maine. We have an abundance of wild brook trout waters, and something special you wont find in western rivers. Maine’s Landlocked Salmon. The landlocks are a freshwater Atlantic Salmon.
Guided Fly fishing
The only difference between them is, the Atlantic Salmon spend their adult lives in salt water, returning to spawn. If they survive their time in the ocean, the tend to grow to be larger than Maine’s landlocked salmon, on average. While Atlantics crow to 28″-30″ and 8-12 lbs, the landlock averages 16″-18′ in Maine’s waters. We are talking average. I have landed many a salmon which were smaller than 16″, and I’ve seen several salmon above 26″ landed.
Fall Landlock ready to breed. Check out the Kype on this one
Maine’s landlocks are native to four watersheds. In the south end of the State, the Presumpscot River, including the Crooked River and Sebago Lake. The Penobscot, including the West Branch of the Penobscot and Chesuncook Lake. The Union River which includes Green Lake and the St. Croix which includes Grand Lake Stream and West Grand Lake.
Evening Drift at Big Eddy
Why would anyone want to cast these silver sided torpedos? I’ve got one word. Fun. Landlocks are powerful fighters, and athletic jumpers. The bigger the fish, the harder to get it in the net. They have more ways than you could imagine to throw a hook. If you are looking for a challenging fishing trip this spring, consider one of these destinations to test your drag.
West Branch of the Penobscot
In the heart of the North Maine Woods, West of Baxter State Park lies some of the best Landlocked fly fishing trips an angler could ever dream of. The West Branch is bigger water, averaging 2200 cfs to 2600 cfs. Ripogenus dam holds back water forming Chesuncook, Ripogenus and Caribou Lakes. Ripogenus and Chesuncook harbor depths of 100 to 150 feet.
Drift boats make fishing easier for kids, no trees
With the great depth of these lakes, McKay station, they hydroelectric station supplying water to the West Branch, water cold enough to support landlocks and native brook trout all summer long. The water the cascades through a series of class III, IV and V rapids, helping to mix in plenty of oxygen for our favorite species. May, June and September there are several great places to fly fish for salmon, but come July and August, the West Branch is it.
A drift boat is comfortable
With the higher volumes of water, on West Branch a boat is very helpful, and there is a drift boat available for rent (click here to book rental) at Big Eddy Campground, but fisherman can wade the West Branch of the Penobscot. Here are a few of my favorite places to wet a line.
Ripogenus Gorge Dry Way – The West Branch of the Penobscot.
W.B. Penobscot – Ripogenus Dam
Starting our fly fishing wade trip at Ripogenus Dam, drive across the structure and park on the other side. Looking down stream you can see a series of small pools. The “river” runs through tunnels, to McKay Station nearly a mile down stream. On this photo, the sluceway is dumping about 200cfs, enough water to keep the fish alive and allow them to travel.
Ripogenus Dam Dumping water
Grab your fly rod and hike down the left shoreline. Follow the old road on the other side of the gate. Before too long you will see a path leading down to the first accessible pools. Even at low water these pools can hold native brook trout.
If you are into fishing away from the crowds, give this spot a try. If you happen to be around when Rip has been dumping water, and the water gets shut off, this can be a fantastic opportunity to catch landlocks holding in these pools. Do no try to enter these pools when there is a gate open on Rip dam. This section of river is too dangerous to wade with the water running.
W.B. Penobscot – McKay Station
It’s legal to fly fish right at the outlet of McKay Station, which can provide some fast and furious fly fishing for people who prefer to keep their feet dry. Fishing upstream of the discharge, is great pool for kids to fly fish. Anglers can find lots of small, which are great to practice on.
A person who can cast to the water, has a chance at catching a fish right off shore. Anglers with more advanced fly fishing skills can cast across the current and drift flies along the edge of the eddy, near a pyramid shaped rock. You should be able to use the bubble line as your target. Often a caddis pattern like an elk hair caddis can drift the bubble line, then swing across the current like a wet fly to give more fish a look.
W.B. Penobscot – Culvert Pool
Just above Big Eddy, and Big Eddy rapid anglers can find “Culvert Pool”. If you are camping at Big Eddy, it’s at campsite #108. Please do not use the campsite to access the pool. There is a clearly marked public access trail to the pool. Fly fisherman can wade culvert pool and drift nymphs, dry flies or even streamers. This location is well known for giving up fish in excess of twenty inches regularly.
Fly fishing Big Eddy, Guided trip – Evening Drift, with Horizon Line Adventures
W.B. Penobscot – Big Eddy
Big Eddy, between the shores of Chewonki’s Big Eddy Campground, is a an adventure all it’s own. It’s also a great place to stay during your fly fishing trips. Big Eddy is an unimaginably large pool, with large eddies on both sides of the river. The river right eddy is bigger, and where I find more fish. It’s also much easier to wade.
Big Eddy is the beginning of the drift boat fishing trips, though many boats never leave the Eddy. While wade trips can be successful, a boat get you out to the current where fly fishing is more productive. There are several fly fishing guide companies offering full day trips and half day trips. Some, like Horizon Line Adventures even offer evening drift trips. There is a list fly fishing guides on the Big Eddy website. Using fly fishing guides, on your first day, can set you up for a more successful fishing trip. On guided fly fishing trips you can learn what the guides are fishing with, and maybe improve your fishing skills.
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