Fly Fishing Adventures in the Heart of Maine
If you haven’t fished the Androscoggin River yet, you’re in for something special. Winding through New Hampshire and Maine, the Andro is beautiful, peaceful, and full of life. Whether you’re looking for wild trout in clear mountain water or the heart-pounding tug of a smallmouth bass, the Andro has something for you.
Getting There Is Easy
The river stretches for about 178 miles, starting in northern New Hampshire and winding its way across western Maine before flowing into the Kennebec River near Brunswick. If you’re coming from Portland, you’re just about an hour away from some of the best stretches. Towns like Bethel, Rumford, and Livermore Falls make great jumping-off points—and once you’re there, you’re surrounded by quiet woods, clean water, and fishy-looking riffles in every direction.
What You’ll Catch
There’s a nice mix of species here. In the upper reaches—think Gilead and Bethel—you’ll find fast-moving water that’s perfect for trout. In the spring, the water stays cool and clear, and the deeper pools and long riffles offer great chances for dry flies, nymphing, or stripping streamers for browns, rainbows, and native brookies.
As the river slows and widens downstream, smallmouth bass take center stage. These fish are just plain fun. They’re aggressive, they hit hard, and they love to put on a show, especially if you’re throwing a topwater fly on a warm summer evening. Areas below Bethel are prime for smallies, especially in rocky stretches and deeper pockets where they love to hide out.
When to Go
If trout are your main target, plan your trip between May and October. The peak of the season is in mid-late spring—May and June—when hatches are steady and the fish are active. You’ll see lots of Caddis and Mayflies, and it’s a treat to watch the surface come alive with rising fish.
For smallmouth bass, things really heat up in May and June and stay strong through the summer. Once the water warms, they get more aggressive, and it’s not unusual to have these aggressive smallmouth strike topwater flies consistently and all-day on a single outing.
More Than Just Fishing
When you spend a day on the water with Michael, it’s not just about fly fishing—it’s about the full experience. That includes something special: a shore lunch, prepared just for you.
Midway through the day, Michael will pull the boat up to a quiet stretch of riverbank and break out lunch. It might be fresh street tacos, smash burgers with chips, or even hot beef stew on a cooler day.
It’s the perfect pause—good food, a great view, and time to relax before heading back out to chase the next fish.
Want to Improve Your Skills or Explore More Water?
Booking a guided trip is a great way to learn the river—and if you’re looking for the best experience possible, Michael Jones is your guy. He’s been guiding professionally on the Androscoggin for more than 35 years and knows this river better than anyone.
While some guides use drift boats and a few use jet boats, Michael uses both jet boats and drift boats, providing the best of both worlds. Jet boats allow him to access the most remote sections of the river quickly, especially in areas with shallow or gravel bottom water, while drift boats give anglers a more relaxed, traditional fly fishing experience, drifting through the river’s calm pools and riffles. This ideal combination of boats allows Michael to offer the optimal approach throughout the season, giving anglers access to a wide variety of fishing conditions in the most productive sections of the river.
Whether you’ve never picked up a fly rod or you’ve been fishing for years, you are promised to learn something new and have a great time doing it.
A Place to Unplug
Of course, fishing is the focus, but it’s not just about the fish. There’s something about being on the Andro that makes you want to slow down and take it all in. The wooded banks, the call of eagles and osprey, the majestic heron hunting for dinner, it all adds up to a kind of quiet that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with nature.
Ready to Go?
If you’re curious about fly fishing the Androscoggin River—or just looking for a new adventure in an easily accessible area—you’ll love what this river has to offer. It’s scenic, fishy, and full of fun adventure as it winds to the ocean. With Michael guiding the way, you’ll have everything you need for a safe and memorable day on the water.
Let’s get you out there.
Book a guided trip with Michael Jones
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