Our Trip Options…

In order to provide our customers with the best opportunity to enjoy the entire Kennebec watershed, we offer trips on a number of productive and scenic sections of river as well as a series of local lakes and remote ponds!

The Kennebec River (Trout and Salmon)

• Madison - Our favorite wading destination, "The Pines" in Madison offers 2+ miles of continuous riffles and runs, reliable and diverse hatches (throughout the summer), and phenomenal growth rates. Best suited for half-day, morning or evening wade trips, our Guides will bring you to the most productive (and least crowded) runs, show you the best flies and carry an extra rigged rod and long-handled net to make your life a little easier! Note that Madison is now a year-round fishery and is your best bet for November BWO's.
  
  
• Solon/North Anson - Our most requested float trip, this 3-7 mile section of river (depending on the time of year) boasts numerous braided channels, minimal shoreline development, and abundant wildlife (e.g., eagles, deer, beaver, etc.) Primarily a brown trout fishery, this stretch of river also produces lanlocked salmon, rainbow and brook trout. Although productive all-day during early season, starting mid-July the angler should consider getting an early or late start and staying on the water until dark.
  
  
• Bingham/Solon - This 7 mile tailwater boasts Maine's only "wild" rainbow fishery with some landlocked salmon and the occasional brook trout. With a good mix of braided channels, riffles and flatwater (1+ mile at end of trip), this is a good summer destination when other sections of river have warmed up (Bingham is usually 6-8 degrees colder than the river below Skowhegan). Due to high mid-day water levels, this section is best floated in the early morning and evening (rainbows love mornings!).
  
  
• The Forks/Carratunk - With over 8 miles of continuous light rapids and long riffles, this stretch of river is as much a "recreational" trip as it is a "fishing" trip. Primarily a "wild" brook trout fishery, this section also produces some Landlocked Salmon the occasional brown or rainbow and some rather large smallmouth bass. Best fished from our raft, this scenic stretch of river makes for an enjoyable summer and fall trip.

  While the fishing is sometimes disappointing, the scenery never is! Best fished in early spring and late fall, everyone should float this beautiful stretch of river at least once!
  

• The Gorge - Maine's most rugged wilderness "Canyon" fishing, the Kennebec Gorge offers miles of "Extreme" (e.g., steep grades, rough trails, etc.) hike-in wade fishing for wild landlocked salmon and brook trout in the upper reaches (not recommended for the casual angler or individuals with health or stamina issues) and "Moderately Difficult" hike-in wade fishing in the lower stretches (a long walk over relatively flat trails). With radically fluctuating water levels, The Gorge is best fished in the early morning or late afternoon.
  
  
• The East Outlet - The place to be for fall landlocked salmon driftboat fishing, the "Outlet" offers miles of wading and boat fishing in a scenic and wild setting! Whether slinging streamers in the early AM or drifting tiny nymphs under the mid-day sun, this is fall "Big Water" landlocked salmon fishing at its finest. Best fished from mid-September through the end of October, you are on the water in the middle of peak New England foliage, fishing for a true Maine treasure! With cold weather almost a guarantee and snow a possibility, dress warm and fish hard!

The Kennebec River (Smallmouth Bass)

We in no way condone the rash of illegal smallmouth bass stockings in the upper Kennebec Valley. As such, we will not perpetuate the problem (or encourage further environmental pollution) by "Guiding" for smallmouths on waters where they have been illegally introduced at the expense of our native and "legally" introduced wild salmonids. We do however offer fly fishing trips for Smallmouth on the lower river south of Madison.

• Skowhegan - Between the Wesserunsett boat launch in Skowhegan and the bridge in Hinckley (Route 23) lies roughly 6 miles of relatively undeveloped "flatwater" loaded with better than average Smallmouths. Using our custom 21' Scott square-stern canoe with environmentally friendly Honda 9.9hp 4-Stroke motor, we can access the hard to reach coves without the use of an over-powered "Traditional" bass boat. Not a bad way to spend a mid-summer day!
  
  
• Norridgewock - Between the Norridgewock boat launch and just below the Sandy River in Madison lies 8 miles of prime smallmouth bass fishing in a mostly underdeveloped setting. Like Skowhegan, we utilize our 21' Scott square-stern canoe for fishing this section. This may be the best smallmouth fishing on the entire river.

The Dead River

• The Upper Dead - The Dead River from Long Falls Dam at Flagstaff Lake to the beginning of the deadwater a few miles downstream is one of Maine's best"Trophy" rainbow fisheries with some decent sized landlocked salmon and brookies caught each year. Either waded or rafted (from the Big Eddy to the Deadwater), the Dead is best fished in the early Spring (i.e., from April 1st through May) and then again in the Fall. Our Guides will show you the best holes and runs, carry a long handled net, and help with fly selection and rigging. We also offer trips between the end of the fast water and the head of Grand falls using our 21' square-stern canoe and motor. Fishing for rainbows, brookies and salmon in an almost pond-like setting, this trip is worth considering.
  
  
• The Lower Dead - The lower Dead River between Grand Falls/Spencer Stream and The Forks is remote and wild. We offer wilderness wade and float trips for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon in our fully outfitted "Expedition Grade" NRS Raft with rowing frame! Although primarily a "wild" brook trout fishery, this section of river also boasts landlocked salmon, rainbow's and the occasional brown. As far as "float fisheries" go, they don't get any "wilder" or more remote in the state of Maine and with newly imposed regulations, it can only get better! Like the upper Kennebec, this section of river fishes best in the spring and fall and is open through October.
  

Lakes and Ponds

• Remote Ponds - The "10,000 Acre Tract" just an hour north of the shop is blessed with an abundance of better than average remote "wild" brook trout ponds. Starting at ice-out (usually mid-May), our Guides can take parties of 1 or 2 (and larger in certain cases) into select ponds to fish from either canoes (stored on the water or carried in by the Guide) or float tubes (yours or ours). The ponds range from a comfortable 10 acres to over 100 acres with the bulk in the 20 to 40 acre range. Fishable all season, these ponds are at their best during late-May/early-June (all-day) and then again in early to late July for the "Hex" hatch when these giant (largest in the country!) mayflies bring the biggest fish of the season to the surface!
  
  
• Pierce Pond - We offer guided trips on the famed Pierce Pond for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon in our fully outfitted 21' Scott square-stern canoe (designed with the "fly fisherman" in mind with room for 2 anglers, padded seats, full-length fly rod holders, bow mount anchor drop, large paddle for chasing "Riser's" and quiet 4-Stroke Motor). As far as "large remote brook trout" fisheries" go, they don't get much better in the state of Maine!