Fishing Report Updated 04/23/24
(Bottom Of Page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwaters
Species
Brook Trout
Landlocked Salmon (Wild)
Size
Medium
Location
Northern Maine
Nearest Towns
Patten, Maine
Season
April 1 through September 30
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Maine
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The season starts the first of April but the
early season can be unpredictable.
Spring:
Fly fishing the Penobscot River normally
gets good about the first of May.
Summer:
Summertime continues the best season for
fishing.
Fall:
Early Fall can be good.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Penobscot River Maine
The Penobscot River is the largest river in the state of Maine. It flows from near the Canadian line for almost 350 miles. The river has several species of fish that can be taken on the fly but the trout and landlocked salmon fishing is best. It exist in the East and West Branches of the Penobscot River.
The East Branch starts as a small streams that flows from East Branch Pond. From there it flows into Matagomon Lake and Grand Lake Matagomon. Part of this upper section of the river flows through Baxter State Park and is very remote. Below Grand Lake Matagomon, the river is wide and easier to access. The flows depend on the releases from the dam.
The West Branch of the Penobscot River is one of the best landlocked salmon streams in the United States. It flows from the East arm of Seboomook Lake. From the dam there it flows into Chesuncook Lake and Ripogenous Lake and continues on from the Ripogenous Dam. This river has water falls, whitewater and very deep pools. Some sections have long runs and beautiful sections of riffles. It has native brook trout in addition to its salmon. It’s a very beautiful stream.
The section of the river from the Ripogenus Dam to Abol Bridge is just one of the most popular sections for fly fishing. The Ripogenus Gorge holds wild landlocked salmon and brook trout. In many sections of the river the water falls and pools that are deeper than one’s head prevent wading. Most of the fishing there is done from inflatable rafts.
The salmon season kicks off with the smelt run. It is difficult to predict the exact time it starts but when it does, fishing can be fantastic.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Penobscot
River Maine
The fishing first and foremost depends on where you are fishing. The water varies drastically. The river is near Maine’s highest mountain, Mount Kathadin. It is sometimes visible in the background. The stream flows mostly through forest. The area is known for its wildlife which includes eagles, bear, deer and moose.
This isn’t a very easy river to fish. It has just about every type of water that’s imaginable. You could use about every techniques and method of fly fishing that exist in the river depending on where you fished and what you fished for.
Although the season starts the first of April, the ice may not be melted at that date. It is usually a little later when the smelt run gets underway before the fishing gets hot. During the smelt run, salmon usually take streamers that match the smelt eagerly. This can provide some of the Penobscot River’s best action.
The West Branch section below the Ripogenus Dam downstream to the Abol Bridge is a very rough stretch of water. It provides great wild, landlocked salmon fishing but is tough to fish by boat or from the bank. It also provides some great brook trout fishing. The water changes from large rapids to long sections of riffles and runs with deep pools between
sections. This section of the river has a lot of white water rafters but they don’t bother the fishermen as much as you would think. Kayakers and rafters out number anglers by a large amount.
The water in the West Branch stays cool all summer long. Even though there are many rapids and sections of water that is impossible to wade, there is also sections that are easy to wade. This is a big river and one could wade for days and not fish the same section twice. Beware of the areas that are dangerous to wade and beware of the releases from the dams on the rivers. They can change the flows quickly.
Penobscot River Hatches and Trout
Flies:
Most of the mayfly hatches occur from May into the first half of June. The middle of June starts some huge and prolific caddisfly hatches.
Little Black Stoneflies are the first hatches to occur on the Penobscot River. The problem is that they are usually all gone by the opening of the season.
There are several species of Little Blue-winged Olives that hatch during the year. They start in April and usually a peak around the middle of May. These last through most of June and then slack off until about the middle of August. They fall hatches last through September. There’s a Great Olive Winged Dun locally called the Hexagenia hatch that starts about the middle of June and can last through most of July.
Quill Gordons start hatching about the same time the season opens in April and last until the middle of May. Hendrickson mayflies hatch about the same time or from about the first of May through the first week of June. March Browns start about the first week of June and last until near the first of July. Light Cahills start about the first of June and last
on into the middle of July. All of the above are clinger mayflies that will be found in the moderate to fast water.
Little Yellow Stoneflies hatch from about the first of June into the first of July. These stoneflies are called Yellow Sallies by some anglers.
There are several species of Spotted Sedges and Cinnamon Sedges. These caddisflies hatch from about the middle of April all the way through September. There are also lots of Green Sedges that hatch during June and July. Imitations of their larvae, often called Green Rock Worms, are very effective.
Ants, beetles and grass hoppers are all important terrestrial insects. These normally become important around the middle of July. They can be found along the streams until as late as the end of September. Dragonfly nymphs can also be effective in some areas.
You definitely need streamers to match the smelt if you fish early in the season. Also streamers that imitate sculpin work great. Our Perfect Fly Yellow Marabou Sculpin and White Marabou Sculpin work great in this stream according to our customers.
We always recommend our “Perfect Flies” not only because we sell them but also because we know they are the best trout flies you can purchase. If you haven’t tried our “Perfect Flies” yet, be certain to do so. You will be glad you did. We have specific imitations of all the insects that hatch on the Penobscot River.
Penobscot River Fishing Report:
01/24/2020 The season is over but it is
never too early to start planning that next
fly fishing trip. Give us a call and let us
help.
sales@perfectflystore.com
05/18/20 Stream levels are high from
melting snow and ice. Midges and BWOs
are starting to hatch.
06/23/20 The river is in good shape and
trout are being caught in good numbers.
We are getting good reports from
customers. There are multiple hatches.
07/02/20 We are still getting good reports
from customers.
08/15/20 Lots of insects are hatching.
The stream levels are in good shape and
we continue to get good catch reports
from customers.
08/31/20 The stream ls in good shape
and we continue to get good reports from
customers. Trout and salmon.
03/17/21 The season is closed but you
can shoot us an email and let us help
you plan that next trip,.
sales@perfectflystore.com
04/16/01 The season is open but we do not recommend fishing it until May. There is still a lot of ice in the water.
07/18/21 Sorry for all the missed fishing reports. We are now set up to continue them. Stream levels are a little low but otherwise, conditions are good. We are getting good reports from customer fishing for trout.
07/25/21 The river is in good shape and turning out lots of trout for our customers. There are some very good hatches.
08/02/21 We received two more good reports from customers fishing the river this past week.
08/12/21 The stream is turning out some good catches for our customers. Multiple locations are good. Good hatches continue to take place.
08/19/21 We continue to get get reports from customers fishing for trout. There is some rain coming the next three days and the cloud cover should be of help.
08/26/21 We had one customer send in a good report on salmon. It will get good very soon. We also had two good trout reports.
09/05/21 We received some good reports from customers fishing for trout and salmon. Stream levels are a high but it can still be fished in many places.
09/17/21 Only 13 days of the season left. The salmon run is underway and we are getting good reports from customers catching them.
`0/04/21 The season ended at the end of September. We won’t update the site until it opens again. Let us help you plan that next season trip.
03/26/22 The season opens the first day of April. Now is the time to get your gear and flies in order for the new season. Let us help you with that.
04/09/22 The season is open but we haven’t received any reports from anyone fishing yet. Now is the time to get your flies and gear ready. We can help you with that.
04/18/22 We thought we would get some good reports this past week but we didn’t. Conditions are not that bad in many sections of the river.
04/27/22 We did receive one good report from a customer fishing this past week. Conditions are not that bad in many places. Good hatches are starting to take place.
05/05/22 Hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, little Black Caddis, little Brown stoneflies, Blue-winged olives and other insects are hatching.
05/14/22 Good hatches are taking place and water conditions are okay but we didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
05/22/22 Most sections of the river are in okay shape. We are still only getting a few good reports but many locals hold back and don’t want it published. There are good hatches taking place and you should be able to catch good numbers.
05/29/22 The stream is still in okay shape flowing near a normal level. We did receive two good reports from customers fishing last week. Good hatches are taking place.
06/06/22 we are getting some very good reports from customers fishing the river. Excellent hatches are coming off and dry fly fishing has been good.
06/13/22 Conditions remain good. Good hatches are taking place and we continue to get some good reports from customers fishing it.
06/20/22 The river is still turning out some good catches for our customers. Good hatches continue to take place. This coming week should be another good one.
06/27/22 More good reports from customers came in this past week. Conditions remain good. Good hatches continue to take place.
07/04/22 Good numbers of brook trout and salmon are being caught. There are good hatches taking place. Send us an email for a fly list for this one.
07/11/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. There are a lot of hatching insects. Good catches of salmon and trout are taking place.
07/18/22 Lots of insects are hatching and our terrestrial patterns of sandwich hoppers, Japanese beetles and carpenter ants are working. The stream levels are in good shape and we continue to get good catch reports from customers.
07/25/22 Good conditions continue. There are plenty insects hatching and our terrestrial and streamers are catching some nice ones.
08/01/22 The stream is in good shape and turning out good catches of brook trout and salmon. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
08/08/22 The stream is still at a good level and clear. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week but it should be very good.
08/15/22 Stream levels have been high this past week but back down to near normal levels. This coming week should be a good one.
08/29/22 Conditions are good. We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches continue to take place.
09/06/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing for trout and salmon recently. Stream levels are a little high but it can still be fished in most places.
09/13/22 More good reports have come in on trout and salmon. Stream levels vary with the location but mostly good. Good hatches are still taking place.
03/15/23 The season will be open just two weeks from now. Now is the time to get your gear and flies ready. We can help you do that.
04/15/23 The season has been open for the past two weeks but we still haven’t received any reports from anyone fishing. It is normally the first of May before it turns on.
05/06/23 Good hatches are taking place – Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, little Black Caddis, little Brown stoneflies, Blue-winged olives and other insects are hatching.
05/15/23 We received two good reports from customers fishing the lower section of the river this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
05/26/23 Good hatches are taking place and good stream levels exist. We received another good report.
06/06/23 Two good reports come in this past week from customers fishing for trout. They reported that some very good hatches are taking place.
06/15/23 Another good report came in from a customer fishing it this past week. Good hatches continue to take place and dry fly fishing is good.
06/25/23 The stream is still turning out some good catches. Good hatches continue to take place.
07/22/23 The stream is flowing at a high level, too high to fish well. Give it some time to drop and clear.
08/01/23 Stream conditions are okay. You should be able to catch good numbers of trout. Let us hear from you.
08/20/23 The stream is still turning out good numbers of trout. Good hatches continue to take place.
08/19/23 The river is still in okay shape and we are getting good reports from different sections of it. Good hatches are still taking place.
08/27/23 Stream levels are high due to recent rain but it should fall back down fast. We have been getting good reports from several different sections of the river. Good hatches are taking place.
09/03/23 More good reports came in from customers fishing it this past week. Good numbers of trout and salmon are being caught.
09/10/23 We are still getting some good catch reports from customers fishing various sections of the river. Good late season hatches continue to take place.
09/17/23 Conditions are still good. Good hatches continue to take place and we continue to get some good reports. The season ends in 13 more days.
01/12/24 01/12/24 The season is closed but it is never too soon to be planning and getting setup for the new season. Call or email (sales@perfectflystore.com) to let us help you do that.
03/05/24 The season opens the first of April and now is a good time to purchase the flies, gear and other items you need for the stream. Call 800 594 4726 or email (sales@perfectflystore.com) to let us help you do that.
04/02/24 The season opened yesterday. The water is still cold with slush ice and lots of snow and bank ice in some sections. Let us hear some reports from you.
04/09/24 Ice, both slush ice in the water and bank ice is still a problem in most sections. It should warm up a little and clear up soon.
04/16/24 Still no reports from anyone fishing it. It should be okay in some sections.
04/23/24 The stream is still high and badly stained. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
Write us with the dates you plan to fish at sales@perfectflystore.com for a recommended fly and gear list.