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
Tailwater
Species
Brook Trout
Brown Trout
Landlocked Salmon
Size
Medium
Location
Southern Maine
Nearest Towns
Windham, Maine
Season
Jan 1 through Dec 31
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Maine
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Flow Data:
Presumpscot River
Seasons:
The fishing season is open year-round.
Spring:
The best fishing occurs in the Spring just after the stream is stocked.
Summer:
Fly fishing the Presumpscot River during the Summer, isn’t a good idea.
Fall:
Fall generally isn’t a good time either. Some of the trout manage to hold over through the hot summer.
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 The Presumpscot River
Maine
Presumpscot means “many falls and many rough places”. The word once described the Presumpscot River perfectly. There are twelve waterfalls along its length. It begins from an outlet of Sebago Lake and flows for about twenty-five miles into Casco Bay.
The Presumpscot River tends to get too warm for trout during the hot summer. It is heavily stocked with brook trout, brown trout and land-locked salmon each spring. The “fly fishing only” section of the river that flows along route #35 at Windham is the most popular section to fish.
This river was damed by the Smelt Hill Dam and its natural flows changed for many years. It was removed in 2002 and now the water flows over the Presumpscot Falls as it once did. It now has some excellent pocket water and the Smelt Hill Dam no longer prevents the igration of fish that head upriver to spawn. The Presumpscot River still has eight dams that change the flow of the river. It’s a series of slow moving pools and ponds with warm water species of fish in most areas. Its once population of cold water migratory fish will still be destroyed for at least several more years.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Presumpscot River Maine
As mentioned above, the best fishing takes place just after the stream has been stocked in the Spring.
The Presumpscot River is located in the most populated area in Maine, including its largest city Portland. The section of the river that is a popular fly fishing area is located between Sebago Lake and North Gorham Pond. It’s very popular and can become crowded just after the stream has been stocked. Downstream of Dundee Pond, the river is mostly a smallmouth bass fishery.
This river has several different sections that are regulated differently. Be sure and check on the most current regulations for the particular area you are fishing.
During the spring and winter months, most of the fishing is done with nymphs or small streamers. Dry fly fishing can be good at times in the late spring and early summer months. Many anglers use terrestrial imitations during the warmer months of the year.
Land-locked salmon fishing is best in the early Spring. Most anglers use streamers. The best time for the trout is in April and May. This river has some very good mayfly hatches but the trout are not picky unless you find a holdover.
The flows vary depending on how much water is being released from Sebago Lake. Although the stream is fairly easy to wade, you must be aware that the water can rise quickly with changes in the release.
Hatches and Flies for the Presumpscot River Maine
This hatch chart is based on nearby streams of similar type water. We have not sampled the insects and have been unable to get much information from anyone that is familiar with its hatches.
Little Black Stoneflies are one of the first hatches to occur on the Presumpscot River. They start hatching in March and last through April. Various species of Little Blue-winged Olives hatch during the year. There is usually a peak starting around the middle of May through June and another from about the middle of August through September.
Quill Gordons normally start about the same time the season opens and last until the middle of June. Brook trout eat them eagerly at other locations with similar water.
Hendricksons (probably) hatch about the same time in the pools from about the first of May through the first week of June. March Browns (probably) start about the first of June and last through the month.
Light Cahill start about the first of June and last on into the middle of July. They will be found in the fast water. This has been confirmed.
Little Yellow Stoneflies hatch from about the first of June into the first of July. They are a great hatch to fish on the Presumpscot River. This has been confirmed.
There are some species of Spotted Sedges or caddisflies that hatch from about April all the way through August. There are also Green Sedges that hatch during June and July. These caddisflies are in all of the Maine streams that are similar.
Ants are an important terrestrial insect. There are few hoppers and some beetles.
You definitely need streamers to match the smelt if you fish early in the season. Also streamers that imitate sculpin work great.
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 this stream.