Fishing Report Updated 09/03/23 (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
Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
Size
Large
Location
Southern Maine
Nearest Towns
Bethel
Season
Year-Round some areas but check
special regulations
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Maine
Weather
Weather Channel
USGS Real-time Stream
Level Data:
Near Auburn, Maine
Near Rumford, Maine
Seasons:
Most of the Androscoggin River follows the statewide seasons and limits, but special regulations apply to some sections
Spring:
The water can be high in the Spring from melting snow and rainfall, but the fishing is usually good in late Spring.
Summer:
Fly Fishing the Androscoggin River can slow down in some areas during the hottest part of the Summer.
Fall:
Early Fall is an excellent and a beautiful time for fly fishing the Androscoggin River. Good fishing continues through October.
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 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Androscoggin River Maine
The Androscoggin River forms in northern New Hampshire and flows into the state of Maine. It is 178 miles long but only portions of that is suitable for trout and salmon fishing. Fly fishing the Androscoggin River is great for brook, brown and rainbow trout. It is also home to landlocked salmon.
The river begins in Errol, New Hampshire, at the confluence of the Magalloway River and the outlet from Umbagog Lake. It flows for a total of 53 miles in northern New Hampshire into the state of Maine. This section begins at the state line, and flows downstream through Bethel past the Bear River confluence.
The river has many different types of water, depending on the location. It can be waded in some sections, and it is too deep to wade in others. This also greatly depends on the flows, so you should always check the stream levels. Links to the USGS stream flow data is located on
your left.
The Androscoggin is a big river. It has some very good aquatic insect hatches. The Alder Fly, called a Zebra Caddis, is huge and a very popular hatch to fish. The huge Great Winged Olive Duns hatch in late June and on into early July. Many other species of mayflies and caddisflies hatch on the river and can provide some top notch dry fly fishing. Some of the major mayfly hatches are Blue-winged Olives, Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, American March Browns, Light Cahills and Tricos. Some of the major species of caddisflies are the Cinnamon Sedges, Little Black Caddis, Great Autumn Brown Sedges and of course, the Zebra Caddis mentioned above. Little Yellow Stoneflies are also plentiful.
The trout are usually very selective as to what they eat and specific imitations of the aquatic usually work much better than generic fly patterns
.Androscoggin River Maine Fishing Report:
04/11/20 The discharges and stream levels are near normal flows and levels. Blue-winged olives and Little Brown stoneflies are hatching. There will be some more new hatches taking place very soon.
05/18/20 Discharges and stream levels are currently high. Midges, little Brown stoneflies, little Black caddis, BWOs and Quill Gordons ar3e starting to hatch.
06/03/20 Stream levels are down and the river in good shape. Trout are being caught in good numbers.
06/23/20 The stream levels are still down below normal. We continue to get good reports from customers. There are multiple hatches taking place.
07/06/20 The river is running a little above normal level but falling back down. Trout were being caught in good numbers by our customers before the higher levels.
07/16/20 Stream levels are high but falling back down fast. Trout have been caught in good numbers when the levels were down. There are still some good hatches taking place.
07/30/20 The stream levels are down and the river in good shape. We are getting good reports from customers. There are some good hatches taking place.
08/15/10 Stream levels are in good shape in all sections and our customers continue to send in good catch reports. There are some very good hatches taking place.
08/31/20 Conditions remain very good. There are good hatches taking place and our customers are sending in good reports.
09/20/20 More good reports coming in from customers. There are some good Mahogany
wing and Cinnamon Caddis hatches along with others. Sculpin streamers are working good.
10/12/20 The season ends soon in some sections and some sections are year-round. There are lots of Mahogany duns and Blue-winged olives hatching. Brown trout are entering the pre-spawn stage and our Brown sculpin are catching them according to one regular local customer.
12/20/20 We received a few recent reports from customers fishing near the dams. Midges, little bwo, and winter stoneflies are hatching. Our sculpin streamers are working. Many
sections are closed so make sure you are fishing legal waters.
01/02/21 We didn’t receive any reports this past two weeks but fishing should be good below the dam.
01/17/21 We are getting a few good reports from customers fishing below the dam. Midges, black flies and winter stoneflies are hatching. Sculpin and our leech streamers are working.
02/14/21 The section just below the dam is about all that doesn’t have a lot of slush ice.
We didn’t receive any reports this past couple of weeks.
03/17/21 The water coming out from under the dam is about 39 degrees year-round. Fish as near there as legal for the best results. Midge larva and pupa, both creams and reds, are the best flies.
04/15/21 There are some Blue-winged olives, Midges and Little Brown stoneflies hatching. There will be some more new hatches taking place very soon.
05/05/21 The water is warming up fast. There are new hatches of Little Black caddis starting up. We have received one good report this past week.
06/25/21 Stream levels are fine and we are getting some good reports from customers.
07/11/21 Stream levels are low in all sections but we are still getting good reports from customers. You have to use a little extra caution to stay hidden. There are very good hatches taking place.
07/18/21 The stream is still a little low but otherwise in good condition. Excellent hatches are taking place and we are getting some very good reports from customers.
07/18/21 Low water levels still exist but it is still fishing well. We continue to get good reports from customers.
08/19/21 There is rain forecast the next three days so the levels may come up some. There are still good hatches and we continue to get good reports from customers. Get ready for the salmon.
09/05/21 The stream is in good shape with stream levels just a little below normal levels and clear water. We continue to get good reports from customers.
09/30/21 Stream levels are near normal in all sections and we are getting good reports from customers fishing for trout and salmon.
12/05/21 We received two good reports from customers recently. Fish near the dam discharges where the water is a little warmer. Midges, creams and bloods or reds and little BWO are hatching and our articulated sculpin streamers are working good.
12/12/21 Stream levels are near normal in all sections. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.
12/27/21 The water is flowing at a normal level in all sections. Fish near the discharges from the dams as legal for the warmest water. Midges are hatching good.
01/05/22 The river is still around a normal level with good blood midge hatches taking place. Our articulated sculpin streamer have been catching some good ones.
01/19/22 The river is flowing well below normal levels but that isn’t a bad thing in the winter. We didn’t receive any reports but you should be able to catch trout.
01/29/22 We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. The coming week looks like we have a big time front moving through.
02/08/22 We still didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing. Conditions are okay near the dam in the tailwater where the water is warmer.
03/02/22 The stream levels are near normal and the tailwater section in good shape. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.
03/08/22 The stream levels are a little high today, so give it some time to drop. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
03/26/22 Stream levels are a little high. It should drop down fast. The regular season opens April 1.
05/14/22 Sorry for the missed reports. We are starting to get some good catch reports from customers. The water is warm and there are some very good hatches taking place.
05/22/22 Conditions are very good. Good stream levels exist with clear water. Very good hatches are taking place and we continue to get good catch reports from customers.
06/13/22 Stream levels are a little below normal levels but okay. We received one good report this past week from a customers. Good hatches are taking place.
07/04/22 The stream continues to be a little below normal level but still turning out good numbers of fish for our customers. There are lots of insects hatching and dry fly fishing is very good.
07/18/22 Conditions are good. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches continue to take place.
07/25/22 Conditions are very good in all respects. We continue to get good reports from customers. Stream levels are normal and the water clear.
08/04/22 The stream is flowing a little below normal in good shape. We are getting good reports from customers fishing it. Good hatches continue to take place.
09/06/22 The stream is at a normal level in good shape. We received four good reports from customers fishing this past week.
09/13/22 Conditions remain good and good reports continue to come in.
03/15/23 The season is open year-round in many places but some sections gets going good the first of April. Now is the time to get your gear and flies ready for the new season. Let us help you do that.
04/04/23 The water coming out from under the dam averages about 39 degrees year-round. Fish as near there as legal for the best results. Midge larva and pupa, both creams and reds, are the best flies.
07/22/23 The stream is flowing at a very high level and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear.
08/01/23 The stream is down to a normal level in good shape. You should be able to catch good numbers of trout. There are good hatches taking place.
08/09/23 The stream is still flowing at a very high level and badly stained from heavy rain. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
08/27/23 Stream levels are high but should come down soon. You should be able to catch good numbers of trout when it does. Good hatches are still taking place.
09/03/23 The stream is still above a normal level and lightly stained. Give it a couple of days to drop and clear.
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 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.