Fishing Report Updated 04/26/24
(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
Freestone and Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
Size
Large, 53 miles in New Hampshire
Location
Northern New Hampshire
Nearest Towns
Dummer
Errol
Season
Year round from Sawmill dam in
Berlin to Maine. From Berlin
points north, open from January
1st to October 15th
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of New Hampshire
Weather
National Weather Service Link
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 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 On The Androscoggin River In New Hampshire
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. 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, through part of the White Mountains and into the state of Maine.
Fly fishing the Androscoggin River is great for brook, brown and rainbow trout. It is also home to landlocked salmon. The upper section of the river from Errol Dam to Bragg Bay is designated fly-fishing only. Anglers can wade and fish from the banks but the river is best fished from a boat. Canoes and rafts are used for the most part.
Route #16 follows along the Androscoggin River for over twenty miles. There are many access points along the road. Other access points are the Seven Islands Bridge in Errol, an access site in Dummer, the Androscoggin Wayside State Park, the Paul Bofinger Wayside State Park, and the Nansen Wayside State Park.
The Upper Androscoggin River is a big river with some very good aquatic insect hatches that takes place throughout the season. An uncommon one is the Alder Fly, called a Zebra Caddis. It is a huge insect and a very popular hatch to fish.
Another big insect is the huge Great Winged Olive Dun. It hatches in late June and on into early July. This hatch can produce some large trout for those willing to fish late into the evening. Many other species of mayflies and caddisflies hatch on the river and can provide some top notch dry fly fishing.
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. It is important not only to match the hatch, but to match what is about to hatch, meaning the larvae or nymphs. 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 Zebra Caddis. Little Yellow Stoneflies are also plentiful.
There is a difference in the aquatic insects in the tailwater section from that of the freestone section. If you write Perfect Fly for fly selections, please let us know which sections of the stream you intend to fish.
Androscoggin River New Hampshire Fishing Report
03/03/2020 Most all of the stream is clear of ice but the water is very cold most places. There are some midges and Winter stoneflies are hatching.
04/11/20 There are hatches of Blue-winged olives, little brown stoneflies, and midges. Just about all the ice is gone from the water. We haven’t received any reports yet.
05/18/20 Conditions are improving. There are some hatches taking place but should get much better within the next week or so. Stream levels are high and you should fish as soon as they fall.
06/03/20 The river is in good shape in all respects. Trout are being caught in good numbers. There are some nice hatches taking place.
06/12/20 We are still getting some good reports from customers. Fish are being caught in all sections of the river.
06/23/20 The river is in good shape in all respects. We continue to get good reports. Trout are being caught in good numbers on multiple hatches taking place.
07/04/20 The conditions remain good. The stream levels are fine and trout are being caught.
07/16/20 Stream levels are currently high but falling back down fast. There are some good hatches taking place and trout are being caught by our customers in good numbers.
07/30/20 The river is in good shape with good stream levels and good hatches taking place. We continue to get good reports from customers.
08/15/20 The river is in very good shape with good stream levels. Our customers continue to send in good catch reports. There are good hatches and ants, beetles and hoppers are also working.
08/31/20 We continue to get good reports from customers. They are catching good numbers of trout. The stream levels have varied a good bit but okay now. There are still a lot of insects hatching.
09/20/20 The river is turning out some good trout on sculpin streamers. There are also some good hatches taking place. This coming week should be another good one.
10/12/20 The season closes the 15th in some areas and open in others., Make sure you check that out. We are still getting good reports from customers. There are some good hatches taking place.
11/12/20 The tailwater below Sawmil dam is turning out some good catches for our customers. Check the discharge rates and stream levels and fish when they are fairly near normal levesl. Midges, reds and creams, along with BWOs will be the most important flies. Sculpin streamers have been working good as well.
11/24/20 We received more good reports of customers using our streamer patterns.
12/20/20 Fish near the dam. We are getting some good reports when the discharges and stream levels are oky. Midge, little BWOs and Winter stoneflies are hatching. Our sculpin and leech streamer patterns are working.
01/02/21 We received a couple good reports the past two weeks. Fish below and near as legal to the dam. Midges and little winter stoneflies are your best bets.
01/17/21 We are still getting some good reports from customers fishing below the dam. Midges, winter stoneflies and black flies are hatching. Sculpin and leech streamers are working good.
02/14/21 Conditions are not good except just below the discharge of the dam. Midges, winter stoneflies are catching trout there.
03/15/21 You can catch trout fishing just below the dam where the water is a little warmer.
Midge, winter stoneflies, little Brown stoneflies and black flies are hatching.
03/27/21 The water is still too cold for the spring hatches but trout are being caught near the dam on midges and winter stoneflies.
04/16/21 The water is still very cold but there are good midge, and Little BWO hatches taking place. We didn’t receive any reports recently.
05/01/21 The water is about 50 degree F in most sections and there are some good hatches of Little Brown stoneflies, Little Black Caddis, BWOs, Blue Quills and other insects.
05/08/21 Trout are being caught in good numbers. The weather has been up and down but it has little effect on the water temperature which is good.
05/16/21 The river levels and weather have begin to get more stable and we are getting some good reports from customers. There are good hatches and now is the time to start fishing the river.
05/22/21 Stream levels are still okay but a little low. There are multiple hatches taking place. Shoot us an email or call us for a recommended fly list.
06/07/21 The stream levels are fine and the water clear. We didn’t receive any reports this past week but conditions are good with lots of hatching insects.
06/17/21 The river remains in okay shape. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week, but they should of caught trout. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
07/11/21 Sorry for the missed reports. The discharges and resulting stream levels are low. Fish as near the discharge of the dam as legal where the water is cooler. Good hatches are taking place.
07/18/21 Fish the tailwater near the dam where to water is cooler. We are still getting good reports but the discharges and stream levels are still a little low.
07/25/21 The stream levels are still okay and we are getting more good reports. Good hatches are taking place and our terrestrial patterns are also working.
08/01/21 The stream levels are still a little below normal levels but it is having little effect on the “catching”. We continue to get good reports.
08/10/21 Two more good reports from customers came in this past week. Stream levels are still a little low.
08/17/21 The river is flowing a little below normal but okay. We continue to get good reports from customers. There are still good hatches taking place.
08/25/21 Stream levels are still a little below normal and in good shape. There are good hatches and we continue to get good reports from customers.
09/03/21 The stream levels are low but we continue to get a few good reports. There are good hatches taking place.
09/11/21 Stream levels are near normal levels and in good shape. We received two good reports this past week. There are still plenty hatching insects.
09/22/21 Salmon are being caught by our customers as well as trout. The river is near a normal level and in good shape.
09/30/21 More good reports from customers catching salmon have come in. Trout are also being caught. Conditions are good.
10/13/21 Salmon are still being caught in good numbers by our customers. We received two good reports from the past week.
10/23/21 The season closes the 15th in some areas and open in others. Make sure you check that out. We are still getting good reports from customers. There are some good hatches taking place.
11/01/21 The river is high right now but it has been turning out good catches prior to the high water level. Give it a couple or more days to get down.
11/08/21 Stream levels are down at a normal level. Blood midges, BWOs, and Mahogany duns are hatching. Our articulated sculpin streamers have been catching some nice ones.
11/16/21 The stream is still turning out some good catches for our customers.
11/24/21 We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week. Our articulated sculpin and leech streamers are catching some good ones.
12/04/21 Stream levels are just a little below normal level but okay. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
12/12/21 The stream levels are near normal. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.
12/18/21 We received two good reports last week.
12/28/21 The river is flowing a little on the high side. We didn’t receive any report last week but probably due to the holidays.
01/05/22 The river is back near a normal level but we still didn’t receive any reports from anyone. Our articulated sculpin and blood midges were both working good.
01/13/22 Water just below Sawmill dam stays in the mid to high thirties F. during the winter. Fish our cream or red blood midge larva and pupa for the best results. Sculpin and leech streamers also work.
01/21/22 Winter stoneflies are hatching as well as midges. We still didn’t get any reports. Stream levels are a little low but okay.
01/29/22 We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing. It is going to be a cold week ahead.
02/06/22 The weather has been extremely cold. We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
02/14/22 There are still no reports from anyone fishing.
02/22/22 We received one good report from a customer fishing below the dam. Good midge hatches are taking place and there is lots of winter stoneflies.
03/02/22 The stream level is near normal and the river in okay shape. The water is warmer near the dam discharge and you should be able to catch trout there.
03/16/22 The stream level is still near normal and in good shape. Fish near the dam discharge where the water is warmer and you should do well with our cream and red midge larva and pupa rigged in tandem.
03/24/22 The discharges and stream levels are okay. Good midge hatches are taking place.
04/01/22 Discharges and stream levels have been high at times but should be settling down soon and okay for the next few days.
04/09/22 Discharges and stream levels are currently high. Give it some time to drop back down and clear. There are good midge hatches taking place.
04/17/22 The stream levels are above normal at this time. Good Cream and Blood or red midge hatches are still taking place along with some Black Flies.
04/23/22 Stream levels are back down near a normal level and the water mostly clear. There are good hatches taking place. We received one good report this past week.
05/01/22 Conditions are good. The stream is in good shape and thee are some good hatches starting to take place.
05/09/22 The stream is still in good condition with good hatches taking place. You should be able to catch good numbers of trout.
05/17/22 Stream levels are just a little above normal levels and mostly clear. There are some good hatches taking place.
05/25/22 Stream levels are still okay and the water mostly clear. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches continue to come off.
06/09/22 The stream is flowing a little above normal level. We were getting good reports from customers before the levels went up and we expect more good ones very soon as it is dropping.
06/16/22 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. We continue to get good reports from customers fishing it. Good hatches are taking place. Shoot us an email for a list.
06/23/22 Conditions remain good. We continue to get good reports from customers fishing for trout.
06/30/22The river is a little below normal but in good shape otherwise. We are getting some very good reports from customers catch trout and salmon. Conditions should remain good.
07/07/22 The river is still a little low but just fine. More good reports from customers catching trout and salmon came in this past week.
07/14/22 We received two more good reports this past week. Both trout and salmon are being caught in good numbers.
07/21/22 The stream is flowing near a normal level with clear water. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
08/04/22 The stream is flowing a little below normal level in good shape. We received two good reports from customers fishing it again this past week.
08/25/22 The river is flowing near a normal level in good shape. We received one good report from a customer fishing for trout this past week.
09/02/22 Conditions are still good. Good hatches and good water levels. Let us hear from you.
09/16/22 The stream is still in good condition. We received two good reports from customers fishing recently.
09/23/22 We are continuing to get good reports from customers. Conditions are okay with stream levels near normal and mostly clear water.
10/07/22 We didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing it this past week but conditions appear to be okay. Let us hear from you.
10/21/22 The season closes the 15th in some areas but open in others. Make sure you check that out. We are still getting good reports from customers. There are some good hatches taking place.
11/05/22 The season is year round from Sawmill dam in
Berlin to Maine. Let us hear from you.
11/18/22 Light green midges, BWOs, and Mahogany duns are hatching. Rig the midge lava and pupa in tandem. Our articulated sculpin streamers have been catching some nice ones.
12/02/22 The tailwater below Sawmil dam is turning out some good catches for our customers. Check the discharge rates and stream levels and fish when they are fairly near normal levesl. Midges, reds and creams, along with BWOs will be the most important flies. Sculpin streamers have been working good as well.
02/06/23 Water just below Sawmill dam stays in the mid to high thirties F. during the winter. Fish our cream or red blood midge larva and pupa for the best results. Our sculpin and leech streamers also work.
02/23/23 The water is still too cold for the spring hatches but trout are being caught near the dam on our Cream and light green midges and Winter stoneflies.
04/15/23 Fish near the dam discharge where the water is warmer. Our cream and red midge larva and pupa rigged in tandem usually works very good.
05/15/23 Trout are being caught in good numbers by one of our customers. The weather has been up and down but it has little effect on the water temperature which is good.
05/28/23 The stream is flowing at a good level and clear. We received two more good reports from customers this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
06/07/23 Conditions remain good.
06/15/23 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. Good hatches are taking place. Let us hear from you.
06/25/23 We received a good report from a customer fishing it this past week. Good hatches are taking place including some Sulphur mayflies and several others.
07/02/23 Stream levels are down near a normal level and the water mostly clear. We are starting to get good reports from customers. They are catching good numbers of trout. There are a lot of insects hatching.
07/15/23 Stream levels are very high and the water highly stained from heavy rain.
08/03/23 The stream is still high. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
08/09/23 The stream is still very high and badly stained. Give it some more time to drop and clear.
08/18/23 Conditions are okay and we are getting good reports. Good hatches are taking place.
08/26/23 Stream levels are a little high but it can be fished successfully. Good late season hatches are taking place.
09/02/23 The stream is still a little high, Good conditions still exist. Let us hear from you.
09/09/23 The stream is still high most places but trout and salmon are being caught where the levels are okay.
09/22/23 The stream is still higher than ideal levels but we are still getting some good catch reports of salmon and trout.
09/29/23 More good reports come in on salmon and trout. Stream levels are okay.
10/07/23 Salmon are being caught in good numbers.
11/07/23 We are still getting some good reports on salmon.
11/14/23 The stream is in good shape with salmon being caught.
01/19/24 The water just below Sawmill dam stays in the mid to high thirties F. during the winter and trout can be caught in good numbers. Fish our cream or red blood midge larva and pupa, as well as Winter stoneflies, for the best results. Sculpin and leech streamers also work.
01/28/24 The discharges are high at this time due to heavy rain upstream but should subside soon. Good midge and Winter stonefly hatches are taking place.
02/23/24 Good midge and winter stonefly hatches are taking place. Let us hear from you.
03/01/24 The stream is flowing at a normal level and clear. There are good Winter stonefly hatches as well as light green midges. Fish the winter stonefly nymphs near the banks.
03/08/24 The stream is high and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear. Good midge and winter stonefly hatches continue to take place.
03/22/24 The stream is flowing high and stained. Give it some time to drop and clear. There are good midge and Winter stonefly hatches still taking place. The long range weather forecast looks good.
03/29/24 The stream is still flowing very high and highly stained. Good Midge and Winter stonefly hatches are still taking place.
04/05/24 The stream is still high and badly stained. Give it some time to drop and clear.
04/12/24 The stream is still flowing at a high level with highly stained water. More time is needed for it to drop and clear.
04/19/24 The stream is flowing at an okay level and mostly clear. Good Cream Midge, little Browns stonefly and Little Black caddis hatches are taking place.
04/26/24 The stream is flowing a little below normal level and in good shape. Good hatches continue to take place.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
a