Saco River New Hampshire Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: 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.
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
Species
Brown Trout (Some Wild, Stocked
and Holdovers)
Rainbows (Some Wild, Stocked and
Holdovers)
Brook Trout (Some Wild, Stocked
and Holdovers)
Size
Medium
Location
Northern New Hampshire
Nearest Towns
North Conway
Season
Jan. 1 – Oct. 15th
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of New Hampshire
Weather
National Weather Service
Season:
The season is from Jan. 1 to Oct. 15.
Spring:
Spring is the best time to fish the Saco River.
Summer:
Summertime is good on all but the very warmest days.
Fall:
Fall is the best time to catch the large brown trout because of the spawn.
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.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Saco River New Hampshire
The Saco River begins at Saco Lake in the Crawford Notch State Park and flows through North Conway, and on into Maine. It is heavily stocked with brook, brown and rainbow trout. The river flows through the White Mountains National Forest and Grafton Notch State Park. The only wild trout you are apt to catch is in the upper section of the river.
The upper section of the river is in untouched country and is a pleasure to fish. The stream is easy to wade and the trout are usually very cooperative. When the stream gets near North Conway, things change from the remote setting to one with some congestion.
There’s a fly fishing only section in North Conway. It runs from Artist Falls Brook to just below Lucy Brook. It can become quite crowded during the Spring but for good reasons. Fly Fishing the Saco River in the fly fishing only section is usually very good.
The lower section is a little larger and holds some very large holdover brown trout. It can be waded or fished from a canoe. Fly fishing the Saco River in the lower section of the stream often produces a nice size brown trout, especially near the end of the season when the brown trout start exposing themselves getting ready to spawn.
The Saco has a good variety of aquatic insects and a few crustaceans. Terrestrials can also be important in the summer months. Some of the most important mayflies are Blue-winged olives, Light Cahills, American March Browns,