Local River Wade Trips

The Ammonoosuc River

Finding its source on the west side of Mount Washington, the "Ammo" flows west through the towns of Carroll [Twin Mountain], Bethlehem, Littleton, Lisbon, and Woodsville where it flows into the Connecticut River. The upper reaches of the Ammo (the Bretton Woods area) holds Brook and Rainbow Trout. As we follow the river westward its flow becomes larger and the mix now includes Brown Trout as well as Rainbow and Brook Trout. The section below the dam in Littleton all the way to its confluence with the Connecticut River is one of the few areas in the state which is designated for night fishing* for Brown Trout and we all know Brown Trout, at least the very large ones, are nocturnal feeders.

Portions of the Ammonoosuc River flow through the White Mountain National Forest. Guiding in the Forest requires a Federal Outfitters License which I do not posses and for that reason I do not guide within the National Forest. However there is plenty of excellent river to fish that is not in the National Forest.

The Israel River

Tumbling down off Mount Jefferson in the Presidential Range, the Israel River travels westward through Jefferson to Lancaster where it empties into the Connecticut River. The upper section of this beautiful river is a small brook environment stocked with Brook Trout. The mid-section of the river has a small to large stream feel to it and holds Brook and Rainbow Trout. From the downtown of Lancaster to the confluence of the Connecticut River the Israel becomes slow and meandering.

The Pemigewassett River

The crystal clear waters of the Pemigewassett River originate in Profile Lake in Franconia Notch. Flowing south following route 93 the river grows in stature until it reaches West Franklin, NH where it joins with the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. I provide wading trips on the upper Pemigewassett in the towns of North Woodstock, Woodstock, and Lincoln. Be prepared for anything from a small brook to a small river with gin clear water that contains stocked Rainbow and Brook Trout.

Big River Wade Trips

The Connecticut River

One of the two major rivers in the state, the Connecticut forms our border with Vermont for most of its length here in New Hampshire. Where the river forms the border it can be fished from either bank with a valid New Hampshire or Vermont fishing license. This excellent river holds many, many different species of game fish, but my passion is Trout and Landlocked Salmon. For that reason I concentrate on the Connecticut from North Stratford up to Pittsburg. Of course, Pittsburg is the most popular section of the river when it comes to fly fishing. This section of the river benefits from dams at 1st Lake and Lake Francis, both of which are bottom release and create a wonderful "tail water fishery". I will be happy to accommodate your desires to fish the river from North Straford up to, and including, Pittsburg.

The Androscoggin River

The second of the two major rivers in New Hampshire, "Big Andy", flows out of Lake Umbagog above Errol. From Errol down to the Pontook Dam is the area I guide in and it holds some truly large fish. Holding Brook, Rainbow, and Brown Trout as well as Landlocked Salmon, there is the possibility of catching a fish of a life time. It's not uncommon to see Moose, Osprey, and even Bald Eagles while fishing the Androscoggin, so bring your camera. The one drawback to the Androscoggin River is that it heats up during the height of the summer, so the best time to fish "Big Andy" is the beginning and end of the season, leaving the dog days of summer for other activities.

New Hampshire Wild Trout Wade Trips

For those few experienced fly fishers who want the ultimate in New Hampshire angling, I offer Wild Trout Wade Trips. These half day adventures are the stuff memories are made of. The Trout we will be targeting have never seen the inside of a hatchery and their beauty bears that out. It is uncommon for one of these tough little guys to measure more than 12 inches, but their beauty and unmatched fight will more than compensate for any lack of size.

Light tackle, 2 and 3 weight rods, is perfect for taking these fish. However, we find a 4 or 5 weight rod will work just fine.

(For the protection of our Wild Trout population, clients wishing to book this trip need to have at least one years experience of catch-and-release fly fishing.)