This float trip is my bread and butter.  This float features big water with specific runs and shelves to hold fish. The Bingham section of the Kennebec River is known for its great population of WILD rainbows. This section of the river is the only self-sustaining rainbow fishery in the state. With Wyman Station being a bottom-fed dam, the water stays generally cooler than other nearby fisheries. The river is a well-known fishery; however, the river's large size and high water make it difficult and limiting for wade fish. For that reason, we float! To float the full length to Solon, it is suggested to do a full day float; however, if pushing downriver, it can be done in a half day! Otherwise, the upper portion of the river can be VERY productive to keep you entertained for a full day, or a morning or evening float. Either way the from early spring till late fall, there is plenty of fishing to be had on this stretch of river. Summer produces some of the best hatches in the state, while spring and fall produce meat-eating fish on streamers. This float is one of our favorites for a reason. 

Target Species: Rainbow Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Brook Trout, Splake

Although this section of the river is a stone's throw from the big water of Bingham, this section is very different. This section of the river meanders its way through farm land on its way to Anson. With undercut banks and riffles spread throughout this section, the main target is brown trout. Whether it be on meaty streamers or swinging soft hackles in the fall, this section of the river can produce some trophy brown trout. Along with the browns, there is still a healthy population of salmon, rainbows, and brookies to keep you entertained! This water heats up in the summer, turning the trout fishing off and turning it into a great smallmouth bass fishery. If timed right, you can enjoy trout sipping dries off the surface, or explosions of bronze backs hammering poppers off the banks! This is another float that can be done in a full or half day of fishing. 

If anglers are looking for a slightly more technical fishery, a walk-and-wade trip can be taken to the Rangeley area. Although these rivers are no secret, you can feel as though you have stepped totally away from civilization and back in time. These rivers consistently produce the best bug hatches in the state. During those hatches, you can routinely find yourself casting to a rising 4lb+ brook trout sipping flies on the surface. As I mentioned, this area can be frustrating even for the best of anglers. But, if you are patient the trophy can be worth every cast. During the dog days of summer, these rivers should be avoided as they warm up to unsafe temperatures for trout. But timed right until the middle of July, fish can be caught.

You would be hard-pressed to find Maine fly fishing anglers who do not talk about Grand Lake Stream. The small size of this stream, matched with its crystal clear waters make the large Landlocked salmon smarter than many and also highly sensitive to presentation. I offer walk-and-wade trips to fish this historic fishery. The epicenter of the trip takes place in a town with a couple of dozen full-time residents. The fishing windows in this stream for salmon are small and take place in both the spring and the fall. With the stream being as small as it is, water flow is the deciding factor on the amount of fish in the river during peak times. Grand Lake Stream can produce the best sight fishing for large landlocked salmon the state has to offer.

The East Outlet offers fishing similar to the 50-mile riffle, also referred to as the famous Madison River. This section of the Kennebec River is technical, with many hidden runs and small pools that hold the fish.  This section produces well in late spring once the river levels drop to fishable levels and will produce into the middle of summer. Then, as the leaves turn, the fish make their way back into the river to spawn, and the bite is back on. Both walk-and-wade and float trips hold their own advantages on the river as boats cannot get to all the wading areas and waders cannot get to all the boat areas. A trip on the East Outlet can be tailored to how YOU want to catch salmon and brook trout. 

I think every angler has had days of catching more fish than they can count out in the middle of the woods. Maine offers many of these opportunities. Small stream fishing can be very productive throughout the full year if timed after rainstorms to cool the water back down or early and late season. Often these small streams offer up plentiful 8-12 inch brook trout on big terrestrials and other dry flies making these trips great learning experiences for new anglers. Plus, who doesn't like a nice walk in the woods? When the only roaring in the distance is the nearby waterfall seen by a limited number of eyes..... There are no bad days.