Fly Fishing Maine: Local Experts on the State's Best Waters

by Bob Mallard, George Smith (Foreword by)

Overview

Maine has the most diverse fly fishing opportunities in New England and is a popular destination for anglers seeking trout, landlocked salmon, striped bass, and a host of other game fish. This guide to the state’s best fly fishing covers rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, and salt water, also includes extensive information on backcountry ponds and other out of-the-way places. In addition to the top fishing destinations, author Bob Mallard covers a lot of fascinating Maine angling history and includes chapters on the fish species and conservation.

With contributions by a who’s who list of Maine writers including Emily Bastian, William Clunie, Will Lund, Bill Sheldon, George Smith, Ted Williams, V. Paul Reynolds, and King Montgomery, this book is sure to be a valuable resource for resident and visitor alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811771566
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/15/2022
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	518,673
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Bob Mallard has fly fished for over 35 years. He owned and operated Kennebec River Outfitters in Madison, Maine, from 2001 to 2014. Bob is an accomplished fly tyer and staff fly designer for Catch Fly Fishing. He has written about fly fishing, fly tying, fisheries management, and conservation for nearly fifteen years. His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, e-zines and blogs at the local, state, regional, and national level. Bob is the Publisher and Northeast Regional Editor for Fly Fish America magazine and a columnist for Southern Trout online magazine. He is the author of Squaretail and Favorite Flies for Maine.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword x

Introduction 1

The Waters 4

About Maine 6

Maine Fly Fishing 8

Rivers and Streams 9

Small Streams 9

Lakes and Ponds 12

Fly Fishing Only Waters 13

Trophy Brook Trout Lakes and Ponds 17

Remote Brook Trout Lakes and Ponds 20

State Heritage Fish Waters 23

Beaver Ponds 29

Salt Water 31

Who Owns Maine's Land and Water? 32

Public Lands 36

Nonprofit Owned and Preserved Lands 37

Tribal Lands 37

Large Private Landowners 37

The Working Forest 38

Public Access 38

Rivers and Streams 39

Lakes and Ponds 40

Salt Water 40

Boat Storage 40

Fish Species Overview 39

The Natives 39

Fish from Away 42

State Record Fish 44

What Maine's Fish Eat 45

Maine's Special Fish: A Closer Look 52

Fly Fishing Tackle 66

Maine Sporting Camps 76

Androscoggin River 77

Crooked River 80

Cupsuptic River 83

Dead River 85

Dennys River 87

East Outlet 90

Grand Lake Stream 92

Kennebago Lake 95

Rangeley, Maine 97

Kennebago River 100

Kennebec River 104

Magalloway River 107

Moosehead Lake 110

Moose River 113

Nesowadnehunk 116

Penobscot River 120

The Presidential Salmon 123

Pierce Pond 126

Presumpscot River 129

Rangeley River 131

Rapid River 133

Roach River 137

Sebasticook River 140

Upper Dam 143

West Branch Penobscot River 146

Public Lands 150

Acadia National Park 150

Allagash Wilderness Waterway 153

Appalachian Trail 156

Baxter State Park 158

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument 161

Maine's Guides, Fly Tyers, Fishing Celebrities, Conservationists, Writers, and Artists 164

Maine Guides 164

Fly Tyers 166

Fishing Celebrities 167

Conservation Heroes 170

Outdoors Writers and Authors 174

Made in Maine 177

Fish and Fishing Artists 179

Fisheries Management 181

State Heritage Fish 183

Commercial Harvest 184

Angler Exploitation 185

Who Protects Maine's Fish? 187

Epilogue 190

The Good News 191

The Bad News 192

Resources 203

Index 205

About the Author 213

About the Contributors 216

Editorial Reviews

Bob Mallard writes quality books with high-end imagery and thoughtful, informed prose. This book—a collection of fishing expertise from top Maine anglers, advocates, and writers—is no exception. A must have reference for all who fly fish Maine’s extraordinary waters.

V. Paul Reynolds

A comprehensive volume detailing the history, traditions, and specific fishing waters found in the State of Maine, compiled by one of East Coast's most authoritative fly-fishing experts.

Will Lund

I don’t know a better angler or a more articulate and dedicated advocate for Maine’s fish and fishing than Bob Mallard. His favorite fish is the eastern brook trout, Maine’s signature species. Should he be promoting Maine’s brook-trout waters? Yes, because he understands that native brook trout are in need of friends, and that’s what anglers who chase them ultimately become.

Ted Williams