Northern New Hampshire is an incredibly beautiful place for fly fishing. There are tall mountains and steep valleys with the runoff from the mountains flowing into clear and inviting streams and rivers.

However, this was not always the case. At one point, logging and related industries polluted the New Hampshire’s larger rivers to the
degree that they nearly killed off all of their native species. The most infamous of these rivers for its pollution was the Androscoggin.

But now, some 30 years later, it is a river redeemed. Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 the Androscoggin continues to become more beautiful and more full of life each day- truly one of New England’s finest fisheries and it can be fished all year round.

Big Catch
Steve Bosinger, who guides under the title of Royal Coachman Guide
Service and is based out of the North Country Angler fly shop in North Conway said of the Androscoggin, “It is not uncommon for anglers to catch fish that are more than 20 inches. I had one guy catch a 25 inch rainbow not that long ago.”

Fishing guide Rocky Freda of Sun Valley Sports and Guide Service, a fly shop located just over the Maine border in Bethel, adds that the average size for rainbow and brown trout is 14 to 28 inches. “In fact, I caught a 26 inch rainbow about a week ago that was 6-pounds,” he said.

Getting Oriented
When the water is high, the first words of advice from fishing guide Bosinger is, “The river is fishable, but you have to pick your spots.” In other words, the angler has to pick their way around the edges poking about for holding water and slower moving seams. The lower portion of the river, he says, is where anglers will generally find the larger fish. However, as this stretch moves a bit slower and is primarily a gravel bottom there are fewer fish per mile. It also tends to have more “holdover fish,” which means they have a stocked lineage and are “naturalized.” The upper portion of the river, is more heavily stocked and therefore holds more fish, but is also more heavily fished.

Bosinger, and Freda recommend floating the lower portion of the river in drift boats, as that is the most advantageous way to access all of the fishable water. “You can cover the river better, find the fish, look for feeding and so on,” said Bosinger.

The upper section is easily accessible by road and is a fair bit easier to wade through. It is also considered a bit bonier to float a drift boat along. Throughout the river it is bordered by lush stands of hemlock, spruce, and white pine. There are very few houses or any other signs of human habitation within the watershed, though there are a series of dams that regulate water flow and height.

Strategy and Seasons
As for strategy, Freda offers the following point, “Caddis works well with a dead drift role, which is when on your cast move the rod back and forth to create a series of “S”s so there is more slack on the line. This gives the fly an elongated drift. It takes a bit of practice, but most folks are able to get it pretty quick.”

There is also a section in the upper part of the river known as the 13 Mile Wood, which is located just below Errol. This section tends to have a water temperature that is eight to 10 degrees lower than the rest of the river, which makes it a likely spot during the summer.

Given the variation of fish in the river it is possible to hit what is popularly known as a “North Country slam,” which is catching a landlocked salmon, brown, brook, and rainbow trout. Not easy to accomplish, but worth some good bragging rights.

Winter
The lower section of the river is open during the winter, but its fishability depends upon ice cover. Fishing this time of year is fairly difficult. Bosinger suggests sticking to nymphs, primarily caddis larva, and slowly stripping the line. Streamers will work, but the fish are down deep so it is important to deliver the fly almost to their nose.

Spring
The spring season doesn’t really start in earnest until May when the snowmelt gives way to a more regular water flow. However, given the vagaries of New England weather, rainfall and snowmelt can lengthen and increase the runoff.

During the spring the prime activity is going on underneath the surface so it is wise to hold off on the dry flies for a bit longer. Freda suggests using caddis, stonefly, Hendrickson, or a Wooly Bugger, which could be run as a dropper with an emerger. Bosinger adds that a Kiwi Muddler works well (these work well all year long). Streamers are also a good choice such as a Marabou Cone Head Muddler and other weighted types of streamers.

Cast about one-quarter of the way up stream and allow the fly to drift down. The most action will come on the swing so keep a good eye out. A weighted combo is a good way to start, such as with a caddis larva, which works well in pocket water, though there is not a lot of pocket water per se. Along the lower section there is not a lot of bouldering as the bottom is primarily gravel. It is therefore important to look for cuts in the gravel that form troughs, which create a seam or pocket. This may not be considered “traditional” pocket water, but it has the same effect.

Summer
In the summer the water level drops a bit and the temperature rises forcing the trout and landlocked salmon to seek out cooler, aerated water. The fish tend to condense in deeper holes, pockets and pools making it more important to know where to find them. Bosinger suggests using a hopper-dropper combo with a caddis pupa.

Freda adds that the best opportunities are in the early morning and evenings. He suggests using Blue Wing Olives (dry) and an emerger as a dropper, such as a Blue Wing Emerger or a bead head nymph. Caddis are always a smart choice, as they tend to come off strong during the summer season. Freda suggests using a river caddis such as a Cream Tent, Rapid River (his own unique caddis pattern sold at his shop), Black Caddis, Adams, the tried and true Royal Coachman, irresistibles, and of course the infamous alder fly.

The alder fly is the signature hatch for the Androscoggin and occurs in late June. The alder fly is not actually an alder fly, but rather a caddis that roosts in the alder trees as adults after they hatch. And they hatch in huge numbers. It is possible to shake thousands of the adults from a tree by giving a branch a shake. This particular alder fly is a good size caddis that is about half to three-quarters of an inch - approximately a size 14 hook.

Freda also suggests using a Wooly Bugger and another homespun fly of his called Lisa’s Leech, which comes in a number of colors and colored heads.

Fall
During the fall both guides advise going back to spring tactics. The main difference is there will still be some dry fly activity. Bosinger advises that with the cooler water temps the brown trout begin their spawning season and search for a gravel bed. This causes them to prowl and feed a little more than at other times of the year. “They are far more territorial at this time too so they will whack a streamer pretty good.”

Good flies for fall are the Kiwi Muddler, Cone Head Wooly Bugger, and the Near Nuf Sculpin. Fish them down deep and vary up your retrieves. Quick short strips, fast strips, slow retrieves. Variation is important because the feeding patterns of the fish vary on the day and time of day so there are different triggers that will cause them to hit a particular fly.

Book a Guide
Freda charges $350 per day for wading trips and $250 for a half-day drift trip. To learn more, he can be reached at 877-851-7533 or on the web .

Bosinger is based in North Conway and operates out of the North Country Angler fly shop. Their rates are $300 per day for a two-person drift boat trip or $275 per day for a two person wading trip. To learn more Bosinger can be reached at 603-387-1245 or found on the web .