September Report

Overview:

It has been far too long since we have written a report. We’ve been on the water nearly every day over the last month. Waters cooled off enough for decent trout fishing on the Androscoggin by September 1st. Granted water temps have hovered in the mid to high 60s since that time. With colder nights and days in the forecast we should finally start to see water temps drop into the lower 60’s. This will mean prime time fall trout fishing starts now with the best fishing extending well into October on our waters open after October 15th. Our smaller wild brook trout waters have also been fishing well and should until the spawn starts in mid- October. The Saco and Ellis have been challenging with low cold flow but bright streamers and the occasional and swarms have produced.

Andro:

The bite on the Andro has improved over the past week and should get better over the next few days as water temps drop into the lower 60’s. Expect Isonychia mayfly hatches of varying intensity just about every day. Hatches typically peak in the afternoons but can start earlier on warmer cloudy days. Spinner falls will occur in the early evening but only on warmer days. Fishing a size 12 or even 10 PT under a bobber or large purple haze dry fly will produce until fish are focused specifically on dries. I like using a 1/8mm tungsten bead for my dry dropper rigs in the shallower runs and a 5/32 tungsten bead for my deeper rigs.

As waters cool the streamer bite should also continue to improve. We’ve done well with woods special streamers, olive buggers and sculpin, black buggers, tan parr patterns, yellow zoo cougars, Mr. Kreepo’s in white and olive and white. Right now with lower flows a floating line with a long leader is all you need for the shallower runs while a sink tip or full sink line is still applicable in the deeper pools especially when throwing neutrally bouyant flies like the zoo cougar.

Saco

The game on the Saco is a big and bright or small and specific game this time of the year. Work on your micro midge presentations on 7X or simply throw a bright streamer on a long leader to get aggressive strikes out of weary fish. I prefer to wait for a good rain to target browns on the Saco this time of the year. The larger wild browns in the system are more likely to move for a well presented streamer when flows are up and their pre-spawn aggression kicks in. I’m always keeping an eye on the next big rainstorm to get a shot at these fish before the Saco season closes on October 15th.

Ellis/ mountain streams

Within the next two weeks the wild brook trout on the Ellis will move to spawn and become increasingly difficult to find and catch. Until that happens you can find some nice colored up fish if you cover water with a bright streamer like a Woods Special or Micky Finn.

Wild Brook Trout Waters

Our lower elevation wild brook trout streams and ponds will fish well a bit longer than the mountain streams as fish will move to spawn around mid October. Brightly colored streamers, as well as Hoppers and October Caddis dries have been producing on these waters.

Pike:

As waters cool on the Connecticut and other area pike waters these apex predators will become increasingly aggressive as they pack on weight for winter and next spring’s spawn. Expect to work hard through the day to hit the bite window by throwing large perch, trout, fallfish, and sucker patterns to Essox ambush points. Pike are notoriously moody and we have found that re-fishing the same likely water can often produce different results as these fish eat when they want to eat. So we often resist moving too far from where we KNOW there are fish in order to be in the right place at the right time. If you are interested in pursuing these heart stopping predators give us a shout and we will get you on the calendar. Prime time for pike is late October through November and even early December when conditions allow.

In Summary:

It has been another record breaking season here at Hill Country Guides! We want to thank all of you who have spent time on the water with us this year. There is still a bit of time to get out before the holidays so give us a shout if you want to fish!

Tight Lines,

Nate

Caroline with a fine Wild Bow from the Andro.

A handsome wild male brook trout caught on a small spring creek.

July Report

We’ve been on the water nearly every day over the last two months. After a dry and seasonably warm June that fortunately stayed very fishy we have been blessed with a rainy July and good fishing! Flows are rising on most waters as of this writing with the Saco running at 387 CFS in Conway. Temps on the Saco have been staying below 70 over the past few days and should remain cool especially before noon most days. The Andro is still flowing below average at 1060 cfs in Gorham. Water temps are hovering between the high 60’s and low 70’s so be sure to get out early and temp the water regularly.

Year of The Moths

We have had a huge hatch of gypsy moths over the past couple weeks and with higher cooler flows and an abundance of moths fluttering on the water the larger browns have taken notice gulping down these pests on warmer cloudy afternoons. We’ve found success with a red chubby Chernobyl ant in size 10 along with a new moth pattern developed recently…I think we will call this one the “mega mothra”. If you want to catch this hatch focus on back eddies where the moths collect in abundance and be patient in searching for rises. These bugs are in high abundance and at times the fish will simply ignore them but when the density is high and cloud cover is good they will crush them with reckless abandon.

This large brown chose the wrong moth.

This moth works well as a dry on a dry dropper rig and we’ve done well paring it with a size 16 frenchie style pheasant tail, as well as prince nymphs and perdigons. In addition to moths we are seeing a variety of terrestrials and hatches on most waters, including: BWO’s, small grey caddis and stones, cahills, yellow sallies, black flying ants, hoppers and golden stoneflies.

With more rain in the forecast and cooler than average air temps, fishing conditions will remain solid going into August.

We have a few dates available over the next couple of weeks so let us know asap if you would like to get out. Also, if you are looking to get on the books for a fall trip give us a shout, fall dates are going fast!

Looking forward to seeing you on the water!

Tight Lines,

Nate

May Report

It has definitely been way too long since our last report. We’ve been busier than ever guiding this spring. Over the past few days water temps have hit the magic 50 degree mark and our first spring Mayfly and Caddis hatches of the year are coming off now. If you’ve been waiting for ideal conditions to fish now is the time. With lower than average flows we have conditions more typical of June than mid-May. Here is what is go on right now.

Androscoggin River:

The Andro has been fishing well over the past week. Flows are at 1000 cfs in Errol and 1400 cfs in Gorham. These are ideal flows for nymphing and dry fly fishing, but on cloudy cooler days fish are still apt to crush streamers. We have been seeing mayfly hatches consisting of a mix of spring Iso’s, March browns, Red Quills and Hendricksons at around 9am and 2pm on most days, expect a spinner fall right around dusk. We’ve been doing well with compara duns in rusty grey, purple and reddish yellow in size 12-14. When the fish aren’t rising fishing a pheasant tail under a bobber or buoyant dry fly has worked well, as has swinging soft hackle mayflies and stones. I’ve done really well with a soft hackle Hendrickson nymph. On some stretches of river tan caddis have been dominating more than mayflies, here an X-caddis in size 14-18 will work well for risers and a flashback hares ear will do the trick for nymphs and pupae. On cooler days, when hatches are minimal streamers will do the trick. Bead head buggers in black, olive and brown are hard to beat for numbers of fish while larger streamers like Zoo Cougars, Circus Peanuts, Mr. Creepo’s and Dungeons will get your larger trout.

Client Kevin O’brien with an Andro Apha brown caught on a Mr. Creepo streamer.

Saco River:

Flows are currently around 200 cfs in Bartlett and 700 cfs in Conway. Expect daily flows to fluctuate with snowmelt coming off of the Presidential range. With a decent snowpack and warm weather this week I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saco bump a bit. Granted flows will still remain well below average for this time of the year. Expect Grey Drake Mayfly hatches on warmer days to begin around 7am and 7 to 8:30 pm. If you plan to fish the evening hatch don’t give up until it is nearly dark. On some days the fish don’t start looking up until just past sunset. You’ll want to have a good assortment of rusty spinners and duns in your box in sizes 12-16. On cooler days yellow sally mayflies can be the predominant insect. I like a size 16 down wing dry with a swiss straw wing and dry fly hackle. I’ll often get more eats stripping this fly under the surface than dead drifting it as Yellow Sallies are one of the few stonefly species that emerge mid-river rather than off of stones. We’ll continue to keep our attention on the forecast as any decent rain storm will turn on the Saco for a good streamer float. Now is prime time for big browns to be hunting freshly stocked trout and when the water goes up we love to throw the dry fly rod aside in favor of casting trout sized flies.

Wild Brook Trout Waters:

It is definitely prime time on our wild brook trout waters. Expect daily mayfly and caddis hatches here as well. A good rain or cloudy day will also provide good opportunities to find bigger brookies on streamers. I like a small chickabou parr jig in tan. These waters are a great place to get away from crowds, just be sure to bring your bug spray!

Mountain Streams:

The mountain streams are still a few days away from prime time but the next few warm days could change that in a hurry. Bring your thermometer and plan to fish if you find temps breaking the magic 50 degree mark. If you aren’t finding fish drop down in elevation until you do. Fish tend to move from downstream to upstream at this time of the year and it isn’t uncommon to see fish migrating on warmer days. Small streamers like the classic baby brook trout or woods special as well as Elk Hair Caddis and attractor style dries should fit the bill on the mountain streams.

Looking forward:

While this spring has been on the dryer and cooler side things are now warming up and the lower flows combined with warming waters will provide some great dry fly opportunities. Temps look to moderate next week with some rain in the forecast. This will hopefully keep rivers at ideal levels and temps for productive spring fishing. Our guides are all nearly fully booked for this spring so be sure to contact us asap if you want to get out. We still have some good availability for July which is typically our best month for high catch rates. We look forward to seeing you on the water this year! Here is a taste of what we have found so far this spring. To see more content be sure to follow us on instagram @hillcountryguides.

Tight lines,

Nate

Brian wrangled this larger than average rainbow earlier this spring.

March Madness

Fishing Update:

After real winter finally arrived in late January and February. The first March heat wave has our rivers open and fishable. While colder temps this week will prevent runoff, we might see a little re-freeze on some of the colder rivers like the Saco. However larger rivers like the Andro should remain ice free from here on out. Fishing can be surprisingly good in Late March as moderate temps allow water temps to rise without causing excessive snowmelt.

Why March:

While some rivers stay ice free through winter many rivers in northern New England do freeze up and become unfishable through the dead of winter. Even rivers that do remain ice free are brutal to fish under the extremely cold temperatures of Late January and mid-February. While a warm up at any time of winter can offer great opportunities for fishing, those chances increase dramatically with the longer daylight hours and freeze thaw cycles that we see in March. Consider any days that are good for Maple Syruping as good days for fishing. When day time highs rise above freezing, they allow water temps to bump up just enough for prey to move about and fish metabolisms to increase. When temps drop below freezing at night, they prevent snowmelt from choking streams with cold high water that can slow the bite during spring runoff.

A handsome wild brown trout caught fishing a slow seam late in the day March 2021.

An increase in food availability:

As water temps and daylight increase, early season hatches of midges, winter caddis, and early dark stoneflies increase in volume. Along with these obvious food sources, less obvious hatches of trout fry, minnow fry, crayfish, leeches, and sculpin are also taking place. Coupled with increasing fish metabolisms, after a time low fishing pressure, March offers some of the best opportunities at hooking into the largest fish of the year.

Think slow and go slow:

While waters are warming and fish are becoming more active this is not to say that fish will be particularly aggressive. Here in NE a bump in water temps can mean 35 degrees instead of 33 degrees. Both prey items and the fish that feed on them will be moving slow. Consequently, Nymphing and fishing streamers with slow swings or jig retrieves will be key to success on most days. Focusing on slower water types: larger pools, tail outs, and inside seems will put you on more fish. If you see insects hatching look closely for lazy subtle rises in the slow back eddies and slick water where hatched, or hatching insects will collect in high densities.

A wild rainbow trout caught swinging a large black bugger in the tailout of a pool March 2021.

Effects of the weather:

While most March days will offer bite windows, those windows will vary in length and depend greatly on changing water temps and weather. A day with warmer temps and cloud cover might fish longer and earlier than a sunny cooler day with clouds building late in the day. For instance, last Thursday we fished from 9am to 5pm and all of our fish were caught between 2pm and 4:30pm when a low-pressure system blocked the sun and water temps had maxed out for the day. Conversely on our previous trip we caught fish early before a cold front blew in around noon and killed the bite.

Some fish just eat when other don’t:

Like people all fish are different. I’ve come to learn that even when the fishing is slow there is often at least one fish that behaves counter to that of the others. So even when you think the bite is off it pays to stay focused and fish hard. Sometimes the biggest fish in the pool is the one who is hungry.

A good time for experimentation:

Early season days are some of my favorite times of the year to experiment with fly choice and design. First, most of the food items available to fish at this time are not obvious or conventional, playing with parr patterns, crayfish, and articulated nymphs has been a fun way to find success on days where no obvious hatches distract me from thinking outside of the box. Sometimes these flies become specifically effective in the early season while others become staples for finding fish between hatches season long.

This thick wild brown gobbled a black bugger. Caught March 2021.

Bonus Days:

While many anglers are still skiing, or tying flies, wetting a line before the major spring hatches can offer chances at fish that are feeding before the majority of anglers are ready to fish. If you want to get an early start to the season give us a shout and we’ll get you a day on the water.

Tight Lines,

Nate

January Report

January Report

Happy 2021 everyone! We are looking forward to seeing many of you again this year! We have been blessed with great winter fishing conditions to start the New Year.

Current Winter Conditions:

Right now, we continue to see above normal daytime temps with flows moderating after the last late December rainstorm. Our moderate snowpack has been melting slightly each day which has kept river flows at ideal winter fishing levels. Ice on freestone streams like the Saco has been minimal allowing opportunities to float water that is often completely iced over in January. These options coupled with dam-controlled rivers and streams have given us good options for winter fishing.

Fish have been taken on medium sized sculpin and minnow patterns along with eggs, and prince nymphs. Fishing slower deeper pools along with the slower sides of sunny riffle water has all produced fish. Best bite windows have been from 10am till dark. First light can also produce eats but we prefer giving the air a chance to warm up.

Why Winter?

Often times when we mention fishing in January people wince at the thought of cold hands and fingers and few fish to the boat. While winter fishing can be cold and challenging, these colder months can offer chances at the biggest fish in the river. Why is this? Well during prime time many larger trout shift their feeding to night time, when waters cool and larger prey items are more vulnerable (ie. Mice and other trout). While good hatches and high water can certainly bring about excellent prime time opportunities for large trout you will need to weed through average size fish to find alpha trout. While this isn’t a negative for most anglers it does make landing a large fish more difficult. Freshly stocked fish that arrive on our local rivers in June and July often get to our flies before the more cautious wild and holdover trout. Stocked trout also represent an abundant food source for large trout, providing such easy meals that Alpha trout become full and are less likely to chase smaller food items. Fishing an 8” trout pattern shortly after the stocking trucks roll is probably your best chance, but there are few fish more difficult to catch than a wise old trout with a full belly.

A fine winter rainbow that ate a jig style streamer in the middle of the day. Big fish like this need to feed more often in colder water than smaller fish.

Skiing conditions got you down? Go fishing!

To be honest I didn’t always fish that much during winter months. For most of my life an obsession with skiing distracted me from the water from December through March. Over the past few years my obsession with fishing began to distract me from the slopes. My winter fishing has taught me that when ski conditions are less than ideal, I would much rather be on the water.

HCG guide Kevin Gordon with an average sized winter brown.

 In winter milder days bump water temps and get large fish feeding on smaller more abundant prey items that require less energy expenditure to catch than bigger prey items. The months of January, February and March are also a time when large brown and brook trout are desperate to put on weight after their fall spawn and rainbow trout are packing on weight for their spring spawn. While cold water temps do slow fish metabolisms the largest fish in the river require more food than smaller fish to keep their body weight up in the winter time. Thus, you are more likely to get attention from a larger fish than a smaller fish in winter.

Fewer food items:

While prime time conditions offer trout a veritable buffet of food options this diversity in biomass means that trout have the luxury of becoming picky eaters. A large trout might refuse all bugs except one…or simply decide to focus on eating large mice at night. Conversely when bug activity is limited fish must eat what they can find. Eggs, midges, worms, stoneflies, crayfish, and smaller baitfish provide hard to refuse meals when large trout need to feed in the winter. If you do see a hatch in winter it is usually of one specific bug like a midge, early dark stonefly or winter caddis making matching the hatch much less complicated.

Less angling pressure:

The fact that few anglers are willing to brave the cold weather, means that fish are less pressured and therefore more likely to mistake your flies as food.

Less variability in conditions:

In winter water flows are usually relatively stable with little rain or snowmelt resulting in high water, and water temps usually fluctuate less than in summer months. This allows fish to get into more consistent rhythms and results in predictable bite windows and holding water.  

Keep the faith and keep throwing:

While some winter days can provide good fishing for hours on end, it is common for winter bite windowns to be short and spread out. If you’ve gone hours without a bite resist the urge to call it a day. Often times it isn’t where you are fishing or what you are throwing but rather that the fish are between feedings.

Brian Boyle with a seriously large male brown caught yesterday at the end of a slow day of fishing. Often the biggest fish eat right when water temps hit their peak for the day.

Slow down:

Fish the slower water and when retrieving flies retrieve them slowly. Fish can be deep or shallow but they aren’t likely to move quickly to intercept a fly.

Preparation and timing are key:

While there are certainly winter days that are downright brutal for fishing there are also plenty of days that are mild enough to provide a surprisingly comfortable fishing experience. We’ve found that a calm winter day with highs between 30-40 degrees is very comfortable for fishing. Wearing nitril gloves to prevent hands from getting wet is crucial and carrying the following items will ensure the comfort and endurance you need for a successful winter trout hunt:

Clothing:

·         Heavy winter socks

·         Long underwear or insulated pants

·         Waders or high boots like muck boots (as long as you don’t plan to wade fish)

·         Rubber or studded rubber boots (felt is deadly on snow and ice)

·         Hat

·         Spare gloves and mittens, (mittens are a great accessory to get hands warm if they do get cold)

·         Winter hat

·         Down jacket (down jackets provide excellent insulations and better range of motion than heavy insulated clothing)

·         Sunglasses

·         Hand warmers

·         Synthetic layers (Changing temps and activity levels make having layers you can shed or add throughout the day essential

·         Balaclava or neck warmer

Food:

·         Easy to access snacks (bars, nuts, anything that isn’t hard to open or access)

·         Something warm (a thermos of soup or just hot tea goes a long way)

·         Plenty of water( dehydration can sneak up on you in the winter force yourself to drink water and don’t be afraid to ask your guide if you need a pee break)

Looking forward:

The weather over the next week will be consistent with highs in the 30’s and light winds, ideal conditions for winter fishing. We have dates available between now and late January so let us know if you want to get out!

Tight Lines,

Nate