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Fall brook trout. Tim Ervin

Upper river. Rangeley Region Sport Shop

You can also access the river by vehicle from the bridge located just below Little Kennebago Lake. From here you can fish down to the outlet of Kennebago Lake. This section is mostly riffles and runs. It also warms up quickly in the spring, resulting in the fish moving back into the lakes.

The Kennebago is a wild fishery. The brook trout are native. The landlocked salmon are introduced. There is no stocking on the river. The Kennebago strain of brook trout is, however, used by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as brood stock for stocking programs else-where—a testimony to the strength of the genetics of these fish. Brook trout average 10 to 12 inches. However, fish over 4 pounds are caught in the Kennebago. They are as beautiful as any brook trout found anywhere. Fall fish demonstrate the vibrant colors, pronounced kype, and humped backs that make wild brook trout some of the—if not the—most beautiful fish in the world. Salmon average 12 to 16 inches, with much larger fish encountered. Fishing in the spring when fresh salmon have entered the river from the Mooselookmeguntic Lake can be very rewarding. Like all salmon, these fish usually go airborne immediately after they are hooked.

Hatches: Trout and salmon in the Kennebago gorge themselves on spawning smelt as soon as the ice goes off the lakes. As the water warms, insects become more active and fish will switch their focus to them. Caddis—green or olive—and Hendricksons are the predominant hatches in the spring. Black stoneflies, dragonflies, and ants can provide food for the fish as well. Tan-colored caddis are the most consistent hatch, and extend through most of the summer.

Streamers can be fished effectively on the Kennebago in the spring and again in the fall. Spring streamers

should imitate smelt—fall streamers should be of the attractor variety. Streamers can also be effective in the deeper pools and when the river is running high or off-colored. Dry-fly fishing can be effective during a hatch, and when using attractors or terrestrials. As is often the case, when the fish are not looking up, and refuse streamers, nymphing is your best bet.

Regulations: The Kennebago River is open to fishing from April 1 through September 30. The river and its tributaries are restricted to fly fishing only. There is a two-fish limit on trout. The minimum length limit is 10 inches; only one fish may be larger than 12 inches. The limit on salmon is one fish. The river is catch-and-release after August 15. The tributaries are closed to fishing after August 15. One short section of the river closes September 15 to protect spawning fish.

The Kennebago is one of the top three native brook trout rivers in the country. The other two, Rapid and Magalloway, are within striking distance. The Kennebago should be near the top of every fly fisher’s list of places to go.

The Logans. Tim Ervin