Ellis River

The Ellis River begins at a wetland in Pinkham Notch, at the eastern base of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. From this dramatic starting point at roughly 2,000 feet elevation, the river flows south through increasingly wider terrain before entering the charming village of Jackson, one of the most picturesque towns in New Hampshire.

In its upper reaches near Pinkham Notch, the Ellis is a small, tumbling mountain stream with plunge pools, pocket water, and cascading runs holding populations of wild brook trout. The water is cold, clean, and heavily shaded by spruce and hardwood forests, creating ideal conditions for native brookies. Fish in this section typically run 6-8 inches, with occasional specimens reaching 10 inches in the deeper pools.

As the river descends through Jackson village, it grows into a medium-sized freestone stream 20-40 feet wide with classic pool-riffle-run structure. This middle section holds a mix of wild brook trout, stocked rainbow trout, and some brown trout. The river passes through an iconic covered bridge in Jackson village, providing one of the most photographed fly fishing settings in New England. Insect hatches are productive here, with good populations of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.

Below Jackson, the Ellis drops over a hydroelectric dam at Goodrich Falls before reaching the Saco River near the village of Glen in Bartlett. The lower section provides additional fishing opportunity with slightly warmer water and a broader channel. The entire river benefits from cold, clean inputs from Mount Washington and the surrounding peaks, keeping water temperatures in the ideal trout range even during summer.

The Ellis River is a pristine White Mountain freestone stream with exceptional water clarity. Fed by cold springs and snowmelt from Mount Washington and the surrounding peaks, the Ellis maintains ideal trout temperatures (48-60 degrees F) throughout the summer. Visibility ranges from 3-5 feet during normal flows to crystal-clear during stable summer conditions.

The substrate varies from large boulders and bedrock in the upper reaches to gravel and cobble in the Jackson village section. This diverse structure provides excellent insect habitat and fish cover. The gradient decreases progressively from headwaters to mouth, creating a natural progression from steep pocket water to gentler pool-riffle-run sequences.

The insect community is typical of White Mountain freestone streams: good populations of caddisflies (particularly Cinnamon Sedges and small green caddis), mayflies (Blue-winged Olives, Hendricksons, Light Cahills), and stoneflies in the faster sections. Terrestrial insects contribute significantly to the trout diet in summer due to the heavily forested banks. The river supports healthy populations of aquatic invertebrates that provide year-round subsurface food.