Roach River
The Roach River near Kokadjo is Maine's only catch-and-release, fly-fishing-only river, a pristine 6-mile stream flowing from First Roach Pond into Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake. This remote tributary produces healthy populations of wild brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon in a wilderness setting that sees remarkably light fishing pressure for water of its quality.
Overview
The Roach River flows approximately 6 miles from the dam at First Roach Pond at Kokadjo to Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake, passing through some of the most remote and undeveloped terrain in Maine's North Woods. As Maine's only stream managed exclusively for catch-and-release fly fishing, the Roach River holds a unique place in the state's angling heritage.
The river carries a healthy population of wild brook trout averaging around 10 inches, with fish up to 3 pounds found in the deeper pools. Landlocked Atlantic salmon averaging 15 inches also inhabit the river, particularly in the lower sections near Moosehead Lake where they migrate upstream to feed and eventually spawn. The combination of strict regulations and remote location has maintained fish populations at levels that reflect what Maine's rivers looked like before modern development pressures.
The Roach River's character is classic northern Maine: cold, clear water flowing over a bottom of gravel, cobble, and boulders through dense spruce-fir forest. The river features a good mix of pools, runs, and riffles that provide diverse habitat for both brook trout and salmon. The dam pool at Kokadjo, located directly beneath the bridge, is a popular starting point where fish from Moosehead Lake tend to congregate, but the real magic of the Roach lies in its middle and lower sections where solitude is nearly guaranteed.
Access to the Roach River is via the road to Kokadjo, a small settlement northeast of Greenville. The nearest services are in Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the southwest. The remoteness is part of the Roach's appeal: anglers who make the journey are rewarded with pristine fishing in genuine wilderness.
Water Characteristics
The Roach River carries cold, clear water from First Roach Pond, maintaining temperatures in the 50 to 62 degree F range throughout the fishing season. The water is typically clear with a slight tea stain common to northern Maine streams flowing through spruce-fir forest.
The substrate is a mix of gravel, cobble, and boulders, creating diverse habitat with pools, runs, and riffles in productive sequences. The moderate gradient provides enough current to support healthy insect populations without creating the dangerous wading conditions found on steeper rivers.
The insect community includes Blue-Winged Olives, Hendricksons, caddisflies, stoneflies, and midges. The cold, clean water supports excellent populations of aquatic invertebrates that provide year-round forage for trout and salmon.
Wading & Float Guide
The Roach River offers comfortable wading for anglers of all experience levels. The river averages 30 to 50 feet wide through its 6-mile course, with a bottom of gravel, cobble, and scattered boulders that provides generally secure footing. Water depths range from ankle-deep riffles to waist-deep pools, though most productive water can be fished in knee-deep or shallower conditions.
The current is moderate during normal summer flows, and the river can be crossed at numerous points in the riffled sections. The dam pool at Kokadjo is deeper and requires careful wading near the edges. Downstream, the river maintains a gentle gradient with few challenging wading situations.
Felt-soled or studded boots are recommended for the cobble substrate. The riverbed is generally uniform without dramatic drop-offs, making the Roach an excellent choice for anglers who prefer straightforward, comfortable wading in a wilderness setting.
First Roach Pond to Spencer Bay
The Roach River can be canoed or kayaked from the dam at First Roach Pond downstream to Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake. The float is relatively gentle with some riffles and easy rapids. This is a good way to access the middle and lower sections of the river that see less foot traffic. Portage may be required around a few rocky sections.
Rod & Tackle Guide
Roach River (all sections)
- Rod
- 8'6" to 9' 4-weight or 5-weight
- Line
- Weight-forward floating
- Leader & Tippet
- 9' tapered to 5X or 6X for dry flies; 4X for nymphs and streamers
A light rod is ideal for the Roach's modest-sized fish and intimate setting. A 4-weight provides delicate dry fly presentations, while a 5-weight offers more versatility for streamer fishing. The gentle river character and moderate fish sizes make this excellent water for developing fly fishing skills.
Seasonal Fishing Guide
Spring
Spring fishing on the Roach River begins after ice-out, typically in early to mid-May. Landlocked salmon migrating upstream from Moosehead Lake provide exciting fishing in the lower sections and the dam pool at Kokadjo. Streamer fishing is productive for salmon during the early season. Blue-Winged Olive hatches appear on overcast afternoons in May, and Hendrickson hatches follow in late May. Spring water levels can be higher than normal due to snowmelt, but the river remains fishable in most sections.
Summer
Summer is the Roach River's prime season. Caddis hatches are prolific from June through July, with evening emergences that bring both brook trout and salmon to the surface. The cold water from First Roach Pond maintains excellent temperatures throughout summer. Terrestrial patterns become effective along the forested banks from mid-June onward. The middle sections of the river, away from the dam pool and the lake, offer the best summer fishing for brook trout. Midges are always present and provide a reliable food source when other hatches are sparse.
Fall
Fall fishing on the Roach is excellent as brook trout prepare for spawning and salmon become more active. The fish are at their most colorful in September and October, and feeding activity increases as they build reserves for winter. Blue-Winged Olive hatches return in September. Streamer fishing becomes increasingly productive for both species. Be respectful of spawning brook trout and avoid walking on redds in shallow gravel sections. The fall colors in the surrounding forest make this an unforgettable time to visit.
Fishing Pressure & Local Tips
The Roach River receives remarkably light fishing pressure for a river of its quality. The remote location northeast of Greenville, combined with the fly-fishing-only and catch-and-release regulations, limits the number of anglers who visit. On a typical summer weekday, you may have the entire river to yourself.
The dam pool at Kokadjo sees the most pressure because it is the easiest to access from the road. Walking downstream from the dam pool quickly leads to solitary fishing. Weekend pressure increases modestly during July and August, but the Roach never approaches the crowding found on more accessible rivers.
Local Knowledge
The Roach River is a place to slow down and enjoy the wilderness experience. The fish are not giants, but they are wild, healthy, and willing. A patient approach with careful presentations will be rewarded with steady action for colorful brook trout and occasional landlocked salmon.
The dam pool at Kokadjo is a reliable starting point, particularly early in the season when salmon from Moosehead Lake congregate below the dam. For brook trout, walk downstream from the pool and fish the riffles and runs in the middle section of the river. Small dry flies (sizes 14-18) and beadhead nymphs are effective through most of the season.
Bring insect repellent: the North Woods can produce impressive populations of blackflies in June and mosquitoes throughout summer. A head net is recommended for early season fishing. The nearest services are in Greenville, so come prepared with all supplies and gear you will need for the day.
Species Present
Brook Trout
The brook trout is widely considered the most beautiful freshwater fish in North America, and catching one in a pristine Montana mountain stream is an experience that captures the essence of backcountry fly fishing. Despite their common name, brook trout are not true trout at all; they are a species of char (genus Salvelinus), more closely related to lake trout and Arctic char than to rainbows or browns. Native to eastern North America from Georgia to Hudson Bay, brook trout were among the first salmonids introduced to Montana's waters in the late 1800s and have since established self-sustaining populations in cold, high-elevation streams and lakes throughout the state. In Montana, brook trout thrive best in small, cold headwater streams and high mountain lakes where competition from larger trout species is minimal. In these environments, they are often the dominant, or only, salmonid present. The trade-off is size: Montana stream-dwelling brook trout typically range from 6 to 10 inches, with fish over 12 inches considered noteworthy in most waters. What they lack in size, however, they more than make up for in beauty and willingness to eat a fly. Brookies are aggressive feeders that will strike attractor dry flies, nymphs, and small streamers with enthusiasm, making them an ideal species for beginning fly anglers and a delightful quarry for anyone who appreciates small-stream fishing. Brook trout do present a conservation paradox in Montana. While they are a beloved and beautiful gamefish, they are non-native and can negatively impact native species, particularly Yellowstone and westslope cutthroat trout. In headwater streams, brook trout often outcompete cutthroats for food and spawning habitat due to their higher reproductive rate and earlier maturation. As a result, Montana FWP has implemented brook trout removal projects on some streams to restore native cutthroat populations. In many waters, liberal harvest limits for brook trout are encouraged to reduce their numbers and benefit native fish. Anglers can enjoy excellent brook trout fishing while actively helping conservation by keeping a few for the pan.
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
The landlocked Atlantic salmon is one of New England's most prized gamefish, a freshwater-resident form of the Atlantic salmon that spends its entire life in lakes and rivers rather than migrating to the ocean. Found primarily in the lakes and rivers of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, landlocked salmon are genetically identical to their sea-run counterparts but have adapted to a completely freshwater life cycle, using large, cold lakes as their ocean substitute and tributary rivers as spawning habitat. Landlocked salmon are the signature gamefish of Maine's sporting camp tradition, where generations of anglers have gathered at remote wilderness lodges to fish for salmon in the Rangeley Lakes, Moosehead Lake, Sebago Lake, and the rivers that connect them. The fish combine the acrobatic fighting ability of their anadromous relatives with the accessibility of a freshwater species, leaping repeatedly when hooked and running with the kind of power and endurance that makes them one of the most exciting fish available on a fly rod in the northeastern United States. In rivers, landlocked salmon behave much like large resident trout, holding in classic lies and feeding on aquatic insects during hatches. They are particularly responsive to caddis and mayfly emergers, and the sight of a 3-pound landlocked salmon rising to a dry fly in a New England river is one of the defining experiences of northeastern fly fishing. In lakes, salmon are targeted with streamers that imitate smelt, their primary forage fish, trolled or cast from boats during the spring and fall when salmon cruise near the surface in cold-water conditions.
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Suggested Fly | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) Afternoon | BWO Emerger | ||||||||||||
Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria) Afternoon | Sparkle Dun | ||||||||||||
Caddisfly (multiple species) Evening | Elk Hair Caddis | ||||||||||||
Stonefly (multiple species) All day (nymphs) | Prince Nymph | ||||||||||||
Terrestrials (ants, beetles) Afternoon | Parachute Adams | ||||||||||||
Blue-Winged Olive (fall) Afternoon | BWO Emerger | ||||||||||||
Midges (Chironomidae) Morning | Zebra Midge |
Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis): Overcast afternoon BWO hatches. Size 18-20 BWO Emergers.
Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria): Late May Hendrickson hatches in the pools. Sparkle Dun sizes 12-14.
Caddisfly (multiple species): Prolific evening caddis emergences. Elk Hair Caddis sizes 14-16.
Stonefly (multiple species): Stonefly nymphs in the runs. Prince Nymph sizes 10-14 fished near the bottom.
Terrestrials (ants, beetles): Terrestrials effective along the forested banks. Parachute Adams sizes 14-18.
Blue-Winged Olive (fall): Fall BWO hatches return. Good dry fly fishing for brook trout and salmon.
Midges (Chironomidae): Midges present throughout the season. Zebra Midge in sizes 20-22.
Recommended Flies
Parachute Adams
Top PickParachute Adams in sizes 14-18 as a versatile dry fly for brook trout.
Best in summer
Elk Hair Caddis
Top PickElk Hair Caddis in sizes 14-16 for evening caddis emergences.
Best in summer
BWO Emerger
Top PickBWO Emerger in sizes 18-20 for spring and fall Blue-Winged Olive hatches.
Best in spring
Prince Nymph
Top PickPrince Nymph in sizes 10-14 for stonefly nymph imitation in the runs.
Best in spring
Woolly Bugger
Top PickWoolly Bugger in sizes 6-10 for targeting salmon from Moosehead Lake.
Best in fall
Access Points & Boat Launches
Kokadjo Dam Pool
Wade AccessEasyAccess at the dam at First Roach Pond in Kokadjo. The dam pool directly beneath the bridge is the most popular and accessible fishing spot on the Roach River, where fish from Moosehead Lake congregate.
Mid-River Trail Access
Wade AccessModerateTrail access to the middle section of the Roach River. Walk-in from the Kokadjo road to reach the less-pressured pools and runs in the river's midsection.
Spencer Bay Takeout
Boat LaunchModerateTakeout point where the Roach River enters Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake. Access to the lower river for wade fishing and a launch point for anglers fishing Moosehead Lake.
Regulations
Regulations
Fly fishing only, catch and release only for all species. This is Maine's only entirely catch-and-release, fly-fishing-only river. Maine fishing license required. Check Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for current season dates.
Always verify current regulations with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before fishing.
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Quick Facts
- Region
- North-Central Maine / Piscataquis County
- Water Type
- Freestone
- River Length
- 6 miles from First Roach Pond to Spencer Bay on Moosehead Lake
- Difficulty
- Beginner-Intermediate
- Best Seasons
- spring, summer, fall
- Trout Per Mile
- 200-400 combined brook trout and landlocked salmon; healthy wild populations protected by catch-and-release regulations
- Record Trout
- Brook trout up to 3 lbs documented; landlocked salmon averaging 15 inches with larger fish from Moosehead Lake
- Species
- Brook Trout, Landlocked Atlantic Salmon
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