Maine

The Crooked River is southern Maine's premier wild trout stream, a 43-mile river flowing from Songo Pond to Sebago Lake that supports healthy populations of wild brook trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and some brown trout. Located just an hour from Portland, the Crooked River provides accessible fly fishing for wild fish in a scenic setting of farmland and forest.

The East Outlet of the Kennebec River is a short but spectacular fly-fishing-only stretch flowing 3.5 miles from Moosehead Lake to Indian Pond, producing some of the finest landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout fishing in Maine. This powerful river, managed as fly-fishing-only water, combines cold lake-fed flows with dramatic whitewater structure to create a fishery that punches far above its modest length.

Grand Lake Stream is one of the most historic fly fishing destinations in the United States, a 3-mile stretch of gin-clear water flowing from West Grand Lake that harbors one of the original four strains of landlocked Atlantic salmon in the Lower 48. Regulated as fly-fishing-only since 1903, this legendary stream also supports excellent smallmouth bass and brook trout fishing in the heart of Downeast Maine's sporting camp tradition.

The Kennebago River near Rangeley is one of Maine's most cherished wild brook trout streams, a fly-fishing-only sanctuary that produces native brookies up to 5 pounds and landlocked Atlantic salmon in a remote mountain setting. With 11 pools on the upper river and 30 pools on the lower section, the Kennebago offers classic pool-and-drop fishing through pristine northern forest.

The Magalloway River below Aziscohos Dam is one of western Maine's finest cold-water fisheries, producing rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon in a remote stretch of river along the Maine-New Hampshire border. Cold tailwater releases create ideal habitat for multiple salmonid species, and the river's accessibility from Route 16 makes it a popular destination for anglers exploring the Rangeley region.

The Moose River near Jackman flows through some of Maine's most remote wilderness, providing excellent fishing for native brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon in a landscape of dense forest, bogs, and mountains near the Canadian border. The river's multiple sections offer everything from intimate headwater brook trout streams to a productive tailwater below Brassua Lake.

The Rapid River is widely regarded as the premier wild brook trout fishery in the United States, where native brookies averaging 4 pounds inhabit a short but dramatic stretch of river connecting Lower Richardson Lake to Lake Umbagog. Fly fishing only with barbless hooks, this catch-and-release treasure in Maine's Great North Woods produces trophy wild brook trout that rival anything found in the Lower 48.

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.

The Upper Kennebec River below Harris Dam is one of Maine's premier trophy trout fisheries, producing remarkable brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon in the dramatic gorge section near The Forks. Cold tailwater releases from Harris Station create year-round habitat for large, powerful fish in a remote wilderness setting that rivals any trout river in the Northeast.

The West Branch of the Penobscot River below Ripogenus Dam is widely considered the finest landlocked Atlantic salmon river in the continental United States. This legendary 11-mile stretch through remote northern Maine wilderness combines world-class salmon fishing with native brook trout in a setting of unmatched natural beauty beneath Mount Katahdin.