Maine Fishing Guides Kennebec River

Kennebec River Greenville Maine

The North Woods of Maine brings visions of a vast rugged wilderness, eastern pine forests, pristine lakes, boulder-strewn rivers teaming with brook trout and salmon and quaint small towns with incredibly friendly residents. Guess what? That’s exactly what northern Maine is like today. Maine is truly a treasure of New England hospitality and outdoor adventures.

Our fishing guides in Maine are located in the small town of Greenville. Considered to be the historic gateway to the north woods country, Greenville has a full time population of only 1600 residents. Situated on the shores of Moosehead Lake, Greenville is the center of your next best fishing adventure. The area around Grenville is home to many hunting and fishing camps, summer resorts and summer homes.

The Kennebec River travels 170 miles through west central Maine southeast through gorges; pasture land and coastal communities before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Bath, Maine. The Kennebec River once had a vibrant spawning run of Atlantic Salmon until Edwards Dam was constructed near the tidal mouth in 1837. The dam all but eliminated the possibility of Atlantic Salmon from entering the river to spawn. Edwards Dam was removed in 1999 however; there are still a number of dams on the river that halt the migration.

Today the many different sections of the Kennebec River offers fantastic fly fishing for Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Landlocked Salmon. We offer daily drift boat or rafting trips on 4 sections of the Kennebec River plus the Dead River.

The East Outlet Section near Greenville is the most famous section on the Kennebec for Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon.

The Upper Kennebec River Gorge Section is a unique rafting experience for Brook Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.

The Bingham Section is a tail water section with Rainbow, Brook Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.

The Solon Section is a farmland section with Brown, Rainbow, Brook Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.

The Dead River is a fabulous remote full day drift through untouched wilderness targeting Brook Trout and Landlocked Salmon with the occasional Brown and Rainbow Trout.

East Outlet of the Kennebec River Drift Boat

Moosehead Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Maine. The lake drains into the East Outlet of the Kennebec River just west of Greenville. The upper stretch of the river is a true tail water fishery created by the dam at the outlet of Moosehead Lake.

The dam at the mouth of the upper river controls the flow of water and serves to create the ideal cold-water river conditions for a vibrant fishery. The East Outlet is a relatively short 3.5-mile section of the river however; it provides the opportunity for a scenic full day drift loaded with Brook Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon that can both be caught on dry flies. This section is fly-fishing only and includes an exciting ride through Class I-III rapids.

Halfway through the drift our guides will pull out for an amazing shore lunch on a beautiful beach setting. I have been in situations in the past where the guide has included a shore lunch with the days fishing. As a result my expectations of shore lunch aren’t very high. Usually one can expect a can of soup or beans cooking on a propane burner accompanied by a stale ham and cheese sandwich and a bag of chips. Not these Guides. They dial it up. Concealed in the drift boats they store a BBQ grill and a Coleman stove. Over the next half hour we leisurely drink beer and wine while the guides prepared BBQ chicken and steak with risotto and a fresh garden salad. Within an hour we had eaten our meal, the guides had cleaned up and put away the dishes and we were back in the drift boats casting to rising brook trout and salmon. That’s the way to do a shore lunch.

The drift on this section of the river is not an aggressive drift. You don’t have to cover a lot of water. But at the same time there are lots and lots of trout and salmon that eagerly take dry flies. It’s a perfect way to start your Kennebec River experience.

Upper Kennebec River Gorge Raft

This is a must trip if you are up to the challenge. The Upper Kennebec Gorge is a remote and pristine section of the river. It is without question the jewel of the Kennebec. The many secluded pools of this section are fished from our comfortable raft that can hold 2 fishermen and the guide. This adventure starts at first light when we drop the raft into the river just below Harris Dam. You will spend the next 8 hours rafting through a spectacular bedrock gorge, through exciting Class IV rapids and slamming Brook Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon on dries, streamers and nymphs. The fishing is certainly exceptional. These salmon and trout see very little pressure, as we are the only guide service on this section due to its challenging access. Because of the nature of the access we recommend that clients that wish to fish this section are agile, stable on their feet, active and willing.

Bingham Section of the Kennebec River Drift Boat

This section of the river is a true tail water fishery with cool water entering the river downstream from the Wyman Dam. This is one of the few sections on the Kennebec with Brook Trout, Landlocked Atlantic Salmon and a healthy population of wild, self-sustaining Rainbow Trout. Despite the gentle gradient this area of the river fishes extremely well all season long due to the cool waters flowing out of the dam. This is a full day drift boat trip through pasturelands and rolling hills. The river is made up of riffles, long runs, braided water channels and mid river islands.

Solon Section of the Kennebec River Drift Boat

This is a great section to drift. Weaving its way through picturesque farmland the river in this section is known for its abundance of Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout and Landlocked Atlantic Salmon.

Dead River Drift Boat

We fish the section of the Dead River from Grand Falls to the Forks of the Kennebec River. This is a remote 14 mile drift that is as well know for its whitewater rafting as it is for its exceptional fly fishing. This section holds wild Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon with the occasional Brown and Rainbow Trout coming to the fly. The river has long glassy pools, braided riffles and plenty of pocket water. This is one of our favourite fall trips but also fishes extremely well in June and July.

Rates

All guided fly fishing trips are $400.00 US per day for 1 or 2 anglers.

What’s Included

Lunch and non-alcoholic beverages.

The guide will supply all flies and leader.

Rods & reels are available upon request.

Equipment

5 to 6wt rods with floating line and sink tip optional.

What to Bring

Sunglasses, hat, rain gear, warm layers (depending on the time of year), sunscreen and a waterproof camera.

Guides

Our guides are conscientious, friendly and nurturing professionals with over 20 years of river guiding and whitewater rafting experience. They strive to make each fishing day better than the last. They have all worked in the outdoor guiding industry for most of their adult lives. They are full time residents of the area and love what they do. There are no more knowledgeable guides in the Kennebec River water shed than these guides. Your safety, enjoyment and fly fishing success are paramount doctrines of their business.

Accommodations

Greenville Maine is an ideal base to fish the Kennebec River watershed. There are a host of accommodation options in the area from luxurious lodges, inns, bed and breakfasts, home and cottage rentals and campgrounds. Below are a few options:

Hotels & Inns

Greenville Inn at Moosehead Lake: www.greenvilleinn.com

Blair Hill Inn: www.blairhill.com

Chalet Moosehead Lakefront Motel: www.mooseheadlodging.com

The Birches Resort: www.birches.com

Homes & Cottages

www.homeaway.com

Campgrounds

Big Eddy Campground: www.chewonki.org/vacations/vacations_big_eddy.asp

Moosehead Family Campground: www.mooseheadcampground.com

Fly Fishing Guides Kennebec River Maine