5 . Kennebec River

       Location: Central Maine, about a 1-hour ride from Bangor, a 2-hour ride from Portland, Maine; a 3½-hour ride from Boston, Massachusetts; and a 3½-hour ride from Manchester, New Hampshire. Full-service airports are available in all four cities.

      The Kennebec Valley is rich in fly-fishing lore. Arthur R. Macdougall’s fictional character Dud Dean, Maine Guide, plied his trade on the Kennebec River and surrounding waters during the golden age of sporting.

      Gadabout Gaddis, aka The Flying Fisherman, filmed his TV show in the 1960s and 1970s on the banks of the river—a small grass airport bears his name. The Kennebec was also the site of one of the first major dam removal projects in the country. The removal of Edwards Dam in Augusta opened up 17 miles of river to anadromous alewives, striped bass, sturgeon, and endangered Atlantic salmon.

      The section of Kennebec of most interest to fly fishers lies between Harris Dam and Madison. Here the Kennebec is basically four rivers in one. In a stretch of roughly 50 miles—interrupted by several impoundments—there are four dams: Harris, Wyman, Williams, and Abnaki. Below each is a tailwater. Each tailwater is significantly different. The topography, size, flow regime, insect life, and even species of salmonids change.

      Below Harris near The Forks, in what is called the Gorge, lies the most rugged and remote stretch of salmonid river in the Northeast. Best known for its whitewater rafting, it is also a great wild brook trout and landlocked salmon fishery. Brook trout can reach 18 inches. Salmon get even larger. Nowhere in the Northeast can you float a river while fly fishing for wild trout and salmon, and feel more remote.

      The Wyman tailwater in Bingham is home to one of the few—and by far the finest—wild rainbow trout fisheries north of New York. Fish over 20 inches are

      encountered. These are remnants of a stocking program that’s been defunct for more than 30 years. There are also wild landlocked salmon and brook trout, with the former outnumbering the latter. Here the river meanders lazily through riffles, runs, and pools.

      Below Williams Dam in Solon, the river is predominantly a stocked brown trout fishery. Brown trout over 20 inches are caught here. There are also wild landlocked salmon. Brook trout and rainbow trout are present as well. This section gives you the best chance at a four-species outing—referred to as the

      “Kennebec Slam.” Not only is this a great dry-fly fishery, it is also the best streamer water on the river. A day in the bow of a drift boat throwing large streamers tight to the bank is your best way to catch a large brown trout here.

      Diana Mallard fishing in Solon. Bob Mallard

      The Abnaki tailwater in Madison is a stocked brown trout fishery. Brook trout and salmon are also stocked. This is a wade fishery with no viable downriver access. It does, however, boast the strongest and most diverse hatches on the river. Here the river is made up of long riffles, runs, a few pools, and some large rapids.