8 . Rapid River

       Location: Northwest Maine, about a 3-hour ride from Portland and Bangor; a 3-hour ride from Manchester, New Hampshire; and a 4-hour ride from Boston, Massachusetts. Full-service airports are available in all four cities.

      The Rapid River is a true treasure—and the nation’s finest wild native Eastern brook trout fishery. It offers fly fishers the best chance of catching a 5-pound wild brook trout of any river in the United States. The Rapid is rich in fly-fishing lore and history. Several classic streamers such

      as Carrie Stevens’s Grey Ghost and Herb Welch’s Black Ghost were developed not far from the river. Louise Dickinson Rich wrote several books while living along the Rapid. Her most famous, We Took to the Woods, was written at Lower Dam, once a working log drive dam, recently demolished and memorialized by a plaque at its site. This section has some of the best brook trout water on the river.

      Located in the rugged Western Mountains near the New Hampshire border, the Rapid connects Lower Richardson Lake and Umbagog Lake. The total length of the river, including a small pond, is approximately 5 miles. The river drops 800 feet in elevation between the two large lakes. The Rapid is surrounded by a mixed hardwood deciduous forest. It is protected by a conservation easement that prohibits any new development or logging with-in 165 feet of the river. There is very little development on the river, which

      allows for a true wilderness experience. There are a few rustic cabins, no power or phone service, and only dirt roads leading to the river. Access is restricted by locked gates and requires a walk of 20 to 45 minutes. Vehicle access is allowed only if you are staying at one of the sporting camps, or hiring a guide.

      Regulated for fly fishing only, barbless hooks, and catch-and-release, the brook trout fishery has prospered. In addition to brook trout, there are landlocked salmon. They are regulated under a three-fish, 12-inch-minimum rule. The brook trout are native; the salmon were introduced in the late 19th century.

      Middle Dam, the headwaters of the Rapid, controls the river flow, which averages between 300 and 800 cfs. Flows can run as highs as 5,000 cfs during high-water periods, such as spring runoff, ice-out, or after a heavy rain. Roughly a mile below Middle Dam, the river flows into aptly named Pond in the River. This is a 500-acre natural pond, and serves as a summer refuge for trout and salmon. Below Pond in the River, the Rapid flows for another couple of miles before ending at Lake Umbagog on the Maine–New Hampshire border.

      Hedgehog Pool on the lower river. Pond in the River Guide Service

      The Rapid is dominated by pocketwater, runs, and pools for most of its length. Most of the river is easily accessible via an informal trail network and dirt roads. It is best fished wading, as boating can be difficult due to the numerous technical drops and boulder fields. The use of canoes and small boats can, however, help you gain access to out-of-the-way spots you cannot cast to.

      The Rapid River’s season runs from April 1 to September 30. Pond in the River is closed to all fishing From July 1 through August to protect fish that seek refuge from the warm river water. The brook trout spawning area above Lower Dam closes to all fishing after September 15. Peak fishing is