Guided Trips

The Rangeley Region is a special place and Pond In The River Guide Service strives to share its unique beauty in each of our professionally guided trips.  All of our guides are talented local experts on the waters we fish and radiate a passion for fly fishing that is contagious.  We offer a variety of outings from the legendary waters you have read and dreamt about to lesser known ones you never knew existed.  We respectfully abide by all Maine fishing laws that apply to these waters and expect all of our clients to do the same.  We practice and preach a Catch and Release philosophy  though,  gladly welcome and encourage the use of cameras to quickly and safely photograph your catch as a memorable keepsake of the moment.

The Rapid River

We consider ourselves to be the best of any who guide on the “Rapid.“  Our guides log more days on this river than anyone else and years of combined knowledge and experience have given us a reputation of success on the Rapid that is unmatched.  The Rapid River is arguably known as the best river in the lower 48 of the United States for big native Brook Trout.  Throughout the season there are numerous three to five pound and occasionally even six pound fish taken.  Its other claim to fame is the fastest falling river without a major falls east of the Mississippi River.  As a result, limited white water boaters share its use with fishermen. This typically occurs in July and August and only during scheduled water releases.
The river begins at Middle Dam on Lower Richardson Lake and swiftly flows a half mile into Pond In The River, named appropriately, which is about 500 acres. At the outlet of Pond in The River lye the remnants of Lower Dam which was a sluicing Dam when logs were transported via the river.  From Lower Dam the river proceeds on for about another three miles eventually emptying into Umbagog Lake.  The river can be characterized by fast moving riffles and runs with big deep pools spread throughout its entire length.  The fishing doesn’t become consistent here until late April or early May when water temperatures reach at least 45-50 degrees F.  The fish will move from there wintering areas in Pond In The River, Umbagog, and the deep pools and actively feed while traveling up and down the river.  By mid July and into August the water temperatures can rise above the 70 degree mark.  A major misconception about the Rapid is that because it is a tailwater it stays cool even in the warmest months of the season.  Unfortunately, this is not the case because Middle Dam is not a deep draw dam.  During this time of year most of the big brookies have left the river seeking thermal refuge.  Although, there are still a fair amount of feisty 12-16” Landlocked salmon to be caught.  This can be a great time to just enjoy the beauty of the river since the presence of other anglers is minimal.  By early to mid September the water temperatures begin to drop again and the larger adult Brookies and Salmon stage up along various spots in the river preparing to spawn.

Upper Magalloway

This is the section of river above Parmachenee Lake.  Access is limited as all the roads leading to it are gated.  Most of the trips we do here are for clients staying at Bosebuck Mtn. Camps which is on the north west shore of Aziscohos Lake.  Guests who stay here have access through these gates.  Occasionally, we will use a canoe roller and walk around the gate and put in from the southern end of Parmachenee Lake.  From there we motor up to the inlet where the river enters the lake.  This can make for a long day but can be a unique experience especially if the conditions are right.  Think May - mid June and then again in September as the most consistent times to fish here.  Sometimes an abundant rainfall and healthy river flows trigger fish to move up from the lake even in July and August.

Middle Magalloway

This is the section of river between Parmachenee Lake and Aziscohos Lake.  It is accessible by gravel road.  Once again the best times to fish here are May, June, and September.  The upper and middle section of the Magalloway is a freestone river and for the most part it gets very low and warm during the summer months.  Early Spring run off coincides with the smelt run and this is the initial time in which large numbers of fish are drawn from the lake further up river. When the river level drops and water temperatures rise the fish begin to drop back down into the lake.  If heavy rains are received in September once again fish will congregate at the mouth of the river and work there way upstream to spawn.

Lower Magalloway

This is the section of river below the dam at Aziscohos Lake.  This is probably as close to a true tailwater fishery as the Rangeley Region has and the fishing holds steady all season due to the deep draw of cold water from the depths of the lake.  This part of the river can be characterized by fast riffles and runs with some pools in between.  The river then goes under a bridge located on Rt. 16 in Wilson’s Mills and begins to slow down, widen and form a windy path through more open woods and fields eventually emptying into Umbagog Lake.  Like the Rapid The Lower Magalloway is one of our specialties and we know it very well!  It is easily accessible from Rt. 16 and does get quite a bit of pressure but holds a very healthy population of sizeable Landlocked Salmon and Brookies.

Upper Dam

Upper Dam separates Mooselookmeguntic Lake from Upper Richardson Lake.  The most productive water is the Huge pool directly below the dam.  Anglers fish from aprons that extend out from the dam and cast into the tail races or work the many different riffles, runs and eddies.  This is haloed water in fly fishing history for It was here that Carrie Stevens originated her famous Gray Ghost Streamer.  She summered here with her husband who was a local guide and built a successful business along with acclaim for herself by crafting the finest flies around to sell to visiting anglers.  She designed many different patterns of varying colors and intricacy not only to catch the attention of the trout and salmon but also the fishermen!

Kennebago

Kennebago includes many miles of water consisting of two lakes, Little and Big Kennebago, and the river flowing in, out, and between the two.  This is all fly fishing only water perfectly suited for the wild Brookies and Landlocks that thrive in it.  The road to the big lake and certain parts of the river is controlled and protected by a locked gate that is accessible if reservations are made at Grant’s Kennebago Camps on Big Kennebago Lake.
There is also another set of camps behind the gate located on the river between the two lakes.  These camps can also be rented and are called Kennebago River Kamps.  Occasionally we will canoe down the river to reach Big Kennebago but the trip back requires getting out in certain spots and dragging the canoe through some shallow riffles and runs.  On the other hand Little Kennebago is easily accessible by gravel road and a short paddle up a slow moving part of the river.

Rangeley River

This easily accessible small river originates at the outlet of Rangeley Lake at the first dam, also called the fish screen.  The river continues on slowly flowing for a short distance to another small dam.  The river below this second dam is where most of the fishing occurs as the current picks up and forms a variety of nice runs and Pools. This part of the river continues on for about a mile and widens considerably for the last 300 yards or so before converging with the Kennebago River and emptying into Moooselookmeguntic Lake.

Cupsuptic River

This is a small remote river that empties into Cupsuptic Lake, containing a healthy population of native Brook trout and the occasional Landlocked Salmon. The majority of these fish are small 6-8” but, sometimes you will be surprised with bigger ones in the lower river during Spring and Fall.  There are only a few access points by gravel road!

Remote Ponds

If you have never been to the Rangeley Region take a look at a map of the area.  At first glance, you will be amazed at the amount of blue you see representing the crystal clear lakes, river, and streams.  Look a little closer and you will discover hundreds of little blue specs representing small ponds!  Many of these are remote and contain a healthy population of native Brook Trout.  During certain times of the year these speckled beauties are eager to strike almost any suggestive looking fly presented to them.  Imagine yourself embarking on a hike through the wilderness on a meandering path that leads to a beautiful little pond!  When you reach the waters edge you scan the surroundings to discover that there is no one else around but a solitary moose feeding care free on the opposite shore.  The waters surface is like a mirror and you stare at it in complete silence that is broken only by the faint sounds of the feeding moose and the trout that just rose before you.  Pond In The River Guide Service has hand picked a variety of small remote ponds with the intentions of providing a similar quality experience as described above.  All of these ponds are comfortably fished from a canoe that is often already stashed nearby or carried in by your guide. Sometimes for the ponds that require a longer hike we will use float tubes.  The fish in most of these ponds average 6-14” and occasionally we are surprised with larger ones.  It can be said that what these fish lack in size is overshadowed by their beauty.  So if you are looking for a retreat from the popular waters of the area let one of our guides take you remote pond fishing!

Lesser Known Waters

From time to time depending upon the year or natural occurrences such as rain, winter run
off, etc. unique fishing opportunities may arise in those unsuspecting little secret spots that
only your guide might know about. This is one of the perks to hiring a local guide who
knows the Rangeley Region like the back of his or her hand. If one of these little gems is
fishing well our guides will be sure to let you know!