Ping -- Pirate Dave re W Branch of the Penobscot

Dave

I will be planning a trip to ME with my 2 nephews
We wll fish the salt above Casco Bay

Then I would like to fish the West Branch of the Penobscott by the
Ripogenous dam
What is the best time of year ?(not too crowded) and can you suggest
an outftter w a drift boat?


Thanks in advance
Fred


e

On 2011-02-08 13:48:18 -0500, flebow said:

Dave

I will be planning a trip to ME with my 2 nephews
We wll fish the salt above Casco Bay

Then I would like to fish the West Branch of the Penobscott by the
Ripogenous dam
What is the best time of year ?(not too crowded) and can you suggest
an outftter w a drift boat?


Thanks in advance
Fred

You would start your float at the Big Eddy Campground. I did it a
couple of years ago with a Lakewood friend. The drift is short, but we
caught lots of brookies and land locks on dries and nymphs.

We did it in early July and only found one other boat on the river, but
lots of wading fishermen above the Big Eddy. It is a fairly good sized
river, so I doubt you will be "crowded". Watch out for logging trucks!

I can't remember the name of our guide, but if you Google West Branch
Penobscot fishing guides, you will have several to choose from. The
fly shop in Greenville, Maine floats the river and is highly
recommended.

http://www.maineguideflyshop.com/

You might also consider floating the East Outlet of Moosehead Lake
(start of the Kennebec River). Big brookies and land locks. If I had
my choice, I would do the East Outlet. If you are camping, there are
several spots along the East Outlet for primitive camping. When I had
my motor home, I camped up there every October for several days each
year. Great fishing, but colder than a witch's tit in October.

If you do the Penobscot, there are several camp type rentals in
Millinocket. East Outlet you can stay in a number of places in
Greenville. Greenville has better restaurants, btw. d;o)

Dave

Forgot to mention: Best time of the year is late May to early July
(same as the Rapid). The river also fishes well in September.

Dave

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 15:57:51 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 13:48:18 -0500, flebow said:

Dave

I will be planning a trip to ME with my 2 nephews
We wll fish the salt above Casco Bay

Then I would like to fish the West Branch of the Penobscott by the
Ripogenous dam
What is the best time of year ?(not too crowded) and can you suggest
an outftter w a drift boat?


Thanks in advance
Fred

You would start your float at the Big Eddy Campground. I did it a
couple of years ago with a Lakewood friend. The drift is short, but we
caught lots of brookies and land locks on dries and nymphs.

We did it in early July and only found one other boat on the river, but
lots of wading fishermen above the Big Eddy. It is a fairly good sized
river, so I doubt you will be "crowded". Watch out for logging trucks!

I can't remember the name of our guide, but if you Google West Branch
Penobscot fishing guides, you will have several to choose from. The
fly shop in Greenville, Maine floats the river and is highly
recommended.

http://www.maineguideflyshop.com/

You might also consider floating the East Outlet of Moosehead Lake
(start of the Kennebec River). Big brookies and land locks. If I had
my choice, I would do the East Outlet. If you are camping, there are
several spots along the East Outlet for primitive camping. When I had
my motor home, I camped up there every October for several days each
year. Great fishing, but colder than a witch's tit in October.

If you do the Penobscot, there are several camp type rentals in
Millinocket. East Outlet you can stay in a number of places in
Greenville. Greenville has better restaurants, btw. d;o)

Dave





Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

On 2011-02-08 16:30:01 -0500, flebow said:



Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

You can't float the Rapid, Fred. However, if you want to fish it I can
recommend some guides, or I could guide you. The only place to stay on
the Rapid is Lakewood Camps
http://www.lakewoodcamps.com/

It's a little on the pricey side, but worth it as far as I'm
concerned. Let me know when and I'll be there.

Dave

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:35:57 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:30:01 -0500, flebow said:



Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

You can't float the Rapid, Fred. However, if you want to fish it I can
recommend some guides, or I could guide you. The only place to stay on
the Rapid is Lakewood Camps
http://www.lakewoodcamps.com/

It's a little on the pricey side, but worth it as far as I'm
concerned. Let me know when and I'll be there.

Dave

Thanks again Probably early July
I do remember fishing the Rapid (I think) around Errol Maine - or
thats where we put in

Fred

On 2011-02-08 16:57:56 -0500, flebow said:

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:35:57 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:30:01 -0500, flebow said:



Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

You can't float the Rapid, Fred. However, if you want to fish it I can
recommend some guides, or I could guide you. The only place to stay on
the Rapid is Lakewood Camps
http://www.lakewoodcamps.com/

It's a little on the pricey side, but worth it as far as I'm
concerned. Let me know when and I'll be there.

Dave

Thanks again Probably early July
I do remember fishing the Rapid (I think) around Errol Maine - or
thats where we put in

Fred

If you put in at Errol, you were fishing the beginning of the
Androwscoggin River. The Rapid starts at Lower Lake Richardson and
ends at Lake Umbagog the outlet of which is the Androscoggin.

If you go in July, go early - 1st week or so. I'll be there on the 4th.

Dave

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 17:31:24 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:57:56 -0500, flebow said:

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:35:57 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:30:01 -0500, flebow said:



Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

You can't float the Rapid, Fred. However, if you want to fish it I can
recommend some guides, or I could guide you. The only place to stay on
the Rapid is Lakewood Camps
http://www.lakewoodcamps.com/

It's a little on the pricey side, but worth it as far as I'm
concerned. Let me know when and I'll be there.

Dave

Thanks again Probably early July
I do remember fishing the Rapid (I think) around Errol Maine - or
thats where we put in

Fred

If you put in at Errol, you were fishing the beginning of the
Androwscoggin River. The Rapid starts at Lower Lake Richardson and
ends at Lake Umbagog the outlet of which is the Androscoggin.

If you go in July, go early - 1st week or so. I'll be there on the 4th.

Dave


OK I remember now
We put our boat in at Errol and then crossed Umbagog almost directly
acroess the outlet of the River into the lake
Dick Celli (had?) a cabin there wew would stay right on a point
I believe the Rapid was right there and i remeber the colors of the
brookies.

We also took out mt bikes by boat acroos the river and then and there
was a back road way to travel to Richardson camps (i think)
Fred

On 2011-02-08 19:56:14 -0500, flebow said:

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 17:31:24 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:57:56 -0500, flebow said:

On Tue, 8 Feb 2011 16:35:57 -0500, D. LaCourse
wrote:

On 2011-02-08 16:30:01 -0500, flebow said:



Dave Thanks for the good advice
I am already somewhat familiar w some of these places - but my memory
???

If we did float the Rapid - where would we go or stay- nearest town
near access
I will start contacting some outfitters and the flyshop

Fred

You can't float the Rapid, Fred. However, if you want to fish it I can
recommend some guides, or I could guide you. The only place to stay on
the Rapid is Lakewood Camps
http://www.lakewoodcamps.com/

It's a little on the pricey side, but worth it as far as I'm
concerned. Let me know when and I'll be there.

Dave

Thanks again Probably early July
I do remember fishing the Rapid (I think) around Errol Maine - or
thats where we put in

Fred

If you put in at Errol, you were fishing the beginning of the
Androwscoggin River. The Rapid starts at Lower Lake Richardson and
ends at Lake Umbagog the outlet of which is the Androscoggin.

If you go in July, go early - 1st week or so. I'll be there on the 4th.

Dave


OK I remember now
We put our boat in at Errol and then crossed Umbagog almost directly
acroess the outlet of the River into the lake
Dick Celli (had?) a cabin there wew would stay right on a point
I believe the Rapid was right there and i remeber the colors of the
brookies.

We also took out mt bikes by boat acroos the river and then and there
was a back road way to travel to Richardson camps (i think)
Fred

Yep. The Carry Road. Goes from Cedar Stump to Lake Richardson.
Passable by four wheel truck most of the way, bikes all the way. Some
folks still come into the river that way, but they only fish the lower
river, say between Smooth Ledge and Cedar Stump. Beautiful part of the
river. Hell, the entire river is the most beautiful thing I've ever
seen. With a little imagination I can spell it as I type.

Dave