After the ice leaves Kennebago Lake smelt are found in
great quantities in the lake at the mouths of the brooks. This is where
trout and salmon feed also. Smelt or small baitfish imitations seem to
be the preferred patterns with Hendrickson hatches on warmer days, after
1:00 pm. Red Fox Hornbergs, Black Leech and Dragonfly nymphs are particularly
productive early in the season.
By the first week of June, the spawning run of the black
nose dace begins. Fish the inlets and outflows and the sandy shorelines.
The Black Ghost, Black Nose Dace, Nine-Three or Herb Johnson in smaller
sizes - 8's and 10's seem to produce well in early June.
As the water warms dry fly fisherman will find plenty
of fish in the shallows of the Logans. The Red Quill and Blue Dun are the
first major hatch on Kennebago. During this period the ends of the lake
are most productive.
Toward the middle of June, begins the Green & Brown
Drake hatch. Wulff patterns work well during this period The large Green
Drake hatch usually last up to four weeks. Also use terrestrial imitations.
Into July, at the end of the Green Drake hatch, the bronze
beetle and black ants lead the fly list with the old favorite, the Kennebago
Muddler. Sizes 8 to 14 are most popular.
As the water temperatures heat up the bigger fish head
for deeper water. During these times we fish Crayfish, Leech and minnow
imitations along the rocky bottom.
In late August and early September brook trout start
to school and begin to ascend the Little Kennebago River. Wet fly and streamer
fishing with high D line will yield fine brook trout catches. Try a Black
Ghost or yellow wiggle.
The Logans and the Upper River are fished best after a late August or early Sept. rain using
a Mickey Finn bucktail or Kennebago Muddler (#10s) for fall trout.
Lower Kennebago River.
It starts at the base of Big Falls. Grant's Camps maintains
hiking trails and off road parking along the gated 6 miles of the river.
We have a resident population of native brook trout all season long. The
spring salmon begin migrating up the river by mid-June. Wulffs, Black Ghost,
Grey Ghosts and Red Fox Hornbergs work well during this early period.
Toward the end of June and during the warmer months of
July and August stones, light cahills, terrestials and midges work well.
Fall run salmon migrate upstream on the first heavy rainstorms in late
August and early September. These fish seem to prefer streamer patterns
such as Colonel Bates and Black or Grey Ghosts.
