2005 Androscoggin River

July 2005 Androscoggin River float trip with Frank Church and Dave Bottom

TR from Dave Bottom (Flyfish):
Frank showed up at my place Friday afternoon. The weather forcast for Saturday was poor and when we got up Saturday we decided that it was not the best day for it. Instead we went shopping for sneaky pete's as Frank had an accident which cost him his supply.

Sunday was supposed to be better. On rising Sunday the forcast was acceptable, rain early with sun later and low wind speeds. River level on the gage looked good, actually about normal for this time of year.

Headed up to the river, Frank chose the easy take out, one that's a bit furthur downstream from the bridge. Staged his truck and went to the put in.

The water looked high to me, more like early June. No matter we launched and started out.

Coming around the first island I took a 19" smallie on a sneaky pete, Frank had inadvertanly gone the wrong way around the island and I met up with him downstream.

Fishing was very slow IMHO, but Frank enjoyed the fish he caught.

Not long after we got on the water, as the sun broke through the clouds the wind came up, howling and gusty, thankfully it was a downstream wind. The wind made casting a challenge and it was blowing us downstream at one hell of a pace. So much so that we ate lunch on the last island rather than the ledges a couple miles upstream where we usually stop. Coming off the tip of the island I managed another real nice fish just to make Frank jealous. :-)

We picked up the odd fish along the banks headed to the bridge. I crossed to the other side and started working along that bank, Frank came over and just took it easy.

Twice we saw fish chasing bait right up onto the banks, just a sudden explosion of bait getting out the way. I managed to pick up one of those fish as I went by.

After the bridge I worked the left bank, hitting the occasional fish here and there and even one little dink of a bass, unusual to catch one so small.

The take out was indeed easier than the bank climbing at the bridge. It took us about 7 hours to run the 7+ miles, record time.

When I got home I checked the river gages. After we left in the morning the dam opened up and the river flow went from 2600 CFM to over 5000, and the gage height went up a good foot. Explains why it was so high and a rising river isn't the best fishing river until the level settles so it explains why I thought the fishing was slow.

I'd say that I boated perhaps a dozen fish, most of them in the 17-19" range, Frank may have done better as he was leading us down the bank most of the day. I had a stretch where I didn't see a rise for almost 2 miles, almost unheard of on this water.

We came back to the house and were treated to a clambake, 8lbs of steamers and 2 1.5lb lobsters each. SWMBO can be quite a sport at times.

TR from Frank Church:
I can't add much to Dave's TR, except I caught around 20 and lost at least half that many, (2 to a dulled hook before I thought to check it.)

Except for a period of high winds it was perfect weather for this float, we waited out the rainy Sat. and our patience paid off. Donna, as usual, was a most gracious hostess and fed us well, *really* well after the Sunday float. Steamed clams and lobstah...first I've had in several years.

Dave saw to it that I was well taken care of, as usual. It is always a trip I look forward to and has already become a ritual with me, heading for Maine and those great Andy smallies! Already looking forward to Sept.

Frank's Photos:
Clicking on an image will open the full size photo.

18 inches of rompin stompin smallie (click here for smaller image)	Dave with a nice smallie (click here for smaller image)	another arm buster (click here for smaller image)	...and another (click here for smaller image)
Gotta love 'em! (click here for smaller image)	it dont get no better than this (click here for smaller image)	This guy fell for a Sneaky Pete (click here for smaller image)	This is what I come to Maine for (click here for smaller image)

Click here to see other ROFF photo essays.