Fishing in the Upper Connecticut River Valley

Within 20 miles of Hanover NH in the Upper Connecticut River Valley it is possible to find every kind of fresh water fishing experience imaginable. Whether you enjoy fishing small pristine streams for wild brook trout, wading freestone rivers for rainbows and browns, drifting big water for lunker trout and smallmouth bass, cruising deepwater lakes for landlocked salmon, or canoeing tranquil ponds at twilight for fish dimpling the surface, we can find a location that you are sure to enjoy.

Small Stream Fishing

New Hampshire and Vermont have historically been associated with wild brook trout. While it is true that wild brookie habitat has declined in recent years, many small streams in our area harbor reproducing populations of brook trout and efforts are underway, backed by Trout Unlimited, to preserve and restore brook trout habitat. If you are looking for a small stream to fish for wild brook trout, the headwaters of the White River should be your destination. The headwaters of the White, in the foothills of the Green Mountains, and many of its downstream tributaries continue to support healthy populations of wild trout. Pick any tributary of reasonable size, hike a few hundred yards upstream, and you are likely to find fish. These fish will be small but eager and once in while in a deeper hole you might encounter a 12 inch trophy.

As the summer progresses, the fish retreat to the cooler, deeper sections and you will have to work harder but that's wild brook trout fishing, every pool is an adventure and has likely been untouched for weeks. Many tributaries also contain rainbow trout, particularly during early season to spawn and in mid-summer when the fish seek cooler refuges. Tributaries in the special regulation section of the White River above Bethel, VT have good wild trout populations, but these are closed to fishing until after May 31st.

To fish these small streams you are better off with smaller light-weight tackle. It's beauty that you're after not size and some of the terrain is brushy and wooded. The fish are spooky but not selective so use a stealthy approach and small attractor flies or tiny spoons and spinners. Set off on your own. These streams are not difficult to find and access is usually not a problem. Or fish in the company of one of our guides who will show you what small stream fishing is all about.

Mid-Sized Rivers

The Upper Valley is blessed with several mid-sized rivers that provide excellent trout fishing throughout the season. Both New Hampshire and Vermont offer accessible water for wade fishing and, in some cases, canoeing. We will be honest about what you are fishing for. This is primarily fishing for stocked trout — rainbows, browns, and brookies. Both states have vigorous stocking programs and the quality of the fishing is directly proportional to the numbers of fish stocked. Some guiding services would have you believe that the local rivers abound with wild fish in the 18-inch range. This is simply not true and, although you may encounter a 16 to 18-inch fish, it is the exception not the rule unless you happen upon a stretch of river that has been the recipient of Vermont's infamous Trophy Stocking Program.

Fishing in the Upper Valley mid-sized rivers picks up most years in early May. April fishing is very iffy and is greatly dependent upon water temperature and runoff levels. A good early season river in NH is the Mascoma River. A small smelt run out of the lake kicks it off and a few decent browns follow them up river in Enfield. This is streamer fishing and you won't be alone.

Once the water temperature approaches 50 degrees, fishing improves rapidly on the Mascoma and the Sugar River in NH and a little later on the White River and the Ottauquechee Rivers in Vermont. Depending upon your interests, this can be the best time to fish. If you fish before the states begin stocking, the fish will be fewer but much larger and stronger. These holdovers have survived anchor ice and run off and if everything breaks right, a Hendrickson hatch will bring them up. Otherwise, it's nymphs and streamers fished deep and slow — any fish will be a good one.

A sunny, 80-degree day in early May will spike the water temperature and the bite will be on. Once stocked, these rivers provide consistent fishing throughout the spring and early summer until the water becomes too warm. Some years this will happen in early July, other years the fishing remains reasonable into August.

In NH, the Fly Fishing Only sections of the Mascoma and the Sugar Rivers are popular and always a good bet. In VT, the lower sections of the White seem to the most consistent early on. From Bethel downstream, look for the deep green holes and don't be fooled and give up too early, it doesn't get good until the sun is off of the water and the fish move up into the riffles.

Later in the season, head up river to the cooler branches and tributaries of the White and Ottauquechee Rivers. Insect hatches are of the traditional eastern freestone variety with a few local exceptions. For example, there is an August flying ant hatch that progresses through the valley south to north and lasts for a day or two, it can be spectacular. Call us for the latest information or if you want to book a guided wade trip.

Big Rivers

The Connecticut River is the centerpiece of the Upper Valley. It is the region's focus for water sports of every kind including swimming, canoeing, kayaking fishing and sometimes, despite the no wake rule, even waterskiing. It is a river of two very different personalities, controlled by the Wilder Dam, a couple of miles downstream from Hanover. Above the dam you will find flat water for many miles upstream. This section is the training and racing grounds of the Dartmouth College's crew team. Although it's flat water, it is not still water and, depending on the release volume at Wilder, the current can be substantial. The river is hundreds of feet wide and is strictly for boats, canoes or kayaks (which can be rented from the Ledyard Canoe Club). The fishing is for bass and northern pike with plugs, poppers or deep water baits.

Below Wilder Dam, for several miles downstream the river remains big water and resembles more of a tailwater fishery. Although wade fishing is possible in some areas, access is not obvious and a canoe, a kayak, or a small boat will open up much more water.

This is trophy trout and world class smallmouth bass water. Huge rainbows and brown trout can be found more than 20 miles downstream from the dam but the exact locations are widely spread out. Smallmouth bass can be found along this entire section. The caveat here — and it's a significant one — is that both fisheries greatly depend upon the releases from Wilder Dam. The volume of water released can be incredibly variable depending upon recent runoff and energy demands.

Whether you are on foot or in a watercraft, you MUST know the flow predictions. Fisherman have drown below Wilder as a result of sudden releases. Check the USGS website for recent flow patterns and (1-888-FLO-FONE) for flow predictions. The best fishing occurs at the lowest flows, most often early mornings or late evenings. The trout seem to be more sensitive to flow levels than are smallmouths but a sudden release will kill the fishing for hours.

This section of the river can witness the strongest mayfly hatches in any water of the Upper Valley. Dries and nymphs work well. If nothing is on top, prospect with streamers. If you are looking for smallmouths, cast poppers to the bank. If nothing shows try brown wooly buggers a little deeper, the smallmouths are always around but they can move in and out from shore.

Boating access is limited. The best boat launchs above the dam are Fullington Landing on RT 10 just north of Hanover and Wilder Dam boat launch in Wilder, VT. Below the dam there is a small access in West Lebanon off of RT 12A in sight of the I89 bridge. There is another small access on the VT bank at Sumner Falls in Hartland (not marked or visible from RT 5) and a larger boat launch in Cornish, NH just upstream from the Cornish-Windsor covered bridge. A note of caution, it is not advisable to attempt to pass over Sumner Falls in a canoe, boat, or kayak. Hanover Outdoors can arrange a drift boat trip for this section of the river and you will be very surprised at what you will find.

Lakes and Ponds

There are many lakes and ponds in the Upper Valley that offer opportunities for trout and bass fishing. Lake Mascoma and Lake Sunapee in NH and Lake Fairlee and Lake Morey in VT are the largest lakes in the immediate area. With the exception of Lake Morey, which contains only warm water species, these lakes contain both trout and bass. Lake Sunapee (the ancestral home of the now extinct Sunapee Trout) has a landlocked salmon fishery as well.

The best fishing generally occurs in early spring when the water is cool enough that trout and salmon cruise near the surface. Late May is the time to find smallmouths congregated near shore on their spawning beds. The Upper Valley is also dotted with many small ponds. It is the location of several of the oldest private fishing clubs in the US. These are found on small private ponds, mostly in VT, and are invitation only.

There are many other ponds in the area with public access. If you are looking for trout ponds in NH, try Post Pond in Lyme, Cole Pond in Enfield, or Tewksbury Pond in Canaan. Vermont stocks McIntosh Pond in Royalton and Miller Pond in Strafford. There is also a state run trout pond in Groton at Seyon Ranch State Park. The remaining ponds in the area mostly all hold bass and other warm water species. A favorite of many canoeists is Grafton Pond in Grafton, NH, where you can not only fish for bass but also listen to the resident loons and possibly catch a glimpse of a moose. If you have a question about fishing a particular pond give us a call.