A River Story

This sign marks the access to a river. As it states there are no motor vehicles allowed accept in winter. At that time the snow machines are allowed to use the trail to cross the countryside. The river is the Rangeley and it's a river that is not very long. It originates from the outlet of Rangeley Lake in Oquossoc and flows to Cupsuptic Lake. The river offers some fine fishing for brook trout and salmon. The spring, and fall seem to be best times to fish it and I prefer fall.

There are few places along its course to access the water, there is dense fir and hardwood stands that do not allow you to get close. Once in the water it's an easy stream to wade.

This bridge crosses the river at a point where it nears Cupsuptic lake. The bridge is for snowmobiles. On the other side there is a picnic table, a great place to have lunch.

This land is protected, so it will remain wild. By the way one must always be on the lookout, there are many moose and black bears in the area.

This is the bridge from downstream, the section I love to fish. It was here one autumn that I had an encounter with a beautiful fish.

Just under the bridge, you can see the wood rail of the bridge in the photo. There are large boulders that provide resting areas for spawning fish. It was here that I tossed a large Hornberg. The fly hit the water and danced in the swirling eddy behind the rock. In a moment a brook trout rose smacked the fly, and hen he felt steel he was off to the race. He was down and across the river in seconds. When I gained control I could tell the trout was a big one. The battle went on for a while and as I gained more line I could see his form. That was the last I saw of this fish. It was then that the tippet gave and he went on his way.

Over the course of an anglers life he looses many fish, but there are those few he never forgets.

The Hornberg

This is one of the best flies for taking brook trout and salmon. I fish them in Maine and as well as here in Connecticut.