Renown for its whitewater rafting, the West Branch is also an excellent landlocked salmon fishery. For the adventurous angler, the fourteen miles below Ripogenus Dam offers a number of opportunities.

The first section of the river flows through a gorge with walls as high as 240 feet. The river gradient is steep and it’s class IV and V whitewater throughout. There’s a few access points here but anglers on their own should be careful. The river opens up some below the gorge and there are several pools and pockets on the way to the famous Big Eddy, the more productive pool on the river. From Big Eddy, there’s a two mile stretch that’s floatable from a raft or drift boat.

Trips in late spring and early summer trips will be walk and wade fishing around the Telos Bridge above Big Eddy in the morning, and after lunch we’ll launch the boat and float the downstream section.

Early spring offers an opportunity to float the lower section from Nesowadnehunk Falls to Debsconeag Deadwater. This is a scenic stretch of river with the backdrop of Kahtadin throughout its entirety. Early in May the smelt enter the river from the lower chain of lakes and the salmon follow. Most anglers show up to fish the upper sections after June, so it’s likely we’ll be the only ones on the river this time of year.

Both of these trips are full days. Everything is included as well the shore lunch. Once you book, you’ll receive trip checklists and details on what to expect, what to wear, and lunch choices.

The West Branch was listed #24 in “50 Places to Fish Before You Die.” It’s a must on the to-fish list for any angler in the northeast.