Androscoggin River - Errol
The upper Androscoggin River is a tailwater that emerges from the Errol Dam in Errol, New Hampshire. Fed by the shallow, warm, fertile waters of Lake Umbagog, a nutrient-rich environment results in super-sized insect hatches and fast growing fish. The river is primarily managed as a put-and-take fishery, and is stocked liberally. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow, brown, and brook trout, as well as landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass. This river is often overlooked, and does feature a healthy population of wild rainbow trout and holdover brown trout that can exceed 20 inches in length. The Andro offers something for everyone. For beginners, it is an easy river to wade and learn to catch their first trout. For the experienced angler, float trips in search of big brawling rainbow trout in powerful rapids offer an exciting challenge. Full and half-day float trips and wade trips are available. The rivers warms extensively in the summer and fishes best in May, June, September, and October.
Androscoggin River - Gorham/Shelburne
The lower Androscoggin River flows through the picturesque towns of Gorham and Shelburne, New Hampshire. Here the river is broken up by a series of dams, and features stretches of long, shallow riffles. The sections of river in Gorham are ideal wade fishing destinations and also make nice half-day floats. Below Shelburne Dam, the river widens again and is primarily a float fishery. This stretch of river was once renowned as a trophy brown trout fishery, but that fishery has diminished in recent decades. In place of brown trout, rainbow trout have emerged as the dominant fish in the system, and the river boasts a healthy population of wild rainbows that average 8-14 inches, with the occasional larger fish in the mix. New Hampshire does not stock the river, but the occasional stocked fish from tributaries or Maine does make an appearance. There is no closed season on the lower Andro, and the river can fish well early and late in the season. The lower Androscoggin River is a beautiful river flowing through the White Mountains, and is an easy day trip destination for folks staying in the North Conway area.
