Here is a shot of a Salmon we hooked last Monday at the East Outlet of Moosehead Lake, the headwaters of the Kennebec River. We nymphed with minute #16 and 18 Midge Larvae under 3 split shot and a big yarn indicator. There were fish rising all day too, and we used Griffiths Gnats to hook and release several fish. As the weather begins to heat up in August here, the fish will eventually key on hoppers and will smash a hopper pattern savagely. Could happen today, as I saw several hoppers while mowing the lawn !!!

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hi marshall, what's the average size of the salmon. are the atlantic salmon

Hey Mark,

Tha average size of the Salmon (Landlocked Salmon) at the East Outlet is between 10" and 14". Later on in October when the water cools, the larger fish bull their way upstream seeking spawning areas. We target these fish with Smelt imitations. Bright colored streamer flies stripped fast will often bring savage strikes and the jumps after hooking up can be thrilling on light tackle. Indicator nymphing with small nymphs can work throughout the season.

I often use a 10-foot 7-weight rod there. Big, brawling water. Fall scenery is spectacular.

is there any natural reproduction?

Yes, there is a great deal of spawning that takes place there. The Salmon and Brook Trout at East Outlet are for all practical purposes, native and resident river and lower impoundment dwellers in Indian Pond; have been for years, along with Togue, or Lake Trout, Sculpins, Dace, Crayfish, Bass, Leeches, Bugs, and..... Smelt, which is the key-on forage fish for fly rodding for Salmonids in spring and late fall.

There are abundant gravel areas, some of which have been enhanced by fisheries management for spawning Salmon and the East Outlet section of the Kennebec River supports natural reproduction, perhaps as well as any river in the Northeast part of the USA. I love it there. Mid-October. Water at 50-degrees or less.

Weather can be brutal, with storms, rain, cold, especially in late October, but the fishing that goes along with that can be like no other in the East when the Salmon kypes enlarge, Brook Trout are in full colors, and fast-stripping a streamer fly is the game. I love those times when fish are on the bite aggressively.

What's your favorite fish to fly fish for near Naples, Mark? Tarpon?