Three Rivers Fishing Trip
Here is a story of Brian Duffill and I fishing three mountain rivers in the White Mountains of NH (Sept. 17th).
Three Rivers Fishing Trip
By Lee Goldsmith
Lee's Fishing Page
Brian on the snowmobile bridge over the Ammonoosuc
The day started out cool and crisp (40 Degrees F). I picked up Brian (Brian Duffill who lives in Alabama but stays at Great East Lake during August and September) at 6:50am in the morning and we were off to the mountains. One quick stop at the Eaton Country Store for a cup of coffee, and we were good to go. We made one more stop at the rest area in Crawford Notch (Willy House) for a pit stop and then off to the Ammonoosuc for some fishing. We crossed over to the road up to the Cog RR using the Mt. Clinton Road. We got to the river at about 9:30am and we got ready to fish, I had to change into my shorts and wading shoes, Brian just removed one layer of upper clothing and we were off. We fished several good pools below the bridge with no fish taking. I even tried nymphing the hole with no takers. So I put back the Elk Hair Caddis fly and we moved up stream. Fishing several more good pools with no takers at all. I temped the water and it was cold, 48 degrees, but the level was just right. We decided to move down stream to another place close to the road that usually has fish.
Both of us on the snowmobile bridge looking back at Mt. Washington
At the next stop on the Ammonoosuc, we proceeded down to the river and had to cross over a small backwater left after the river flows had changed because of high spring water. I crossed over without a problem but Brian was not so lucky and fell in and was quit wet. He did not seem to mind and we continued on. The fishing here was also very slow, we saw no fish and got no action at all.
So we decided to try the Zealand River just down the road about 5 miles. We drove down Rt. 302 to Zealand Campground and turned into the road to the Sugarloaf campgrounds and the Zealand Falls Parking area.
Zealand River
We proceeded to a pull off up the river (Zealand) and parked and tried our luck here. We had none, the river was very cold as was the Ammonoosuc and I tried dry fly and streamer fly with no takers. We fished about 200 yards of river and decided that we need to move again. This time we would move over to Pinkham Notch and the Upper Ellis River.
We got to the parking area on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch at around noon so when we stopped we had something to eat before we started fishing again. Brian had some small bagels and I had goody bars and fresh peaches to eat. We shaired our good food had a drink and we were off again walking down stream to a good starting spot that was good to me in July.
Brian trying his hand at casting and trying to catch a Brookie
We entered the river at a pool that was very productive for me in July and I managed to get a nice wild brooky to take the Elk Hair Caddis that I was using. After Brian tried the same hole with no more takers we moved up stream and Brian kept trying to get that first fish. He managed to get one on but did not land it. Later on he did get one that we got a picture of. Brian had one nice fish strike at least four times from under a rock but he was not able to get the fish on. The fish showed himself enough to know he was a nice size wild fish but we did not get him on.
Brian with a nice little wild Brook Trout
We proceeded to work our way back up river to the car with some success. Over all Brian was able to catch about 3 or 4 fish and I caught about 15 or 20 fish. Brian was very pleased with the trip for he was able to see more of the mountains that he had not seen before and is already planning for spots that his step son can use with his old camper. The fishing ended around 3pm and I changed back into my regular jeans and Brian got out of his wet shoes and rung out his wet socks. It was an unbelievable day weather wise, low 60 degrees no wind and bright blue sky. We will have to do this again some time soon.
Here are all the photos in a slide show
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Sept. 17, 2007
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