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Kennebec River
By Tim Traver
The restoration of a river is a little like Sleeping Beauty waking up in the fairy tale—something worth celebrating. The difference is that the re-emergence of the mighty Kennebec, a rollicking river that drains one-fifth of Maine, is no fairy tale. It’s really happening. The “kiss” that woke her up in 1999 after 162 years of ecological sleep was the removal of the Edwards Dam, built in 1837 near the mouth of the river in Augusta. With the dam removed, a 17-mile stretch of dead water came alive and anglers have been rejoicing ever since.
Welcoming New Fish Populations
Crippled populations of anadromous species—those that spend much of their life in salt water and come back to fresh water to spawn—now have access to upstream sections that were once important for spawning. Atlantic salmon, striped bass, shad, alewives, bluebacked herring and the rare Atlantic sturgeon all have been on the increase in the river. An entire ecological system is on the rebound, and so is the sport fishing economy. The good news for the serious angler is that lots of new wadable and floatable water is now available again and the fishing is getting rave reviews from locals and travelers alike.
Winthrop Lakes Region
About 15 minutes west of the state capitol of Augusta, the Winthrop Lakes Region is quickly getting a reputation as an outstanding bass fishing destination. This region also includes more than a dozen lakes and ponds offering great fishing for brown trout, brook trout, perch and sunfish.
Heralding Browns, Rainbows and Striped Bass
Some of the best wade fishing for trout in the lower river is the tail water below Shawmut Dam. Browns, rainbow, striped bass, and landlocked salmon are fattening up there on the increasing populations of baitfish and insect hatches. John Boland, fisheries biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife points out that browns aren’t easy to catch for the novice but the allure is in the size of the fish. Fish in the 15-to-22-inch range are common. No luck with browns? Rainbow trout, striped bass, shad, even salmon are possible quarries as well. Check current fishing reports for the Shawmut Dam region.
But don’t end your adventure at Shawmut. Numerous guide services and shops are available for wade and float fishing all along the 120-mile Kennebec.
Find guide services, sporting camps, and outfitters along the Kennebec River, and all of Maine’s rivers and lakes.
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