The Rangeley chain of lakes in Western Maine is a land of salmon and brook trout. The brook trout are native; the salmon (and the smelt they feed on) were introduced over a hundred years ago. Before the salmon were introduced, brook trout gorged on blueback trout and grew to tremendous size. The blueback's disappeared after the turn of the century, but this chain of lakes still provides salmon and trout fishing that attracts anglers from far and wide. The Rangeley chain of lakes, which form the headwaters of the Androscoggin River, lie in Maine’s western mountains. The Appalachian Trail runs south of the lakes, providing views of the lakes and mountains to the north, as well as providing access to a series of isolated trout ponds.

The Rangeley Region pioneered fly fishing, and many of the waters, especially the rivers and smaller trout ponds, are limited to fly fishing today. On the larger lakes, trolling with flies, lures, or sewed-on bait is the preferred angling method. A number of waters, particularly stocked trout ponds, have less restrictive regulations, and provide great opportunities for family fishing.

Central to the Region is the Rangeley chain of lakes. Rangeley village, located on the northeast shore of Rangeley Lake, has a wide variety of businesses catering to anglers. There are motels, inns, and cabins to provide housing, as well as marinas, restaurants, fly fishing shops, and a helpful Chamber of Commerce, which can be reached at (207) 864-5571.

Rangeley Lake itself is famous for its landlocked salmon fishery. Fishing is fastest from ice-out through June, but salmon can be caught throughout the season by trolling deep. For those unfamiliar with salmon fishing, it is worthwhile to hire a guide to learn the secrets. Campsites and a launch site are available at the State Park, located on the south shore. Additional launch sites are located in the villages of Rangeley and Oquossoc.

Nearby Mooselookmeguntic Lake has good fishing for both wild salmon and brook trout. With the imposition of more restrictive brook trout regulations at Mooselookmeguntic (or Mooselook, as it is called locally) in 1996, the size of the wild brookies is increasing, with 2 to 3 pound fish becoming common. There are boat launching sites at Haines Landing, Oquossoc, off Route 16 at the north end of the lake, and at the south end of the lake. There is also a campground on the east side of the lake that has remote campsites on islands and on the undeveloped shoreline of the lake.

The Kennebago River is the primary nursery area for Mooselook’s salmon, and provides a famous salmon and trout fishery in its own rite. These fish are hatched in the river, but many eventually drop down to the lake where they put on growth by foraging on smelts. On their return spawning runs they provide excellent fishing. Restrictive regulations, including catch and release after August 15, assure that there is plenty of action and that there is ample escapement for the fish to spawn.

The Cupsuptic River runs from the Canadian border through wild and scenic mountainous area into Cupsuptic Lake, which constitutes the upper portion of Mooselook Lake. The river is cold year-round, and contains a large population of slow-growing native brook trout that nonetheless provide fast fishing. Remote campsites can be procured from the campground at the north end of Cupsuptic Lake.

The Richardson Lakes, further west, also support salmon and there is a limited fishery for lake trout. There are public boat launch sites at the north end (Mill Brook) and south end (South Arm), where there is a campground.

Upper Dam Pool, between Mooselook and Richardson Lake, is open to fly fishing with restrictive regulations, and produces nice salmon and brook trout that are attracted to the flow below Upper Dam. Access is by boat or by road with a one-mile walk beyond the Union Water Power Company gate. Effective 1998, Upper Dam Pool will be open to catch and release fishing during the month of October.

A world-class fishery has developed at the Rapid River, the outlet of the Richardson lakes, for wild brook trout. This is a catch-and-release fishery, and trout in the five-pound class have been taken. There are also fisheries for landlocked salmon and the occasional lake trout in this river. This is a remote river, and access is by boat from the Richardsons or from Umbagog Lake from the lower end.

Umbagog Lake, on the New Hampshire border, has a good fishery for bass, and also a unique fishery for Northern pike.

Aziscohos Lake was formed by damming the Magalloway River. These waters, located near the New Hampshire border, have miles of undeveloped shoreline. The lake supports salmon, but it is the wild brook trout fishery that is currently coming into its own. As at Mooselook Lake, the new brook trout regulations are resulting in larger sized fish. There is a public launch site near the south end, and remote campsites on the lake can be procured at the main camping area near the landing. The Magalloway River itself provides an attractive fishery for both salmon and trout. Roads to that portion of the river above the lake are gated, however, requiring access by canoe or foot. There are sporting camps at the north end of the lake that cater to both lake and river anglers.

Other notable fishing waters within the Rangeley Region include those in the Dead River drainage. Check your map for waters along the North Branch of the Dead River (which contains brookies) such as the scenic Chain of Ponds for lake trout and salmon fishing and a number of smaller waters, such as Crosby Pond, Bug Eye Pond, and Little Jim Pond for brook trout fishing. Try Big Jim Pond for lake trout and salmon.

The main stem of the Dead River below Flagstaff Lake (where there is a developing rainbow trout fishery) and its tributary Spencer Stream lie in a remote area and have attractive seasonal wild brook trout fisheries. Spring Lake provides fisheries for lake trout and brook trout; Spencer Lake has fisheries for lake trout and salmon. The Pierce Pond area has famous fisheries for both brook trout and salmon. Many of these waters are relatively remote, and restrictive regulations are in effect to assure continued quality fishing.

Further east is the Kennebec River; from Harris Dam on down, fish for brookies and small salmon; from the Forks down, add brown and rainbow trout. There is an especially attractive rainbow trout fishery below Wyman Dam in the early spring. Smallmouth bass are abundant from Solon downstream and provide an attractive addition to the coldwater fishery. Also, there is a large number of lakes, ponds, and streams flowing into the Kennebec that contain fisheries for salmon, lake trout, and brook trout.

The southern portion of the Rangeley Region contains many waters, including the main stems of the Androscoggin River and the Sandy River that have good to excellent bass fisheries. In particular, the Androscoggin River from Rumford to Jay has an outstanding smallmouth bass fishery with many fish in the 2 to 3 pound class. This section of the Androscoggin, upstream to the New Hampshire border, also has good fisheries for brown and rainbow trout. The lakes, ponds, and streams within these drainages have a mixed bag of fish species, both warmwater and cold.

For the Region as a whole, perhaps the most dramatic recent change is the improvement in the brook trout fishery. Wild populations are responding to the new, more restrictive regulations that allow greater escapement to larger size. For stocked waters, the use of the larger spring yearling trout in recent years is providing faster fishing in many waters that had good water quality, but where the presence of competing warmwater species was limiting survival of the smaller fall fingerlings we had been stocking. We expect the fishing for brook trout to continue to improve, especially now that our new strains of hatchery brook trout are coming into production.

Anglers are encouraged to contact the regional fishery biologists at (207) 778-3322 for additional information on the lakes in this area.

For more information about fishing in Maine please visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Website at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/weekly_biologist/index.htm.