Fly Fishing in Maine

A regional note specific to this state: the trout fishing here is a mix of tailwaters and a handful of high-country lakes, and the state agency stocks heavily in the tailwaters and manages the lakes as wild trout fisheries, and the most productive water depends on the time of year and the weather conditions. Maine trout fishing is the most diverse in the Northeast, ranging from the trophy landlocked salmon fisheries of the Rangeley chain to the wild brook trout streams of the North Woods. The state has more than 6,000 miles of fishable trout water, including the legendary Kennebago, the Rapid, the Magalloway, and dozens more. The most famous trout rivers are the Kennebago, the Rapid, and the Magalloway, all of which produce wild brook trout and landlocked salmon averaging 14 to 18 inches. The state's trout program is administered through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the agency stocks the put-and-take lakes and rivers while managing the wild trout water through a combination of slot limits and special regulations. A regular Maine fishing license is required, and the cost is $25 for residents and $64 for non-residents, and the daily limit is 5 trout combined in most waters with special regulations on the wild trout water. The unique regional quirk is that Maine requires a special combination license to fish for both trout and landlocked salmon, and the daily limit is 2 landlocked salmon in most waters.