Crooked River - Maine
The Crooked River in Maine is a gem for fly-fishing enthusiasts and a shining example of successful conservation. One of 4 native landlocked salmon lakes in Maine (Sebago Lake, Green Lake, West Grand Lake, and Sebec Lake) it winds from the outlet of Songo Pond through the townships of Albany, Waterford, Norway, Harrison, Otisfield, Naples, and Casco.
The river eventually feeds into the Songo River, providing approximately 38% of the water to Sebago Lake and according to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has, "the potential to significantly, if not entirely, sustain Sebago Lake’s salmon fishery with naturally produced fish."
As the longest tributary to Sebago, the Crooked River plays a crucial role in the lake’s cold-water ecosystem, particularly for native fish populations that depend on its clean, cool waters and gravel-bottomed spawning beds.
Historically, the Crooked River has supported populations of wild brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon. While non-native trout species such as browns and rainbows were introduced during the 20th century, modern management practices have shifted toward protecting and enhancing native and wild fish. Since the 1970s, a series of dam removals and fish passage improvements, including at Edes and Scribner’s Mills, have opened up key stretches of habitat. These efforts have paid off: whereas only about 10 to 20 percent of Sebago’s salmon were wild in the 1980s, today that figure is closer to 75 to 80 percent, making the Crooked River vital for sustaining Maine’s iconic salmon fishery.
Fly-fishing on the Crooked is a richly rewarding experience. The river is home to healthy populations of wild brook trout, which are especially plentiful in the upper and middle reaches, and landlocked Atlantic salmon. The Crooked River accounts for roughly 99 percent of Sebago Lake’s salmon spawning habitat, underscoring its ecological importance.
The river is regulated as fly-fishing only, with artificial flies required in most sections. These rules are designed to protect spawning fish and maintain the river’s reputation as a premier wild trout and salmon fishery. Go-to patterns include our barbless Confrey Caddis, Pin Fry and Sparkle Retrievers.
Conservation efforts for the river are ongoing and multifaceted. Dam removals, culvert replacements, and riparian land protections have reopened miles of habitat. Groups such as the Portland Water District, Trout Unlimited and local land trusts actively monitor water quality and protect streamside buffers to reduce erosion and maintain cold-water flows. With climate change threatening cold-water fisheries across the Northeast, the Crooked River’s preservation has taken on new urgency. Through proactive stewardship and collaborative efforts, the Crooked remains not just a destination for anglers, but a model of how thoughtful management can sustain native fisheries for generations to come.
