Presumpscot River - Maine
The Presumpscot River, winding approximately 25 miles from the outlet of Sebago Lake to Casco Bay in Portland, is one of southern Maine’s most dynamic and accessible fly-fishing destinations. Steeped in industrial history, the river was once heavily dammed and polluted, but over the last few decades, major conservation efforts have revitalized its waters and restored essential habitat. Today, the Presumpscot offers anglers a chance to fish in a recovering urban watershed where wild and stocked trout thrive alongside historic mill towns and scenic forested stretches.
Historically, the Presumpscot suffered from decades of industrial degradation. More than a dozen dams were built during the 19th and 20th centuries to power mills and factories, severely limiting fish passage and degrading water quality. But since the late 1990s, several dams have been removed or retrofitted with fishways, and significant portions of the river have seen water quality improvements. These efforts, spearheaded by local conservation groups and state agencies, have opened access to upstream spawning grounds for migratory species and restored a more natural flow regime.
Today, the Presumpscot supports a variety of fish species, both wild and stocked. Anglers commonly catch brook trout, brown trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon, with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) routinely stocking sections of the river with brookies, browns and rainbows. Wild brook trout can be found in some of the colder tributaries and spring-fed areas, while the lower river also supports smallmouth bass, fallfish, and other warmwater species. Though not all native species have rebounded, fish passage improvements now allow river herring and other anadromous fish to return to parts of the watershed seasonally.
Fly fishing on the Presumpscot offers a range of experiences depending on season and location. Upstream from Westbrook, the river features several dam pools and pocket water stretches ideal for nymphing and dry fly fishing. Our go-tos include our CDC Hottie and Olive Hare's Ear.
Below Mallison Falls and the Dundee Dam, the flow is more regulated, and anglers often swing streamers or fish egg patterns in the spring and fall. We usually get hits on anything similar to our Little Brown Trout.
Regulations vary by section, but several portions of the Presumpscot are designated as artificial-lures-only or fly-fishing-only water, with special catch-and-release rules in place during spawning seasons. Anglers should consult the current Maine fishing law book for exact boundaries and seasonal updates. Conservation groups like Friends of the Presumpscot River and Trout Unlimited continue to push for improved fish passage, water quality monitoring, and expanded public access to ensure the river remains a vibrant fishery for generations to come.
Though still in recovery, the Presumpscot River is a testament to what community-based restoration and sound management can accomplish. From wild trout in its cold headwaters to revitalized fish runs in the heart of Greater Portland, it offers fly fishers a unique opportunity to connect with nature in an urbanizing region. As the river continues to heal, its promise as a year-round fishery grows stronger every season.
