suggest a hiking/flyfishing location

[ericsylvain]

Some friends and I are looking for an overnight trip where
we would hike to a small pond, fly fish, camp overnight,
fly fish the next morning and then hike back down.

I'm interested in anyones experiences, specifically which
ponds were favorable and memorable....

Eric

[fessiewig]

Take a look at this thread.

http://appalachia.outdoors.org/bbs/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=5677

[GlennC]

A couple years ago the family did a hike through the Mahoosuc Range and spent a night at Speck Pond, just over the border into Maine. My nephew had a fly rod he had packed along. The shore was pretty brushy, but by standing on some rocks I was able to roll cast and landed a few nice brookies. Waders would have been perfect. Nice tent platforms right on the shore.
Another spot that I've seen fish jumping in is Lonesome Lake in the Franconia Notch area. Only about 1.5 miles in from Lafayette Place Campground. Only issue there is the $$$ that AMC wants for an overnight in the hut.

[Dakota]

A buddy and I hiked into Sawyer pond and fished a couple of years ago. You can access from the Kangamangus just past Bear Notch Road or from Rt 302 just north of Bartlett. From the Kang its about a 3 or 4 mile hike in. From the 302 side its about 1.5 miles. There are campsites on one side of the pond.

[Mountain Angler]

Look up Flat Mountain Pond. The fishing can be quite good and there is a shelter to camp at or you can tent.
I think you will like it.

[trouthunter]

Lonesome Lake in the Notch, is stocked by air with brookies and is a short hike in from the road.....

[ericsylvain]

Thanks for the replies. I did find the following info
about remote stocking:

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/trout_remote.htm

[Remote Trout]

There are a ton of ponds to hike into and lots of spots to camp. I personally like them all, but to chose one it really depends on how far you want to hike and how you are planning to fish.

The majority of remote ponds have only a couple of spots to fish from shore and the wading can be difficult (mucky) in spots. I typically bring my float tube but it sure does add some weight to the pack! Also, some spots prohibit camping but always remember to camp at least 200' from shore.

How long of a hike are you planning? I can give you a couple spots based on the time/distance. Either way I always seem to have luck with Mickey Finns, soft hackle hairs ear's, Black Ghosts, Adams, and Henryville Specials.

[ericsylvain]

I also found this resource:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/fishing/ponds/pondselect.htm

Were thinking 2-3 mile hike, and now maybe a 2 nighter...

We have float tubes. I would be new to this experience, but
there are a few seasoned campers in the group.

Yep, well aware of the backcountry rules when camping in the
WMNF
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/land_above/backcountry_rules.html

Thanks for all your replies.

Any thoughts on how the fishing is in August?

Eric

[ericsylvain]

WMNF maps of fishing locations:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white/recreation/fishing/images/wmnf_map_v.htm

[Remote Trout]

The way I look at, whoever is willing to hoof float tubes, fly-fishing gear AND camping gear to a remote pond is good in my book. So here is my info on some spots. Please post a report when you get back.

Black Mountain Pond is moderate hike-in to a cool spot. Go in via Guinea Pond (not up and over Black Mountain-trust me). Try the far end by the old shelter at dusk and the oposite shore in the morning. No big fish, but fun. This spot can get crowed with hikers and campers so be gentle.

Flat Mountain is a longer hike-in (5 miles) and a longer kick around the pond (actually three attached ponds). Plenty of fish, I had lots of luck with the Mickey Finn. The shelter is nice in bad weather.

Peaked Hill Pond, easy walk in, party spot, crowded. I also believe some of it is on private land. I've only caught small fish here.

Ethan Pond is a pretty little pond, very shallow and now has special regulations (check F&G). Small but very cool little brookies and a good hard hike in.

Wachipauka Pond another party spot, you can even drive to it. Good hex hatch later in the year.

Little & Big Sawyer, nice ponds Big is big especially in a tube. The hike is pretty easy. You have to camp on the tent platforms.

Black Pond is an easy hike in. You have to stay at the Franconia Brook camping area. Nice spot.

[macman]

Eric...check your PM's

[ericsylvain]

Finally did go fishing, the chosen destination was" Three Ponds", off
Stinson Lake in Warren. We left early Friday morning, and arrived at the
trailhead at 8:15, the parking is not marked. The hike is about 2 miles,
and probably gains around 400 feet of elevation. We hiked and arrived
at the big pond by 9:30. We settled our packs and began fishing right away.
Not a cloud in the sky. The breeze swept the pond from north to south
making fly fishing a bit hard. The other factor was staying in one location
with the float-tubes. But fishing from shore was not an option due to
mud and muck. A few nibbles on dry flies, but the the majority of fish were
caught with streamer patterns. I eventually moved to a casting rod and a
gold spinner. In all, I hooked 20 trout, landed 18, and kept 4 fish over the
2 days of fishing. No fishing pressure, and only saw one other person
hiking through. Next time I may opt to bring scuba fins and swimming
shorts instead of waders and boots. I did hear a tree fall in the woods,
which was odd. Also, saw many moose tracks and deer tracks, but no
sightings. The smaller northern pond had trout, and were caught mainly
in the western side. The middle pond has three pools, of which the southern
pool had more fish, but the northern pool had bigger fish. There were no bugs
to speak of, and I didn't need to use any insect spray.

[Steve H.]

RemoteTrout, how is Black Pond in Lincoln? I saw that you mentioned it in this thread and I've always wanted to fish it. I've hiked up there a few times and even seen some small brookies in that beaver pond that sits between Black Pond and the East Branch Pemi. I would imagine a float tube would be imperative there as most remote ponds. Just curious about the size/numbers of brookies there.

[LarryD]

I fished Black Pond a couple of seasons ago (in May) and caught about a dozen fish on dry flies. A float tube would have been ideal. Without one I was confined to fishing the near shore. I hope to return there, perhaps in the Fall.

I also echo what was said earlier about Flat Mt. and Ethan Ponds. Great fishing in both and the hike-in is just hard enough to keep out the casual fishermen.

On a whim this Saturday I hiked into the Great Gulf Wilderness and fished the West branch of the Peabody. Caught about 30 fish on hopper & cricket patterns. At least a half dozen were 10-12 inches, which is huge for a small mountain stream.

[sbeausol]

I have fished the section of the Peabody close to the campground up to the suspension bridge (great gulf trail I think) -

LarryD- How much further in did you go? 12" brookies are a real gem up there....

[Steve H.]

Last fall I fished the Peabody below the bridge at the Dolly Copp campground entrance (not the picknick area). I did really well with small dries (adams, BWO) and my little 2-wt. However, the trout were all rainbows....about 7-8 inches and apparently held over from the spring stockings (it was mid-October when I was fishing). Were the trout you were getting in the Peabody brookies or rainbows? I'm wondering if stocked rainbows predominate in the lower sections from Dolly Copp to Gorham and the brookies further up toward the headwaters? Either way, great fun on a great stream.

[sbeausol]

at dolly copp and below i was getting rainbows, above were all brookies for me

[LarryD]

I hiked up the Great Gulf Trail about 3.1 miles, to Clam Rock (which is just beyond a second bridge spanning the West Branch). I fished at various spots from there downstream. I did a fair amount of rock-hopping/bushwacking. Except at the crossing points, it takes some work to get to the water.

When I caught the first 10" fish (all of the fish were brookies) I first thought it had to be a stocked fish. However I would be very surprised if they stocked that far up. Also, the coloration seemed deeper than with most stocked fish.

Of course the vast majority of fish were in the 5-7 inch range; what you would expect in a stream of this size. However some of the deeper pools did hold bigger fish

[Remote Trout]

Thanks for the report on Three Ponds. I tried to fish there about 8 years ago but thunderstorms rolled in for the whole weekend. Something about holding a 9' graphite rod in a lighting storm just didn't seem right :shock:

The best part about the trip was reading the log book in the shelter: Two weeks before, a couple of campers had to take refuge UNDER the shelter because a black bear wouldn't leave then alone!

Regarding Black Pond, I had some success mostly smaller brookies from shore.

[ericsylvain]

Yeah weather was perfect.

Log book I saw was only 5 years old. I wonder where the old log books
get collected, that would be funny to see....

[ericsylvain]

Anyone fished Flat Mountain Pond recently?

[freestone]

I haven't fished the pond in a number of years however, 3 weeks ago my son and I fished Pond Brook, which comes down from Flat Mountain Pond. It's a beautiful little freestone stream that is absolutely loaded with native brookies.
You can find it at the trailhead to Flat Mountain Pond off the Bennett St. loop in Intervale. If your headed up, save a couple of hours to fish this stream.(or more). good luck, freestone. :)

[ericsylvain]

We did finally go to FMP. It was a decent hike, and yes,
it is far enough to keep out the all but the most determined
fisherman. The problem is the water level is down about 12
to 14 inches, becasue the wooden dam on the southeast end
is in disrepair. I would say a float tube is key, but wading is
an option where the stream feeds the pond.

Anyone know who I would contact to report the Dam issue?

[Owl's Roost]

Absolutly, we all need to send a note to The Laconia Office of the White Mountain National Forest. The Ranger there is Tom Walker. They are in limbo about the dam and if they are going to fix it or let it go. The wilderness starts and stops at the dam. There are those that want it to revert back to wilderness. There are those of us who see this pond as an important fishery and therefore the dam should be repaired. I beleive you'll find that the F&G put the dam in many years ago. It goes without saying the NHF&G has no money to restore FMP dam. It being on the WMNF I would think the Dept. of Agriculture should come up with the costs this time.
Ellis Hatch and I are on a campaign to restore the dam and we are looking for volunteers to do some work there, both physically and politically. So if you are interested let me know.
Our fear is that some goofer will tear the boards of the exposed apron for a fire, and begin the process of dismantling the dam. It will be like an ever growing snowball rolling down a hill.
I guess it is strange to hear fishermen asking for a dam to be repaired in this day and age of "Take the Dam out", but in this case there is a great deal of history in this place and it is a great fishery with the impoundment. Being 4 to 5 miles back from the hard going it does eliminate the dedicated from the not so interested. However it doesn't stop the vandalism that occurs when someone with no idea of the value of the place has some idle time on their hands. The shelter, the dam, and the area need some attention and unless a bunch of us get up on our hind legs and howl a bit it will go unnoticed. If anybody wants to see some slides of the pond Ellis has our slide show of "Where in Hell is Flat Mountain Pond".