A regional fly-casting champion and local guide, Mike and his dog led us down the upper Androscoggin River on a cold, gray day. The catch was limited to brown and rainbow trout. Outdoor Life Online EditorBill Pierce and Mike Jones work a riffle on the upper Androscoggin, near Bethel, Maine. Apparently on a clear day you can see Mt. Washington in the background. Outdoor Life Online EditorSince we got some funny looks when we walked into the grocery store wearing our waders, Bill suggested we step out and change in the parking lot Outdoor Life Online EditorAfter a couple days on the rivers we moved to the ponds at King and Bartlett. These small mountain ponds hold an incredible number of fish. Here, Bill teases his umpteenth brookie of the day. Outdoor Life Online EditorMy Maine guides were hesitant to photograph me with such an "average"Â brook trout. If my notes are correct, I caught this one with a size 14 Hendrickson. Outdoor Life Online EditorOur last stop was the legendary Rapid River, where we stayed with the equally legendary Aldro French. This is the winter house at his camp, the setting for the book "We Took to the Woods."Â Outdoor Life Online EditorThis barrier creates what's called the "pond in the river."Â Though the covered dam is long past it's heyday, the benefit of the obstructed flow on the fishery is still felt. Monster brookies sit above the dam and feed on everything funneled downstream. Outdoor Life Online EditorA fisherman stands in the current casting wet flies. On this day, the trout preferred grey ghosts and white zonkers. Outdoor Life Online EditorHere it is, my personal best. This fish weighed about 4 pounds and measured 21 inches. You've probably heard anglers say about big fish, "it felt like I was hung on the bottom."Â Well, I did think I was snagged on a rock and tried repeatedly to break the line before the fish made a run, much to my surprise. Outdoor Life Online EditorWhen you're up fishing first light, nothing sounds better than a good breakfast at 10 am. Bill Pierce takes a few minutes to whip up some sausage before jumping right back into the river. Outdoor Life Online EditorAldro French is the proprietor of the Bare Bones Fly Shop. It's 26 miles down a dirt timber road and is the size of a small shed Outdoor Life Online Editor
