We spend most days on the Kennebec, Sasanoa and Sheepscot Rivers fishing from Merrymeeting Bay down through Bath and to the islands outside the mouths of the rivers. We do spend some time on the New Meadows River [which is just to the west of the Kennebec] especially on weekends in July and August. We both live on the banks of the Kennebec River and keep the boats on trailers. We have five launch ramps within a couple of miles of home and five more within a fifteen minute drive. We usually meet clients in Bath, Phippsburg or at Popham Beach but we can also pick you up at other locations. Bath is about 45 minutes north of Portland.
We'd love to talk with you about the fishing here. The Kennebec offers an amazing variety of productive water. Endless ledges, coves, mudflats, and marshes combine with great water flow and ample bait to create a great bass habitat. Oceanside sand beaches and flats provide fun sightcasting. Rocky points and islands can provide productive whitewater. When the wind blows we have lots of places to “run and hide.”
What's included in your charter...
The prices are for the boat, whether it be one angler or three. We provide coffee, drinks, fruit, snacks and muffins. We can add lunches for a modest fee. Some people choose to end their trip with a shore lunch. We do everything from simple picnics to complete lobster bakes. A popular option is to include a stop for lunch or dinner at one of the lobster wharves in the village of Five Islands.
We provide all the fishing tackle that you could want, but you are always welcome to bring your own gear. If you haven’t spent much time chasing stripers or blues, we are happy to help you get set up. We have a bunch of spare reels if you are interested in trying different lines on your own rods. We fish with Loomis, Sage, TFO, Scott and Bean rods and Bauer, Waterworks and Ross reels. We tie our own flies to mimic the current bait of preference and are accustomed to offering clients a list of suggested patterns for those who tie. We can also provide you with suggestions and information for places where you can fish from shore during your vacation.
How long do we fish and when should we start...
The average length for charters is six hours. We are happy to accommodate people who only want to spend a couple of hours on the water and we’re ready to fish from dawn to dusk or beyond if you just can’t get enough of it. We will talk with you about your plans and desires, the tides and fishing conditions and then go when you want to go.
In general, the fishing is most productive early in the morning and again in the evening. This isn't as strict a rule early in the season as the fish are feeding after making a long trip from the Chesapeake or Hudson and the water temps are still on the cool side of their preferred range. As the bass and blues begin their return trip in the fall we again have some consistently exciting fishing throughout the daylight hours. We don't have a set launch time. Both of us love to fish early morning. We have some clients that are happy to meet us at 4:00 in the morning, before the first hint of dawn and other folks who would rather have breakfast at home and start fishing at 8:00. We do have afternoon sea breezes kick up, but we almost always have spots where we can run and hide from the wind. Evenings on the river can be a magical time, watching the fish turn on as the light gets sweet. We’ll work with you to craft a schedule that meets your needs and wishes.