Aroostook River Fishing Guides
Maine's largest northern river outside the St. John, with wild brook trout in the upper valley and smallmouth and muskellunge below.
Guides on the Aroostook River
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About the Aroostook River
The Aroostook River rises in the commercial forest west of Ashland and runs east across the whole width of Aroostook County before crossing into New Brunswick at Fort Fairfield. The gauge near Masardis sits high in that run, above the farm country, where the river is still gathering water from the Machias, the St. Croix Stream and the other forest tributaries that give the upper valley its character. It is a big river by northern Maine standards and a remote one along most of its length.
Two fisheries share the drainage and they do not overlap much. The upper river and its tributaries hold wild brook trout, and those reaches are the reason anglers make the drive. Downstream of Ashland the river warms and broadens, and smallmouth bass become the practical target through the summer months, with muskellunge now established through the lower drainage and the New Brunswick reaches below it. Landlocked salmon show up seasonally where the cold tributaries enter.
The river is paddled as much as it is waded. A canoe covers the water between the few road crossings far more efficiently than walking does, and the stretch from Masardis down toward Ashland is the one most often floated. Access points are spread out, so a day here is usually planned as a float between two known landings rather than as a series of short walk-ins from the road.
Timing follows the snow. The upper Aroostook runs hard and cold into May, and the wild trout fishing is at its best once that water drops but before midsummer heat pushes fish into the tributary mouths. September brings the water back down to a good level and the trout back into the main river. The gauge at Masardis is the honest read on whether the float is worth the drive.
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Access
Masardis - the gauge reach, with a bridge crossing and roadside access.
Ashland - the main town on the river, with a launch and supplies.
Sheridan - bank access on the reach between Ashland and Washburn.
St. Croix Stream confluence - a cold tributary mouth worth fishing in summer.
Machias River confluence - the largest upper tributary, reached above Masardis.
Oxbow - upstream access to the remote reach above the gauge.
Washburn - the downstream end of the smallmouth water, with a public landing.
Seasons
Spring: high, cold and pushy into May, with the best trout fishing coming as it drops.
Summer: smallmouth through the lower river, with trout holding at cold tributary mouths.
Fall: falling water and cooler temperatures bring wild brook trout back into the main river.
Winter: closed to open-water fishing through the cold months in most of the drainage.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Aroostook River?
As of Sep 17, 5:15 am, the USGS gauge Aroostook River near Masardis, Maine reads 55 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Aroostook River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Burbot, Chain Pickerel, Landlocked Atlantic Salmon, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass on the Aroostook River in Maine.
Where can you access the Aroostook River?
Masardis - the gauge reach, with a bridge crossing and roadside access. Ashland - the main town on the river, with a launch and supplies. Sheridan - bank access on the reach between Ashland and Washburn. St. Croix Stream confluence - a cold tributary mouth worth fishing in summer. Machias River confluence - the largest upper tributary, reached above Masardis. Oxbow - upstream access to the remote reach above the gauge. Washburn - the downstream end of the smallmouth water, with a public landing.
When is the best time to fish the Aroostook River?
Spring: high, cold and pushy into May, with the best trout fishing coming as it drops. Summer: smallmouth through the lower river, with trout holding at cold tributary mouths. Fall: falling water and cooler temperatures bring wild brook trout back into the main river. Winter: closed to open-water fishing through the cold months in most of the drainage.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Aroostook River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Maine agency site: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/laws-rules.html