Diamond River Fishing Guides
A remote northern New Hampshire river draining a hundred and fifty square miles through the Dartmouth College Grant, holding wild brook trout in some of the least developed country in the state.
Guides on the Diamond River
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About the Diamond River
The Diamond River drains about a hundred and fifty square miles of far northern Coos County, gathering from the Swift and Dead Diamond rivers and running down to meet the Magalloway near Wentworth Location, just above Errol. It flows through the Dartmouth College Grant, a large block of undeveloped timberland held by the college, and that ownership is the reason the river remains one of the wildest trout fisheries in New Hampshire. There is very little development anywhere in the drainage and the country around it is as close to remote as the state offers.
The river is a classic northern freestone stream. It falls over ledge and boulder through the Diamond Peaks, with plunge pools, long gravel runs and a gorge section that is as much a scenic destination as a fishing one. It runs cold, and it runs clear except after rain. Flow is entirely governed by weather, and the gauge near Wentworth Location reads discharge and stage. In a dry August the river can get thin and warm enough that fishing it responsibly means going elsewhere.
Wild brook trout are the heart of the fishery and the reason anglers make the drive. They are not large by stocked standards, but they are native, self sustaining and beautifully coloured, and they are caught in country that feels genuinely unvisited. Landlocked salmon run up from the Magalloway system and are a notable seasonal fish. Brown trout and rainbow trout appear in smaller numbers, and fallfish and white sucker are common.
Access to the Grant is controlled and visitors should confirm the current arrangements before travelling, which is exactly what has kept the river in the condition it is in. Errol is the nearest base of any size.
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Access
Errol - the nearest village of any size, with fuel, food, lodging and the regional outfitters.
Wentworth Location - the settlement at the gauge and the confluence with the Magalloway.
Dartmouth College Grant - the large private timber tract the river runs through, with controlled access.
Magalloway River - the river this one joins, a strong fishery in its own right.
Androscoggin River - the major regional river nearby, with guides and much larger water.
Umbagog Lake - the big lake below, with camping, a boat launch and landlocked salmon.
Colebrook - a town to the west with services and a second approach to the north country.
Seasons
Spring: high cold water from snowmelt, with the fishing coming good as levels drop and brook trout spread through the runs.
Summer: the river warms and thins in dry spells, and the deeper pools and shaded upper reaches hold the fish worth catching.
Fall: cooling water, brook trout in spawning colour and landlocked salmon moving up make this the finest time on the river.
Winter: the north country shuts down, access is impractical, and the river is left entirely alone until spring.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Diamond River?
As of Oct 18, 4:15 pm, the USGS gauge Diamond River near Wentworth Location, NH reads 269 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Diamond River?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Fallfish, Landlocked Salmon, Rainbow Trout, White Sucker on the Diamond River in New Hampshire.
Where can you access the Diamond River?
Errol - the nearest village of any size, with fuel, food, lodging and the regional outfitters. Wentworth Location - the settlement at the gauge and the confluence with the Magalloway. Dartmouth College Grant - the large private timber tract the river runs through, with controlled access. Magalloway River - the river this one joins, a strong fishery in its own right. Androscoggin River - the major regional river nearby, with guides and much larger water. Umbagog Lake - the big lake below, with camping, a boat launch and landlocked salmon. Colebrook - a town to the west with services and a secon...
When is the best time to fish the Diamond River?
Spring: high cold water from snowmelt, with the fishing coming good as levels drop and brook trout spread through the runs. Summer: the river warms and thins in dry spells, and the deeper pools and shaded upper reaches hold the fish worth catching. Fall: cooling water, brook trout in spawning colour and landlocked salmon moving up make this the finest time on the river. Winter: the north country shuts down, access is impractical, and the river is left entirely alone until spring.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Diamond River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the New Hampshire agency site: https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/laws-and-rules