It has been a couple years since I left the state of Maine and this past week I was fortunate enough to return and have time to myself. The usual visits are consumed by holiday parties, family gatherings and more of the like. This vacation was no exception but I made sure I set aside a few days for myself. And I spent those days sleeping on the ground and fishing for Landlocked Atlantic Salmon on the West Branch of the Penobscot River. Prior to my arrival in Maine I had spoke with Greg Bostater (boz) about the conditions on the West Branch. With all the rain that the East had been getting I didn’t have any high expectations but boz replied with “everything just came into shape and the fishing is spectacular. I also have a few days off so come up and we’ll fish together.” Before I knew it I was meeting my friend Luke in Bangor and heading to the river. We met Boz on the river, had a beer and headed up river to where Boz had his boat stashed. Having a raft on this particular section of the Penobscot is critical. It allows you to reach water that is not accessible by foot and it also allows you to float through class IV and V rapids without cracking your drift boat in half. With that being said we hopped in the raft and eased our way out for the evening. Landlocked Atlantic Salmon were caught day in and day out of our 2 day stay. We caught them on big dry flies, streamers and nymphs. Most of our fish came subsurface but when the caddis started to pop the fish were eager to take your offering. The potential to catch some of the biggest Landlocked Atlantic Salmon in the State is on the Penobscot, 18- 20 inch fish are common with some skippers mixed in but the probability of hooking one 25 inches+ is high. And although hooking these fish is possible landing them is another story. The best we could do was 24 inches. Luke hammered this warrior pictured above on a size 16 caddis pupae out of Boz’s boat on our second day. Without the help of Boz none of this would have been nearly as possible. He showed us parts of the West Branch that one might not ever know exists. A big thank you goes out to Boz and Luke for making my few days in Maine ones to remember.
Joey, Luke and Boz – Right on! Glad it worked out for you guys! Cool that you could come home to Maine Joey and fish with old and new friends and new sections of water that, like you said, if not for Boz are not even possible to fish. Whenever it comes to that section of Maine, having Boz as a guide and friend is priceless. Having been a whitewater rafting guide on that river and other rivers around the world in Ecuador, West Virginia, Grand Canyone etc… Fly fishing that river is a piece of cake for him. However, definately not a “piece of cake” for others who don’t have that kind of whitewater rafting experience. On top of that, Boz knows every rock in that river .. ties some killer flies and is a top notch salmon fisherman. And, more than all of that … he is one of, if not the, best dude you could ever hang out with. Oh, and he rips on the guitar. So cool that fly fishing and flies and fins is the connector for all of us. NICE salmon Luke!
PS. If anyone out there ever comes to Maine … Consider getting in touch with Boz for a guided trip. He guides all over the state. His website is Maine River Guides
Now that’s the way to get it done. Great read and gorgeous Salmon. Boz, happy to know your season is productive…Stay safe and hoist one for me!
really awesome guys…great job on plucking some big landlocks out. I love that river and Boz truelly is the master on the sticks under heavy rapids and big water.. beautiful fish luke that come out near the bowling ally?? cheers Alex
Sounds like a killer trip! I wish Jeremy and I could have made it up there when I was in town but it just gives me one more reason to go back…
Way to go…great to hear you had an awesome float.
Gotta give a shout out to Boz for giving Luke and I a great time. Being able to hop in his boat and fish was CRITICAL to reaching so much great water.
Nice fish Luke looking forward to fly fishing with you again. Hopefully soon.
You haven’t fished the Penobscot until you have fished it with “Boz”. My brother and I fished the river with “Boz” last fall and it was quite a day to remember. We met “Boz” at the Big Eddy and fished there until around 11:00AM and caught a few nice salmon. We had lunch around noon, fished down to the take out and then went back to the Big Eddy to fish until dark. About a hour before dark the Big Eddy went dry….I mean there was just a stream going down thru what was the Big Eddy a half hour before. You would not believe the number of fish that are in the Big Eddy until they all get concentrated into one small area. Come to find out, they were doing some work on the dam and within a half hour the Big Eddy was full again. Being there watching the Big Eddy go dry and then fill back up again while sitting in Boz’s raft made the whole trip. We did catch some nice fish too!