"pemi" Fishing Spot

• County: Carrol
• Public Fishing: Yes
• Shoreline: 63'
• Last Modified By: carpmaster on 01/28/09 09:14 PM
• Ask about "pemi" in our Fishing Forums

A must see for the true angler. Pools galore for a nice little stretch of river. Starting in Franconia Notch, the Pemigewasset River flows through the White Mountain National Forest, picking up many small tributaries on it's way to Franklin where it merges with the Winnipesaukee River to form the Merrimack River. It's upper parts, on Route 3 and Interstate 93 are popular tourist attractions with scenic spots like The Basin, The Flume and 2 covered bridges.

The aka "Pemi" is just now starting to reclaim it's fine reputation as a top-notch trout fishery. After years of pollution from paper mills, clean water controls are succeeding in making the water inhabitable for trout as well as salmon, in which both are stocked here annually. The NH Fish and Game Dept. has done much to nurture this development.

Tourists fish the "Pemi" heavily but they usually stay close to the road where access is easy. There are plenty of remote sections that offer great fishing. The stretch of water between Lincoln and Plymouth is generally the most productive. The best fishing begins in late May/early June. Due to the fact that the "Pemi" consists of cold mountain water, the river is quite productive till atleast late October/early November.

The Pemigewasset River holds the NH state record for Rainbow Trout at 35.50" in length, 15 lbs. 7.2 oz. in weight, caught in Bristol, NH on 9/16/1996 by Lance King.

Special Rules of the Pemigewasset River include:

Pemigewasset River, headwaters to Bristol
Species:Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout
Section: Headwaters to Ayers Island
Dam in Bristol
Season: Jan. 1st to October 15th
Methods: Ice fishing prohibited
Other special rules: Closed to the
taking of salmon
Access: Multiple Sites

Pemigewasset River, Bristol
Section: From Ayers Island Dam to
300 ft. downstream
Season: CLOSED TO ALL FISHING

Pemigewasset River, Bristol to Franklin
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout,
Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon
Season: Open year round
Section: From 300 ft. below Ayers
Island Dam to the Eastman Falls Dam
in Franklin
Other special rules: Atlantic Salmon
shall be taken by FLY-FISHING ONLY.
Oct. 1st-March 31st, Salmon are
CATCH-and-RELEASE ONLY
Access: Multiple Sites

Pemigewasset River, Franklin
Section: From Eastman Falls Dam to
150 ft. downstream
Season: THIS SECTION CLOSED TO
ALL FISHING

Pemigewasset River, Franklin
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout,
Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon
Season: Open year round
Section: From 150 ft. below Eastman
Falls Dam to the Route 3/11 bridge in
Franklin
Methods: Catch-and-Release; single
hook flies and artificial lures
Other special rules: Broodstock Atlantic
Salmon shall be taken by FLY-FISHING
ONLY

Pemigewasset River, Franklin
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout,
Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon
Section: From Rt. 3/11 bridge to
confluence with Winnipesaukee River
Methods: Atlantic Salmon shall be
taken by FLY-FISHING ONLY.
Oct. 1st - March 31st, Salmon are
catch-and-release