Local Waters
Pemaquid River (Bristol DACF)
Bristol, ME · about 70 min from Portland (typical, off-peak)
The state lot on the Pemaquid River.
Salt River / stream Lake / pond Shop (desk) Guide only Parking Stay State access Private — ask first
- Season
- Maine schoolies usually show later than Mass and leave earlier. Same slot limit. You need the Maine saltwater registry as well as a freshwater license if you mix rivers. Confirm DMR / IFW. Official rule
- Park
- DACF state hard ramp on the Pemaquid River, Bristol. Named public lot.
- Walk in
- Short from the state lot.
- Wading
- Tidal river. Shore fly.
- Usual window
- June–September.
- Sunday conditions
-
SW 2 mph around dawn. Fine to go.
- Sky
- ⛅ 81° partly
- Sun and moon
- Rise 5:50 · 🌔 Waxing gibbous · Set 7:31
- Wind at dawn
- SW 2 mph onshore · Partly Cloudy · 50°F
- Wind later
-
- dawn: SW 2 mph
- 10am: W 1 mph
- 2pm: N 2 mph
- dusk: NW 5 mph
- Tide
- Low 2:17 am (1.4 ft) · High 8:25 am (7.4 ft) · Low 2:17 pm (2.1 ft) · High 8:33 pm (8.7 ft) Best moving water is the three hours into 8:25 am high. · New Harbor, Muscongus Bay, Maine
- A setup that belongs here
- 8-wt, Clouser.
- Notes
- Named DACF public launch. Tidal. Confirm DMR / IFW.
Log this trip
Private. On this phone, and in your test book if you signed in on Journal.
Shops
L.L. Bean Hunting & Fishing
95 Main St, Freeport, ME 04032
Store hours vary; fishing department inside the flagship
Classes and a full counter. Tourist, but they will talk to a first-timer.
Guides
Shop desks, plus a few independents who fish public water. We do not take a cut. Call them.
L.L. Bean — lessons and trips
Freeport, ME · lesson / shore · Walk-on classes and booked trips — ask the fishing desk
Good for: A first lesson, Portland-area day
Tourist flagship, but the fishing desk is real. Better for a lesson than a secret river.