Annual Camping/Fishing Trip to Errol, NH

    Highlight of the trip is the Saturday night Steak/Chicken cookout

 Every June the Merrimack River Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited makes their annual pilgrimage to the Mollidgewock Campground on the Androscoggin River in Errol, New Hampshire.  The occasion (or excuse) is the Alder Fly hatch which emerges beginning in late June.  The Alder Fly, or zebra caddis, is a large fly (about a size 12 with an oversize wing) that hatches at night and then rests during the day in the Alder bushes that line the river.  Clouds of Alder Flies swarm along the water to mate and lay their eggs.  The fish go crazy for them for the first few days of the hatch.  After that, they are gorged.  It is not unusual to catch fish with bellies distended from being stuffed full of Alder Flies.

The Mollidgewock Campground is operated by the State of New Hampshire and offers all the necessities for a great outing.  There are vault toilets, a few water spigots, and fire rings and picnic tables at each campsite.  The office sells ice and has a payphone hanging on the wall.  The campground fronts one of the best stretches of river, so fishing before breakfast and after dinner provides an opportunity to stretch the fishing to fit almost any schedule.  This year the Alder Flies were out in force when we arrived.  Unfortunately, the fish were satiated with flies, so the top water action was somewhat limited.  The last hour of daylight offered up some of the best fishing of the day and dry flies twitched and stripped brought slashing strikes.

 

Almost everybody caught fish and absolutely everybody had a great time.  Lots of new members mixed in with the old-timers and the chapter ended up being a stronger organization. This is certain to bode well for the 2003-2004 volunteer season.

 

 

Camping Checklist:

  • Tent
  • Cooler
  • Beer
  • Sleeping bag
  • Hot dogs
  • Beer
  • Elkhair Caddis
  • Scotch
  • Woolly-buggers
  • Beer
  • 100% DEET
  • Flashlight
  • Beer

 

 

 

We shared the campground with some local wildlife

See an Adroscoggin Slide show

 

 

 

 

Smoking the food or smoking the cooks?

Enjoying a little pre-dinner potato artillery

Swapping fish tales among new and old friends

The Campground fronts one of the best stretches of river