Fly Fishing the Ellis River. Nate Hill

      15 . Ellis River

       Location: White Mountains of Northeastern New Hampshire, a 3½-hour drive from Boston, Massachusetts, and a 1½-hour drive from Portland, Maine. Full-service airports are available in both cities.

      The Ellis River has long been a popular destination with fly fishers. Emanating from the famous, remote, hike-in ski trails of Mount Washington—the highest point in New England—the Ellis River was a favorite fishing spot of well-known Appalachian Mountain Club hut master Joe Dodge. Since Joe’s time, the Ellis has been the choice of anglers seeking swift, gin-clear water.

      The Ellis is a beautiful river. It begins at approximately 4,600 feet above sea level near the famous Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines of rugged Mount Washington.

      From here it runs roughly 17 miles and descends over 4,000 feet before terminating at the Saco River in Glen. The Ellis is joined by the Cutler River at 2,400 feet, and the New River at just over 2,000 feet. Below here it parallels Route 16, tumbles over the 60-foot Glen Ellis Falls, and continues its steep descent. This stretch, which extends to Jackson village, is the quintessential New England mountain stream. Mica-flecked granite boulders glisten under the stream’s crystal-clear flow. The water teems with brightly colored brook trout.

      While the upper reaches drop through staircase rapids and plunge pools as the Ellis weaves its way through Pinkham Notch, it changes to peaceful glides before entering Jackson Village. The fish found here are primarily wild brook trout ranging from 4 to 8 inches, with some stocked brook trout up to 12 inches mixed in.

      While the upper river is popular with small-stream enthusiasts, most fly fishers focus their efforts on the fly-fishing-only section on the lower river. This section begins at the famous Honeymoon Covered Bridge in Jackson and extends down to the train trestle just downstream of the Route 302 bridge in Glen. Below here is a short stretch of unregulated water. Here the Ellis is a medium-size freestone river. There are large pools and boulder-strewn runs. This includes the