Indian Stream
creek in New Hampshire
Indian Stream is a true wilderness fishery in New Hampshire's "Great North Woods," providing a challenging but rewarding pursuit of native brook trout in an unspoiled, remote environment. It requires effort to access but delivers an authentic backcountry experience.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Indian Stream
- 01Autumn Caddis and Blue-Winged Olives are the primary hatches to anticipate, especially on overcast days.
- 02Top dry fly choices include the October Caddis (sizes 6-10) and Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun (sizes 18-22).
- 03Subsurface, focus on egg patterns like the Blood Dot Egg (sizes 10-14) and streamer presentations such as the Pine Squirrel Leech (olive, sizes 10-14) or Black Ghost Streamer (sizes 4-8).
- 04Target deeper runs, pools, and structured areas where trout and salmon will be holding, particularly as they stage for spawning or feed opportunistically.
- 05Tactically, dead-drift nymphs through current seams and swing streamers through deeper pockets for aggressive strikes. For dries, target slower slicks where fish are rising to emergers or adults.
Past reports week by week
9 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Blood Dot Egg
With the fall salmon runs, egg patterns (sizes 10-14, orange/pink/salmon) are highly effective for opportunistic trout and salmon feeding below spawners, especially in the larger drainages Indian Stream feeds.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger
The olive Woolly Bugger (sizes 4-8) is a reliable year-round streamer, imitating leeches and baitfish, excellent for covering water and enticing aggressive strikes from trout, salmon, and pike in fall.
Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun
BWO hatches are a staple of fall fishing. This low-profile dry fly (sizes 18-22) is excellent for selective trout and salmon feeding on emergers and adults on overcast days.
Buy at AmazonPine Squirrel Leech
Small leech patterns (olive, sizes 10-14) effectively mimic sluggish baitfish and annelids in cold fall water, enticing strikes from larger, lethargic trout and salmon.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
A versatile general searching nymph (sizes 14-18), mimicking various aquatic insects, effective year-round and particularly in the colder fall currents.
October Caddis
Autumn Caddis are a key fall hatch in New Hampshire, and Indian Stream will see these large caddis. Fish these in sizes 6-10, especially later in the day.
Black Ghost Streamer
A classic streamer (sizes 4-8) that is locally and historically effective for migrating Landlocked Salmon, a strong choice for fall on Indian Stream and its connected waters.
Isonychia Dun
Isonychia are actively hatching in freestone rivers during fall. A size 14-16 can be very effective for rising trout and salmon.
Comet
Orange or yellow Comet streamers (sizes 4-8) are historically effective for salmon in fall and winter, especially in the larger waters that Indian Stream feeds.
Buy at AmazonPheasant Tail Nymph
An essential mayfly nymph imitation (sizes 14-20), effective year-round, especially during the active BWO periods in fall. Fish subsurface.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Indian Stream Road Access (Upper)
Various pull-offs along Indian Stream Road, particularly further north, offer access to less-pressured waters.
US-3 Bridge Crossing
Access near the Route 3 bridge crossing, a common starting point for exploring the stream.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Northern Water Guide Service
Points North Outfitters
North Country Fly Shop
Lopstick Outfitters
Get Indian Stream reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
New Hampshire season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Quick answers
Common questions about Indian Stream.
What flies work best on Indian Stream?
Our top scored fly patterns for Indian Stream right now are Hendrickson (80% confidence), March Brown (80% confidence), Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Indian Stream?
Indian Stream holds Trout, Salmon, Pike. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Indian Stream?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Indian Stream are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Indian Stream fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Indian Stream each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.