Enjoy Nature at Your Own Pace

Although he’s been fishing his whole life, Justin Laffin’s best memory along the Sugar River isn’t about any fish he has caught. It was when his then-6-year-old daughter caught her first fish, a smallmouth bass.

The accessibility of fishing in the area makes it great, whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced angler.

“Any time I can introduce somebody to fly fishing for the warm water species that is always enjoyable,” Laffin says.

Laffin, a police officer in Claremont, has been a licensed fly-fishing guide for the last four years. He’s found that his home region is an appealing one for fly fishing with the diversity offered in the Sugar and Connecticut rivers and their tributaries.

The Sugar River is 27 miles long and features a 2-mile, fly-fishing-only section in Newport, between Oak Street and the Kellyville Bridge.

“That’s a great place to start and learn,” Laffin says. “It’s a river that’s not overbearing to learn techniques and where fish can be found. It’s very bouldery, so being able to see what we would call feeding seams makes it a great place to learn.”

NH Fish and Game regularly stock different species along the river. Beginners should consult the stock report to find advantageous sections to learn.

“They stock rainbows and browns, and they stock three types of brook trout. Then, going towards the Connecticut River side, you get into more of the warm water species: smallmouth bass, walleye. You can also catch a pike at different times of the year.”

Fulling Mill, a global leader in the manufacture of premium fishing flies, moved its operations to Claremont in 2005. While they are not a retail space, Laffin has built a relationship with its employees over his years fishing.

“They’ve really supported me through my guiding,” he says. “I’ve taken these gentlemen out fishing, and they were so impressed with my knowledge of smallmouth bass and whatnot. And they actually were the ones that told me I should pursue guiding.”

While there are a few tackle shops or general sporting goods stores in the region, fly-fishing-specific gear shops are outside the region. That’s no worry for visitors, however, many guides like Laffin have everything you’ll need to get started. A full list of licensed guides can be found on the NH Fish and Game website. Anglers looking to connect with Laffin can find him on Instagram, @nhonthefly

“I’m also part of the Thomas and Thomas Fly Rods pro-staff, which is based out of Greenfield, Massachusetts,” Laffin said. “I can supply everything from rods to flies most of the time.”

Laffin trips all start with a conversation on what kind of fishing journey his guests are looking for, whether that’s catching a certain species, a really big fish or lots of fish. He’ll gauge their experience and interests to plan a trip. There are many great fishing areas not far from major byways and towns.

“Within close proximity, you can get into beautiful areas of nature that most people haven’t seen or haven’t realized are around us,” he says. “People don’t realize the kind of quality of fish we have here.”

And while the rivers offer plenty for anglers, they’re just the start of what makes this region a haven for nature lovers of every stripe.

“It offers a very diverse outdoor experience,” Laffin says. “You’ve got the rail trail, you’ve got other different hiking trails that are available, and the hunting opportunities are also very abundant.”

“Within close proximity, you can get into beautiful areas of nature that most people haven’t seen or haven’t realized are around us.”

— Justin Laffin