New England's Best Kept Fly Fishing Secret? The Upper Connecticut River
The Destination Angler Podcast
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Show Notes
Episode 162 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – January 15, 2026
Our destination is the Upper Connecticut River—a remote tailwater in far northern New Hampshire that delivers outstanding fly fishing with remarkably light pressure.
In this episode, I'm joined by veteran guide Bill Bernhardt, a 20-year Orvis-endorsed guide and co-owner of Points North Outfitters in Pittsburg, NH. Bill explains why this system fishes more like a Western tailwater than classic New England water—and why it remains one of the region's true sleepers.
We talk trout and landlocked salmon, seasonal strategies, favorite fly patterns, remote ponds, and the miles of public access that make solitude easy to find for anglers willing to explore. Plus, tales of huge Atlantic Salmon, landlocks pushing 30", guiding a blind man, and mistakenly trespassing on Ted Turner's Patagonia paradise.
🎣 Is the Upper Connecticut River New England's best-kept fly fishing secret? You decide.
With host Steve Haigh
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Contact Bill Bernhardt:
- · Points North Outfitters
- · Facebook | Instagram @pointsnorthnh
- · YouTube
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Recorded Nov 13, 2025