Nissitissit River

River Map

About Nissitissit River

The Nissitissit River flows south out of New Hampshire into Pepperell before joining the Nashua River, and it is one of a handful of Massachusetts streams carrying a designated fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release regulation on its upper reach. Cold, clear, and spring-fed, it holds a mix of stocked and naturally reproducing wild trout — including native brook trout in the colder upper stretches — in a corridor that receives far less pressure than western Massachusetts tailwaters. It is a genuine hidden gem of the North Central watershed.

Regulations

Fly-fishing-only C&R area: New Hampshire state border downstream to the Prescott Street bridge in Pepperell — conventional fly rod and fly line required, no bait, all fish must be released, open year-round. Standard MA trout regulations apply below Prescott Street. NOTE: USGS gauge 01096503 at Pepperell is unverified — flow data may be stale or unavailable; check with local outfitters or the Waterline app as backup.

Learn More

Guides to help you fish Nissitissit River with more confidence.

• Massachusetts Fishing Regulations for Fly Anglers

  Massachusetts fishing license (no separate trout stamp), the April 1 spring opener, year-round catch-and-release on the Swift fly-only stretch, the…

• Trout Species of Massachusetts

  MA's wild brown trout fishery — the Swift below Quabbin, the FirstLight-controlled Deerfield, the Westfield Wild and Scenic corridor — alongside…

• How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing (And How to Use It)

  That gorgeous bluebird day after a cold front? Worst fishing of the year. Here's the data behind why pressure changes matter more than the weather…