Fly Fishing the Wood River. Bob Hines

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      36 . Wood River

       Location: Southern Rhode Island, about a 1-hour ride from Providence; a 2-hour ride from Boston, Massachusetts; a 3-hour ride from Manchester, New Hampshire; and a 3½-hour ride from Portland, Maine. Full-service airports are available in all four cities.

      The Wood River is undoubtedly Rhode Island’s—and one of southern New England’s—premier trout streams. That this river is found in the smallest state in the country, and a state that has some of the highest population densities in the country, is a real testimony to those charged with managing and preserving this resource.

      The Wood River valley is considered one of the coldest locations in Rhode Island. This is due its low-lying and flat geography. Anglers fishing the Wood find themselves among majestic pines, oaks, and maples. During the fall, the foliage rivals anywhere found in New England. Located along the Rhode Island–Connecticut border, the Wood is the primary tributary of the Pawcatuck River. The river has eight dams along its length. The topography is a mix of riffles, placid runs, pools, and undercut banks. This provides a wide variety of conditions for those seeking specific types of water to fish. The Wood is easily accessible, with numerous public access points. These include, but are not limited to, the

      Deer Check Station on Route 165, the dam at Wyoming Pond, and several sites within the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area.

      The source of the Wood River is in the swamps northeast of Potters Pond in Sterling, Connecticut. From here the river flows southeast into Rhode Island. Once in Rhode Island, the Wood flows southeast past Escoheag Hill, and over Stepstone Falls, before receiving the Flat River. After it merges with the Flat River, the Wood heads southward through the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area. From here it flows into the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton.