Woodtroll,

The Allagash Waterway IS a great trip.  If you do the whole length, the mix is about half lakes, half river paddling.  DEFINITELY have park officials truck your packs, etc., the nine-mile length of Chase Rapids (mid-way), IF you choose to run those rapids.  There are some 3's & maybe even a 4 in there.  Nearly lost a mother-in-law, father-in-law, & wife in that section!  Let's put it this way... I was the ONLY one left in a canoe & had to fetch or find all the others.  Anyway, THAT part of the waterway can be challenging.  It's beautiful country; lots of wildlife.  Mount Katahdin - the top of which is the first place on mainland USA to recieve sunshine everyday - will loom high above & behind you for the first third of your trip.

Fishing-wise, I'm sure there must be stream trout in the rivers but the only thing we could consistently catch were whitefish... and they were everywhere.  Of course, that was thirty years ago for me.  I suppose it's conceivable that flying catfish - or some other exotic - has made their way into the ecosystem & taken over.  Hope not.

It's a great trip.  I recommend trying to stay in your canoe while you're on the water....

Jimbo   8-)