Trout fishing on Parker Pond, Lyman, Maine (January 27, 2013)

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Parker Pond (a.k.a. Barkers Pond) is a 26-acre body of water located in Lyman, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 B5). To find the access point, drive north on Mast Road off Route 35, then turn right on Barkers Pond Road after about 1.5 miles. Look for a small picnic/beach area on the right-hand side next to a large grey house. About a dozen picnic tables are stacked right next to the road. Park on the left-hand side, across from the tables, and walk about 100 ft down to the pond. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

Parker Pond was heavily stocked in the fall of 2012 with 41 brook trout per acre . About two thirds of the stocked fish are 9” long, whereas the remaining third consists of 13” fish, with a handful of 17 inchers.

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Trout fishing on Little Penneseewassee Pond, Norway, Maine (January 20, 20123)

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Little Penneseewassee Pond is a 96-acre body of water located alongside Route 118 in Norway, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

 

My son Joel and I arrive at Little Penneseewassee Pond at 8:15 am. The fishing conditions are perfect this morning: the air temperature is 18°F but without an atom of wind, the rising sun is hidden behind the trees which cast deep shadows along the entire shoreline, the ice is a solid 12” with 4” of snow on top, and a low pressure is forecast to move through the region later on in the day. Joel calls up a depth map of the pond on his cell phone; it shows a relatively narrow band of shallow water running along the Route 118 shoreline, wich is flanked by a very steep drop to a depth of 24 ft. The deepest spot of the lake is 29 ft.

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Trout fishing on Upper Hinkley Pond, South Portland, Maine (January 13, 2013)

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Upper Hinkley Pond is a 3-acre body of water formed by the impoundment of Kimball Brook. It is found in Hinkley Park off Highland Avenue in South Portland, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 3 A4 or map 73 G4). This delightful little pond is located only 10 minutes from downtown Portland! Keep in mind that Hinkley Park is a popular area for people to walk their dogs and that some of their canines will likely pay you a visit on the ice. The state stocks Upper Hinkley Pond with lots of brookies each fall to support fast early-season ice fishing action (click here for details)

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Ice fishing for brook trout: 13 tips to catch more fish

Brook trout are the most popular trout species sought by ice fishermen in Maine. These fish have predictable behaviors which, if understood, can be used to your advantage. Follow the strategies outlined below to catch more brook trout under the ice.

Two fat brookies caught under the ice

 

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Trout fishing on Otter Pond #2, Standish, Maine (January 6, 2013)

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Otter Pond #2 is a 12-acre body of water located off Route 35 in Standish, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 D1). Read this blog for information on trout stocking and directions. The state stocks Otter Pond #2 with lots of brookies each fall to support fast early-season ice fishing.

 

It’s still dark when I get to the parking lot by Route 35 at 6:30 am. I’m expecting a lot of competition today (Sunday) and want to make sure that I can get to my favorite spot on the pond. The only other person at the parking lot arrives a minute before me and gets on the ice first. He sets up exactly where I wanted to fish today!! I place myself next to him and proceed to drill my five holes and set out my traps. The ice is 5” to 6” thick, which is plenty safe. I’m placing my small shiners in water 4 to 8 ft deep right alongside the shoreline. My son Joel and I caught over two dozen brook trout in this area when we trolled the pond in mid-November of 2012 (click here for details).

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Washington County, Maine (winter of 2013)

About fifteen ponds in Washington County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout and brown trout to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Washington County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Waldo County, Maine (winter of 2013)

About a dozen ponds in Waldo County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and/or splake to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Waldo County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Somerset County, Maine (winter of 2013)

About one dozen ponds in Somerset County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and/or splake to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Somerset County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available at http://www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Sagadahoc County, Maine (winter of 2013)

Four ponds in Sagadahoc County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout, brown trout and/or rainbow trout to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Sagadahoc County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Piscataquis County, Maine (winter of 2013)

About a dozen and a half ponds in Piscataquis County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout, brown trout and splake to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Piscataquis County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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