About 20 ponds in Aroostook County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2013 with trout to support ice fishing. Most of these fish are relatively small (7” to 12”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.
The state also spiced up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 13” or more and weighing at least 1.0 lb. This blog highlights the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Aroostook County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish through the ice.
It is highly recommended to consult the latest regulations (available at www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. I have done my utmost best to verify that a particular pond is indeed open for ice fishing, but I make no guarantees that my interpretation of the Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each individual reader of this blog to ensure that a pond listed below can be fished through the ice. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.
Keep in mind that the number of bigger trout stocked in a pond is typically much lower than for the smaller trout. Hence, patience is required to catch those larger fish. As a rough yardstick, the average stocking rate for landlocked salmon in Maine ponds and lakes is about 0.3 to 0.5 salmon per acre, which equals 1 salmon every two to three acres.
Finally, use the website linked to this blog to discover how many trout and salmon are released per acre in the spring and fall in all the 600+ stocked ponds and lakes throughout Maine.
A nice 17″ rainbow trout caught through the ice
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Arnold Brook Lake covers 395 acres and is located in Presque Isle, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 65 E1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/arnold_brook_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (1000 fish of 13”), which yields between 2 and 3 large trout per acre.
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Cochrane Lake covers 92 acres and is located just south of Route 2 in Ludlow (new Limerick), Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 A1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/cochrane_lake.pdf. The pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big splake (200 fish of 13”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre.
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Faulkner Lake covers 70 acres and is located off Harris Hill Road in Weston, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 E3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/faulkner_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (220 fish of 13” and 35 fish of 17”), which yields a total of about 4 large trout per acre.
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Madawaska Lake covers 1526 acres and is located off Route 161 (New Sweden Road) in Township T16 R4 WELS, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 68 E4). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/madawaska_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (1500 fish of 13” and 130 fish of 17”), which yields a total of about 1 large trout per acre.
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Molunkus Lake covers 1050 acres and is located just northwest of the small village of Macwahoc (Molunkus township), Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 44 B3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/molunkus_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (1000 fish of 13”), which yields about 1 large trout per acre.
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Mud Pond covers 25 acres and is located next to South Oakfield Road in Linneus, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 B1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/mud_pond_linneustwp.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (650 fish of 13”), which yields about 26 large trout per acre.
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Nickerson Lake covers 234 acres and is located just south of Drews Lake Road in New Limerick, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 A2). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/nickerson_lake.pdf. The pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (820 fish of 13” and 150 fish of 17”), which yields a total of about 4 large trout per acre.
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Rowe Lake covers 252 acres and is located in Township T11 R8 WELS, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 63 E2). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/aroostook/rowe_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (250 fish of 13”), which yields about 1 large trout per acre.
Was the information in this blog useful? I invite you to share your thoughts and opinions. Also, feel free to discuss your fishing experiences at any of these locations.
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