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.
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 one of those larger fish. As a rough comparison, the average stocking rate for landlocked salmon in Maine is about 0.5 salmon per acre (which is equivalent to 1 salmon every two acres).
I did my utmost best to verify that a particular pond is indeed open for ice fishing, but I make no guarantees whatsoever that my interpretation of the convoluted Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each reader of this blog to ensure that the ponds listed below can be fished through the ice.
View Map
Goulding Pond covers 17 acres and is located at the end of Western Road off Brewer Road in Robbinston (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 D1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with big brook trout (50 fish of 13”), which yields about 3 large trout per acre.
View Map
Indian Lake covers 120 acres and is located just to the north of Route 1 in Whiting (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 26 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with big brook trout (200 fish of 13” and 30 fish of 20”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre. Indian Lake offers one of the best odds of catching a 3.5 – 4.0 lbs brook trout in that part of the state during the 2013 ice fishing season!
View Map
Keene Lake covers 115 acres and is located in Calais (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 C1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with big brook trout (150 fish of 13” and 25 fish of 20”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre. Keene Lake also offers one of the best odds of catching a 3.5 – 4.0 lbs brook trout in that part of the state during the 2013 ice fishing season!
View Map
Keeley Lake covers 49 acres and is located between Six Mile Lake and Second Marks Lake to the east of Route 192 in Marshfield (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 26 B2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with big brook trout (100 fish of 13”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre.
View Map
Vining Lake covers 19 acres and is located at the end of Vining Road off Route 191in Cooper (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 36 E3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with big brook trout (50 fish of 13”), which yields about 3 large trout per acre.
Was the information in this blog useful? I invite you to share your thoughts and opinions by posting a comment. Also, feel free to tell us about your fishing experiences on any of the ponds presented above.
