This blog describes a select group of ponds in Maine that provide the best potential for catching rainbow trout through the ice during the winter of 2016. Around 20 ponds, most of them located in southern Maine counties, are managed as rainbow trout fisheries. Many of these ponds are open to ice fishing and are stocked with bows each spring and/or fall.
I only present ponds that were stocked in 2015 with a minimum of 1 rainbow trout per acre. As a rough yardstick, the average stocking density 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.
It is recommended to consult the latest law book (click here for details) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on these ponds.
Also, 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 a pond listed below can be fished through the ice by checking the regulations.
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Crystal Pond covers 189 acres and is located next to Mayberry Road (off North Raymond Road) in Gray, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 250 rainbow trout of 12”, which yields about 1 rainbow trout per acre.
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Forest Pond covers 45 acres and is located off Meadowview Road in Canton, Oxford County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 200 rainbow trout of 10”, which yields between 4 and 5 rainbow trout per acre.
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Jones Pond covers 467 acres and is located off Pond Road (Route 195) in Gouldsboro, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 17 A1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 930 rainbow trout of 13”, which yields about 2 rainbow trout per acre.
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Kennebunk Pond covers 224 acres and is located next to Kennebunk Pond Road in Lyman, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 200 rainbow trout of 13”, which yields around 1 rainbow trout per acre.
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Knickerbocker Pond covers 105 acres and is located off Barters Island Road in Boothbay, Lincoln County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 C2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 200 rainbow trout of 9”, which yields about 2 rainbow trout per acre.
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Lake George covers 335 acres and is located next to Canaan Road (Route 2) in Canaan, Somerset County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 21 B2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 400 rainbow trout of 12”, which yields about 1 rainbow trout per acre.
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Little Ossipee Lake covers 564 acres and is located off Route 5 in Waterboro, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 A4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 2800 rainbow trout of 9”, which yields about 5 rainbow trout per acre.
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Megunticook Lake covers 1305 acres and is located in Camden, Knox County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 C3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 1000 rainbow trout of 13”, which yields around 1 rainbow trout per acre.
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Middle Range Pond covers 366 acres and is located off Route 26 in Poland, Androscoggin County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 650 rainbow trout of 13”, which yields around 2 rainbow trout per acre.
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Penneseewassee Lake covers 922 acres and is located next to Lake Road (Route 117) in Norway, Oxford County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 1850 rainbow trout of 13”, which yields about 2 rainbow trout per acre.
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Stanley Pond covers 137 acres and is located next to Route 160 in Hiram, Oxford County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 C2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 950 rainbow trout of 10”, which yields about 7 rainbow trout per acre.
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Upper Range Pond covers 391 acres and is located off Range Hill Road in Poland, Androscoggin County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 300 rainbow trout measuring 13”, which yields about 1 rainbow trout per acre.
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Worthley Pond covers 354 acres and is located next to East Shore Road in Peru, Oxford County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 900 rainbow trout of 9”, which yields between 2 and 3 rainbow 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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