This blog describes a select group of ponds in Maine that provide the best potential for catching splake through the ice during the winter of 2016. A splake is a “hybrid” fish created by crossing a lake trout with a brook trout. It has the advantage of being sterile, growing fast, and feeding on forage fish shunned by brook trout. Splake are also easier to catch through the ice than rainbow or brown trout. Around 55 ponds in Maine are managed as splake fisheries. Many of these ponds are open to ice fishing and are stocked with this species each spring and/or fall.
I only present ponds that were stocked in 2015 with a minimum of 2 splake 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 regulations (Click here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below.
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 check the regulations and ensure that a pond listed below can be fished through the ice.
View Map
Bear Pond covers 42 acres and is located in Bowerbank, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 32 A1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 300 splake of 10”, which yields around 7 trout per acre.
View Map
Chesuncook Pond covers 272 acres and is located off the Golden Road in T3 R11 WELS, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 50 D2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 700 splake of 7”, which yields between 2 and 3 trout per acre.
View Map
Cochrane Lake covers 92 acres and is located next to Route 2 (County Road) in New Limerick, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 A1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 200 splake of 14”, which yields around 2 trout per acre.
View Map
Deer Pond covers 181 acres and is located next to Deer Pond Road (off the Golden Road) in T3 R13 WELS, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 49 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 500 splake of 10”, which yields around 3 trout per acre.
View Map
First Davies Pond covers 128 acres and is located off Route 150 in Guilford, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 250 splake of 10”, which yields around 2 trout per acre.
View Map
Fitts Pond covers 106 acres and is located next to Camp Roosevelt Road in Clifton, Penobscot County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 23 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 400 splake of 10”, which yields around 4 trout per acre.
View Map
Heart Pond covers 73 acres and is located next to Routes 1 and 3 in Orland, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 23 E4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 200 splake of 10”, which yields between 2 and 3 trout per acre.
View Map
Holbrook Pond covers 224 acres and is located in Rainbow Township, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 50 D3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 2150 splake of 7”, which yields between 9 and 10 trout per acre.
View Map
Hosea Pug Lake covers 58 acres and is located off Clifford Lake Road in T26 ED BPP, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 35 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 150 splake of 10”, which yields between 2 and 3 trout per acre.
View Map
Jacob Buck Pond covers 190 acres and is located off Jacob Bucks Pond Road in Bucksport, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 23 D3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 350 splake of 10”, which yields around 2 trout per acre.
View Map
Keeley Lake covers 49 acres and is located between Six Mile Lake and Second Marks Lake off Route 192 in Marshfield, Washington County (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 spring of 2015 with 100 splake of 10”, which yields around 2 trout per acre.
View Map
Lufkin Pond covers 47 acres and is located off Lufkin Pond Road in Phillips, Franklin County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 A2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 350 splake of 13”, which yields between 7 and 8 trout per acre.
View Map
Second Lake covers 104 acres and is located in T37 MD BPP, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 35 D4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 350 splake of 10”, which yields around 3 trout per acre.
View Map
Trickey Pond covers 311 acres and is located next to Route 114 in Naples, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the spring of 2015 with 800 splake of 10”, which yields between 2 and 3 trout per acre.
View Map
Wentworth Pond (a.k.a. Ironbound Pond) covers 213 acres and is located next to Ironbound Pond Road in Solon, Somerset County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 E1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 400 splake of 13”, which yields around 2 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.
~ ~ ~ ~ ><« ({(« º >
