Category Archives: Open Water Fishing

Fishing for brook trout on Echo Lake in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 9, 2021).

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The boat launch for Echo Lake is by Ikes Point off Busy Route 102.

 

Echo Lake covers 237 acres and is partially located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C2). Access is down an unnamed Park road off Route 102. Look for the “Ikes Point” sign. Drive down this short Park road, passed the parking lot, to the public boat launch at the end. The unimproved sandy launch can accommodate trailered boats. Keep in mind that boat engines over 10 HP are not allowed on this water body. Also, be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places.

 

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Fishing for brook trout on Lower Hadlock Pond in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 9, 2021)

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The access point can only accommodate hand-carried craft. The rock jutting out in the pond is a great place to fish from shore!

 

Lower Hadlock Pond covers 39 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Access is a couple of 100 ft. down Hadlock Pond Road off busy Route 3/198. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The launch site can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.

 

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Fishing for brook trout on Upper Hadlock Pond in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 9, 2021)

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The public access point by the outlet can only accommodate hand-carried crafts

 

Upper Hadlock Pond covers 35 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Access is via Route 3/198 which runs parallel to the entire western shoreline of the pond. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The public launch site by the outlet on Route 3/198 can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.

 

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Fishing for brook trout on Lake Wood in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 8, 2021).

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I did not anticipate this situation… I ended up hauling my canoe up to the pond.

 

Lake Wood covers 16 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Access to this pond is via Lake Wood Road off Crooked Road. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your car anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. I reach Lake Wood Road at 2:30 pm and am surprised to see that the park gate is closed. Crap… I park my truck on the shoulder of Crooked Road and walk around the gate to reconnoiter. It is about a half-mile stroll up and down a good gravel road to reach the parking lot and then the pond itself. Unfortunately, I left my canoe wheels at home because I did not anticipate this situation. And I do not want to carry my canoe all the way in. So, I head back out, put on my hip boots, pick up my ultralight spinning rod and reel, and walk back in. I start casting out a #2 Mepps spinner full of anticipation when I suddenly feel water trickling into my right hip boot. You have gotta be kidding me! The boot sprung a leak somewhere. I grit my teeth, walk back out, offload the canoe on my back, and walk back in. I then make one last trip to bring in the rest of my fishing gear. Thank goodness, I can finally start fishing one and a half hour behind schedule, and four miles later!

 

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Fishing for landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout in Pierce Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County, Maine (May 2, 2021)

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Cobb’s Camp, my base of operation for the weekend.

 

Pierce Pond is a 1650-acre protected gem located in Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). I have visited this beautiful three-basin lake (Lower Pond, Middle Pond, and Upper Pond) annually for well over 20 years during the long Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. The goal, always, is to catch landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout on dry flies during the spectacular mayfly hatches that peak during that period. This year, I wanted to mix things up a bit by fishing on opening day, which on this lake is May 1. I made prior arrangements with Cobb’s Camp to stay in one of their cozy cabins for two nights and spare me the hassle of having to haul out and set up my camping gear.

 

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Fishing for brook trout and rainbow trout on Knickerbocker Lake in Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine (November 29, 2020)

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View of Knickerbocker Lake looking to the right from the unimproved boat launch

 

 

Knickerbocker Lake is an 86-acre body of water located in Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 C2). The public access point is located at the end of a dirt road called Access Road off Barters Island Road (just passed the Evergreen Cemetery) about a mile west of the Route 27 traffic circle in downtown Boothbay. A sign announcing “Knickerbocker Lake” used to hang at that turn-off but was missing when I visited. Drive down Access Road for about a quarter mile until you reach a small parking area. The lake is visible through the trees.

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Fishing for brook trout on Sewell Pond in Arrowsic, Sagadahoc County, Maine (November 27, 2020)

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Sewell Pond (also spelled “Sewall Pond”) is a 43-acre body of water located in the town of Arrowsic in Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 C5). The public access point to the pond is located right next to Route 127. Parking is along the shoulder of the road or by a small dirt pull-up right by the access point.

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Fishing for brook trout on Pinkham Pond in Alna, Lincoln County, Maine (November 27, 2020)

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Early-morning view of pretty Pinkham Pond from Bog Road.

 

Pinkham Pond is a 21-acre body of water located in Alna, Lincoln County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 13 E1). The public access to the pond is located at its southern tip, right besides Bog Road. Parking is along the shoulder of the road. It would be best not to leave your vehicle at the nearby fire truck water intake as that might potentially result in a ticket or a tow.

 

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Fishing for brook trout on Upper Hinkley Pond in South Portland, Cumberland County, Maine (November 21, 2020)

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General view of Upper Hinkley Pond. The retaining wall and the dam are all the way in the background. We fished the shoreline shown on the right-hand side in this picture.

 

Upper Hinkley Pond is a small, 3-acre shallow reservoir formed by the impoundment of Kimball Brook. It is found in Hinkley Park off Highland Avenue in South Portland, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 3 A4 or map 73 G4). This beautiful little pond is located only 10 minutes from downtown Portland! The park offers ample parking. Keep in mind that Hinkley Park is a popular area for local people to walk their dogs and that some of their canines may pay you a visit. Beware also that the first pond you encounter when entering the park is Lower Hinkley Pond. This body of water is set aside for “kids only” fishing and therefore cannot be fished by anglers over 16 years old. Just walk uphill for a couple of minutes and the upper pond will soon emerge.

 

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Fall wader fishing for trout in southern and central Maine

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My blog readers know that fishing can be turned into a non-stop four-season activity in Maine, with ice fishing in the winter, trolling or fly fishing for salmonids in the spring, bass fishing on lakes and rivers in the summer, and trolling for salmonids in the fall. However, the kind of open-water fishing described above requires specific equipment, such as a canoe or motor boat, electronics, downriggers, lead core line, and the like. That can quickly become overwhelming and expensive.

 

 

Some of you asked if I could highlight places in southern and central Maine where one could fish for trout in the fall but without the need for expensive gear. I therefore decided to research and write this blog for you. The only piece of “fancy” equipment required is a pair of waders, available on-line or at your local sports equipment store. Also needed is the drive required to get out of bed at the crack of dawn to spend time immersed in ice-cold water under freezing-cold conditions to pursue a true passion 🙂

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