Category Archives: Salmon and Trout

Ice fishing for splake on Mount Blue Pond in Avon, Franklin County, Maine (February 25, 2024)

Posted on by
Reply

 

Mount Blue Pond is a 134-acre body of water located in Avon, Franklin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 B3). From Route 4 (Rangeley Road), turn on Mount Blue Pond Road and drive for 2.3 miles all the way to the public access point. The first half of this road is paved, whereas the remainder is a high-quality dirt road. From the looks of it, it appears that the entire road is plowed during the winter months up to the public access point, but no further. Plenty of parking space is available along the road shoulder by the access.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout and lake trout on Porter Lake in Strong, Franklin County, Maine (February 4, 2024)

Posted on by
1

 

Porter Lake is a 527-acre body of water located in Strong, Franklin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 20 B1). From Norton Hill Road (Route 234), turn on Pond Road and drive for 1.1 miles before turning right on Beanies Beach Road by the blue public access sign. Stay on this gravel road for 0.5 miles all the way to the end by the boat launch which is also known as Bean’s Beach (note: do not turn right on West Shore Lane at the split). The public access is spacious and offers parking for up to two dozen vehicles.

 

Continue reading →

So, you want to go ice fishing this winter? Tips and tricks (part 3)!

Posted on by
Reply

Click here for Tips and Tricks (part 2).

Click here for Tips and Tricks (part 1).

 

In a previous blog, I described the basic equipment required to catch fish through the ice. This blog is the third of three installments about tips and tricks to enhance your ice fishing experiences.

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Silver Lake in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine (January 27, 2024)

Posted on by
Reply

 

Most of the brookies I catch this morning are of this modest size.

 

Silver Lake is a 12-acre body of water located right next to the ocean in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 E5). If you are quiet and listen attentively when on the ice, you can hear the waves crashing on the nearby beach! To reach this location, drive on Route 209 from Bath and pass Popham Beach State Park. The pond will appear within less than a mile from the entrance of the park. Just before reaching the southern tip of the pond, turn right on Hunnewell Avenue, which is a gravel road that splits off from Route 209. Drive 200-300 ft. on this road and leave your vehicle on the side. The access point will be to your left. Keep in mind that parking space is limited to a handful of vehicles (note: no parking is available or allowed on Route 209) and may also be a problem after a snowstorm.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Charles Pond in Georgetown, Maine (January 20, 2024)

Posted on by
Reply

 

It’s tough to be a baitfish…

 

Charles Pond is a 14-acre body of water located next to Route 127 (Five Islands Road) in Georgetown, Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 D1). The pond is located immediately next to the road and is therefore easily accessible. Vehicles can be parked along the wide shoulder. However, beware that parking may be a challenge following a snowstorm after the plows have pushed piles of snow on that shoulder.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Big Eddy Pond, Topsham, Sagadahoc County (January 15, 2024)

Posted on by
Reply

 

The parking lot next to the transfer station can accommodate multiple vehicles. Note the total lack of snow…

 

Big Eddy Pond is a small, four-acre body of water located in the back of the Topsham Transfer Station at the end of Townsend Way, off Foreside Road in Topsham, ME. The pond is not shown on the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map. Consult the Google Maps link provided above to find your way in. Note that when the transfer station is active, one can just drive through the open gate all the way to the shore of the pond. However, make sure to stop and talk to one of the attendants to explain your intent. If the transfer station is inoperative, leave your vehicle by the small parking lot to the left of the closed gate and walk in. It takes less than 10 minutes to get to your destination.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Shirley Pond in Shirley, Piscataquis County, Maine (December 31, 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

 

Shirley Pond is a 60-acre body of water located in the town of Shirley, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 E2). To reach this location, drive north on Routes 6/15 (Greenville Road) towards Greenville and take a left on Upper Shirley Corner Road. Drive towards Shirley Mills for less than 2 miles. The pond will appear to your right after passing two stop signs. The public access point is by a small public park right before the outlet. Space is available to leave a few vehicles by the park. Access to the water is down a steep slope.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Doe Pond in Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine (December 23, 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

Doe Pond is pretty and the ice is safe!

 

Doe Pond is a 54-acre body of water located in the town of Monson, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 A3). To reach this location from downtown Monson, drive on Blanchard Road for about 2.4 miles, turn right on Doe Pond Access Road and drive down this dirt road for 0.4 miles until you see the blue boat launch sign. Turn left and drive for about 300-400 ft until you reach the public access point (note: the last 100 ft of the trail to the pond is blocked off to prevent launching of trailered boats during the open-water season). I do not know if or how well Doe Pond Access Road is plowed in the winter. That is not an issue this morning because the ground is not covered by any snow.

 

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for brook trout on Snows Pond in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County, Maine (December 16, 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

Snows Pond is at the end of this road.

 

Snows Pond is a 21-acre body of water located in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 32 B2). To reach this location, drive north towards Sebec Lake on Route 153 (Greeley’s Landing Road) from downtown Dover-Foxcroft for a mile or so and turn left on Snows Pond Road. Drive down that dirt road for 200-300 yards, and pass the Piscataquis Valey Snowmobile Club clubhouse until you reach the pond. I do not know if or how well Snows Pond Road is plowed in the winter. That is not an issue this morning because the ground is free of snow. Also, if the conditions allow it, you can drive your vehicle right up to the edge of the pond, set up your traps along the shoreline, and watch them from the comfort of your automobile!

 

Continue reading →

Fishing for brook trout on Otter Pond #2 in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine (November 18, 2023)

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

Walk down next to the old railroad tracks until you reach this sign. Enter Otter Pond #2 right behind it.

 

Otter Pond #2 is a 12-acre body of water located in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 D1). To reach this location, drive down Route 35 (Chadborne Road) towards the southern tip of Sebago Lake. The parking area for the Otter Ponds is located just to the north of the Route 35 bridge that crosses over the unused railroad tracks. On the other side of that bridge is the even larger parking lot for the Johnson Field athletic grounds. After you park in the ponds parking lot, do not forget to fill out the short form provided at the little wooden kiosk, and leave a copy on your vehicle’s dashboard. It takes less than a minute to complete the requested information and provides a way for the Sebago Lake Land Preserve to keep track of day usage on their property. From the parking lot, make your way down towards the old railroad tracks, turn left, and walk for less than 10 minutes next to those tracks. Your target pond will be the last one on your right.

 

Continue reading →