Acadia National Park is a major jewel in the National Park Service crown. It is located on Mount Desert Island along the rugged coast of Downeast Maine in Hancock County. Several million people visit the park each year to enjoy the great outdoors, including sea kayaking, biking the carriage trails, exploring the many hiking trails in the Park, watching the sun rise from the top of Mount Cadillac, or enjoying the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean from the Park Loop Road. Too few, however, take advantage of the fabulous brook trout fishing on the numerous secluded ponds which are tucked away throughout the Park.
This blog focuses specifically on those small ponds less than 50 acres in size which are stocked with brook trout by the State every year. Nine ponds within the boundary of the Park fall within this category. Keep in mind that several streams that flow through the Park are also home to native brookies. These fish are typically small in size, but can be plentiful, aggressive, and quite feisty, particularly in spring. They are also typically easier to catch than the larger stocked trout. In addition, no boat is required since all the stream fishing takes place from shore! Examples of streams that support native brook trout in Acadia National Park include Richardson Brook (outlet of Betty Aunt Pond; see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3), Jordan Stream (outlet of Jordan Pond; see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3), Hunters Brook (outlet of Bubble Pond; see Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C4), Stanley Brook (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C4), and Little Harbor Brook (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3).
The nine small ponds listed below are highly regulated in order to preserve their exceptional quality, the scenic beauty of the area, and the Park experience. It is greatly recommended to carefully read the latest fishing regulations (click here for details) in order to understand all of the individual restrictions and limitations that apply to these bodies of water. Information on buying a Maine fishing license on-line can be obtained here. Note also that some of the ponds are accessible from nearby roads (e.g., Upper Hadlock Pond), whereas others are more remote and require a hike-in. Finally, the fishing action on the ponds will be fastest in the spring when the surface water is still relatively cool. Brook trout become more difficult to catch between mid-June and late-September when they move down to the bottom to seek cool water around hidden spring holes or below the thermocline.
The nine small ponds in Acadia National Park stocked with brook trout are listed below in alphabetical order.
View Map
Bubble Pond is a 32 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the spring with an average of 5 brookies per acre, and in the fall with an average of 17 brookies per acre. It is open to fishing year round. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of internal combustion engines on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions, number of lines that can be used, and catch/release.
View Map
Halfmoon Pond is a 3 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 42 brookies per acre. It is closed to ice fishing. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of any type of motor on this body of water. Other regulations apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Lake Wood is a 16 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 38 brookies per acre. It is open to fishing year round. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of motorboats on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Lower Breakneck Pond is an 8 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Click here for depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 31 brookies per acre. It is closed to ice fishing. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of any type of motor on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Lower Hadlock Pond is a 39 acre body of water located in the township of Mount Desert (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 19 brookies per acre. It is open to fishing year round. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of motorboats over 10 horse power on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Round Pond is a 38 acre body of water located in the township of Mount Desert (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 3 brookies per acre. It is open to fishing year round. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of motorboats on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Upper Breakneck Pond is a 9 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 31 brookies per acre. It is closed to ice fishing. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of any type of motor on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release.
View Map
Upper Hadlock Pond is a 35 acre body of water located in the township of Mount Desert (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 26 brookies per acre. It is closed to ice fishing. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of motorboats over 10 horse power on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions and catch/release. For this pond, the daily bag limit on trout is two fish with a minimum length of 12″ and only one fish may exceed 14″.
View Map
Witch Hole Pond is a 28 acre body of water located in the township of Bar Harbor (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond is stocked in the fall with an average of 42 brookies per acre. It is open to fishing year round. The fishing regulations prohibit the use of internal combustion engines on this body of water. Other regulations also apply regarding seasonal tackle restrictions, number of allowable fishing lines, and catch/release.
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 these locations.
~ ~ ~ ~ ><« ({(« º >