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General view of Big Eddy Pond from the southern end

Big Eddy Pond covers about 4 acres and is 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; use the Google Map link above to find its specific location. The easiest access is by car: slowly drive through the entrance of the transfer station, stop and tell the attendant your purpose, continue to the back of the facility, and look for a dirt road that loops around the grassy knoll (i.e., the restored landfill). It will bring you directly to the shore of the pond after a 2-minute ride. Cars can be parked right along the pond shoreline. Keep in mind that the transfer station operates from 8 am until 5 or 6 pm (depending on the season) and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Click here for more details. If you want to fish before opening or after closing hours, or on the two closed days, then park your car in the small parking lot to the left of the entrance to the transfer station and walk for about 10 minutes to the pond via the local trails. Keep in mind that Big Eddy Pond has a smaller twin called Little Eddy Pond. Only the former (most southerly) is stocked with trout.

Look for this sign. Big Eddy Pond is right behind it.

Many of my blog readers have asked me in the past about where one can fish from shore in the fall using waders without the need for a boat or fancy electronics. Big Eddy Pond is one of those spots. It and its twin are also called the Topsham Ponds, which are embedded in a large wooded area which is crisscrossed by multiple trails. From all appearances, this pond looks to be a flooded former gravel pit. The entire shoreline is free of trees and brush and one can pretty much walk all around the pond without the need for hip boots or waders, particularly in the fall when the water level is quite low. The substrate is sandy and firm, and the water is crystal clear. The reason for my visit today is that the pond was stocked earlier this fall with 525 9″ brookies and 75 13″ brookies. It is the latter one-pounders that are of interest to me. A review of the Maine fishing rules for the South Zone shows that Big Eddy Pond is open to fall fishing from October 1 to November 30, but using artificial lures only, and with the stipulation that all trout must be released at once.

The bigger trout are hiding in the schools of smaller fish.

I arrive at Big Eddy Pond at 10:30 am. It is a glorious late-fall day, with air temps in the mid-60’s, full sunshine, and a light southern breeze. One cannot ask for better conditions this time of year! Somewhat to me surprise, given the easy access, the nice weather, and the generous trout stocking, no one else is fishing and I have the place all to myself, except for the occasional mountain bikers and people out for a stroll. I am using my ultra-light spinner rod with a small spinning reel spooled with 6-pound monofilament fishing line, and a trusted #2 Mepps spinner. I removed one of the three hooks from the treble and flattened the barb on one of the two remaining hooks to minimize harm to the fish. I start casting my lure out with great anticipating, and I am still casting 30 minutes later without having gotten a single hit or bite… By then, I have slowly walked and cast my way to the southern tip of the pond when I get a hookup and bring in a little 9″ trout. Finally!

It just never gets old, particularly on a perfect fall day!

And then the bonanza starts… It is a deeply-satisfying but rare condition that only occurs when all the stars align perfectly. And that alignment is occurring this morning (click here, here, and here for other examples). The trout are all hiding in that southern corner of the pond. I toss my spinner out and, because of the crystal-clear water, see dozens of trout eagerly swimming after and lurching towards the lure. I have stretches when every cast results in a hit and every second cast yields a fish! I land two dozen trout over the next hour, and miss a bunch more. Even though the majority of the fish are the much less interesting nine inchers, I do catch six of the harder-fighting 13 inchers. What a blast! On my way out, I pass a dad and his young son who are fishing where I originally started. They have not caught a thing. I gladly tell them about the bunch of eager trout at the opposite end of the pond. They thank me and immediately move to my former spot. It is a great feeling to share my good luck.

I love the brilliant spawning colors of the males

The results: I caught about two dozen brook trout (largest = 13″) in 1.5 hours of fast and furious fishing.

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