Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass on Long Pond in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (August 5, 2023)

 

 

We are starting relatively small…

 

Long Pond is a 275-acre body of water located in the town of Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 D2). Access to this pond is via a hard but steeply inclined boat launch located on Road Between the Ponds, off Joe Berry Road. This launch is at an awkward 90° angle (i.e., perpendicular) to the narrow Road between the Ponds which therefore requires a tight turn when backing the trailer into the water. And one needs to aim straight because the edges of the launch are quite steep, as I found out the hard way today… Fortunately, this road only has light local traffic. The depth at the launch is also rather shallow (< 2 ft.) for 25-30 ft. out. I brought my hip boots to get into the water at the end of the trip and help guide the boat back on the trailer.

 

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Fishing for brook trout on Long Pond in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (October 22, 2022)

 

 

It is chilly but wind-still this morning, and the brookies are biting!

 

Long Pond is a 275-acre body of water located in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 D2). The public access is at the southern tip of the pond and consists of a narrow and poorly maintained hardtop boat launch located on Road Between the Ponds, off Joe Berry Road. This pond is moderately developed and embedded in a forested region in the northwestern corner of York County, a couple of miles from the NH border. It is open to angling between October 1 and December 31 but using artificial lures only and with the stipulation that all salmonids must be released alive and at once.

 

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass on Long Pond in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (September 17, 2022)

 

 

It is fun to troll through the early-morning fog.

 

Long Pond is a 275-acre body of water located in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 D2). Access to this pond is via a hard but poorly maintained and steeply inclined boat launch located on Road Between the Ponds, off Joe Berry Road. Note that the launch is at a 90° angle (i.e., perpendicular) to the narrow Road between the Ponds which therefore requires a tight turn when backing the boat into the water. Fortunately, this road only has light local traffic. Also, keep in mind that the depth at the launch is shallow (< 2 ft.) for 25-30 ft. out. I am glad I brought my hip boots to get into the water at the end of the trip and help guide the boat back on the trailer.

 

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Ice fishing for brook trout on Long Pond in Livermore , Androscoggin County, Maine (March 5, 2022)

 

 

UPDATE (10/24/2023): The fishing rules for Long Pond have changed. The pond appears to be open year round under the general fishing laws applicable to the South Zone. Please check the regulations.

 

Long Pond covers 208 acres and is located in Livermore, Androscoggin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A5). Public access is via the boat launch located right off Route 4 (Crash Road). A large and spacious parking area is available next to the launch.

 

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Fishing for brook trout on Long Pond in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 12, 2018)

View Map

Long Pond covers 897 acres and is located in Acadia National Park, just north of Southwest Harbor, on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C2). This body of water is surrounded by Acadia National Park on its entire western side, and along the lower third on its eastern side. I access the pond via the public boat launch at the end of Long Pond Road at the southern tip of the pond. Even though this launch falls within the boundary of the Park, I do not see any signs which explicitly state that vehicles require a Park-issued pass to enter or to park a vehicle. I’m not worried because I have the pass. However, it might be prudent to first inquire with the Park authorities, just to make sure. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the Park’s visitor center on MDI, if needed. I also note that a second public boat launch is located at the northern tip of this pond right off Route 102 (Pretty Marsh Road; see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B2) which falls outside of the Park boundaries and therefore would not require a pass.

Sunset view of Long Pond from the boat launch at the southern tip of the lake.

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Native brook trout fishing off Five Ponds Trail in Baxter State Park, Maine

This blog describes an easy, five-day hiking, camping, and native brook trout fishing adventure in the remote northeastern wilderness of Baxter State Park (BSP) in Maine. The trip is organized around the Five Ponds Trail which encircles the 1,767 ft-high Trout Brook Mountain. This picturesque trail, which meanders through a mixed hardwood forest and results in minimal elevation gain, gets its name from its location alongside five ponds, namely: Billfish Pond, Long Pond, High Pond, Littlefield Pond, and Round Pond.

 

The first three ponds support robust native brook trout populations. Neither Littlefield Pond nor Round Pond provide access to a canoe, which greatly limits their fishing potential (see below for details). Hence, those two ponds are not further discussed in this blog. Instead, I included Lower Fowler Pond and Middle Fowler Pond which are found in the immediate vicinity of the Five Pond Trail and also have strong native brook trout populations. Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove

Native brook trout fishing in Baxter State Park: Day 1 (September 26, 2014)

View of Mount Katadhin from south of Millinocket, Maine

View of Mount Katadhin from south of Millinocket, Maine

 

Baxter State Park (BSP) is the crown jewel of the Maine state park system. Tens of thousands of nature lovers every year make the pilgrimage to northern Maine to enjoy its outstanding beauty. Most people, however, enter this natural wonder at the south end of the park and head straight for Mount Katadhin and its legendary Knife’s Edge, the most spectacular 1.5 mile trail in the northeast. But there’s so much more to BSP than Katadhin! In an effort to expand our horizons and combine our favorite outdoors activities (i.e., hiking, camping, and brook trout fishing), my son Joel and I decided in September 2012 to hike and fish our way across BSP starting at Trout Brook Farm by Matagamon Gate in the north all the way across to Roaring Brook in the south. This adventure was cut short on the third day due to an unfortunate foot injury.

 

The five blogs that follow tell the story of the successful completion of this trip, which took place between September 26 and 30, 2014. Joel and I were joined by my nephew Salvador on our adventure. The blogs will not repeat all of the background information on how to reserve camp sites at BSP, rent canoes for fishing, identify brook trout ponds, obtain maps, or select hiking trails.

Continue reading

Digiprove seal Copyright protected by Digiprove