Tag Archives: Somerset County

Fly fishing for trout on Split Rock Pond, Bowtown Township, Maine (May 26, 2014)

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The team strategizing before paddling onto Split Rock Pond...

The team strategizing before paddling onto Split Rock Pond…

Split Rock Pond is a completely undeveloped 6-acre pond nestled on the lower flank of Otter Pond Mountain within the Pierce Pond watershed (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). This shallow water body has an average depth of 5 ft and a maximum depth of 15 ft. The bottom consists mostly of soft organic muck and the water is slightly colored. Access to this pond is via unmarked foot trails through the woods. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The fishing rules are strict, as follows: (a) the pond is closed to ice fishing and is open to fishing from May 1 to September 30; (b) fly fishing only, and (c) the daily bag limit on trout is two fish with a minimum length of 10”, only one of which may exceed 12”. Click here for more details on the regulations.

 

 

 

 

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Trout and salmon fishing on Pierce Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Maine (May 22 to 24, 2014)

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Upper Pierce Pond all to myself during my early-morning troll

Upper Pierce Pond is all mine during my early-morning troll

Pierce Pond is a gem of a lake nestled in the mountains of central Somerset County (see the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). It consists of three basins (lower, middle and upper) connected by shallow, boulder-infested thoroughfares. The water is crystal clear and its quality is superb. This water body, which covers 1,650 acres, is completely surrounded by a protected forested watershed. Hence, civilization intrudes minimally, except for a few grand-fathered camps in Lindsay Cove. The entire shoreline is deeply wooded and not a single dock or house is visible anywhere, except for Cobb’s Camp. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

 

 

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Trout fishing on Pierce Pond Stream in Carrying Place Township, Maine (May 26, 2014)

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One of the many spectacular water falls on Pierce Pond Stream

One of the many spectacular water falls on Pierce Pond Stream

Pierce Pond Stream flows for about 3.5 miles between Pierce Pond and the Kennebec River (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 B2). We explore this stream during our annual Memorial Day weekend fishing trip on Pierce Pond. We motor over from Cobb’s Camp and tie up at the Harrison Camp landing at the dam by the outlet. We find the Appalachian Trail (AT) which runs parallel to the stream and explore this natural beauty for about 1 mile downstream from the dam. Google Maps shows that Otter Pond Road provides direct driving access to the stream (note that The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer calls it Bowtown Road). This road, as viewed from the bridge over the stream, looks like a well-maintained gravel road.

 

 

 

 

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TOP 10 Brook Trout Ponds for the 2014 Spring Fishing Season in Somerset County, Maine

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This blog identifies the ponds in Somerset County, Maine that provide the best odds of catching brook trout during the spring of 2014. Most of the target ponds are below 50 acres and are therefore relatively small. Some of these ponds could be fished from shore, but most are best fished from a canoe or other small craft. The fishing action on these bodies of water can be fast and furious in the spring. Trout activity typically peaks between late April and early June, after which the bite slows down due to rising surface water temperatures.

 

The TOP 10 brook trout ponds in Somerset County for the spring of 2014 are highlighted below in alphabetical order. A pond is considered TOP due to its trout stocking density: everything else being equal, the more brook trout that are stocked per acre of pond, the greater the chances of catching those fish.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Somerset County, Maine (winter of 2014)

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About a dozen and a half ponds in Somerset County, Maine, were stocked with trout in the fall of 2013 to support ice fishing. Most of these fish are relatively small (7” to 12”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spiced up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 13” or more, and weighing at least 1.0 lb. This blog highlights the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Somerset County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish through the ice.

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The Hottest Brook Trout Ponds for the Spring of 2013 in Somerset County, Maine

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This blog identifies the ponds in Somerset County, Maine that provide the best odds of catching brook trout during the spring of 2013. Many of the target ponds are below 30 acres and are therefore relatively small. Some of these ponds could be fished from shore, but most are best fished from a canoe or other small craft. The fishing action on these bodies of water can be fast and furious in the spring. Trout activity typically peaks between late April and early June, after which the bite slows down due to rising surface water temperatures.

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Best ice fishing ponds for catching large trout in Somerset County, Maine (winter of 2013)

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About one dozen ponds in Somerset County, Maine, were stocked in the fall of 2012 with brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and/or splake to support ice fishing during the winter of 2013. Most of the stocked trout are relatively small (7” to 11”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.

The state also spices-up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 12” or more. This blog highlight the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Somerset County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish. It is recommended to consult the latest law book (available at http://www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.

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Trout and salmon fishing on Pierce Pond, Somerset County, Maine (May 28, 2012)

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Click here for the story of the first two days

It’s day 3 of our annual Pierce Pond fishing expedition. Salvador and I are back on Lower Pierce Pond at 5 am to troll for landlocked salmon and brook trout for 1.5 hrs before breakfast (note: the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks the pond with landlocked salmon in the spring. Check the web site associated with this blog for more stocking details). Even though my fish finder is on, I don’t pay enough attention to the bottom contour and end up wedging my trolling weight in a shallow rock pile. It’s a real mess: the wind blows us off the rock pile, my downrigger is jammed, and our fishing lines are scrambled up. It takes us about 20 minutes to untangle the mess which, to our surprise, yields a 12″ brookie for Salvador. The fish must have taken the Mooselook spoon before we got stuck, but was just too small to trigger the release mechanism on the downrigger. It’s hardly glorious, but Salvador finally caught his first trout!

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Trout and salmon fishing on Pierce Pond, Somerset County, Maine (May 26, 2012).

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Pierce Pond is a magnificent, remote, 1,650 acre (maximum depth = 185 ft) lake located in the shadow of Pierce Pond Mountain deep in Somerset County in southwestern Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). It consists of three basins (Lower, Middle, and Upper Pond) which are connected to each other by shallow thoroughfares. The surrounding watershed is entirely forested and forever protected from future development. The whole shoreline is rugged and undeveloped, except for Cobb’s Camp where we’re staying for four days. Several unimproved access points are located in the lower and upper basins. The state stocks this lake with juvenile landlocked salmon each spring after ice-out. The adult salmon don’t grow particularly big: a 3-pounder is considered a nice fish, whereas a 4-pounder is exceptional. But they are relatively plentiful and do not shy away from sipping flies or pounding on a spoon. The brook trout are all natives and can also reach 3 to 4 pounds.

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Flyfishing for brook trout on Dixon Pond, Somerset County, Maine (May 28, 2012).

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Dixon Pond is a 17-acre body of water nestled on the flank of Pierce Pond Mountain in Pierce Pond Township (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A1). The pond is remarkably deep for its small size, with a maximum depth of 55 ft. The only way to reach this little jewel is to hike up to it from Pierce Pond via a forest trail. The pond supports a healthy population of native brook trout.

I tie my boat just passed the Caribou Narrows on Middle Pierce Pond and hike the 25-minute to the pond by myself. I love Dixon Pond: its beauty, total isolation, forested surroundings, and fiesty brook trout. The trout don’t get big (the largest one I have caught in this pond over the years was 13″) but eagerly take dry flies. In fact, flyfishing is the only legal way to fish the pond, which suits me just fine.

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