Tag Archives: splake

Fishing for splake and brown trout on Lufkin Pond in Phillips, Franklin County, Maine (June 27, 2026)

Posted on by
Reply

 

View of Lufkin Pond from the rough access point.

 

Lufkin Pond is a 47-acre body of water located in Phillips, Franklin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 A2). To access this pond, turn on Lufkin Pond Road from Route 4 (Rangeley Road) in Phillips, and drive down this gravel road for 1.7 miles to the northern tip of the pond. A 4X4 vehicle is not needed to drive on this road, which is popular with four wheelers and side-by-siders. However, beware that Lufkin Pond Road has several splits and intersections, which confused the heck out of me and had me driving in wrong directions several times. Some of those side roads are also rather rough… I used my phone’s GPS to turn back, when needed, and make sure that I kept moving towards the pond. I would have gotten lost without this tool… The access point is unimproved, and can only accommodate muscle-powered craft.

 

Continue reading →

Fishing for splake on Minnehonk Lake in Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, Maine (September 20, 2025)

Posted on by
Reply

 

A gorgeous view of Minnehonk Lake during the Golden Hour!

 

Minnehonk Lake is an 85-acre body of water located in Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 12 A3). The boat launch, which is not shown in my 2019 edition of the Gazetteer, is located at the northern tip of the lake, off North Road and across from the fire station. The launch is narrow and sandy but can accommodate trailered boats. Parking is limited to a few vehicles along the road shoulder.

 

Continue reading →

Fishing for splake on Piper Pond in Abbott, Piscataquis County, Maine (August 14, 2025)

Posted on by
Reply

 

The launch at Piper Pond can accommodate large boats. The public beach is right next to it.

 

Piper Pond is a 420-acre body of water located in Abbot, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 B3). The access point is found next to the public beach at the northern end of the pond, right off Pond Road. The launch is solid, has a dock and a porter-potty in the summer, and can accommodate large, trailered boats. Plenty of parking is available by the beach area.

Continue reading →

Ice fishing for splake on Fitts Pond in Clifton, Penobscot County, Maine (January 18, 2025)

Posted on by
Reply

 

Fitts Pond is a 106-acre body of water located in Clifton, Penobscot County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 23 B5). To reach this location, drive on Route 46 (Javis Gore Drive) and turn into Blackcap Road. Then turn right on Camp Roosevelt Road after a quarter mile. The pond is located about 1 mile down this plowed and well-maintained private gravel road owned by the Boy Scouts of America. This organization manages Camp Roosevelt situated along the eastern shore of the pond. Beware that this road has a gate which is closed during mud season in the spring but is typically open during winter to allow ice anglers direct access to the pond. Unfortunately, for some reason, that gate is closed this morning which requires walking that last mile… I huff and puff pulling my sled on the way in because much of Camp Roosevelt Road is on an incline going up to the pond. Fortunately, it is much easier walking back to the car after ice fishing is done.

 

Continue reading →

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 →

Fishing for splake on Shagg Pond in Woodstock, Oxford County, Maine (April 30, 2022)

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

The boat launch is spacious but unimproved.

 

Shagg Pond covers 64 acres and is located in Woodstock, Oxford County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A1). The public access point is found along the western shoreline right off Redding Road, also called Shagg Pond Road in Google Maps. The boat launch is sandy and unimproved but can accommodate trailed boats. Parking is limited to a few cars along the shoulder of the gravel road.

 

Continue reading →

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove

Ice fishing for splake on Trickey Pond in Naples, Cumberland County, Maine (March 19, 2022)

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

Trickey Pond covers 311 acres and is located in Naples, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B5). The public access is via a clearly-marked hard-top boat launch located right off Route 114. Plenty of parking is available by the launch. Keep in mind that the steep road connecting Route 114 to the launch is typically unplowed in the winter (unless a kind soul does the job) and can therefore be undrivable. And if that is the case, then parking is very limited at the top. Fortunately, the road is clear and ice free this morning.

Continue reading →

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove

Fishing for splake on Trickey Pond, Naples, Maine (April 24, 2020)

Posted on by
Reply

View Map

 

Trickey Pond has a nice hard-top boat launch

 

Trickey Pond is a 311-acre body of water located in Naples, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B5). Public access is through a high-quality boat launch located right off Route 114 at the southern end of the pond. Ample parking is available. The pond and I are old acquaintances. I have ice fished it multiple times over the last 25 years (click here and here for recent examples) on account of its high-quality salmon, splake, and smallmouth bass fishery. In fact, I have caught my largest landlocked salmon (5.5 pounds) and splake (4.5 pounds) through the ice out of this pond. However, beware that even though the quality of the fish is high, the quantity is extremely low… One definitely has to put in the time to decipher this little gem and earn the right to land a fish.

Continue reading →

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove

Fishing for splake on Indian Pond in Greenwood, Maine (October 7, 2018)

Posted on by
2

The boat launch at Indian Pond is unimproved but can easily accommodate small trailered boats

 

Indian Pond covers 68 acres and is located in Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 B5). The access point is on Hobbs Road, off Rowe Hill Road, at the northern end of the pond. Drive on Hobbs Road for 0.6 miles until you reach a gate with a “no trespassing” sign. The boat launch is on the right just before that gate. The launch is unimproved but can easily accommodate small trailered boats. Parking is on the side in the woods.

Continue reading →

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove

Ice fishing for smallmouth bass and splake on Trickey Pond in Naples, Maine (March 31, 2018)

Posted on by
2

View Map

A bright and sunny, but windy, early-spring day on Trickey Pond

Trickey Pond covers 311 acres and is located in Naples, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B5). I have fished it on multiple occasions in the past for smallmouth bass and splake. I also know from several reliable sources that this relatively small body of water grows serious landlocked Atlantic salmon in the 6- to 8-pound range! The reason I like to visit Trickey Pond towards the end of the ice fishing season is that its ice is always thick and safe, even when the hard water on other ponds in southern Maine is no longer reliable. Besides, there’s always the chance of catching a real bragging fish here! Keep in mind though that this pond has a well-deserved reputation of only grudgingly offering up its scaly denizens. So, be ready to put in time to learn its secrets if you are unfamiliar with its layout.

 

Continue reading →

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove