The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2016 ice fishing season in Cumberland County are highlighted below (in alphabetical order). A pond is considered “top” based on its stocking density. Simply put, the more trout are packed per acre, the higher the chances of catching them through the ice!
For the purpose of this blog, I’ll define a brook trout pond as a body of water with a surface area of less than 100 acres which is stocked in the fall with hatchery-reared brook trout to support ice fishing. These ponds tend to freeze over early in the season and are typically safe to fish well before the bigger lakes become accessible. This provides early-action opportunities for those of us (myself included!) who just can’t wait to get the hard-water fishing season going. Click here for tips to increase your chances of catching more brookies through the ice.
Keep in mind that the state typically manages these smaller bodies of water as winter “put-and-take” fisheries. As a result, they get a lot of pressure early in the season and may be largely fished out within a few weeks. But by then the bigger lakes have frozen over and the ice fishing action moves elsewhere.
It is recommended to consult the latest law book (click here for details) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on these ponds.
I did my utmost best to verify that a particular pond is indeed open for ice fishing, but I make no guarantees whatsoever that my interpretation of the convoluted Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each reader of this blog to ensure that the ponds listed below can be fished through the ice by checking the regulations.
Note also that the list below excludes “kids only” ponds which have their own stocking regime and special fishing rules.
Your blog author with a 16″ brookie jigged through the ice.
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Cold Rain Pond covers 38 acres and is located off Kimball Corner Road in Naples, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 29 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 104 of them (or about 3 trout per acre) measured 13”. Access to this pond is down Tiger Hill Road. Beware that this road is not plowed in the winter.
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Otter Pond #2 covers 12 acres and is located next to an old railroad track off Route 35 in Standish, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 D1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 60 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 131 of them (or about 11 trout per acre) measured 13”, whereas 15 of them (or about 1 trout per acre) consisted of 16” fish. Ample parking is available on both sides of the bridge over the railroad tracks on Route 35. Otter Pond #2 offers good odds of catching 1- and 2-pound trout during the 2016 ice fishing season.
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Otter Pond #4 (also called Snake Pond) covers 6 acres and is located behind a wooded knoll across from Otter Pond #2 in Standish, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 D1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 63 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 80 of them (or about 14 trout per acre!) measured 13”, whereas 10 of them (or between 1 and 2 trout per acre) consisted of 16” fish. Ample parking is available on both sides of the bridge over the railroad tracks on Route 35. Otter Pond #4 offers good odds of catching 1- and 2-pound trout during the 2016 ice fishing season.
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Upper Hinkley Pond covers 3 acres and is located in Hinkley Park off Highland Avenue in South Portland, Cumberland County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 3 A4 and also map 73 G4). A depth map is not available. This urban pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 90 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 50 of them (or about 17 trout per acre!) measured 13”. Beware that Lower Hinkley Pond, which is the first body of water visible from the parking lot, is a “kids only” pond. Upper Hinkley Pond is located further up the hill. This pond offers excellent odds of catching 1-pound trout during the 2016 ice fishing season.
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.
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