The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2016 ice fishing season in Piscataquis 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 about 100 acres (with some notable exceptions) 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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Branns Mill Pond covers 271 acres and is located next to Notch Road in Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 32 C2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 6 brook trout per acre. All of the brook trout measured 13”. The state also stocked an additional 75 brookies measuring 17”. Branns Mill Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Doe Pond covers 54 acres and is located off Blanchard Road in Monson, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 6 brook trout per acre. Most of these trout measured 13”, while the rest measured 8”. Doe Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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First Davis Pond covers 128 acres and is located off Route 150 (Blaine Avenue) in North Guilford, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 5 brook trout per acre. All of these trout measured 13”. First Davies Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Hebron Lake covers 525 acres and is located next to Routes 6 and 15 in Monson, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 31 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 17 brook trout per acre. Most of these trout measured 7”, with the remainder measuring 13”.
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Sawyer Pond covers 67 acres and is located next to Scammon Road in Greenville, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 D3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 12 brook trout per acre. A little over half of these trout measured 8”, whereas the rest measured 13”. Sawyer Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Shirley Pond covers 60 acres and is located next to Upper Shirley Corner Road in Shirley, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 E2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 10 brook trout per acre. Half of these trout measured 8”, whereas the other half measured 13”. Shirley Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound stocked brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Snows Pond covers 21 acres and is located next to Route 153 just north of Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 32 B2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 10 brook trout per acre. Half of these trout measured 8”, whereas the other half measured 13”. Snows Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies 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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