The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2016 ice fishing season in Sagadahoc 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 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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Sewall Pond covers 43 acres and is located alongside Route 127 (Arrowsic Road) in Arrowsic, Sagadahoc County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 C5). 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 stocked trout measured 13”. Sewall Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Silver Lake covers 12 acres and is located at the end of Route 209 (past Popham Beach State Park) in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 E5). 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 around 9”, but 55 of them (or about 4 trout per acre) measured 13”. The pot was further sweetened with 10 brook trout (or about 1 trout per acre) measuring 15”. Silver Lake offers good odds of catching 1 to 2-pound brookies during the 2016 ice fishing season!
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Sprague Pond covers 7 acres and is located off Route 209 (Main Road) in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 D4). 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. All of the stocked trout measured 9”.
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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