The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2017 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 fishing regulations about special 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 fishing only” ponds which have their own stocking regime and rules.
Your blog author with a nice 16″ brookie
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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 with 16 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 105 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 with 108 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured between 7” and 9”, but 195 of them (or about 16 trout per acre) measured between 12” and 14”. Ample parking is available on both sides of the bridge over the railroad tracks on Route 35. Otter Pond #2 offers excellent good odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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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 with 90 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 240 of them (or about 40 trout per acre) measured between 12” and 14”. Ample parking is available on both sides of the bridge over the railroad tracks on Route 35. Otter Pond #4 offers excellent odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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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 with 85 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 9”, but 55 of them (or about 18 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 fishing only” pond. Upper Hinkley Pond is located further up the hill. This pond offers excellent odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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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