The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2017 ice fishing season in Kennebec 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! Note that only a handful of ponds are listed below because most of the stocked water bodies in Kennebec County are quite large, resulting in low trout densities.
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 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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Fairbanks Pond covers 14 acres and is located off Fairbanks Road in Manchester, Kennebec County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 12 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 4 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked brook trout measured around 13”. The state also stocked 50 brown trout (about 4 brown trout per acre) measuring 11”. Fairbanks Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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Jamies Pond (a.k.a. Jimmie Pond) covers 107 acres and is located off Meadow Hill Road in Manchester, Kennebec County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 12 C4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 4 brook trout per acre. All the stocked brook trout measured 13”. The pot was further sweetened with 100 splake (or about 1 trout per acre) measuring 13″ and 20 brook trout measuring 18”. Jamies Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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Savade Pond covers 42 acres and is located next to Greeley Road in Windsor, Kennebec County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 13 C3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 10 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked brook trout measured 14”. The state sweetened this pot with an additional 25 brook trout of 18”. Savade 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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