Fishing Report

From Fisheries Resource Technician Brian Lewis, 1-27-25

A relatively dry winter has provided an unusual opportunity for those anglers without motorized transport. Improving ice conditions combined with light snow cover makes foot travel much easier than in a typical February making for ideal conditions to enjoy a day on the ice.

Anglers interested in pursuing salmon have a variety of winter options including Pleasant Lake in Casco, Kezar Lake in Lovell, and Crescent lake in Raymond. Brown trout anglers could consider a day on Hancock Pond in Denmark, Lower Range Pond in Poland, or Mousam Lake in Acton. Those targeting panfish could consider Norway Lake in Norway, Little Sebago Lake in Windham or Virginia Lake in Stoneham for a mess of white perch. Virginia Lake can be a bit of a chore to hike to this time of year but the remote feel and white perch size quality could make for a memorable outing.

Remember to check ice condition on every outing, particularly near flowing water and wood/rock structure. A cold dunking is not the memory to make in the outdoors.

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Jason Seiders, 1-27-25

Lake trout waters: Central and midcoast Maine doesn't have a ton of lake trout (togue) waters, but we have a few great opportunities to catch these fish without traveling several hours north. Many of these waters now have wild populations of lake trout, and you always have the chance to catch a really memorable fish. Live bait works well for lake trout, but jigging can really increase your odds of catching more of these cool fish. Lake trout waters in this region include:

• Echo Lake (Fayette)
• Maranacook Lake (Winthrop)
• Lower Narrows Pond (Winthrop)
• Sheepscot Pond (Palermo)
• Swan Lake (Swanville)
• Damariscotta Lake (Jefferson)

Cusk (burbot) waters: We routinely hear anglers ask us "Where can I catch cusk in central Maine?" Well, we do have some cusk waters nearby, and this fish is underutilized in this region. We don't usually see huge fish, but you can definitely catch enough for a meal, or maybe it's a "bucket list" fish! Here are some places to try for cusk in our area:

• Flying Pond (Vienna)
• Echo Lake (Fayette)
• Sand Pond (Litchfield)
• Woodbury Pond (Litchfield)
• Wassookeag Lake (Dexter)
• Parker Pond (Fayette)

Fast action waters: Here are some places that usually have high catch rates for warmwater fishes like bass, pickerel, and panfish like perch. I would never guarantee tons of fish because sometimes they just don't cooperate. These ponds usually produce lots of fish, which can be great for the kids!

• Lower Togus Pond (Augusta): Bass, pickerel, yellow perch
• McGrath Pond (Oakland): Bass, pickerel, yellow and white perch, other panfish
• Beech Pond (Palermo): Pickerel
• Berry Pond (Wayne): Bass, Pickerel, yellow and white perch
• Branch Pond (Palermo): Bass, pickerel, yellow and white perch
• Hermon Pond (Hermon): Pickerel, yellow perch, other panfish

Fishing tip: Be sure to use the right size tackle and bait for the species you're targeting. Don't expect to hook perch or brook trout if you're using size 2/0 hooks and 5-inch minnows. Use smaller tackle and baits for smaller fish species. Fish such as largemouth bass and pickerel will take larger baits and lures, no problem. We look at a lot of fish stomachs to see what they're eating, and the majority of predator fish will have small fish in their stomachs. This is especially true for landlocked salmon; they truly prefer smaller smelts rather than large ones.

Reminder: Please be courteous to one another when you're on the ice; there's plenty of space and fish for everyone. Enjoy the improving ice conditions and the variety of fishing opportunities that this region has to offer!

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Brandon Demuth, 1-28-25

Where to fish

Our recent stretch of cold weather has finally locked up many of our Downeast lakes with ice, creating some great fishing opportunities. Many anglers are gearing up for the February 1st opener on West Grand Lake that provides diverse angling opportunities. Folks will be primarily targeting landlocked salmon, whitefish and lake trout. The fishery remains productive and supports solid catch rates, but here there is always a chance at quality-sized fish.

Pocumcus Lake (T5 ND BPP, T6 ND BPP, Washington County) shares connectivity with West Grand Lake and early reports suggest folks are having success catching lake trout and whitefish. If you venture out here, you'll find a busy lake with favorable access conditions.

Long Pond (T10 SD Hancock County) brings a renewed opportunity for ice fishing in 2025. This waterbody is stocked with brook trout and brown trout annually but also holds warmwater species for those looking for some quality bass. Early reports suggest folks are doing well using traps, but there is still some success with jigging in the more finicky trout.

Fishing tips: A combination of angling near good structure and some patience goes a long way. You never know when the bite starts or picks up and those vigilant are usually the ones to get rewarded. We recently came across a few anglers on coffee break with poor spirits that hadn't caught yet for the morning, they were quite surprised when we told them they had three flags up on their traps just waiting to be tended. They were fortunate to still catch all three very nice lake trout in a row which sure lifted the spirits of the angling party. Lake trout are on the hunt for food so you need to be ready in a moment when a group of them pass by and give you the opportunity.

Reminders: As always, check ice conditions before heading out and take all necessary precautions to plan for a safe trip. It's good practice to let someone on land know where you'll be and when you should be off the water. Typically, if you are not familiar with the area, stick to used tracks (but still check the ice for yourself as conditions can change) and avoid areas near flowing water (inlets, outlets) that create sketchy ice conditions. Also, make sure to bring boot scratchers to avoid slips as blowing snow has created bare ice hazards on many of the lakes.

From Fisheries Resource Technician Tyler Grant, 1-24-25

It's February, and the weather is certainly reflecting that.  It's finally been a good old-fashioned winter in the Rangeley Lakes Region. Subzero temperatures at night and the lack of snow cover means the lakes are frozen solid and deep. After such a short winter last year, it's time to get out and fish.

Anglers looking for some great coldwater fish opportunities should try Porter Lake in the towns of Strong and New Vineyard.  A plowed parking area on the north side at the Strong town beach makes access easy, even without a snowmobile.  Anglers can target brook trout near shore, or venture further out for landlocked salmon and lake trout.  Chain pickerel and a few smallmouth bass are also taken in the shallow cove on the southwest of the lake, and along the weedy shorelines.  Porter lake is stocked with 1,500 brook trout and 300 landlocked salmon each fall, so there is a good chance that you will find some fish if you are patient.  Porter Lake was also stocked this year with 75 retired brood stock brook trout.  At over 18" in length, catching one of those would create a lasting memory. 

Another option for anglers with easy access is Wesserunsett Lake in the town of Madison.  A public boat launch and parking area off the East Madison Road, by the outlet dam, provides easy access for anglers.  This 22-foot deep, 1,400 acre lake is stocked yearly with 1,700 fall yearling brown trout and 2,200 fall yearling brook trout giving it the potential to be a fast action coldwater salmonid fishery.  47 retired broodstock brown trout were also stocked this year, giving anglers the chance at a trophy sized catch.  There is also a great fishery for large white perch out in the middle of the lake providing fast action, and Wesserunsett has both large and smallmouth bass.

If you are looking for a place that's easy to get to, but far off the beaten track, give Chain of Ponds a try.  Chain of Ponds is a long chain of interconnected ponds located off Rt 27 in Chain of Ponds TWP that form the headwaters of the North Branch of the Dead River.  Specifically, they are Natanis, Round, Long, Bag, and Lower Ponds, and for fisheries purposes, they are managed as one long waterbody.  Access to the ponds is easy from one of the many points off Rt 27.  Chain of Ponds is stocked with brook trout in the spring and the fall and has a wild population of landlocked salmon managed under a more liberal harvest rule.  Anglers are allowed 3 salmon, with a minimum length limit of 12 inches, and only one salmon is allowed over 16 inches.  The purpose of this regulation is to encourage harvest of those smaller mature fish and reduce the population density, so don't be afraid to bring some home for dinner.

Fishing Tip: When jigging, experiment with different colors and speeds.  You never know what the fish might be looking for at that moment, or how the light through the ice is changing the color of your lure. I like purples and greens, but white is a good choice too. Keep in mind the clarity of the water.  The clearer the water, usually the smaller the lure should be.  If the regulations allow, adding a chunk of fish from a legal baitfish species is a great way to increase the attraction of your jig

Reminder: February 15th and 16th is one of Maine's free fishing weekends, and a great time to introduce new anglers to the sport.  Remember that ice fishing trips with young or beginner anglers are not only about fishing, but also about creating traditions and memories.  A slow day on the ice can be brightened up by bringing outdoor games.  Horseshoes and cornhole, frisbees, a kite, even skis or ice skates are popular choices for ice entertainment.  Something to keep the group occupied and having fun can turn a slow fishing day into a memorable day on the ice. 

Fish Tagging Study: Fisheries biologists are currently studying the brook trout populations in Wilson Pond in Wilton and Webb Lake in Weld using Floy tags. These small fluorescent tags are inserted behind the dorsal fin, each tag has a unique identification number that allows biologists to track individual fish through angler reports. If you catch a tagged fish, we encourage you to take a photo of the tag ID# and report your catch online. Each tag provides a web address for easy reporting. Please note that Floy tags are not GPS-enabled or transmitters, so the data collected relies entirely on public participation. All information is confidential and used solely to support fish population management, which helps enhance the fishing experience for everyone.

Fisheries Resource Biologist Jeff Bagley, 1-27-25

Where to Fish: Now that Maine's coldest month is behind us and has left us with some good ice conditions here in the Moosehead Lake Region, it's time to get out and do some mid-winter ice fishing. Longer daylight hours become apparent in February, which means that there's light at the end of this winter tunnel. February 15 and 16 is Maine's Winter Free Fishing Weekend. This is a good opportunity for families to get out and spend some time together in Maine's great outdoors. Here in the Moosehead Lake Region, we have several opportunities for families to take advantage of.  A few of these include Branns Mill Pond in Dover-Foxcroft, Harlow and Manhanock Ponds in Parkman and Sangerville, Drummond Pond in Abbot, Mt. View (Fitzgerald) Pond in Big Moose Twp. and Prong Pond in Beaver Cove.

Anglers looking for a remote fishing opportunity in the Moosehead Lake Region can strike off to Big Houston Pond (T6&7R R9 NWP) and Lobster Lake (Lobster Twp.).  These waters are only open during the month of February.  Anglers can try their luck for landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) and may be surprised with the occasional brook trout on each of these waters.  Allagash Lake (T8 R14 WELS) which used to be open only in February, is now open from January through March and can be an enjoyable winter-time adventure into the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW).  Please review the regulations for Allagash Lake and the AWW before venturing out.  Allagash Lake provides anglers with the opportunity to catch brook trout, lake trout (togue), cusk, and lake whitefish.

February 15th also marks the opening of the winter landlocked salmon season on Moosehead Lake. The season runs to the end of March with a one fish, 18-inch minimum daily bag limit. Anglers catching salmon before February 15th or between April 1st and April 30th are to follow the law that all landlocked salmon caught while ice fishing must be released alive without removal from the water.

Fishing Tips: We continue to see photos and short video clips of beautiful brook trout showing up on social media outlets from Moosehead Lake.  It's great to see that anglers are continuing to find some of these fish. We hear of lots of these fish being released either because they are in the 18-to-22-inch release slot or the ones just under 18 inches that are released because folks are holding out for that "once in a lifetime squaretail".  I'd like to advise anglers to use caution when handling these fish or any fish they intend to release. Limit the amount of time the fish is out of the water and try to keep it out of the snow and off the ice especially on extremely cold days. Stress and physical injury such as damage to the gills and eyes as well as the loss of their slime coat and scales if frozen to the ice can result in a handling mortality. If a fish is hooked deep, simply cut the leader as close to the fish's mouth as possible rather than digging for the hook. This only subjects the fish to additional stress or potential damage to the gills and increases the chance of hooking mortality.

Reminders: A couple of parting reminders before heading out onto the ice.  Before heading out to fish, particularly a new water or a water you haven't fished for a few years, make sure to familiarize yourself with the fishing regulations on that water.  Our fisheries staff have been out conducting census work the past two weekends and we've come across a variety of violations by folks just not checking the regulations.

Finally, use caution when traveling on some of our big lakes. We've had plenty of cold weather in the Moosehead Lake Region over the past few weeks which has provided us with much better ice conditions than early last winter.  However, on Moosehead Lake we've observed some very nasty pressure ridges pushing up throughout the lake.  Anglers should use caution when traveling the lake at dawn and dusk and even during bright sunny conditions as these icy formations can be hard to see.  Not only do the pressure ridges push ice upwards but on either side of the ridge there is often a pool of open water or a pocket of slush which is formed by the water coming to the surface as the ice is pushed downward.  Getting a snowmobile mired in one of these would make for a bad day of fishing.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Kevin Gallant, 1-21-25

Safe ice showed up late in most of the Penobscot Region this year and that should lead to amazing fishing in February.  Typically, a lot of coldwater gamefish are harvested in January and now will be available to be caught in February.  The lack of snow and ice in early January made it hard to get to some of the waters in the Penobscot Region.

Places to go: For those looking for a little sled ride in, both Scraggly Lake (T7 R8 WELS) and Flatiron Pond (T3R9 NWP) can provide coldwater gamefish.  At Scraggly Lake you can catch brook trout and landlocked salmon. At Flatiron Pond you will find stocked brook trout and white perch.  Little Round Pond in Lincoln and Perch (Mud) Pond in Old Town can provide fast fishing for stocked brook trout in addition to warmwater species.  Chemo Pond in Eddington can provide fast fishing for a variety of warmwater fish including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white perch, and other panfish.

Pickerel Pond in T32 MD is home to the nonprofit organization, Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, there you can find some large stocked brook trout for your kids.  Their mission is to share in the beauty and bounty of nature in all its works.  You can also enjoy the shooting range or hiking trails.  Edwards Family Pond in Lincoln also provides an opportunity for kids to catch brook trout.  These waters are restricted to persons under 16 years of age. 

Tip: Introducing someone to the great sport of ice fishing?  If you are unsure where to find the fish, try placing traps in a variety of depths of water.  You can also vary how far you put your bait under the ice.  Try some just under the ice and some on bottom, but you can also suspend them at different depths under the ice.  When you find something that works, you can set all your traps or jig in that depth.

Reminders: Never dump your bait bucket into the water when you are done for the day.  If you are not saving the bait for your next trip, please dispose of the bait on land or in the trash.  Dumping your bait could introduce new species or diseases to the water you are fishing in.  Both can have significant negative impacts on the fishery and ecosystem.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Jeremiah Wood, 1-27-2025

January turned out to be a difficult month for ice fishing in northern Maine this year, with thin and hazardous ice through most of the month that hampered fishing efforts. The end of the month brought a severe cold snap, making a considerable amount of ice in a short period of time, which should extend the winter season and make for great conditions this month.

The recent Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby brought a record number of anglers to our area in late January. Although the fishing was relatively slow, a number of impressive fish showed up on the Derby leaderboard.

Eagle Lake continues to produce very large togue, with a real possibility of catching a fish in the 10-20 pound range. The largest salmon in our region typically come out of Long Lake, with several being caught in the 6-7 pound range.

With school vacation week and the possibility of warmer days, February is a great chance to get kids out fishing. A number of waters in northern Maine are easily accessible and present the chance for some enjoyable fishing. Trafton and Durepo lakes in Limestone and Monson Pond in Fort Fairfield are stocked brook trout waters that are now open to ice fishing. The very popular Madawaska Lake fishery opens to fishing starting February 15th.

White perch are an invasive fish species in the Fish River Chain of lakes. First discovered in Cross Lake around 2016, they have spread rapidly throughout the watershed in recent years. We are concerned about the negative impacts these fish are likely to have on our native brook trout and other sportfish, and continue to monitor their populations. There is no size or bag limit on white perch and it appears the species is here to stay. Many anglers have capitalized on the opportunity to catch these fish, and enjoy the fast fishing and delicious meals they provide. Most are caught by jigging near bottom in 15-30 feet of water. Cross Lake has been the epicenter for white perch fishing thus far, but the fish can be found in Long, Square, Eagle, St. Froid and Portage lakes as well.