This blog highlights the ponds in Androscoggin County where fishermen have the best odds of catching larger trout during the 2015 ice fishing season. About ten ponds open to ice fishing were stocked in Androscoggin County with trout in the fall of 2014. Most of these fish are relatively small (7” to 12”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action. The state also spiced up some of the ponds with bigger trout, which are defined here as fish measuring 13” or more, and weighing at least 1 pound.
I only present ponds that were stocked in the fall of 2014 with a minimum of 1 large trout per acre. As a rough yardstick, the average stocking density for landlocked salmon in Maine ponds and lakes is about 0.3 to 0.5 fish per acre, which equals 1 salmon every two to three acres. Keep in mind that the number of bigger trout stocked in a pond is typically much lower than for the smaller trout. Hence, patience is required to catch those larger fish through the ice.
Always consult the latest regulations (click here) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds presented below. 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 Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each reader of this blog to ensure that a pond listed below can be fished through the ice.Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds which have their own stocking regime and fishing rules.
Finally, feel free to use the website linked to this blog to discover how many trout and salmon are released per acre in the spring and fall in all the 600+ ponds and lakes stocked annually throughout Maine.
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Brettuns Pond covers 165 acres and is located next to Routes 4 and 108 in Livermore (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 B4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (700 fish of 13”) and big brown trout (100 fish of 13” and 30 fish of 18”), which yields about 5 large trout per acre.
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Crystal Lake covers 47 acres and is located next to Route 4 in Turner (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 C4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (200 fish of 13” and 75 fish of 17”) and big brown trout (50 fish of 13” and 20 fish of 18”), which yields about 7 large trout per acre. Crystal Lake offers one of the best odds for catching large trout in Androscoggin County during the winter of 2015.
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Long Pond covers 208 acres and is located next to Route 4 in Livermore (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (600 fish of 13”) and big brown trout (100 fish of 13” and 30 fish of 18”), which yields between 3 and 4 large trout per acre.
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Lower Range Pond covers 290 acres and is located next to Range Pond State Park in Poland (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brown trout (300 fish of 13”), which yields about 1 large trout per acre.
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Middle Range Pond covers 366 acres and is located in Poland (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (350 fish of 13” and 21 fish of 18”), big brown trout (324 fish of 13”) and big rainbow trout (650 fish of 13”), which yields about 4 large trout per acre.
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Pleasant Pond covers 192 acres and is located next to Route 117 in Turner (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 C5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (400 fish of 13”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre.
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Round Pond covers 161 acres and is located next to Rout 4 in Livermore (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 A5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (825 fish of 13”) and big brown trout (100 fish of 13” and 30 fish of 18”), which yields about 6 large trout per acre.
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Upper Range Pond covers 391 acres and is located in Poland (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (400 fish of 13” and 16 fish of 17”), big brown trout (150 fish of 13”), and big rainbow trout (300 fish of 13”), which yields about 2 large trout per acre.
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Worthley Pond covers 42 acres and is located off Route 122 in Poland (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. Also, click here on how to reach this pond. Note that the access road from Route 122 is typically unplowed in the winter. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2014 with big brook trout (175 fish of 13”) and big brown trout (75 fish of 13” and 21 fish of 17”), which yields between 6 and 7 large trout per acre. Worthley Pond offers one of the best odds for catching large trout in Androscoggin County during the winter of 2015.
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 any of these locations.
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