About ten ponds in Waldo County, Maine, were stocked with trout in the fall of 2013 to support ice fishing. Most of these fish are relatively small (7” to 12”), but plentiful, in order to provide fast action on the ice.
The state also spiced up several of these ponds with bigger trout, which I define here as fish measuring 13” or more, and weighing at least 1.0 lb. This blog highlights the ponds (presented in alphabetical order) in Waldo County where ice fishermen have the best odds of catching those larger fish through the ice.
I only include ponds that were stocked in the fall of 2013 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 salmon 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.
It is highly recommended to consult the latest regulations (available at www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on the ponds described below. I did my utmost best to verify that a particular pond is indeed open for ice fishing, but I make no guarantees 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.
Finally, 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+ stocked ponds and lakes throughout Maine.
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Dutton Pond covers 36 acres and is located next to Dutton Pond Road off Route 137 (Belfast Road) in Knox, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 A3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/dutton_pond_knox.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (250 fish of 13” and 30 fish of 19”) and big brown trout (10 fish of 24”), which yields about 8 large trout per acre.
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Halfmoon Pond covers 176 acres and is located east of Swan Lake in Prospect, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 22 E5). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/halfmoon_pond_searsport.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (200 fish of 13” and 25 fish of 19”), which yields about 1 large trout per acre.
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Levenseller Pond covers 34 acres and is located next to Route 173 (Lincolnville Avenue) in Searsmont, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 C3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/levenseller_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (100 fish of 13”, 200 fish of 14”, and 30 fish of 19”), which yields about 10 large trout per acre.
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Moody Pond covers 61 acres and is located next to Moody Mountain Road in Lincolnville, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 C3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/moody_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (100 fish of 13”), which yields between 1 and 2 large trout per acre.
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Norton Pond covers 112 acres and is located off Route 235 (Hope Road) in Lincolnville, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 C3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/norton_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (100 fish of 13”), which yields about 1 large trout per acre.
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Sanborn Pond covers 98 acres and is located next to Route 137 (Belfast Road) in Brooks, Waldo County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 A3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/waldo/sanborn_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with big brook trout (100 fish of 13 and 30 fish of 19”) and big brown trout (10 fish of 24”), which yields between 1 and 2 large trout per acre.
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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