Category Archives: Ponds and Lakes

Lead core line: a highly-efficient way to troll!

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My blog readers know that I spend a LOT of time trolling in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. This technique can be a bit boring but is a great way to target salmonids (click here and here for examples) and non-salmonids (click here and here for examples) by probing large areas of their habitat using multiple lures. I deploy two distinct sets of “tools” to support my trolling habits: lead core line and a portable downrigger. This blog discusses the former, and more specifically the setup that I have used for years, and which has worked well for me. For the record, I also troll for smallmouth bass using floating Rapalas, but that approach is fundamentally different from placing lures at depth and is therefore not discussed further.

 

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The portable downrigger: an efficient way to troll

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My blog readers know that I spend a LOT of time trolling in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. This technique can be a bit boring but is a highly-efficient way to target salmonids (click here and here for examples) and non-salmonids (click here and here for examples) by probing large areas of their habitat using multiple lures. I deploy two different sets of “tools” to support my trolling addiction: lead core line and a portable downrigger. This blog discusses the latter, and more specifically the setup that I have used for years, and which has worked well for me. For the record, I also troll using floating Rapalas, but that approach is fundamentally different from placing lures at depth and is therefore not discussed further.

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Fishing for landlocked Atlantic salmon on Pleasant Lake, Casco, Cumberland County, Maine (March 19, 2024)

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View of Pleasant Lake from the boat launch

 

Pleasant Lake is a 1,332-acre body of water found in Casco, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A1). Access is super easy: drive through the center of Casco on Route 121 and turn unto Mayberry Hill Road. The hard-top public boat launch is located a few hundred feet down that road on your left at the very southern tip of the lake. A large dirt parking area is situated right across from the launch.

 

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Ice fishing for splake on Mount Blue Pond in Avon, Franklin County, Maine (February 25, 2024)

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Mount Blue Pond is a 134-acre body of water located in Avon, Franklin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 B3). From Route 4 (Rangeley Road), turn on Mount Blue Pond Road and drive for 2.3 miles all the way to the public access point. The first half of this road is paved, whereas the remainder is a high-quality dirt road. From the looks of it, it appears that the entire road is plowed during the winter months up to the public access point, but no further. Plenty of parking space is available along the road shoulder by the access.

 

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How to identify ponds and lakes for catching trout in Maine

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My blog readers know that one of my angling “specialties” is to explore new places across our great state of Maine and consistently catch trout and salmon in open water or under the ice. Even though I reside in the Sebago Lakes region of southern Maine, I will confidently drive several hours into areas of the state unknown to me and catch salmonids in water bodies located at the end of dirt roads lost in the woods somewhere. Through trial and error, I have developed a winning strategy to uncover these places quickly and efficiently. This blog explains that approach and will help you do the same.

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Ice fishing for brook trout and lake trout on Porter Lake in Strong, Franklin County, Maine (February 4, 2024)

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Porter Lake is a 527-acre body of water located in Strong, Franklin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 20 B1). From Norton Hill Road (Route 234), turn on Pond Road and drive for 1.1 miles before turning right on Beanies Beach Road by the blue public access sign. Stay on this gravel road for 0.5 miles all the way to the end by the boat launch which is also known as Bean’s Beach (note: do not turn right on West Shore Lane at the split). The public access is spacious and offers parking for up to two dozen vehicles.

 

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So, you want to go ice fishing this winter? Tips and tricks (part 3)!

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Click here for Tips and Tricks (part 2).

Click here for Tips and Tricks (part 1).

 

In a previous blog, I described the basic equipment required to catch fish through the ice. This blog is the third of three installments about tips and tricks to enhance your ice fishing experiences.

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Silver Lake in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine (January 27, 2024)

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Most of the brookies I catch this morning are of this modest size.

 

Silver Lake is a 12-acre body of water located right next to the ocean in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 E5). If you are quiet and listen attentively when on the ice, you can hear the waves crashing on the nearby beach! To reach this location, drive on Route 209 from Bath and pass Popham Beach State Park. The pond will appear within less than a mile from the entrance of the park. Just before reaching the southern tip of the pond, turn right on Hunnewell Avenue, which is a gravel road that splits off from Route 209. Drive 200-300 ft. on this road and leave your vehicle on the side. The access point will be to your left. Keep in mind that parking space is limited to a handful of vehicles (note: no parking is available or allowed on Route 209) and may also be a problem after a snowstorm.

 

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Charles Pond in Georgetown, Maine (January 20, 2024)

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It’s tough to be a baitfish…

 

Charles Pond is a 14-acre body of water located next to Route 127 (Five Islands Road) in Georgetown, Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 D1). The pond is located immediately next to the road and is therefore easily accessible. Vehicles can be parked along the wide shoulder. However, beware that parking may be a challenge following a snowstorm after the plows have pushed piles of snow on that shoulder.

 

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Big Eddy Pond, Topsham, Sagadahoc County (January 15, 2024)

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The parking lot next to the transfer station can accommodate multiple vehicles. Note the total lack of snow…

 

Big Eddy Pond is a small, four-acre body of water located in the back of the Topsham Transfer Station at the end of Townsend Way, off Foreside Road in Topsham, ME. The pond is not shown on the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map. Consult the Google Maps link provided above to find your way in. Note that when the transfer station is active, one can just drive through the open gate all the way to the shore of the pond. However, make sure to stop and talk to one of the attendants to explain your intent. If the transfer station is inoperative, leave your vehicle by the small parking lot to the left of the closed gate and walk in. It takes less than 10 minutes to get to your destination.

 

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