This blog identifies the ponds in Franklin County, Maine that provide the best odds of catching brook trout during the spring of 2014. Most of the target ponds are below 50 acres and are therefore relatively small. Some of these ponds can be fished from shore, but most are best fished from a canoe or other small craft. The fishing action on these bodies of water can be fast and furious in the spring. Trout activity typically peaks between late April and early June, after which the bite slows down in response to rising surface water temperatures.
The TOP 10 brook trout ponds in Franklin County for the spring of 2014 are highlighted below in alphabetical order. A pond is considered TOP due to its trout stocking density: everything else being equal, the more brook trout that are stocked per acre of pond, the greater the chances of catching those fish.
Some ponds were stocked in the fall of 2013 but were closed to ice fishing. Others are stocked once early in the spring or may be stocked several times in April and May. More details are provided in the stocking reports compiled by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/stocking/index.htm.
It is always prudent to consult the latest law book about special fishing rules that may apply on these ponds. The most up-to-date rules are available at www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing. Note that the list of TOP brook trout ponds excludes “kids only” ponds.
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 ponds and lakes stocked by the State throughout Maine.
The TOP 10 brook trout ponds for the 2014 spring fishing season in Franklin County are as follows:
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Beal Pond (a.k.a. Trout Pond) covers 32 acres and is located in Madrid Township (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 A3). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/beal_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 56 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure 7”.
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Beaver Pond covers 20 acres and is located next to Route 17 in Township D (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 18 B4). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/beaver_pond_twp_d.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 80 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”. It is also stocked in late spring with 13 brook trout per acre. Those additional fish measure around 10”.
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Eddy Pond covers 9 acres and is located in Sandy River Plantation (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 29 E1). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/eddy_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 54 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 6”.
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Grindstone Pond covers 6 acres and is located off Tufts Pond Road in Kingfield (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 29 D5). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/grindstone_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, is stocked in the spring with a total of 58 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure 10”.
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Hills Pond covers 22 acres and is located next to Route 156 in Perkins Township (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 C3). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/hills_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 73 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”. It is also stocked in the spring with 20 brook trout per acre. Those additional fish measure around 10”.
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Ledge Pond covers 6 acres and is located in Sandy River Plantation (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 A1). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/ledge_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 53 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”.
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Moxie Pond covers 6 acres and is located in Township D (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 18 A4). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/moxie_pond_twp_d.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 60 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”.
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Rock Pond covers 7 acres and is located in Sandy River Plantation (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 29 E1). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/rock_pond_sandy_river.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 57 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”.
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Schoolhouse Pond covers 3 acres and is located in Avon (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 B4). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/schoolhouse_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 67 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 7”.
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Stetson Pond covers 11 acres and is located in Phillips (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 19 A2). A depth map and more fisheries information are available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/franklin/stetson_pond.pdf. This pond, which is closed to ice fishing, was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 64 brook trout per acre. The stocked trout measure about 6”.
Was the information in this blog useful? I invite you to provide your thoughts and opinions. Also, feel free to share your fishing experiences on any of the ponds highlighted in this blog.
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