For the purpose of this blog, I’ll define a brook trout pond as a body of water less than 30 acres in size which is stocked in the fall with hatchery-reared brook trout to support icefishing. These small ponds freeze over early in the season and are typically safe to fish several weeks before the bigger lakes become accessible. This provides a real opportunity for hot early-season action for those of us (myself included!) who just can’t wait to catch brookies through the ice.
Keep in mind, though, that the state typically manages these smaller ponds as winter “put-and-take” fisheries. As a result, they get a lot of pressure early in the season and may be largely fished out within a few weeks. But by then the bigger lakes have frozen over and the ice fishing action moves elsewhere.
Downeast Maine covers Hancock and Washington counties. The TOP 9 brook trout ponds for the 2013 ice fishing season in this area are highlighted below (in alphabetical order). A pond is considered “top” based on its stocking density: the more trout are stocked per acre, the higher the chances of catching them. Always consult the latest law book about special ice fishing rules that may apply on these ponds. Note also that the list excludes “kids only” ponds.
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 convoluted Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each reader of this blog to ensure that the ponds listed below can be fished through the ice.
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Ackley Pond covers 7 acres and is located off East Stream Road in Cutler, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 27 C1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 46 brook trout per acre. All the stocked trout measure around 7”.
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Goulding Lake covers 17 acres and is located at the end of Webster Road in Robbinston, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 D1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 68 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measure around 8”, but 50 of them measure 13”.
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James Pond covers 31 acres and is located off Charlotte Road just north of Round Lake in Charlotte, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 36 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 32 trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 7”.
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Lake Wood covers 16 acres and is located off Crooked Road in Bar Harbor, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 30 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 7”.
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Moneymaker Lake covers 32 acres and is located just to the east of Nashs Lake off Mount Holley Road in Robbinston, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 C1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 25 trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 8”.
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Norse Pond covers 10 acres and is located off Sebistose Lane (off Route 191) in Cutler, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 27 C2). This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 28 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 7”.
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Rainbow Pond covers 17 acres and is located between Tunk Lake and Donnell Pond in T10 SD, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 24 D5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 29 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 6”.
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Vining Lake covers 19 acres and is located just west of Lake Cathance off Vining Road in Cooper, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 36 E3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 38 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measure around 7”, but 50 of them measure 13”.
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Witchhole Pond covers 28 acres and is located off Paradise Hill Road in Bar Harbor, Hancock County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2012 with 33 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measure around 7”, but 25 of them measure 13”.
