The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2016 ice fishing season in Aroostook County are highlighted below (in alphabetical order). A pond is considered “top” based on its stocking density. Simply put, the more trout are packed per acre, the higher the chances of catching them through the ice!
For the purpose of this blog, I’ll define a brook trout pond as a body of water with a surface area of less than 100 acres (with some notable exceptions…) which is stocked in the fall with hatchery-reared brook trout to support ice fishing. These ponds tend to freeze over early in the season and are typically safe to fish well before the bigger lakes become accessible. This provides early-action opportunities for those of us (myself included!) who just can’t wait to get the hard-water fishing season going. Click here for tips to increase your chances of catching more brookies through the ice.
Keep in mind that the state typically manages these smaller bodies of water 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.
It is recommended to consult the latest law book (click here for details) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on these 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 by checking the regulations.
Note also that the list below excludes “kids only” ponds which have their own stocking regime and special fishing rules.
Your blog author with a 16″ brookie jigged through the ice.
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Arnold Brook Lake covers 395 acres and is located off Niles Road in Presque Isle, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 65 E1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 3 brook trout per acre. All these trout measured 14”.
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Nickerson Lake covers 234 acres and is located off Drews Lake Road in New Limerick, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 53 A2). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 7 brook trout per acre. All of these stocked trout measured between 13” and 14”. The pot was further sweetened with 50 brook trout measuring 17”. Nickerson Lake offers good odds of catching 1-pound trout during the 2016 ice fishing season.
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Spaulding Lake covers 125 acres and is located next to Spaulding Lake Road in Oakfield, Aroostook County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 52 A5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2015 with 5 brook trout per acre. All of these stocked trout measured 13”. The pot was further sweetened with 50 brook trout measuring 17”. Spaulding Lake offers good odds of catching 1-pound trout during the 2016 ice fishing season.
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 these locations.
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