The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2017 ice fishing season in Knox 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 about 100 acres 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 fishing regulations about special 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 fishing only” ponds which have their own stocking regime and rules.
Your blog author with a nice 16″ brookie
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Hosmer Pond covers 53 acres and is located next to Hosmer Road in Camden, Knox County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 D3). Click here http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/knox/hosmer_pond.pdf for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 15 brook trout per acre. Most of those fish measured 8”. However, the state also stocked 250 brookies (or between 4 and 5 fish per acre) measuring 14” and 50 brown trout measuring 12”.
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Long Pond (a.k.a. Turner’s Lake) covers 73 acres and is located on the eastern side of the island next to Main Road in Isle au Haut, Knox County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 9 A4). Click here http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/knox/long_pond_(turners_lake).pdf for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 25 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measured 7”.
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Maces Pond covers 32 acres and is located next to Route 17 in Rockport, Knox County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 14 D3). Click here http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/knox/maces_pond.pdf for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 30 brook trout per acre. Most of those fish measured between 8” and 9”. However, the state also stocked 150 brookies (or about 5 fish per acre) measuring 14” and 20 brookies measuring 18”! Maces Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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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