The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2017 ice fishing season in Penobscot 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 (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 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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Carry Pond covers 15 acres and is located to the northeast of Grand Lake Seboeis in Township T8 R7 WELS, Penobscot County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 57 C4). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 13 brook trout per acre. All the stocked trout measured 6”.
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Lunksoos Lake covers 288 acres and is located in T4 R7 WELS, Penobscot County (see The Maine and Atlas Gazetteer map 51 B3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 4 brook trout per acre. All the stocked trout measured 7”.
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Trout Pond covers 20 acres and is located between Cold Stream Pond and Eskutassis Pond in Lowell, Penobscot County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 34 B1). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 11 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 13”, but 10 additional brookies measured 17”. Trout Pond offers excellent odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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Wiley Pond covers 32 acres and is located off Frenchville Road in Patten, Penobscot County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 51 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 5 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured 13”, but 20 additional brookies measured 17”. Wiley 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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