The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2017 ice fishing season in York 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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Deer Pond covers 32 acres and is located between Route 117 and Plains Road in Hollis, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 A5). Click here for directions on how to access this body of water. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond was stocked in the fall with 22 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked brook trout measured around 9”, but 105 of them measured 13”. The pot was further sweetened by an additional 100 brown trout measuring 12”. Note that fishing on this pond is restricted to two tip-ups per person.
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Knights Pond covers 49 acres and is located off Knights Pond Road in South Berwick, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 E3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. This pond was stocked in the fall with 21 brook trout per acre. Most of these stocked brook trout measured 9”, but 210 of them measured 13”, whereas another 15 of them measured 17”. Knights Pond offers good odds of catching 1-pound brookies through the ice this winter.
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Littlefield Pond covers 19 acres and is located off Elm Street in Sanford, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 C3). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The pond was stocked in the fall with 62 brook trout per acre. All of these fish measured between 7” and 9”, except for 130 of them which measured between 12” and 13”.
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Parker Pond covers 26 acres and is located off Mast Road in Lyman, York County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 B5). Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. Also, click here for directions on how to access this body of water. The pond was stocked in the fall with 57 brook trout per acre. All of these fish measured between 7” and 9”, except for 120 of them which measured between 13” and 14”. Parker 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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