December 23, 2019
Location and Access to Chaffin Pond
Where is Chaffin Pond Located?
This pretty 13-acre water body is found in Windham, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 C2). My goal this morning is fishing for trout on Chaffin Pond.
Access
Access is super-easy! Drive on Route 302 north into Windham, pass the Home Depot sign (Franklin Drive) and take the next right on Chaffin Pond Reserve Drive (Donnabeth Lippman Park) just before the Sherman Williams store. Our target is a couple of 100 ft down that dirt road. Ample parking is available by the playground.
My first brook trout of the 2020 ice fishing season. Look at those gorgeous blue spots!
Chaffin Pond Features, Stocking, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
The pond and its surrounding woods once belonged to the Portland Water District which prevented any development (except for a few groundwater pump houses). However, the area is now a well-used municipal park where young and old come to picnic, walk the many trails, use the playground, or fish. It sits literally smack in the middle of Windham’s busy business district!
Annual Stocking
The State nicely stocked Chaffin Pond last fall with 72 brook trout per acre for the upcoming ice fishing season. That’s a pile of trout! The fish vary in size from 7 to 17 inches. I caught several 13” brook trout last month in waders out of this pond before the ice formed.
The pond is managed as a classic “put-and-take” trout fishery geared towards the ice fishing crowd. Its easy access and central location makes it an extremely popular early-winter destination in the Sebago Lakes region, on par with Otter Pond #2 and Otter Pond #4 in Standish.
Depth Profile
A depth map is not available for this pond.
Fishing Regulations
Ice fishing occurs under the general fishing laws applicable to the South Zone. Therefore, each angler can use five tip-up traps (but only 4 traps if jigging) with live bait. Also, the daily bag limit is 2 trout per angler. Click here for the full regulations applicable to this location.
These two fellas are coming home to the frying pan.
Fishing for Trout on Chaffin Pond
Arrival and Conditions
The weather has been unreliable so far this season. It was cold late November – early December, which got the ice started on the pond. Then we were hit by several stretches of warmer weather (> 50°F) with lots of rain which severely thinned the ice and made it unsafe. I love ice fishing but do not wish to die for it…
I happen to drive through downtown Windham yesterday and decided to take a quick peak. Loo and behold, several people are on the ice! I make plans on the spot to fish here tomorrow.
I arrive at the Chaffin Pond parking lot at 7 am, dress up warmly, and place my gear on the sled. The weather is gorgeous, with the temperature at 25°F and no wind. As expected, I have the place all to myself because it is a Monday morning. On the other hand, I can only fish for 1.5 hours before I have to run off to work…
Technique for Fishing for Trout on Chaffin Pond
I use my trusted spud to double-check the ice at the access point (safety first!): it is a thin but manageable 3 inches. But the retractable ice safety picks hang around my neck, just in case…
I quickly walk across and set up shop along the eastern shoreline, which will remain deeply shaded from the rising sun. I use my auger to drill four holes in 3 to 8 ft of water.
The four tip-ups are deployed along the shore and are baited with 2” minnows placed half-way down the water column. Before pinning each bait, I slide a scented salmon egg on the hook to enhance the attractiveness of my offerings. I also drill multiple other holes all around for jigging.
Results of Fishing for Trout on Chaffin Pond
I get a flag when I’m setting up my third trap. That is always a positive signal which shows that the trout are actively foraging this morning. The spool is running at rocket speed when I reach the trap 30 seconds later. I immediately set the hook, bring in 60 ft (!) of line, and land a gorgeously-spotted 13” brookie. This is the first fish of the 2020 ice fishing season for me.
Make sure to fish the eastern shoreline in order to stay in the shadow of the rising sun!
I get four more flags and land two additional 13” trout over the next hour and a quarter. My limit is coming home for lunch! I jigged for about 45 minutes but did not generate a single hit, which was surprising. On the other hand, none of the 8-inch brookies bothered to pester me.
Time to Go
I reluctantly gather my belongings at 8:30 am and head off to work. I highly recommend ice fishing Chaffin Pond. It is stocked with the express purpose of generating a lot of fish activity.
Keep in mind though that the place gets crazy busy on weekends and that it is imperative to get there at first light in order to grab the choicy spots. Also, I would not fish this location past late January because it gets hit so hard so early by so many people that most of the desirable trout will be gone by then.
The outcome of fishing for trout on Chaffin Pond: I caught three brook trout (largest = 13”) in one and a half hours of fast fishing.
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 this location.
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