The boat launch for Bryant Pond. The dock is gone for the winter. The outlet is at the back of this picture towards the right. The grassy berm is also visible.
October 13, 2024
Location and Access to Bryant Pond
Where is Bryant Pond Located?
This 278-acre water body (a.k.a. Christopher Pond) is found in Woodstock and Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 B5). My goal today is fishing for trout on Bryant Pond in waders.
Access and Boat Launch
To access this pond, drive on Route 26 and turn on Old County Road. Drive for about 1 mile before turning left on Rowe Hill Road. The public access point will be immediately to your right and is clearly marked with a blue sign. It is in a small municipal park next to the pond’s outlet.
The boat launch is hard-topped. Plenty of parking spaces are available.
The view from the grassy berm is quite spectacular.
Bryant Pond Features, Stocking, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
Bryant Pond is a moderately developed and attractive little lake, surrounded by multiple wooded hills that provide splendid views. Also, I successfully trolled it for salmon last August.
Annual Stocking
Bryant Pond calls me today because the State stocked it with 300 12-inch brook trout earlier this fall. So, I want to try to catch a few of these fish from the shore in my waders. The State also releases landlocked salmon and splake at this location each year, but those fish are not the focus of my attention.
Fishing Regulations
The fall fishing rules state that the pond is open to angling between October 1 and December 31. However, anglers can only use artificial lures. Also, they must release all salmonids at once. Click here for the full regulations applicable to Bryant Pond.
It took me over an hour to find this first brookie!
Fishing for Trout on Bryant Pond in Waders
Arrival and Conditions
I arrive at the Bryant Pond launch at 12:45 pm and enter the water 10 minutes later. The sky is partially overcast, the wind is quiet, and the air temperature is in the high 50’s. These conditions are great for wader fishing.
Technique for Fishing for Trout on Bryant Pond in Waders
My weapons of choice are an ultralight spinning rod, a small reel spooled with 6-pound monofilament, and a fabulous #2 Mepps spinner.
The magic trick with this lure is to let it sink for a few seconds, get the blade to spin, and reel it in slowly while constantly twitching the rod tip to cause the blade to flutter. Those erratic pulsations trigger the killer instinct of the trout below.
I take a moment to look for activity on the surface of the water (e.g., rises, jumps) to orient myself but see none. So, I start wading and casting to the right of the launch, keeping the grassy berm to my back. Fortunately, the water depth increases gradually, and the substrate is firm. However, wading is a chore because large boulders carpet the bottom. Even though they are not slippery, they constantly obstruct safe walking, which is a pain.
I am slowly casting and retrieving my way back towards the outlet, but do not get a single hit in 45 minutes. Clearly, the trout are not in this area!
The second brookie is a big male that gives a splendid fight!
Results of Fishing for Trout on Bryant Pond in Waders
I get out of the water, walk back to my starting point, and start wading to the left of the boat launch. The substrate conditions are like those described earlier.
I have been casting for 20 minutes when I see my first rise a little to the left. Finally, signs of life! Soon thereafter, I hook and land a 12-inch brook trout. It’s a skinny female. Unfortunately, I cannot connect with another fish after slowly wading along that section of shoreline for several hundred feet.
I turn around to fish my way back to the launch. Along the way, a big surface boil occurs about 30 ft. to my right. I cast the spinner past it, let it sink, start the retrieve, and immediately hook a substantial fish. Oooh, this one is not a 12 incher! It fights low and hard, making several strong runs that rip line off my spool. Boy, do I love fighting brookies on an ultralight spinning rod because it is just so much fun!
I net the fish after it tires out and reaches the surface. It’s a gorgeous male in full spawning regalia which measures a respectable 15 inches.
These are the only two fish – and hits – of the afternoon. But I fully enjoyed my time in the water. I also did not get skunked. And the whole place was mine.
The outcome of fishing for trout on Bryant Pond: I caught two brook trout (largest = 15 inches) in 2 hours of slow but peaceful 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.
Tight Lines, y’all.
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