Trolling for salmon on Pleasant Lake, Maine

View of Pleasant Lake from the boat launch

March 19, 2024

Location and Acces to Pleasant Lake

Where is Pleasant Lake Located?

This 1,332-acre water body is found in Casco, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 A1). My goal this morning is trolling for salmon on Pleasant Lake.

Access and Boat Launch

Access is super easy: drive through the center of Casco on Route 121 and turn unto Mayberry Hill Road. The hard-top public boat launch is located a few hundred feet down that road on your left at the very southern tip of the lake. A large dirt parking area is situated right across from the launch.

The portable downrigger is simple and efficient!

Pleasant Lake Features, Stocking, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules

General Characteristics

Pleasant Lake is a well-developed and pretty body of water located north of Sebago Lake.

Annual Stocking

The lake is stocked each spring with 400 juvenile (7 to 8-inch) landlocked salmon, yielding about 1 fish per 3 acres. That is sparse. But it represents the average stocking density for this species across the state.

Depth Profile

The lake has a mean and maximum depth of 29 ft. and 62 ft., respectively. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

Fishing Regulations for Trolling for Salmon on Pleasant Lake

Open-water fishing takes place under the general fishing laws applicable to the South Zone. However, the daily bag limit on landlocked salmon is one fish. Also, the minimum keeper size for this species is 16 inches, but only between January 1 and March 31. Finally, anglers are prohibited from using live baitfish not obtained from Pleasant Lake itself. Click here for the full regulations applicable to this water body.

The first salmon of the morning only measures 12 inches. It is not much of a fish but represents my target species.

Trolling for Salmon on Pleasant Lake

Arrival and Conditions

The winter of 2023-2024 in southern Maine was a sick joke. The last few months have been so unusually warm and rainy that what little ice was available on Pleasant Lake went out in a hurry on March 17. That early ice-out must be close to a record considering that winter is not even over yet…

But it does mean that the lake is now open for trolling. If you cannot catch them through the ice, pursue them over open water!

I arrive at the boat launch by 6:45 am. The conditions are perfect for trolling: air temperature in the low 30’s, overcast, and a light northwest breeze. But make no mistake: it feels COLD, particularly since trolling does not require any of the physical exertions so typically associated with ice fishing, such as pulling a sled, auguring holes, or running to tend flags. So, I am dressed as if I were going ice fishing, including the boots, thermal underwear, multiple layers, winter coat, and hand warmers!

The water temperature is also a frigid 37°F. It takes a couple of minutes for the engine to warm up. I soon put-put away, eager to get going on my first open-water expedition of the year.

Technique for Trolling for Salmon on Pleasant Lake

I use my usual trolling set-up when fishing from my motor boat. The first is an eight-weight fly fishing rod using lead core line. I tied 20 ft of monofilament to the lead core line and then attached three compact, single-hook smelt-imitating Blue and Grey Ghost streamer flies tied one after the other. I let out two colors of lead core line to place the flies about 12 ft. or so below the surface. The fly rod stays in my hands. I constantly “rip” the line so the flies below pulsate and move erratically to attract attention from potential customer.

The second is a spinning rod and spinning reel to which are attached three DB Smelt spoons tied one after the other; these spoons perfectly imitate the profile of a smelt, which are plentiful in this lake. The line from the spinning rod is clipped to the 4-lb weight of my portable downrigger to place the DB Smelt 18 ft. below the surface.

The cousin of the first salmon measures 14 inches. That’s a smidge bigger but still short…

Results of Trolling for Salmon on Pleasant Lake

I stay over water 40+ ft. deep and slowly proceed along the eastern shoreline, using my depth finder to avoid getting the down rigger weight stuck on the bottom. Neither set of lures attracts a single bite during the first hour. That is disappointing but not necessarily unusual when fishing for salmon. Remember that sparse stocking density mentioned earlier….

But I decide to switch sides and therefore traverse the lake diagonally towards the opposite shoreline, just to try something different. On the way there, while passing over the deepest part of Pleasant Lake, I notice two subtle hits on the spinning rod. Mmm, that is encouraging.

The Salmon Decide to Bite!

While trolling along the western shoreline, I finally get a hit and a hookup on the lead core. None too soon. But the resistance is rather weak and it feels like I caught a white perch. And yet, it turns out to be a short 12-inch salmon. I caught my target species, though the moment feels surprisingly flat.

The spinning rod connected to the down rigger shakes gently 15 minutes later. I quickly unclip the line from the ball weight and fight a slightly bigger (14 inch) salmon. Like the previous fish, this one does not perform any aerial acrobatics as is so typical with this species later in the spring (click here and here for examples). 37°F is simply too cold to allow for high-energy gymnastics…

I decide to turn around and retroll this section of water in the hope of hooking more fish. But it is in vain. My phone alarm goes off; it is 8:30 am and time to head back home to start my work day.

Finally, I do not know if it is common to catch short salmon in Pleasant Lake. Leave a reply if you have had different experiences fishing this water body.

The outcome of trolling for salmon on Pleasant Lake: I landed two landlocked salmon (largest = 14 inches) in 2.5 hours of trolling.

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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