All’s quiet on Lily Pond this morning.
September 30, 2026
Location and Access to Lily Pond
Where is Lily Pond Located?
This 38-acre water body (a.k.a Chandler Mill Pond) is found in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 B4). My goal this morning is trolling for trout on Lily Pond.
Access
The public access is off Snow Hill Road by a large, clearly-marked parking lot. The pond is 300 ft. further down via a wide, asphalted path. Keep in mind that anglers can only use muscle-powered craft because the law prohibits using motorized boats on this pond.
Lily Pond Features, Stocking, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
Lily Pond is a beautiful little lake without a single house or dock anywhere around its fully undeveloped and forested shoreline. That kind of isolation is highly unusual in crowded southern Maine. It is more typically found further north and west (click here, here, and here for examples). I located this little gem using my proven search strategy.
The one substantial fly in this otherwise sweet ointment is the presence of I-95 less than 500 ft. to the east of the pond. The noise from the incessant traffic flying by is quite intrusive and takes away from the peaceful surroundings…
Annual Stocking
The State manages Lily Pond as a rainbow trout fishery. It stocks about 300 11-inch bows each spring, which yields a highly-respectable stocking density of around 8 trout per acre. I have high hopes for this location! I also know from a trusted source that its waters hold bows measuring 18 to 20 inches…
Depth Profile
Lily Pond has a mean and maximum depth of 12 ft. and 23 ft., respectively. It is therefore quite shallow. Click here for a depth map and (dated) fisheries information. For example, the depth map does not mention the presence of crappies…
Fishing Regulations
People can fish Lily Pond under the general fishing rules applicable to the South Zone. However, it is closed to ice fishing. Also, motor boats are prohibited. Anglers can fish between October 1 and November 30, but using artificial lures only. In addition, during this period, they have to release all trout to the water alive and at once. Click here for the full regulations pertaining to this pond.
Fall is definitely in the air!
Trolling for Trout on Lily Pond
Arrival and Conditions
I drive into the Lily Pond parking lot just after 6 am. Sunrise is at 6:38 am. I aim to fish the Golden Hour. That is the period from 30 minutes before until about 1 hour after sunrise when the light levels are low and the trout are actively chasing their breakfast.
Fortunately, a thick cloud deck will hide the sun until later on today. Also, it is wind still which makes it easy to paddle around the pond.
I place the canoe on my canoe trolley, load up all my gear, and wheel everything to the pond. I paddle off 10 minutes later.
Technique for Trolling for Trout on Lily Pond
The surface water this morning is a cool 61°F. Therefore, I do not need to go deep to find the trout.
I selected this location based on my proven search approach. I troll using two 8-weight fly fishing rods with lead core line. Each rod faces the opposite direction in my canoe when deployed, and are crisscrossed between my legs when I paddle. One rod fishes with three small trout lures tied back-to-back and placed one full color down (i.e., 5-6 ft. below the surface). The other rod trolls with three other small trout spoons placed two full colors down (i.e., 10-12 ft. down).
I use my portable depth finder to stay over water 18+ ft. deep to avoid the bottom. That keeps me away from shore and over the deeper waters in the center of the pond.
I was hoping for a bigger rainbow trout, but at least I am not going home skunked.
Results of Trolling for Trout on Lily Pond
The paddling conditions are absolutely perfect this morning: no wind, but also no fog because the air temperature is a balmy 60°F. Not much happens during the first hour as I go around and around the pond.
The one exception is a small crappie that falls for the straggler lure on the shallow lead core line. However, that is an important signal, and I decide not to swap out my lures as I always do when they do not perform.
Also, to my surprise, two guys are fishing from shore, and a third angler is fly fishing from a kayak. OMG, that is more people than I normally see fishing during the entire fall!
A Trout Grabs my Lure
I finally get a more serious hit during the second hour. This fish is no hog but is definitely no crappy either. It gives a feisty resistance before finally reaching the surface. It is a rainbow trout! I am always surprised at how tenacious these fish fight, even if they only measure 14 inches! The creature gets photographed and released.
The trout took the straggler lure, which is a small bronze Colorado spoon. I make sure that another Colorado spoon becomes my straggler lure on the new set of three spoons I tie to the other trolling rod. Also, that second set of spoons is placed only one color down too. And off I go again.
The winning lure this morning: a small Colorado trolling spoon.
A Hard Hit but no Takers
A fish viciously hits one of the rods 20 minutes later, but I cannot set the hook fast enough!! Damn, that was a big, missed opportunity. Unfortunately, that is the last action of the morning before I need to call it good at 9:30 am.
At least this angler is not going home skunked. However, the results are rather meager. I failed to connect with the bigger bows that haunt these waters. I need to come back in the spring to try my luck again…
The outcome of trolling for trout on Lily Pond: I caught one 14 inch rainbow trout in 3 hours of slooow fishing, plus one crappy.
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.
