September 20, 2025
A gorgeous view of Minnehonk Lake during the Golden Hour!
Location and Public Access to Minnehonk Lake
Where is Minnehonk Lake Located?
This 85-acre body of water is found in Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 12 A3). My goal this morning is trolling for splake on Minnehonk Lake.
Public Access and Boat Launch
The unimproved boat launch, which is not shown in my 2019 edition of the Gazetteer, is located at the northern tip of the lake, off North Road and across from the fire station.
The launch is narrow and sandy but can accommodate trailered boats. Parking is limited to a few vehicles along the road shoulder.
The fog burns off, the sun rises high in the sky, and I am still waiting for my first fish…
Minnehonk Lake Features, Stocking, Thermocline and Depth Profile, and Fishing Rules
General Characteristics
Minnehonk Lake is small but pretty. Its northern and eastern shorelines are well developed with houses and cabins, whereas its western shoreline is only lightly developed because Pond Road runs right along the water. Fortunately, the traffic is not a distraction because only a few cars travel down that road this morning.
I used my proven search strategy to identify this location for salmonid trolling in the summer. I ice fished it last winter but got skunked. Hence, I want to give this place another try.
Annual Stocking
The State stocks the lake each year with brook trout and splake (a hybrid species obtained by crossing a lake trout with a brook trout). Depending on the year, the splake are stocked at a density of between 2 to 4 fish per acre. That is low but typical for this species.
Thermocline
Because the upper water column is still relatively warm, I need to ascertain the presence of a thermocline in mid- to late September, and its dissolved oxygen status. I obtain that precious information from Lakes of Maine. Looking across several years of water quality data, the information shows the presence of a thermocline from about 18-20 to 24-26 ft. deep where the temperature drops by around 15°F in a matter of 6 ft.
But the lower end of that narrow water layer can have an oxygen deficiency. I will therefore place my lures in water 20 to 23 ft. deep because I surmise that this is the depth where the trout are most likely hiding this time of year.
Depth Profile
This water body as a mean and maximum depth of 32 ft. and 73 ft., respectively, making it quite deep for its relatively small size. Click here for a depth map and (dated) fisheries information. Before leaving home, I printed out this depth map and circled the 30-ft. depth contour, so I know exactly where to troll. It identifies the entire northern two thirds of the pond as my hunting grounds.
Fishing Rules
Angling at this location in late summer occurs under the applicable South Zone fishing rules.
That little fish is the only one I caught this morning. Note the forked tail: that makes this fish a splake instead of a brook trout.
Trolling for Splake on Minnehonk Lake
The “Golden Hour”
I arrive at the boat launch of Minnehonk Lake at 6:10 am, eager to fish the early-morning Golden Hour when the trout are actively eating, and light levels are low. Sun rise occurs at 6:25 am in a cloudless blue sky. It is a nippy 39°F. Hence, I am layering up to stay warm.
The contrast between the relatively warm water (67°F) and cold air above it creates a nice fog vibe, which is so typical for this time of the year (click here and here for other examples).
Technique for Trolling for Splake on Minnehonk Pond
I deploy my usual trolling paraphernalia. Specifically, a portable downrigger fished with a spinning rod trailing three small spoons tied back-to-back, and lead core line fished with an 8-weight fly fishing rod trailing three small streamer flies tied back-to-back. I hold the fly rod in my hands and gently rip the line to give random action to the flies below.
This lake supports a healthy smelt population, so I make sure to include smelt-imitating spoons and streamer flies.
It takes about 30 minutes to make one complete loop around this small lake. I have not gotten a single hit in 1.5 hours, and a full change of lures, later. This pattern is not looking good…
The only fish this morning was caught using this diminutive Mooselook Wobbler spoon.
Results for Trolling for Splake on Minnehonk Lake
The fog has lifted, and the sun has risen above the tree line along the eastern shoreline. Harsh light floods the water. And I have to do something else to improve the odds of catching fish while trolling for splake on Minnehonk Lake.
I already swapped my lures out for new ones. In addition, going below the thermocline would be dipping them in oxygen-depleted waters. Instead, I bring the down rigger lures up from 22 ft. to 18 ft., and the lead core line lures from 21 ft. to 16 ft. Hence, the lures are now at or just above the thermocline.
Ten minutes later, my spinning rod on the down rigger starts shaking, announcing the presence of a customer down below. Yes! I swing the rod to unclip the fishing line from the downrigger. The fish at the other end of the line is underwhelming. It turns out to be a 13-inch splakeling that fell for the third (“straggler”) spoon represented by a small, 1.75-inch, smelt-imitating Mooselook Wobbler.
Swapping out the streamer flies
The only signal received all morning long while trolling for splake on Minnehonk Lake is that fish. Therefore, I decide to remove the three streamer flies that have done nothing. Three additional 1.75-inch Wobblers replace those flies. I restart my trolling with renewed hope, but the next hour or so generates no more action. This is so frustrating!
I call it good at 9:30 am, disappointed with the results.
While taking out my boat, I talk to a local home owner about fishing on this lake. He mentions that Minnehonk Lake has a well-deserved reputation of being slow at giving up its salmonids. That makes me feel a little bit better…
The results: I caught one tiny splake (13 inches long) in 3 hours of slooow 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.
Tight Lines, y’all.
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