Access to Parker Pond is through this open space via “permissive trespass”.
October 21, 2026
Location and Access to Parker Pond
Where is Parker Pond Located?
This 26-acre water body (a.k.a. Barker or Barkers Pond) is found in Lyman, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 B5). My goal this morning is wader fishing for trout on Parker Pond.
Access Considerations
Even though the pond lacks an official public access point, anglers traditionally reach the water via a long-existing“permissive trespass” arrangement.
So, from Mast Road off Route 35, turn into Barkers Pond Road. Drive down this gravel road until it splits at the western end of the pond. Access is on the right, immediately after the split, through the vacant lot with the cedar wood rail fence in front of it. Walk right through it to the water, even though no sign indicates that this passage is the way in.
Park your vehicle on the shoulder of Barkers Pond Road right before the split.
Where did all the water go? It should be lapping up against these cement steps!
Parker Pond Features, Stocking, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
This pond has a fully-developed shore lined with about two dozen homes. It offers no particular vistas of the surrounding area.
Annual Stocking
The State stocks Parker Pond each fall with brook trout to support a popular local hard-water fishery.
Any remaining trout are available to be caught in the spring. However, none are expected to survive the following summer because the water column heats up too much and lacks cold-water refugia (e.g., groundwater springs or a thermocline).
Depth Profile
This lake has a mean and maximum depth of 13 ft. and 23 ft., respectively. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
Depth is not a concern for me this morning as I am fishing from shore in waders.
Fishing Regulations
Parker Pond falls under the South Zone angling rules. In addition, it is open to fall fishing between October 1 and November 30. However, anglers can only use artificial lures during this period. They must also release all brook trout alive at once. Click here for the full rules pertaining to this pond.
What a glorious combination: beautiful weather, fall colors, and a brook trout!
Wader Fishing for Trout on Parker Pond
Arrival and Conditions
I reach Parker Pond at 8:30 am. The weather is glorious: air temp in the low 50’s, plenty of sunshine, and little or no wind. One cannot ask for better conditions!
I layer up to stay warm, put on my waders, and walk through the vacant lot towards the water. Holy mackerel, where is all the water? The level is so low that a 30-ft wide area of bottom all around the pond is exposed to the air. I guess it will allow me to wade farther out into the water…
The wading is also beautiful at this location. The substrate is firm and covered by less than one inch of soft muck. In addition, the bottom is unobstructed by fallen trees or boulders, which minimizes slips and falls. It also gains depth slowly and gradually. Finally, the water column is unobstructed by aquatic vegetation. Those conditions are ideal.
Technique for Wader Fishing for Trout on Parker Pond
This fish fought splendidly.
I rely on my usual fishing tools when wader fishing on lakes in the fall. They consist of an ultra-light spinning rod, a small spinning reel spooled with 6-pound monofilament line, and an awesome #2 Mepps spinner.
The ultra-light rod makes every fish feel hefty, which is fun. The thin line allows me to cast the lure a country mile away, thereby covering more ground. A lighter line (say, 4 pounds) would get the lure farther out still, but results in more breakage.
Anglers have an infinite choice of spinner types, some of which are cheaper than the Mepps. But I do not fish with any other brand of spinner. The reason is simple: the marvelous blade design of the Mepps allows for a slower retrieve. That is important when the water temperature is around 50°F, as is typically the case this time of year. The slower retrieve provides more time for the (colder) fish to react to the passing lure.
Note that I also remove one of the three hooks on the Mepps treble, and flatten the barb on one of the two remaining hooks. That leaves plenty of hooking power, but minimizes damage to the fish when removing the lure.
Results of Wader Fishing for Trout on Parker Pond
Another male in splendid spawning colors.
I enter the pond and start wading towards the right. It takes me about 15 minutes to hook and land my first brookie of the morning. Wonderful, I have made contact. I am careful to wade back into shallower water after every hookup to avoid spooking any other fish that may be present in the same area.
Keep in mind that brookies released in lakes tend to swim around in loose aggregations. So, if you catch one fish, it’s always a good idea to recast your lure in the same general area to see if others may be present.
The catching on Parker Pond is steady this morning. I land a total of 11 brookies in one and a half hours. Six are of the smaller variety (8 to 10 inches), but five are larger 13 to 14 inchers. Those fish are so much fun to catch on the ultra-light gear!
I am satisfied with the results and call it good by 10 am. Not only did I wader fish under perfect conditions, but I also had the place all to myself. Life cannot be any better!
The outcome of wader fishing for trout on Parker Pond: I caught 11 brook trout (largest = 14 inches) in 1.5 hours of fun and active 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.
