The public access point to Pettingill Pond is unobtrusive and unmarked. No parking is allowed in this vicinity.
February 22, 2022
Location and Access to Pettingill Pond
Where is Pettingill Pond Located?
This 36-acre water body is found next to Route 302 and across from Seacoast Adventure in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 C2). My goal this morning is fishing through the ice on Pettingill Pond.
Access
The public access can be tricky to find under the snow in the winter. While driving on Route 302 in Windham (direction Raymond and Naples, i.e., north), turn right at the light on Anglers Road just past Bob’s Seafood Restaurant. Then, go down that ruddy road for about 0.4 miles and look for house number 48. The small, unmarked boat ramp will be to your left immediately past that house (and across from house #51). You have gone too far if you reach Mud Pond Road.
Beware that Anglers Road is narrow, potholed, and trafficky. Also, anglers are not allowed to park their vehicle by the access point or anywhere on Anglers Road. The only readily-available place to leave your car is by Route 302.
I set up shop along the shoreline in 3 to 8 ft. of water next to a drop-off.
Pettingill Pond Features, Stocking, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
This pond is fully build-up. It has over 100 houses and cabins located cheek by jowl all along its busy, three-lobed shoreline. At least as many dwellings occur further away from the water. So, do not expect privacy.
Besides brown trout (see below), the pond also supports several other fish species, including largemouth bass, pickerel, and yellow perch. In my experience, the largemouth bass are plentiful but typically on the small size.
Annual Stocking
Pettingill Pond is one of my favorite go-to locations to catch brown trout through the ice in southern Maine. A major reason is that it receives the highest pond stocking density for this species in Cumberland County. That translates to about two brown trout per acre released each fall.
This water body is also capable of producing some nice-sized browns considering its relatively small surface area.
Depth Profile
Pettingill Pond has a mean and maximum depth of 12 ft. and 29 ft., respectively. Click here for a depth map and dated fisheries information.
Fishing Regulations
Ice fishing occurs under the general fishing laws for the South Zone starting on January 1. Click here for the full fishing rules pertaining to Pettingill Pond.
This brown trout fell for a small shiner
Fishing Through the Ice on Pettingill Pond
Arrival and Conditions
I arrive at the public access point of Pettingill Pond at 6:20 am, off-load my equipment into my sled, drive back towards Route 302, and leave my truck over there. It’s a nice morning, with temps in the low 30’s and a fully overcast sky. These conditions are great for ice-fishing.
I attach cleats to my boots because the unusually warm weather of the last couple of days has melted all the snow away. The ice is now glare and very slippery. That’s fine with me because it makes pulling a sled a whole lot easier!
Technique for Fishing Through the Ice on Pettingill Pond
My strategy this morning is to place four tip-ups baited with small 2-inch shiners over 3 ft. to 8 ft. of water along a stretch of shoreline in an area where the water quickly gains depth to about 15 ft.
But I first add a scented salmon egg to each hook to tickle the olfactory and visual senses of my target species. That approach has worked well for me on this pond in the past.
I also use the auger to drill about a dozen jigging holes all around my traps. I’m all done 45 minutes later.
I don’t get a flag during the set-up process, which is not surprising. Unlike brook trout, which are typically stocked at much higher densities, fishing for brown trout is invariably a “slow” affair that requires a healthy dose of patience…
This slightly smaller fish fell for the jig
Results of Fishing Through the Ice on Pettingill Pond
The first flag finally pops up in the shallowest trap at about 8 am. As I reach the hole, out of breath, I noticed that the line is angled sideways but no longer coming off the spool. Mmm, that’s not a good sign.
I slowly bring in the slack and suddenly feel resistance at the other end. I immediately set the hook and bring in a small (14-inch) but spirited brown trout. Great, I’m not skunked this morning!
I decide to jig in the two shallow holes around this location using a tiny 1.5-inch Rapala jigging rap lure enhanced with a scented salmon egg. Fifteen minutes later, I feel a slight bump on my jig. Ah ah, someone’s ringing the dinner bell down there.
I continuously and gently shake the jig, and get a hit and a hook-up 20 seconds later. It’s another brown trout, but this one is only a 13-incher. I move my two farthest traps into this active area, drill another 6 jigging holes in the vicinity, and start jigging with renewed hope.
Unfortunately, that is the extent of my fishing success this morning when I leave at 9:30 am: one flag on the tip-up and one bite of the jig. Yet, I have no cause for complaints because I caught two brown trout through the ice in less than 3 hours. That is actually a good batting average for this species.
This small multi-colored jig did the trick today. Note that I added a small piece of bait fish “meat” to the back hook to add flavor to the water and enhance the attraction.
The outcome of fishing through the ice on Pettingill Pond: I caught two small brown trout (largest = 14 inches) in 3 hours of slow but successful 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.
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