October 11, 2025
View of the boat launch at the southern tip of Pleasant Pond with the small cement dam on the right.
Location and Public Access to Round Pond
Where is Round Pond Located?
This pond is a 192-acre body of water found in Turner, Androscoggin County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 C5). My goal this morning is fishing for trout on Pleasant Pond in waders along the shoreline.
Public Access to Round Pond
Anglers can access the pond by a hard boat launch which is not shown in my 2019 Gazetteer. This launch is located by a small cement dam and the outlet at the southern tip of the pond, right off Pleasant Pond Road. Parking is limited to a few vehicles. Beware not to park in front of the hard suction hose that gives firefighters access to lake water in case of a fire emergency.
This first fish tells me that the rises come from feeding brookies.
Pleasant Pond Stocking and Fishing Regulations
Pleasant Pond and I are old acquaintances because I trolled it twice for landlocked salmon earlier this year. Unfortunately, I got skunked both times, which sucked. Let’s hope that I have better luck catching its brook trout in the fall…
Pleasant Pond Annual Stocking
The State stocks brook trout and landlocked salmon annually to maintain a year-round open-water and hard-water fishery.
Pleasant Pond Fishing Rules
The pond is open to fishing between October 1 and December 31 using artificial lures only. Also, all trout and salmon must be released alive and at once. Click here for the full regulations at this location.
The brookies are chasing my spinner this morning! The end of the embayment is visible in the upper right-hand side of the picture.
Fishing for Trout on Pleasant Pond using Waders in the Fall
Where to Wade
I reach Pleasant Pond at 7 am, layer up to keep warm, and enter the water in my waders a few minutes later. The air is a cold 31°F but the lack of wind makes the conditions quite bearable. Sunrise is at 6:50 am and the air temperature will rise into the low 60’s later today under full sunshine.
I am exploring the area up-gradient of the dam. It represents a 400-ft. shallow embayment split off from the rest of the lake by a narrow passage. I also fish to the right of the boat launch next to and past the dam to avoid encroaching on private property to the left.
The wading conditions are not ideal because the substrate along the shoreline is soft. Hence, it causes my boots to sink in up to 4 to 6 inches of sticky muck. I also have to beware of the shoreline trees to avoid loosing my lure to overhanging branches.
Technique for fall wader fishing for trout on Pleasant Pond
I fish using an ultralight spinning rod, a small spinning reel spooled with 6-pound monofilament, and a marvelous #2 Mepps spinner. The ultralight rod makes every fish feel big. I can also cast the spinner way out because of the light monofilament line. By the way, I would select a Mepps if I were exiled and told that I could only bring one lure with me. That is how much I trust it!
I cut one hook off the treble and flatten the barb on one of the two remaining hooks to limit injury to the fish. Also, keep in mind that a spinner is a “mechanical” device. The user must make it come fully alive by constantly twitching the rod tip during the retrieve. That causes the blade to flutter and the lure to dart erratically which ignites the killer instinct of the scaly predators below.
The prettiest, and biggest, brook trout caught this morning on Pleasant Pond.
Results of fall wader fishing for trout on Pleasant Pond
I spend the first 15 minutes casting the spinner around but without eliciting a strike. I am not overly concerned yet because I observe several rises which tell me that fish are actively feeding in the embayment area.
The water between the dam and where it opens up to the rest of the lake is relatively shallow (I guess < 5 ft. deep) and unobstructed by aquatic vegetation or sunken wood.
I finally get a hookup and fight a spirited 13-inch brook trout. Great, that is what I was looking for. It takes about one hour to wade towards the end of the embayment and then back towards the dam.
I catch another two brookies during that period. The fish are not suicidal this morning but are nonetheless feeding, and willing to pursue a darting spinner.
I leave a satisfied angler because Pleasant Pond did not skunk me for a third time in a row!
The results: I caught three brook trout (largest = 15 inches) in 1 hour of 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.
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