Tag Archives: brook trout

Fishing for brook trout on Upper Hadlock Pond in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 9, 2021)

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The public access point by the outlet can only accommodate hand-carried crafts

 

Upper Hadlock Pond covers 35 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Access is via Route 3/198 which runs parallel to the entire western shoreline of the pond. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The public launch site by the outlet on Route 3/198 can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.

 

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Fishing for brook trout on Lake Wood in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine (May 8, 2021).

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I did not anticipate this situation… I ended up hauling my canoe up to the pond.

 

Lake Wood covers 16 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Access to this pond is via Lake Wood Road off Crooked Road. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your car anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. I reach Lake Wood Road at 2:30 pm and am surprised to see that the park gate is closed. Crap… I park my truck on the shoulder of Crooked Road and walk around the gate to reconnoiter. It is about a half-mile stroll up and down a good gravel road to reach the parking lot and then the pond itself. Unfortunately, I left my canoe wheels at home because I did not anticipate this situation. And I do not want to carry my canoe all the way in. So, I head back out, put on my hip boots, pick up my ultralight spinning rod and reel, and walk back in. I start casting out a #2 Mepps spinner full of anticipation when I suddenly feel water trickling into my right hip boot. You have gotta be kidding me! The boot sprung a leak somewhere. I grit my teeth, walk back out, offload the canoe on my back, and walk back in. I then make one last trip to bring in the rest of my fishing gear. Thank goodness, I can finally start fishing one and a half hour behind schedule, and four miles later!

 

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Fishing for landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout in Pierce Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County, Maine (May 2, 2021)

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Cobb’s Camp, my base of operation for the weekend.

 

Pierce Pond is a 1650-acre protected gem located in Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). I have visited this beautiful three-basin lake (Lower Pond, Middle Pond, and Upper Pond) annually for well over 20 years during the long Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. The goal, always, is to catch landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout on dry flies during the spectacular mayfly hatches that peak during that period. This year, I wanted to mix things up a bit by fishing on opening day, which on this lake is May 1. I made prior arrangements with Cobb’s Camp to stay in one of their cozy cabins for two nights and spare me the hassle of having to haul out and set up my camping gear.

 

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Thompson’s Ice Pond in South Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine (February 28, 2021)

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The boys are having a good time horsing around on the glare ice!

 

Thompson’s Ice Pond is a miniscule 1-acre body of water located in the town of South Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 C3, but the pond is not shown due to its small size). The pond is situated at the intersection of Route 129, which runs between Damariscotta and South Bristol, and McFarlands Cove Road. I recommend searching Google Maps for “Thompson’s Ice House, South Bristol, Maine” to see its actual location. Note that a depth map is not available. Thompson’s Ice Pond is a small shallow reservoir associated with the Thompson Ice House Harvesting Museum, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Plenty of parking space is available next to the pond. Why bother with such a small potato? A review of the 2020 fish stocking report issued by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shows that this tiny pond received 250 8” brookies and 50 13” brookies last fall. Do the math. That works out to an astonishing 300 brook trout per acre! Beware that between October 1 and May 31, the pond is reserved exclusively for kids under 16 years old using only two lines per person (click here for more details).

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Otter Pond #4, Standish, Cumberland County, Maine (January 23, 2021)

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The Otter Ponds are a highly-popular early season ice fishing destination. Do not be the last one in!

 

Otter Pond #4 is a small 6-acre body of water located in Standish, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 D1). Click here for directions on how to reach this fishing hole. My original target for this morning was actually Parker Pond in Lyman, York County. I got out of bed at an ungodly hour in order to start fishing 30 minutes before sunrise. When I stepped on the ice, I was astounded to discover that it was only 0.5″ thick! It was clear that much of Parker Pond had thawed recently in response to the warm weather and rain of last week. That is insane considering that we are deep in January and should be walking on up to one foot of ice at this point in the season… So, instead, I drive to Otter Pond #4 which has a much smaller surface area and is more likely to have safe ice.

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Knights Pond, South Berwick, York County, Maine (January 10, 2021)

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Vehicles can be parked on both shoulders of Knights Pond Road. I estimated that about 60 people were fishing when I left this morning!

 

Knights Pond is a pretty 49-acre body of water located in South Berwick, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 2 E3). The pond is next to Knights Pond Road and the public access point is via an old railroad grade that runs along its eastern shore. Lots of parking space is available on both shoulders of the road in the vicinity of the public access. Although I do not know what the parking situation would be after a big snowstorm when the road plows are done with their work.

 

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Ice fishing for brook trout on Chaffin Pond in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine (January 3, 2021)

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The place is buzzing with activity this morning!

 

Chaffin Pond is an 13-acre body of water located in downtown Windham, Cumberland County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 5 C2). The pond is embedded in the Donnabeth Lipman Park, right next to the Sherwin Williams paint store off Route 302 in the business district. Click here for directions. Plenty of parking is available.

 

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Fishing for brook trout and rainbow trout on Knickerbocker Lake in Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine (November 29, 2020)

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View of Knickerbocker Lake looking to the right from the unimproved boat launch

 

 

Knickerbocker Lake is an 86-acre body of water located in Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 7 C2). The public access point is located at the end of a dirt road called Access Road off Barters Island Road (just passed the Evergreen Cemetery) about a mile west of the Route 27 traffic circle in downtown Boothbay. A sign announcing “Knickerbocker Lake” used to hang at that turn-off but was missing when I visited. Drive down Access Road for about a quarter mile until you reach a small parking area. The lake is visible through the trees.

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Fishing for brook trout on Sewell Pond in Arrowsic, Sagadahoc County, Maine (November 27, 2020)

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Sewell Pond (also spelled “Sewall Pond”) is a 43-acre body of water located in the town of Arrowsic in Sagadahoc County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 6 C5). The public access point to the pond is located right next to Route 127. Parking is along the shoulder of the road or by a small dirt pull-up right by the access point.

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Fishing for brook trout on Pinkham Pond in Alna, Lincoln County, Maine (November 27, 2020)

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Early-morning view of pretty Pinkham Pond from Bog Road.

 

Pinkham Pond is a 21-acre body of water located in Alna, Lincoln County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 13 E1). The public access to the pond is located at its southern tip, right besides Bog Road. Parking is along the shoulder of the road. It would be best not to leave your vehicle at the nearby fire truck water intake as that might potentially result in a ticket or a tow.

 

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