Tag Archives: brook trout

Native brook trout fishing in Baxter State Park: Day 3 (September 28, 2014)

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DAY 3: Middle Fowler Pond to Upper South Branch Pond

 

A gorgeous view of the Traveler Mountains from the north shore of Lower South Branch Pond

A gorgeous view of the Traveler Mountains from the north shore of Lower South Branch Pond

The brook trout fishing on Middle Fowler Pond was so incredible yesterday evening that I decide not to fish the same pond again this morning. Instead, we rise at 7 am and get ready for our first “real” hike of our five-day trans Baxter State Park adventure. The trail from our current camp site to the large camp ground at Lower South Branch Pond is only about 5 miles. However, the first half consists of gaining about 1,000 ft to cross over Burrell Ridge. That represents a serious physical effort considering that our backpacks weigh over 40 lbs… We leave Middle Fowler Pond around 9:30 am and have lunch on top of the ridge by noon. The view from up there towards the opposite cliffs is beautiful, but we don’t have a ton of time to waste. Soon, we’re on our way down and reach the ranger station at the outlet of Lower South Branch Pond by 1:30 pm. Our camp site for tonight is located another 2 miles away, at the southern tip of Upper South Branch Pond. That site does not have a canoe. So we rent one from the ranger (we’ll bring it back tomorrow morning), load it up with our gear, and paddle upwind towards the thoroughfare that links the two ponds. We portage the canoe for about a quarter mile to pass the shallow thoroughfare. Note that it is possible to pull the canoe through it as we did in 2012, but at the risk of getting wet feet. Reaching the camp site on Upper South Branch Pond by canoe from the ranger station takes less than one hour.

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Native brook trout fishing in Baxter State Park: Day 2 (September 27, 2014)

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DAY 2: Long Pond to Middle Fowler Pond

 

Today is definitely the “laziest” of our five hiking days. We have to walk for about 2 miles, i.e., no more than one hour, in order to reach our next camp site on Middle Fowler Pond. Hence, we don’t feel the rush to get going this morning. Joel and Salvador are sleeping in, whereas I have a hot date with High Pond (see the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 51 A1). I crawl out of my tent at 6 am, well before sunrise, and walk to the canoe storage place. I unlock the canoe and drag it over the spit of land separating Long Pond from High Pond, and gently lower it into the water.

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Native brook trout fishing in Baxter State Park: Day 1 (September 26, 2014)

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View of Mount Katadhin from south of Millinocket, Maine

View of Mount Katadhin from south of Millinocket, Maine

 

Baxter State Park (BSP) is the crown jewel of the Maine state park system. Tens of thousands of nature lovers every year make the pilgrimage to northern Maine to enjoy its outstanding beauty. Most people, however, enter this natural wonder at the south end of the park and head straight for Mount Katadhin and its legendary Knife’s Edge, the most spectacular 1.5 mile trail in the northeast. But there’s so much more to BSP than Katadhin! In an effort to expand our horizons and combine our favorite outdoors activities (i.e., hiking, camping, and brook trout fishing), my son Joel and I decided in September 2012 to hike and fish our way across BSP starting at Trout Brook Farm by Matagamon Gate in the north all the way across to Roaring Brook in the south. This adventure was cut short on the third day due to an unfortunate foot injury.

 

The five blogs that follow tell the story of the successful completion of this trip, which took place between September 26 and 30, 2014. Joel and I were joined by my nephew Salvador on our adventure. The blogs will not repeat all of the background information on how to reserve camp sites at BSP, rent canoes for fishing, identify brook trout ponds, obtain maps, or select hiking trails.

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Trout and salmon fishing on Pierce Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Maine (May 24 to 27, 2014)

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Cobb's Camp, our headquarters for the next four days

Cobb’s Camp, our headquarters for the next four days

This blog continues the story started here. Salvi and Bill arrive at Cobb’s Camp on Lower Pierce Pond on Saturday morning at 11:30 am for our annual, 4-day fly fishing extravaganza. We all love staying at Cobb’s this time of year to take advantage of the may fly hatches which typically peak on this lake during the long Memorial Day weekend. We move in our own log cabin featuring a warm bed, a wood stove, electric power, running water, a hot shower, and a toilet. Not bad for a near-wilderness setting far off in the Maine woods! Our hosts also serve us three square meals, which includes a bagged lunch to take with us on the water.

 

 

 

 

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Fly fishing for trout on Dixon Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Maine (May 25, 2014)

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The flank of Pierce Pond Mountain plunges into Dixon Pond

The flank of Pierce Pond Mountain plunges into Dixon Pond

Dixon Pond is a completely undeveloped 17-acre pond located within the protected Pierce Pond watershed in Somerset County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A1). This water body has an average depth of 26 ft and a maximum depth of 55 ft, which is remarkably deep given the relatively small size of the pond. The main reason is that it abuts the flank of Pierce Pond Mountain which plunges into the southwestern end of the pond. Access is via a rough foot trail which roughly parallels the pond’s outlet. The trail starts at the Caribou Narrows, which is one of the two thoroughfares that link Lower to Middle Pierce Pond. It takes about 25 minutes of easy hiking through the woods to reach Dixon.  Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

 

 

 

 

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Fly fishing for trout on Split Rock Pond, Bowtown Township, Maine (May 26, 2014)

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The team strategizing before paddling onto Split Rock Pond...

The team strategizing before paddling onto Split Rock Pond…

Split Rock Pond is a completely undeveloped 6-acre pond nestled on the lower flank of Otter Pond Mountain within the Pierce Pond watershed (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). This shallow water body has an average depth of 5 ft and a maximum depth of 15 ft. The bottom consists mostly of soft organic muck and the water is slightly colored. Access to this pond is via unmarked foot trails through the woods. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information. The fishing rules are strict, as follows: (a) the pond is closed to ice fishing and is open to fishing from May 1 to September 30; (b) fly fishing only, and (c) the daily bag limit on trout is two fish with a minimum length of 10”, only one of which may exceed 12”.  Click here for more details on the regulations.

 

 

 

 

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Trout and salmon fishing on Pierce Pond, Pierce Pond Township, Maine (May 22 to 24, 2014)

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Upper Pierce Pond all to myself during my early-morning troll

Upper Pierce Pond is all mine during my early-morning troll

Pierce Pond is a gem of a lake nestled in the mountains of central Somerset County (see the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). It consists of three basins (lower, middle and upper) connected by shallow, boulder-infested thoroughfares. The water is crystal clear and its quality is superb. This water body, which covers 1,650 acres, is completely surrounded by a protected forested watershed. Hence, civilization intrudes minimally, except for a few grand-fathered camps in Lindsay Cove. The entire shoreline is deeply wooded and not a single dock or house is visible anywhere, except for Cobb’s Camp.  Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.

 

 

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Trout fishing on the Kennebunk River in Kennebunk, Maine (May 10, 2014)

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The Kennebunk River upstream of the Route 1 bridge provides great trout habitat

The Kennebunk River upstream of the Route 1 bridge provides great trout habitat

The Kennebunk River has it source in the area of Waterboro, Maine. It flows in a generally southeasterly direction through Kennebunk before emptying out in the Atlantic Ocean in Kennebunkport. Every spring, the State stocks this river three or four times in April and May with (give or take) around 2,000 brook trout and brown trout measuring between 8” and 10”. General fishing rules apply on this body of water. Click here for more details on the regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Trout fishing on Pierce Pond Stream in Carrying Place Township, Maine (May 26, 2014)

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One of the many spectacular water falls on Pierce Pond Stream

One of the many spectacular water falls on Pierce Pond Stream

Pierce Pond Stream flows for about 3.5 miles between Pierce Pond and the Kennebec River (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 B2). We explore this stream during our annual Memorial Day weekend fishing trip on Pierce Pond. We motor over from Cobb’s Camp and tie up at the Harrison Camp landing at the dam by the outlet. We find the Appalachian Trail (AT) which runs parallel to the stream and explore this natural beauty for about 1 mile downstream from the dam. Google Maps shows that Otter Pond Road provides direct driving access to the stream (note that The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer calls it Bowtown Road). This road, as viewed from the bridge over the stream, looks like a well-maintained gravel road.

 

 

 

 

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Trout fishing on the Merriland River, Wells, Maine (May 5, 2014)

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A lazy pool on the Merriland River above the Collins Road culvert

A lazy pool on the Merriland River above the Collins Road culvert

The Merriland River has its source in Sanford, ME. It flows through the towns of Wells and Kennebunk and into the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge before emptying out in the Atlantic Ocean. Every year, the State stocks this river two or three times in April and May with (give or take) around 2,000 brook trout and brown trout measuring about 10”.  Click here for the latest stocking data. I’m spending two hours this evening exploring that part of the Merriland River which flows for about 2 miles between Route 1 and Interstate 95 in Kennebunk. I drive up Coles Hill Road from Route 1 for exactly 1 mile and arrive at a large culvert through which flows the river. I’m not the only one here this evening: five other cars are parked along the shoulder. The weather is grey and overcast. The air temp is 56°F and the water comes in at 54°F. The water level also looks perfect. Note that this stretch is governed by special fishing rules, as follows: (a) the river is open to fishing between April 1 and October 31, (b) only artificial lures are allowed, and (c) the daily bag limit for trout is two fish. Click here for more details about the fishing rules. 

 

 

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