Fishing for largemouth bass is a cherished summer activity for many fishermen in Maine. The desired quietness and loneliness, however, can be rudely impacted by the unwelcome hustle and bustle of jet skiers, swimmers, speed boaters, other fishermen, or general shore activity. My goal was to find, and share with you, hidden largemouth bass fishing spots scattered throughout southern Oxford County, defined here as that part of the county situated south of the Androscoggin River. I focused on smaller ponds less than about 50 acres in size, located mostly off the beaten track but still readily accessible by car (no need for 4X4 driving or hiking through the woods!). I also avoided ponds with excessive shore development. A small motorized boat could be launched on a few of these ponds, but most are fishable only by hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak. This selection process ensures that you will likely be fishing all by yourself in unspoiled, quiet, natural surroundings. The ponds are also small enough that they can be covered in a lazy afternoon or a long summer evening. Finally, I fished each one of them to ensure that they contain largemouth bass, which they did! Click here for an overview of the lures I like to use on these fish. I’ve also identified fabulous largemouth bass ponds in York County, Cumberland County, and south coastal Maine.
And the fabulous largemouth bass ponds for southern Oxford County are (in alphabetical order)….
BRADLEY POND IN LOVELL
View of Bradley Pond from the public access point
Bradley Pond is a 34-acre body of water located in Lovell, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 D2). The pond is accessible via an unimproved, town-owned public launch. Drive south on Route 5 towards Center Lovell. Turn left on Bradley Pond Road just before reaching North Lovell. Drive for 0.8 miles and keep right at the split in the road. Go for another 0.2 miles. The public launch is on the left, across from a big house. Note that motorboats are prohibited on this pond.
The shoreline of Bradley Pond is heavily wooded
Bradley Pond is stunningly beautiful! Its relatively small size coupled with the surrounding deeply-wooded hills gives it a remote “intimate” wilderness feel. The three lone houses along the shoreline are back far enough from the water’s edge that they are unobtrusive. The pond has a maximum depth of 30 ft and an average depth of 10 ft. The water is slightly stained, but otherwise clean and clear. The substrate is mostly sandy. The amount of aquatic vegetation along the shoreline is quite thin. Sunken wood is also sparse but provides some holding structure for largemouth bass along the edges.
Christian showing off his Bradley Pond largemouth bass
Note that the State stocks Bradley Pond with brook trout and brown trout each fall. In fact, based on its annual stocking density, Bradley Pond is considered a premier brown trout fishery in the state of Maine! General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
LITTLE CLEMONS POND IN HIRAM
Little Clemons Pond is just gorgeous!
Little Clemons Pond is a 25-acre body of water located in Hiram, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 C2). Drive north on Route 160 from South Hiram. The pond will appear on your right-hand side, just after passing Notch Road. The pond is accessible via a rough launch by the road. Cars can be parked on the shoulder. Only small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be put in the water from this access point. A public boat launch is not available.
Lots of places for largemouth bass to hide along this shoreline
Little Clemons Pond is spectacular-looking! The entire shoreline is wooded, with Robbins Hill dominating the background scenery. Not a single house or camp spoils the view. One could almost think that this pond is tucked away in northwestern Maine somewhere, were it not for the cars driving by on Route 160. The pond has a maximum depth of 30 ft and an average depth of 13 ft. The surface water is clean and clear, and the substrate consists of sand and small gravel. The State nicely stocks this body of water with brook trout each spring and fall. The pond is also a popular ice-fishing spot because of its convenient access from Route 160. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
LITTLE MOOSE POND IN DENMARK
General view of Little Moose Pond
Little Moose Pond (a.k.a. Little Pond) is a 33-acre body of water located in Denmark, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B3). It can be reached by driving into the town of Denmark located at the southern tip of Moose Pond. Get on West Maine Street (Route 160) going west and cross Moose Pond Brook, which is the outlet of Moose Pond. After a few 100 ft, turn left on Mill Road which quickly turns into a rough but drivable wood road. The pond will appear on your left after 0.8 miles. Access to the water is also rough due to a lack of a public boat launch. It looks like a kind land owner cleared a 50-ft wide by 100-ft long area of trees and shrubs between the road and the pond. Only hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be launched from this point.
A view of the shoreline on Little Moose Pond
Little Moose Pond is one of those hidden jewels that dot the southern Maine landscape! It has a maximum depth of 13 ft and a mean depth of 7 ft. The pond is completely surrounded by woods and doesn’t have a single cabin or house along its banks, which provides an authentic “remote” fishing experience. There’s also plenty of bass habitat: the shallows along the shoreline are thick with emerging pickerelweed/arrowhead plants and floating lily pads. The water is clean and crystal clear. General fishing law applies. Note, however, that motorboats over 6 horsepower are prohibited on the pond. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
PERLEY POND IN DENMARK
General view of Perley Pond
Perley Pond is a 79-acre body of water located in Denmark, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B4). Access is available via Hancock Pond Road which runs along the southern shoreline. Beware that the access point is steep and rough and can only accommodate hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak. Cars can be parked on the shoulder of the road.
A view of the shoreline on Perley Poind
Perley Pond has a maximum depth of 27 ft and a mean depth of 13 ft. It is very lightly developed, with only a handful of cabins along Hancock Pond Road. The pond is surrounded by woods. The entire shoreline is lined with emerging pickerelweed/arrowhead plants which also provides the only available largemouth bass habitat in the shallows. Lily pads and submerged wood are sparse or absent altogether. The water is clean and crystal clear. The substrate along the shoreline consists of sand and gravel interspersed with larger boulders. General fishing law applies. Note, however, that motorboats over 6 horsepower are prohibited on the pond. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
PICKEREL POND IN DENMARK
Pickerel Pond: peaceful, quiet, and secluded
Pickerel Pond is a 40-acre body of water located in Denmark, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 B4). Drive north on Route 107 towards Bridgeton and turn left on Swamp Road. Turn right at the stop sign after about 1 mile and continue for 0.8 miles on Hancock Pond Road. Veer right at the dirt road and go straight for several 100 ft. The pond will appear on the right and is accessible via a rough boat launch on its southwestern corner. The launch can only accommodate small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak. A public boat launch is not available.
Largemouth bass love this kind of habitat!
Pickerel Pond provides a nice “remote” fishing experience. The surrounding landscape is completely wooded. Not a single house, cabin, or dock spoils the view. The water is clear and the substrate is clean, consisting of sand, gravel and cobbles. The aquatic vegetation is relatively sparse and concentrated at the outlet by the access point. The pond has a maximum depth of 18 ft and an average depth of 9 ft. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
PROCTOR POND IN ALBANY TOWNSHIP
General view of Proctor Pond
Proctor Pond is a 45-acre body of water located in Albany Township, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 D3). Public access to this pond is a challenge. It took me a good 45 minutes of driving all around the pond to find a way in. The reason is that much of the waterfront is privately owned, plus the pond is surrounded by a dense network of gravel roads, four wheeler roads, and snowmobile trails which complicates things. An easier way in may exist than the one explained below; if so, please feel free to share that information in the comment section at the end of this blog.
The shoreline of Proctor Pond is surrounded by a thick band lily pads
The access point to Proctor Pond can be reached by driving south on Route 5 and turning left onto Mountain Road located between Lynchville and East Stoneham. Stay on Mountain Road for 0.9 miles, passing the following landmarks (the mileage in parentheses represents cumulative miles starting from the Route 5 turn off: (a) Abbey Road on the right (0.1 mile), (b) Dam Field Road on the left (0.1 mile), (c) Haley Lane on the right (0.4 miles), (d) the rough bridge over the outlet (0.4 miles), (e) an ATV trail to the left (0.5 miles), (f) straight when ATV trails branch off left and right, (g) stay right at the road split (0.8 miles), (h) look for a large trail signage board nailed to a big tree on the left side of the road (0.9 miles). The access road to the pond is across from that sign on the right. This forest trail is rough but drivable. The pond is located < 0.1 mile down this trail. I did not see any “No Trespassing” signs on the trail and so assume that this is a legitimate way in. A public boat launch is not available. Only small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be launched from this point.
Proctor Pond is pretty, quiet and peaceful. The rough launch is located on the western side of the pond and gives access to a large, shallow (< 2 ft deep) weedy expanse. The pond itself has a maximum depth of 15 ft and an average depth of 8 ft, which makes it relatively undeep. Abundant aquatic vegetation (particularly small water lilies which are a pain to fish through) surrounds the shoreline. The surface water is surprisingly clear given the amount of plants in the pond. The substrate is sandy with a layer of organic muck on top. About nine houses and camps surround the shoreline but they aren’t too visibly intrusive. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
SOUTH POND IN BUCKFIELD
Looking down South Pond towards the northern horizon
South Pond is a 49-acre body of water located in Buckfield, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 11 C3). Drive east on Route 117 towards Buckfield, pass Sodom Road, and turn right on John Ellingwood Road after another mile or so. Go down this hard-top road for 0.1 mile and take the dirt road on the right (going straight will put you into a municipal parking lot). Drive down this remarkably-straight dirt road for 1.5 miles. The pond and its access point will appear on the right after 1.5 miles. Another access point is located at the end of the pond further down the dirt road. Only small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be launched from either access points. A public boat launch is not available.
View along the eastern shoreline of South Pond
South Pond is located in a beautiful setting. The surrounding hills are completely forested. Only a single house is located at the northern end of the pond. The surface water is clean and clear. The substrate is firm, consisting mostly of sand and gravel covered by some organic muck. The aquatic vegetation along the shoreline is relatively sparse but is abundant at both ends of the pond. The maximum depth is 11 ft, with an average depth of 8 ft. General fishing law applies on this pond. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
SPECTACLE POND #1 IN PORTER
General view of Spectacle Pond #1
Spectacle Pond #1 is a 57-acre body of water located in Porter, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 D2). Drive north from South Hiram/Kezar Falls unto Spec Pond Road. Follow this road for about 1.0 mile. The pond can be accessed two different ways, as follows: (a) Drive up to mailbox #50 (located just before Little Lane) on Spec Pond Road and turn right on the open area, from which a rough forest road snakes it way towards the pond. I say “snake” because the road is narrow and curvy and is hemmed in by small trees at several locations. I didn’t try to drive my small car down it, but I suspect that a larger pickup truck may have more trouble getting through. The road ends at a sandy area with a fire pit overlooking the pond, or (b) Stay on Spec Pond Road and drive past Little Lane for just under 0.2 miles. A rough foot path shoots down towards the pond on the right. Park your vehicle on the shoulder of the road. Either way, only small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be put in the water. A public boat launch is not available. Even though Spectacle Ponds #1 and 2 are connected by a short thoroughfare, it is not possible to navigate from one pond to the other due to obstructions. So, the only way to fish both ponds in one day is to pack and unpack your gear twice…
Ain’t she gorgeous!!
Spectacle Pond #1 is surrounded by several forested hills. Except for a large white house and mowed field on Spec Pond Road, no other human structures are visible from the water. Actually, I’m lying; someone built a house near the top of the ridge facing the pond. Fortunately, it is painted in natural colors and blends into the surrounding landscape. But the view must be spectacular from up there! Anyway, the pond has a maximum depth of 29 ft and a mean depth of 12 ft. The surface water is clean and clear. The bottom is sandy but covered with muck. The shallows bordering the shoreline contain lots of aquatic vegetation, including pickerel weed and several kinds of lily pads, which provides great cover for largemouth bass. The southern part of the pond, by the outlet, is more of a wetland habitat. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
SPECTACLE POND #2 IN PORTER
What can beat a lazy summer morning chasing largemouths in this beautiful setting?
Spectacle Pond #2 is a 45-acre body of water located in Porter, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 4 D2. Note hat on the attached Goggle map, Spectacle Pond #2 is just south of the red pin). Drive north from South Hiram/Kezar Falls unto Spec Pond Road. Follow this road for about 1.2 miles and look for a white house with a big white barn (mail box # 154) at the point where the road turns to thread its way between the two Spectacle Ponds. Pond #2 is on the left, and is almost an exact carbon copy of its larger sibling on the other side of the road. The rough access point is located less than 0.1 mile passed the white house. Only small hand-carried craft, such as a canoe or kayak, can be put in the water. A public boat launch is not available.
The surface water from Spectacle Pond #2 flows through two culverts underneath Spec Pond Road into Spectacle Pond #1. Unfortunately, it is impossible to navigate from one pond into the other, as I found out the hard way…. The culverts are submerged and therefore impassable. I did drag my canoe over the road past the culverts but then had to back-track further down the thoroughfare towards Spectacle Pond #1 when I was stopped by fallen trees that obstructed the passage. So, the only way from one pond to the other is to pack up all your gear in order to unpack it two minutes later : (
A view of the shoreline on Spectacle Pond #2
Spectacle Pond #2 is another hidden jewel located in southern Oxford County. The pond is surrounded by several forested hills. Except for the white house on Spec Pond Road, no other human structures are visible from the water. As such, it provides a distinct “remote” experience, interrupted only by the occasional car driving by on the nearby road. The pond has a maximum depth of 15 ft and a mean depth of 8 ft, making it relatively shallow. The surface water is clean and clear. The bottom is sandy but covered with muck. The shallows bordering the shoreline contain lots of aquatic vegetation, including pickerel weed and several kinds of lily pads, which provides great cover for largemouth bass. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
WEBBER POND IN SWEDEN
General view of Webber Pond
Webber Pond is a 32-acre body of water located in Sweden, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 E3). Drive north on Route 93 towards Sweden. Turn left on Webber Pond Road. The pond will appear on the left side after about 1.5 miles (past Beaver Dam Road). Look for mailbox #150. The way into the pond is across from that mailbox. Beware that the trail is blocked by big boulders. Only small portable boats such as canoes or kayaks have access to the pond and need to be carried in for about 300 ft. I did not see any “No Trespassing” signs on the trail and so assume that this is a legitimate way in. A public boat launch is not available.
A view of the shoreline on Webber Pond
Civilization does not intrude on Webber Pond, except for a discrete dock and a small floating platform. The houses are located across Webber Pond Road and are therefore unobtrusive. Black Mountain and Popple Hill provide a nice backdrop. The whole watershed is completely forested. The surface water is clear. The substrate is sandy and gravelly and is covered by a thin layer of organic muck. The amount of aquatic vegetation along the shoreline is relatively sparse, consisting mostly of emergent pickerel weed, with a few patches of water lilies. The pond has a maximum depth of 8 ft and an average depth of 5 ft, which makes it quite shallow. General fishing law applies. Click here for a depth map and more fisheries information.
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 these locations.
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had fun reading your report,as i have fished every one of these ponds,in one of them this summer i caught my biggest maine bass 8pounds
Wow, how exciting! I’m so glad that my info lead you to an 8 pound bass. That’s one heck of a fish!
Nice info…
Mike