For the purpose of this blog, I’ll define a brook trout pond as a body of water less than 50 acres in size which is stocked in the fall with hatchery-reared brook trout to support ice fishing. These small ponds freeze over early in the season and are typically safe to fish several weeks before the bigger lakes become accessible. This provides a real opportunity for hot early-season action for those of us (myself included!) who just can’t wait to catch brookies through the ice.
The TOP brook trout ponds for the 2014 ice fishing season in Washington County are highlighted below (in alphabetical order). A pond is considered “top” based on its stocking density: the more trout are stocked per acre, the higher the chances of catching them.
Keep in mind that the state typically manages these smaller ponds as winter “put-and-take” fisheries. As a result, they get a lot of pressure early in the season and may be largely fished out within a few weeks. But by then the bigger lakes have frozen over and the ice fishing action moves elsewhere.
Always consult the latest regulations (available at www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/regulations_seasons/index.htm) about special ice fishing rules that may apply on these ponds. I have done my utmost best to verify that a particular pond is indeed open for ice fishing, but I make no guarantees that my interpretation of the Maine fishing rules is accurate or correct. It is up to each individual reader of this blog to ensure that a pond listed below can be fished through the ice. Note also that the list below excludes “kids only” ponds.
Finally, use the website linked to this blog to discover how many trout and salmon are released per acre in the spring and fall in all the ponds and lakes stocked by the State throughout Maine.
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Ackley Pond covers 7 acres and is located off East Stream Road in Cutler, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 27 C1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/ackley_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 57 brook trout per acre. All the stocked trout measured around 8”.
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Goulding Lake covers 17 acres and is located at the end of Western Road in Robbinston, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 D1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/goulding_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 68 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured around 8”, but 50 of them (or about 3 trout per acre) measured 12”.
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James Pond covers 31 acres and is located to the west of Charlotte Road just north of Round Lake in Charlotte, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 36 D5). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/james_pond.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 40 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measured around 8”.
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Keeley Lake covers 49 acres and is located between Six Mile Lake and Second Marks Lake in Marshfield, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 26 B2). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/keeley_lake.pdf.
This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 22 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked fish measured 8”, but 100 fish (or about 2 trout per acre) measured 13”.
Mic-Mac Pond covers 49 acres and is located next to Hatchery Road in Deblois, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 25 C2; note: the pond does not appear on the map). A depth map is also not available. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 20 brook trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measured around 7”.
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Moneymaker Lake covers 32 acres and is located to the east of Nashs Lake off Mount Holley Road in Robbinston, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 37 C1). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/moneymaker_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 25 trout per acre. All of the stocked trout measure around 8”.
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Vining Lake covers 19 acres and is located just west of Lake Cathance off Vining Road in Cooper, Washington County (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 36 E3). A depth map and more fisheries information can be obtained at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/lakesurvey_maps/washington/vining_lake.pdf. This pond was stocked in the fall of 2013 with 47 brook trout per acre. Most of the stocked trout measured around 8”, but 50 of them (or around 3 fish per acre) measured 12”.
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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