View of the Twitchell Pond boat launch. The photo does not show the dam and outlet, but they are to the right of this picture.
September 8, 2026
Location of and access to Twitchell Pond
Where is Twitchell Pond Located?
This 158-acres water body is found in Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 10 B4). My goal this morning is trolling for trout on Twitchell Pond.
Access and Boat Launch
The public boat launch is next to the dam by the outlet at the southern tip of the pond off Greenwood Road. The launch is unimproved. However, it is solid and spacious. The dirt parking area next to the access point is large enough to accommodate several vehicles with trailers.
A gloomy view of Twitchell Pond. The somber lighting is ideal for brown trout fishing!
Twitchell Pond Features, Stocking, Thermocline and Depth, and Regulations
General Characteristics
Twitchell Pond sits in a gorgeous corner of southern Oxford County only a few miles east of Bethel. The shoreline is moderately developed. A dozen forested hills and mountains surround the pond and provide pleasing views from the water. It is also located right next to North Pond, South Pond, and Bryant Pond, all of which I have successfully trolled in the past for salmon or trout.
Annual Stocking
The State stocks this water body each year with 150 12-inch brown trout and 150 12- to 14-inch brook trout. Those numbers yield a density of about two fish per acre. That value is modest, particularly for brook trout.
The low brown trout stocking density is normal for Maine. It ensures that those fish do not deplete the local forage base, but have the time and space to reach larger and more desirable sizes. Hence, I am not expecting quick action this morning…
Thermocline and Depth Profile
Locating the thermocline and understanding its oxygen status are key to catching trout this time of year.
The thermocline is a 6-ft. layer of deeper water where the temperature drops swiftly by up to 15°F. It provides a cool summer refuge to the trout from the warmer water above.
I obtain measured water temperature and oxygen data for Twitchell Pond from lakesofmaine.org. The published data for late August (note: recent values for early- to mid-Spetember are not available) show the presence of a strong thermocline typically found 20 to 26 ft. deep, but some years only 16 to 23 ft. deep.
The top of the thermocline is fully oxygenated with a temperature around 70°F. The bottom of the thermocline is oxygen deficient but has temperatures in the mid to high 50’s. Based on these numbers, I will be placing my lures between 20 and 23 ft. below the surface.
The pond has a mean and maximum depth of 21 ft. and 47 ft., respectively. Click here for a depth map. Before leaving home, I printed out this map and outlined the 30-ft. depth contour. This simple step identifies a relatively small bowl of deeper water at the southern end of the pond. That is where I will be fishing this morning.
Trolling for trout on Twitchell Pond
This brown trout is the only one I was able to land this morning. It is too bad that an unexpected approaching rain storm chased me off the water.
Introduction
I arrive at the boat launch by 5:30 am. It is still dark. Sunrise occurs at 6:12 am. I aim to fish the “Golden Hour”, i.e., the period from 30 minutes before sunrise until 1 hour after sunrise when light levels are low and the trout are actively foraging. Keep in mind that brown trout are notorious twilight feeders. How early an angler is willing to crawl out of bed in the morning easily determines if a fishing trip will be successful or not when chasing this picky species …
The air temperature is 52°F. It is wind still. The sky is totally overcast and scheduled to remain so all morning. That is fantastic because it keeps the light levels low. The temperature of the water at the surface is 68°F.
Technique for trolling for trout on Twitchell Pond
I reach the local fishing grounds 15 minutes later. My usual gear when trolling from a motor boat are a spinning rod with three small trout spoons tied back-to-back and brought down to 23 ft. using a portable downrigger, and an 8-weight fly fishing rod with three one-hook, smelt-imitating streamer flies attached to lead core line deployed about 4 colors down (i.e., 20-22 ft. below the surface). It is good practice to place the lead core line ABOVE (i.e., shallower than) the down rigger line to minimize entanglements.
I hold the fly rod in my hand and constantly rip the line. That causes the flies down below to move erratically, and draws attention to them. The spoons on the down rigger create their own action.
Results of trolling for trout on Twitchell Pond
The winning lure this morning: a 1/6 oz Thomas Buoyant trolling spoon.
The spinning rod starts shaking violently 25 minutes into my first circle around the bowl. Great, I have a visitor! I put down my fly rod, grab the spinning rod, and swing it backwards to unclip the monofilament line from the downrigger weight. Yes, I have a fish at the other end. It is not a monster, but it gives all its got. Finally, a relatively small, but fat, brown trout emerges from the depths. The fish gets successfully netted. This catch is so exciting because all my careful triangulations bore fruit.
Rain is coming!
I start trolling again, hoping for more action. But the trout refuse all further cooperation…
It is now 7:15 am. Suddenly, an unexpected stiff breeze starts blowing out of the northwest, and raindrops are in the air. What’s going on? The weather forecast yesterday evening called for cloudy skies but no rain or wind.
I check the radar on my phone’s weather app. A strong line of showers is barreling through the region, and the area is scheduled to be hit with rain in 15 minutes. Crap, are you kidding me? Where did that disturbance suddenly come from??
I am done trolling for trout on Twitchell Pond! I pack everything up and hurry back to the boat launch. My fishing trip has been cut short, but I am happy not to be leaving skunked 😊
The results: I caught one fat 17-inch brown trout in 1.5 hours of trolling.
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.
