View of the unimproved access point. Only hand-carried craft can be launched from this location.
July 27, 2024
Location and Access to Warren Pond
Where is Warren Pond Located?
This 45-acre water body is found in South Berwick, York County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 1 A4). My goal today is trolling for trout on Warren Pond.
Access and Boat Launch
To access this pond, drive down Belle Marsh Road and look for the wooden bridge over Hoopers Brook. Next to that bridge, turn on Warren Pond Road which is posted as “private”. Proceed down this gravel road for 0.3 miles until it becomes an undrivable and bouldery forest trail. You will notice a discrete green sign stating that access to the pond is allowed via permissive trespass over private land. Park your vehicle on the side.
The pond is a three-minute walk down the trail. Only hand-carried craft can be launched from the unimproved access point.
All anglers should deeply respect these tentative arrangements over private land to ensure future access to this pond.
This first fish proved all my research right!
Warren Pond Features, Stocking, Thermocline, Depth Profile, and Angling Rules
General Characteristics
I have fished all over southern Maine for the last quarter century, and discovering another hidden gem always thrills me to pieces.
And Warren Pond is one of those special locations!
The shoreline is totally undeveloped, except for two discrete docks. Not a house is visible from the water. The surrounding area is deeply forested and filled with serenading songbirds. Note that I found this location using my “secret sauce” search strategy.
Annual Stocking
The State stocks this pond each spring with 350 11-inch rainbow trout, which results in a respectable stocking density of about 8 trout per acre. That number gets my attention. It is also what draws me in today.
The Thermocline
I check for measured water temperature and oxygen data collected from this pond to determine the depth of the thermocline in the summer. Lakesofmaine.org provides this invaluable information for free.
Most of the available data are 20+ years old and pertain mostly to August. But the pattern is unmistakable: Warren Pond develops one of the shallowest but also most powerful thermoclines I have ever seen!
This warm-to-cold water layer typically occurs at a depth of 10 ft. to 16 ft. below the surface. The temperature drops by an incredible 15 to 20 F between the top and bottom of this 6-foot layer. The bottom of the thermocline may also experience inadequate oxygen levels. However, the cold water below the thermocline always shows a severe oxygen deficiency.
That pattern only means one thing: all the rainbow trout that live in this pond must swim in the thermocline during the summer because they cannot survive in the oxygen-rich but overheated water above or in the cold but oxygen-poor water down below. That makes it much easier to target them this time of the year.
Based on these insights, I will be placing my lures about midway in the thermocline.
Depth Profile
This pond is relatively shallow, with a mean and maximum depth of 13 ft. and 32 ft., respectively. Click here for a depth map and more (dated) fisheries information. Before leaving home, I printed out this map and drew the 20-foot contour line. Most of the middle of Warren Pond falls in this area and represents my trolling grounds.
Fishing Regulations when Trolling for Trout on Warren Pond
Angling on Warren Pond occurs under the general fishing laws applicable to the South Zone. Also, the state limits anglers to artificial lures only (i.e., no worms, fish eggs, live or dead bait fish).
In addition, the pond is open to fishing in the fall between October 1 and November 30. However, anglers must release all trout alive and at once during this period.
Finally, the pond is closed to all fishing (including ice fishing) between December 1 and March 31.
Click here for the full regulations applicable at this location.
This little guy was stocked earlier this spring. Note the conditions: wind still and full sunshine.
Trolling for Trout on Warren Pond
Arrival and Conditions
I reach the parking area by 6:15 AM and quickly carry my canoe and fishing gear down to the access point. I am on the water and ready to check out this place 20 minutes later.
The weather is splendid: full sunshine, air temps in the mid-60’s and forecast to rise into the mid 80’s later today, and wind still. The surface water temperature is a warm 77°F.
Technique for Trolling for Trout on Warren Pond
My strategy this morning is to troll around and across Warren Pond using lead core line to place three small trout spoons two and a half colors (about 13-15 ft. down) below the water surface. Based on the results of my research outlined above, that should place the lures at the correct depth to target the rainbow trout stuck in the thermocline.
The last rainbow was the largest of the three. But I have no doubt that much bigger bows reside in these waters!
Results of Trolling for Trout on Warren Pond
I get a hook-up 30 minutes later and am super excited to see a feisty 13-inch bow rise to the surface. Yes! This important signal confirms that a) I am fishing at the correct depth, b) I am using the correct lures, and c) the fish are at their post and willing to bite.
I notice that the trout did not fall for the third “straggler” spoon – as is most often the case – but instead grabbed the second spoon in the middle. That too is an important signal. I swap the two spoons to make the middle one the new “straggler”. It is a detail but why not make the attractive lure the easiest one for the fish to grab?
I get another three hits and two hookups over the next 1.5 hour of paddling around Warren Pond. The second fish is noticeably smaller and represents one of the 11-inch stockers from this spring. The third one measures 15 inches and represents one of the trout stocked last year.
The Bite is Over
The bite stops after 9 AM when the rising sun floods the area with its harsh light. I enjoy quietly paddling around and observing dozens of tree swallows skipping off the water’s surface. But it is warming up quickly, and my butt is getting sore. I decide to call it good at 10 AM, pleased with the results.
My only regret is not to have caught one of the larger bows, which I have no doubt swim around in these pristine waters. I also make a mental note to return here in mid-May with my fly-fishing rod to catch rainbows on the surface using a dry fly.
The bottom line is that Warren Pond is a total keeper and well worth a future return visit!
The Thomas T101 1/6 oz. Buoyant trout spoon was the winning lure this morning.
The outcome of trolling for trout on Warren Pond: I caught three rainbow trout (largest = 15 inches) in 3 hours of quiet paddling in my canoe.
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.
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3 thoughts on “Trolling for trout on Warren Pond, ME”
Hi, how do you get permission to fish this pond?
You do not need permission to fish this pond; it is open to the public. Access is via “permissive trespass”, i.e., the landowner allows anglers to walk down that gravelly path through their land towards the pond.
A sign by the access point requests that the landowner be contacted by phone if an angler wants to leave behind a canoe or kayak for the season.
Tight lines.
I wish I had known, you were right in my backyard! Would have been fun to meet you in person! It is a great little spot…and I’m inspired by your lead-core line trolling idea. I usually stay away from this place once the water warms up, but now I know the fish are still there! I’m heading to your lead core line blog post now! 🙂