Fishing Report

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Brian Lewis, 4/27/26

The month of may is prime time for anglers trolling for trout and salmon. Salmon fishing is expected to be hot on Sebago Lake this year with early reports indicating good size quality and decent catches. Last year's sampling on Thompson Lake indicates a healthy salmon population with lots of two and three-year-old fish in excellent condition. One overlooked spot in Southern Maine is Crescent Lake in Raymond. Recent stocking changes to larger sized fall stocked salmon has resulted in a resurgence of the salmon population.  Reports from anglers suggest spring trolling on crescent can be very rewarding. A slight detour down the Tenny River will take the intrepid angler to Panther Pond which is also benefiting from the same stocking changes as Crescent Lake. Watch your prop in the shallow spots of the Tenny River!

If spring trolling for rainbow trout is your thing the Range Ponds in Poland and Norway Lake in Norway are good targets. Folks in York County should target Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro and Stanley Pond in Hiram for their feed of rainbow trout. As always, feel free to harvest trout and salmon for table fare within the legal limit.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Wesley Ashe, 4/27/26

Where to fish: Many of Maine's warm and cool water fishes are spring spawners (e.g., yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead), and the month of May is an opportune time to target these species.

If you're looking to load up on tasty panfish like perch and crappie (an invasive fish with no size or bag limit), you may want to visit the following waters:

• Androscoggin Lake (Wayne)
• Clary Lake (Jefferson)
• Great Pond (Belgrade)
• Indian Pond (St. Albans)
• Togus Pond (Augusta)
  

If it's bass you're after, you may want to give these regional waters a cast:

• China Lake (China)
• Long Pond (Belgrade)
• Maranacook Lake (Readfield)
• Quantabacook Lake (Morrill)
• Webber Pond (Vassalboro)
  

Fishing tips: When targeting panfish, look for congregations of fish in shallow waters and cast to fish during the evening hours – even well into dark. Perch and crappie will hit just about any lure/jig but use lightweight line (4-6-lb test) and tackle (small, colorful jigs/lures).

Both bass species make large nests, typically in 1-7-ft of water, and aggressively guard those nests during the spawn. This behavior makes them very susceptible, so targeting bass in and around nests with mediumweight line (6-8-lb test) and tackle (spinnerbaits, Senko baits, tube jigs) can be very effective.

Reminders: If you're timid about harvesting your panfish catch because they're too difficult to process due to sharp spines and abundant scales, check out an instructional video on YouTube and follow it along. Believe it or not, filleting perch and crappie is clean and easy…and mouth-wateringly delicious!

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor, Jacob Scoville, 4/20/26

Spring is now in full swing here Downeast. As of April 20th, all the Downeast lakes and ponds are ice-free, and anglers are catching fish across the region. Trout ponds will fish well throughout the month, while larger lakes should be prime for trolling. As the month progresses, rivers and streams should move to the top of your priority list, and by the month's end, bass will be on beds.

Where to fish: West Grand Lake is free, and anglers looking to catch salmon and lake trout should make the trip to Grand Lake Stream and get out on the lake. Trolling for salmon and lake trout at West Grand can be fast, and in the few weeks after ice-out in early May, trolling near the surface can be effective. This allows anglers who don't have lead-core line or downriggers on their boats to have a good chance of catching fish.

May is also a great time to bring children fishing. The weather is warmer, the fishing is usually fast, and there is no better place to take a child fishing than one of the waters open to fishing only for persons under the age of 16 (commonly known as youth-only waters). Here in the Downeast region, these waters include Foxhole Pond in Deblois Grand Lake Stream canal in Grand Lake Stream, Middle River in Machias and Marshfield, Myers Pond (North and South) in Columbia, and the Penobscot County Conservation pond in Brewer. We are already getting reports of fast fishing at some of these ponds!

The Downeast Region is also home to unique fisheries that offer impressive splake fishing. If you are interested in trying your luck for splake, consider Peaked Mountain Pond, Burntland Lake, Hosea Pug, and Heart Pond. These waters should not be overlooked!

Fishing Tips: If you are a traditional fly angler who wants to dabble in some trolling but think you need to get all-new gear, think again. Sure, trolling with fly rods is not a new concept by any means, but if all you have is a traditional floating line for your setups, instead of buying a whole new line, pick up a sink-tip. A fast sink-tip attached to the end of your fly line will sink just enough to get your flies off the surface. Getting your flies just a few feet down is surprisingly effective and can make a huge difference this time of year.

Reminders: Private road closures are still in effect here in Downeast, with many roads still slated to open on May 15th. Being the first to fish the waters when the gates open can make for an epic day of fishing, so keep an eye out for those opportunities. Also, don't forget that the last weekend of the month (30th and 31st) is Free Fishing Weekend!

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Ashley Houle, 4/27/26

Official ice out is soon approaching on the major Rangeley lakes, the smelt are starting their spawning runs, and prime spring fishing season has finally arrived after a long, cold winter. Fishing opportunities are abundant throughout May in western Maine. Game fish species are entering their primary growth season and are actively feeding as waters become more productive with baitfish and emerging insect life.

Whether fishing from shore or trolling by boat, cold water species are often found in shallow water or near the surface during May, when temperatures remain cool. This is also the time when smelt and suckers spawn in many of the region's larger lakes and ponds, concentrating in main inlet areas and smaller tributaries with flow. Timing your trip to coincide with these spawning events can lead to excellent fishing near the tributaries, as brook trout and landlocked salmon frequently congregate to opportunistically feed on spawning smelt or sucker eggs. If you plan to fish tributaries, be sure to consult the lawbook, as many are fly fishing only and regulations can differ from the main body of water.

The Carrabassett River, stretching from Carrabassett Valley to North Anson is an excellent early season option before summer temperatures rise. The river is stocked in both spring and fall with brook trout and rainbow trout, and anglers can find numerous roadside access points. If you plan to explore and fish the whole river, make sure you bring a fly rod as some of the northern sections are fly fishing only.

For those eager to get their boats on the water, Aziscohos Lake and Mooselookmeguntic Lake are two standout waters in the Rangeley region that can provide fast paced salmon fishing in the spring. If you decide to fish these lakes, don't be shy about harvesting salmon, the current regulations allow for no size or bag limit for salmon under 16 inches, with a bag limit of 1 salmon over 16 inches.

Clearwater Pond in Industry is another great option to fish in May, with game fish species of brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout. As its name suggests, the water is exceptionally clear, making your lure presentation especially important with such great visibility.

Open water fishing season is an exciting time of year, many of us are eager to hit the river or launch our boats. Boat launches, parking lots, and rivers can be busy but please keep in mind proper boat launch etiquette as well as general fishing etiquette—we are all out for a similar goal…tight lines!

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Stephen Seeback, 4/27/26

We are in full mud season mode in the Moosehead Lake region, hopefully we will soon hear the delightful words, "ice-out!", and that will bring a variety of fishing opportunities for anglers visiting the region. Anglers be sure to respect private landowners when traveling on dirt roads during Maine's fifth season. Roads can be very unstable and sodden during Maine's sloppiest time of year while frost exits the ground as the landscape wakes up after a bitter cold winter. The frost penetrated deep into the dirt roads making travel slow and unpredictable. If roads are dubious for travel during this early season, please think about pausing and coming back when they have dried out. Road damage is a major reason why we see more gates and roadblocks installed by private landowners. There are gated dirt roads that stay locked until Memorial Day weekend to protect them during mud season. These gates have made it harder for anglers to access some of our traditional ice-out fisheries. Nevertheless, your land use decisions in the Maine woods affect all user groups. Think before you go!

now melt and spring run-off are below average this spring. Anglers should not be surprised to see lakes, ponds, and river flows very low due to below average snowpack, adding to recent drought conditions. In early May many of our lakes and ponds are experiencing early ice-out conditions which produces some of the fastest fishing of the open water season. The region has a variety of fish species for anglers to pursue, and various types of angling techniques are necessary to bag your catch of the day.

Spring is a good time to find landlocked salmon cruising the shallows and the mouths of tributaries. Salmon are looking for a feed of smelt as they begin to congregate in preparation of their annual spawning runs. Gray Ghost, Black Ghost, and Mickey Fin streamers and a variety of other smelt imitations can be deadly this time of year.

Salmon are found throughout the region. Popular waters to try are Chesuncook Lake, Brassua Lake, Moosehead Lake, and First Roach Pond. Moving water anglers will discover opportunity to catch salmon at the Roach River, Moose River, East and West outlets of the Kennebec River, and the West Branch of the Penobscot River.

Remember- Salmon anglers looking to help Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife meet our objectives for landlock salmon management on Chesuncook Lake go check out the Chesuncook Lake Salmon Derby on Facebook. This annual derby is help on Memorial Day weekend and will now be hosted by the Caribou and Chesuncook Lake Lot Association— previously held by the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC). Like our previous relationship with NREC, we still support this derby to increase the harvest of the robust salmon population in Chesuncook Lake.

Many of the season's largest brook trout are caught along the shore as water temperatures begin to increase. Even the most novice angler can find brook trout that will take an assortment of flies, lures, and bait. Oldtimers would say, "if the motor isn't clicking rocks once in a while during ice-out trolling, you're not close enough to the shoreline." Yikes!

Consider how lake trout fishing strategies change with the season. Lake trout typically seek a constant water temperature between 40-52 degrees Fahrenheit. Lake trout can be targeted between the surface and at depth of 15 feet at ice-out. In mid- to late spring, anglers will need to get down to deeper water around depths of 30–50 feet as water temperatures increase.
 
Lake trout primarily feed on small fish but can be taken with heavy jigs or cut bait and are also caught by trolling large spoons and lures. Anglers can find some fast fishing on Moosehead Lake, First Roach Pond, and Lower Wilson Pond if they are targeting lake trout this spring.

Once we begin to see an increase in water temperatures we will begin our annual spring stocking of legal-size brook trout. These brook trout are stocked in easily accessible waters throughout the region to create "instant fishing" opportunities. Many of these waters are stocked on more than one occasion to distribute the catch among anglers and to ensure fishing success is extended into the early open water fishing season.

List of spring stocked brook trout waters:

• Bennett Pond, Parkman
• Big Wood, Jackman
• Doe Pond, Monson
• Drummond Pond, Abbott (family fishing area)
• Fitzgerald Pond (Mt. View Pond), Big Moose Township
• Gravel Pit Pond, Little Moose Township (family fishing area)
• Hebron Lake, Monson
• Kiwanis Park Pond (Dunham Brook), Dover-Foxcroft (restricted to anglers under 16)
• Moose River, Jackman
• Parlin Pond, Parlin Pond Township
• Piscataquis River, Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford
• Power Trout Pond, Little Moose Township
• Sawyer Pond, Greenville
• Shadow Pond, Little Moose Township
• Shirley Pond, Shirley
• Snow's Pond, Dover-Foxcroft
• Spectacle Ponds, Monson
• West Outlet Kennebec River, Sapling
• Whetstone Pond, Blanchard Township

Make sure to check the 2026 Maine Fishing Law Book to determine which fishing gear is allowed on the bodies of water you plan to fish this spring in the Moosehead Lake Region.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Frank Frost, 4/27/26

It's beginning to feel more like spring every day, and ice out is quickly approaching on many of the Penobscot region's lakes and ponds. By May 1st the majority of waters should be ice free, with the exception of some of the waters in the far northern stretches of the region. In May, most anglers in the Penobscot region will likely be targeting Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Brook Trout. The water temperatures will still be a little too chilly to target warm-water species with much success.

Where to fish:
West Lake located off the Nicatous road in T3-ND is a good choice for anglers looking to target Landlocked Salmon. Our recent trap net data shows a healthy population of Landlocked Salmon in the 16-18 inch range, with some larger fish mixed into the equation. Brook Trout are also stocked annually.

Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes located just West of Millinocket is another great choice for anglers looking to target Landlocked Salmon. You can expect high catch rates, and quick fishing as the Landlocked Salmon population is quite abundant. You can launch at Ambajejus Lake at the public boat launch off the Golden Road, or at South Twin Lake at the public boat launch off Rt.11.

Crystal, Otter, and Trout ponds all of which are located just a stone's throw away from each other in T40 MD, offer the opportunity to target Brook Trout in a more remote setting. A canoe, float tube, or simply casting off the shore should suffice in all three ponds as they are all under 25 acres. In the month of May access should be from the North, traveling through Burlington then taking a right off the Nicatous Road onto the 25-30 road. Access from the South off the Stud Mill Road will be limited for much of the month, as gates are closed during mud season.

Fishing Tip: As the water begins to warm the fish will become much more active. Fishing in May can provide anglers with the unique opportunity to find success fishing right on the surface, as opposed to later in the year when fish seek out colder water at deeper depths. Surface trolling or casting works great this time of year. Don't be afraid to get right in close to shore as many bait species and Salmonids will be lurking in the shallow warmer water.

Reminders: The water is still extremely cold, and the weather can change without warning. Bring plenty of layers, you can always remove them if you get too warm. Always wear your life jacket, especially when fishing alone. Always be respectful of private roads and use your best judgment if they are soft and muddy. I probably don't even need to mention it but the blackflies are going to be relentless so plan according. Happy Fishing!

From Fisheries Field Biologist, Chris Introne, 4/20/26

Most of northern Maine continues to be iced in at the time of this writing (April 27).  Southern Aroostook waters are beginning to open up but most of Aroostook will be several days to a week from having significant open water.  Road conditions are improving in North Maine Woods so for those seeking remote trips, travel should not be an issue.  For anglers planning trips to flowing waters, conditions are changing quickly.  Larger rivers like the Aroostook, Fish, and Meduxnekeag are dropping in flow; as those waters warm, prime fishing conditions will soon follow.  For those anglers trying to time trips around smelt runs, that activity is accelerated this spring.  We are getting reports of smelt runs beginning much earlier than normal, likely due to lack of normal snowpack. 
 
Where to fish:  Aroostook County is blessed with many rivers, brooks and streams.  Early spring is a great time to try one of the following waters:

• Aroostook River, Fort Fairfield to Oxbow – wild brook trout and landlocked salmon; access points at boat launches in every town
• Fish River, Fort Kent to Eagle lake – wild brook trout and landlocked salmon; access points in Fort Kent and Soldier Pond
• Meduxnekeag River, Littleton to Houlton – wild brook trout and brown trout; access points at Covered Bridge in Littleton and boat launch in downtown Houlton

Fishing tip:  The best approach for this time of year when fishing large rivers, like those listed above, is to focus on deeper, slower moving stretches where trout and salmon like to hold during cold, high water conditions.  Fish baits and lures deeper and slower than you would later in summer.  High water tends to be turbid making it harder for trout and salmon to locate food and your baits.  As water temperatures warm, trout and salmon will move to shallower, faster water to feed on abundant food resources. 

Reminder: We get a lot of questions this time of year about dipping smelt, specifically where to go and why more waters are not open to this form of fishing.  First, most people are unaware that all waters are open to smelt dipping unless closed by special rule, so an S-2 or S-3 code would be listed for any waters closed to dipping.  Most waters with smelt present remain open to the more traditional method of hook and line fishing.  Waters with landlocked salmon are typically closed to dipping smelt to better conserve the resource as forage for salmon; dipping smelt on their spawning runs focuses a large portion of fish mortality during a critical phase of their life history.  Dipping can lead to population suppression or even collapse and will affect salmon growth.  In northern Maine, watersheds with important salmon fisheries, like the Fish River, are closed to dipping.  The Allagash watershed, in contrast, is generally open to dipping on all waters because the sport fish present are not as reliant on smelt as forage.