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Fishing in Central Maine
by Jennifer McGrath
People visit Maine for various reasons. Some are looking
for great scenery, some take advantage of the hiking
trails or whitewater rafting that the state provides,
while others are interested in the hunting and fishing
that is so popular in this state. There is some great
fishing in Maine; it is just a matter of finding it.
This article will point out some great fishing spots
within the Central Maine region of the state. Whether
you are looking for lake or river fishing, you are sure
to find a good spot from the list below.
Brewer Lake
Access from: Orrington, ME
For those who are looking to launch their boat, there is
a ramp at the northern end of this lake which provides
full access to Brewer Lake. The lake is about 881 acres
and has a depth of approximately 50 feet. There are no
opportunities to fish from shore here, so you will need
a boat or canoe for this lake. What fish does this lake
provide? Primarily, Brewer Lake offers the opportunity
to catch white perch, pickerel, and also some landlocked
salmon. The lake is rather small and the shore is marked
with numerous cottages. For those who want to stay in
the area, there is a campground in the nearby town of
Holden. Motels are also available in Brewer and Bangor.
China Lake
Access from: China, ME
Covering approximately 4,000 acres, China Lake can be
found near Augusta. There is a decent variety of fish in
this body of water which makes it a popular area for
fishing in Maine, even with those that live in the
state. Those who choose to fish China Lake can expect to
catch brown trout, large and smallmouth bass, pickerel,
white perch, and if you're lucky, you may catch a brook
trout, a lake trout, or a salmon. The shoreline of this
lake consists of farmland as well as many lakeside
campsites. For boaters, the depth of China Lake is about
85 feet. Even though the shoreline may be crowded in the
spring, boaters rarely complain about crowded conditions
on China Lake. You do not need a boat or canoe in order
to fish this lake however. There is shoreline access for
those who do not have a boat. There is plenty of lodging
around as well for those who plan to stay in the area
for a few days. You will be able to find lodging on Rt.
3 in either Augusta or South China. Or you could also
get a campsite at Lake St. George State Park which is
located in nearby Liberty, Maine.
Kennebec River
Access from: Waterville, ME
This water is primarily filled with smallmouth bass.
However, northern sections are known to have brook trout
and landlocked salmon. This portion of the Kennebec
River has gone through quite a change over the years,
but you will still be able to try your hand at catching
a variety of other species in addition to bass and
salmon such as brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow
trout. The angling methods used at this portion of the
Kennebec River consist of fly-fishing as well as spin
and bait.
Kennebec River- Hallowell to
Augusta
Access from: Hallowell, ME
This section of the Kennebec River is the tidewater
section due to the Edwards Dam in Augusta which serves
as the head of the tide. At this portion of the river,
you will be able to catch the same species of fish as in
the section listed above, but in addition to those
species, you will also be provided with alewives, shad,
and prime, upriver Atlantic salmon. There are public
boat launches in this area, but even if you do not have
a boat, you are able to fish from the shoreline at the
boat ramps located in Augusta and Hallowell as well as
below the Edwards Dam. For those interested in finding
lodging, you shouldn't have a problem finding any in
Augusta.
Kennebec River- Shawmut Dam
Access from: Fairfield, ME
If you are interested in catching some rainbow trout,
you may want to check out this section of the Kennebec
River. It is part of a tail water fishery and is one of
the only areas in Maine which still has a continuous
program for rainbow trout. Most believe that the best
way to fish this area is by wading, however, if you are
interested, you can launch your canoe downstream if you
are at the dam. There is a regulation of artificial
lures only in this area. This portion of the River
includes rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth bass, and
landlocked salmon all with a length limit of 16 inches.
There is also a bag limit for salmon and trout. Lodging
can be found in nearby Waterville.
Kennebec River-Waterville
Access from: Augusta, ME
The Kennebec River in this area is very powerful and
wide. In order to get the best out of your fishing
experience, it is recommended that you have a boat.
There are not many places you will be able to fish from
the shore anyway. Even though this area seems much more
urban than you'd consider fishing in, once you get out
on the river, you will get a feeling of solitude that
you were looking for. From the boat launch, the depth is
rather deep, but farther downstream; the river will
become more shallow and swift. If you have intentions of
going downstream with your boat, you should take note
that you will most likely hit some rocks along the way
with your propeller. A prop guard of some sort would be
recommended. If you are going to use a canoe, you may
not be able to get back upstream, so you may want to
just stick to the calmer areas. Again, there are
regulations in this area in terms of a length of 12
inches for salmon and lake trout with a bag limit of 2
for each of those species. This portion of the river
however is mostly congregated with smallmouth bass and
brown trout.
Penobscot River- Lincoln to
Costigan
Access from: Lincoln, ME
The Penobscot River is rather wide and the flow is
relatively moderate. It is a rather popular spot during
times when the water is not high; in which case, it can
be dangerous for those in boats. There are numerous
opportunities for launching and a few spots to fish from
the shore as well. From October-November, there is a
no-kill season set in place. It is a very nice area
though and there are many campgrounds around in the
Eddington and Enfield areas. Motels are also available
along Rte. 2. For those planning to fish here, you can
expect to catch pickerel and smallmouth bass.
Piper Pond
Access from: Abbot, ME
Piper Pond is a managed water of splake, a man-made
trout mix. This body of water is only 420 acres, but is
very easy to access. The shoreline is relatively
developed with seasonal cabins. Piper Pond is however
easy to fish from your canoe or boat which is probably
your best bet since there isn't very much opportunity to
fish from the shoreline. At its deepest, Piper Pond is
56 feet deep and regulations do apply for splake and
trout, a bag limit of 2 each. For those looking for
lodging in this beautiful area, you can take advantage
of camping at Peaks-Kenny State Park and find a motel in
Greenville which is just north of the town of Abbot.
Those who fish this pond will likely find splake, brook
trout, pickerel, white perch, and possibly landlocked
salmon.
Piscataquis River
Access from: Guilford, ME
This river is regulated and contains great fly hatches
and is rarely ever crowded by fly fishers. While there
are sections that are way too deep for wading, this
river can easily be fished from its banks. Most fishers
simply pass right over this river to go farther north to
find fishing, so solitude is certainly in existence
here. However, you will be relatively limited in terms
of species of fish to catch. This river consists
primarily of brook trout and brown trout.
Sebasticook Lake
Access from: Newport, ME
Managed for species of warm water fish, the Sebasticook
Lake is about 4,288 acres in size and provides good
fishing for those in the area. You can fish from shore
if you want, or feel free to use the public boat access
to launch your boat or canoe to get the most out of the
lake. From October through November, all fish must be
released. The fish found in this lake consist of large
and smallmouth bass, pickerel, crappie, white perch, and
cusk. Plenty of lodging can be found in Newport along
Rte. 2 as well as a campground for those who want to get
the full nature experience.
Sebasticook River- Burnham
Access from: Burnham, ME
A relatively slow moving river, Sebasticook River is
easy to access and is a great spot for families with
children because of the wide range of fish available in
the waters. The most popular methods of fishing this
river include wading, canoeing, or simply fishing from
the shore. Winslow provides a hand-carry boat launch for
those interested. The fish available in this river
include smallmouth bass, white perch, pickerel, brown
trout, brook trout, and crappie.
The Great Eddy
Access from: Skowhegan, ME
This fishing spot is actually part of the Kennebec
River, a very wide spot. While you can fish from shore,
this area is too deep for wading and is best suited for
boats or canoes which will allow you to cover much more
of the area. There is year-round fishing at The Great
Eddy and a picnic area as well as a boat ramp along the
Kennebec Banks. Lodging will not be hard to find, as
Skowhegan offers plenty of it. There are also
campgrounds for those interested. The species of fish in
this portion of the Kennebec include white perch,
smallmouth bass, brown trout, and landlocked salmon are
possible.
Unity Pond
Access from: Unity, ME
Set in the farm countryside, Unity Pond is about 2,500
acres in size and is surrounding mostly by a series of
marshes. It is a quiet pond and is hardly ever crowded
even though it is the largest body of water in Waldo
County. Fishers can find lodging in Bangor and can also
expect to catch both large and smallmouth bass, brown
trout, pickerel, white perch, crappie and cusk.
Reference:
Seymour, T. Fishing Maine. Falcon Publishing.
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