Fishing Report

From Fisheries Resource Biologist Nick Kalejs, 3/17/26

April is a month of transition across southern Maine. This year, many ponds are likely to enter the month ice-free, while others may maintain some fishable ice (for the moment) in the northern part of the region.

As things open up, anglers often find success trolling for landlocked salmon and lake trout (togue) on waters such as Thompson Lake, Mousam Lake, and Sebago Lake. Little Sebago Lake can provide some early-season opportunities for brown trout and rainbow trout and adds variety to the species available in the area.
Open water fishing is also allowed in rivers and streams under General Law starting April 1st.

Action in flowing waters should improve throughout the month as warmer weather, more active fish, and hatchery stocking trucks help enhance opportunities.

Fishing Tip:
Fish slowly! The very cold water makes fish sluggish and trolling too fast with either live bait or lures is a sure way to miss hook-ups. Take your time and your patience may be rewarded.

Reminder:
Regardless of how you choose to fish in April, use caution. Our remaining ice is thinning fast and is replaced with very cold, open water. Layers are key and life jackets are a must when fishing from a boat.

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Jason Seiders, 3/27/26

 Coastal Rivers: For anglers with the early season "itch to fish", there are some coastal rivers that are worth a trip. These rivers are some of the earliest to receive stocked fish every spring, as long as those rivers aren't at flood stage. These rivers are stocked with a combination of brook trout and brown trout, and some of nicest fish to come out of our hatcheries will be stocked in the month of April. Many of these rivers receive fish at multiple road crossings, so bridges and culvert areas are great places to fish. These rivers include:

• St. George River
• Medomak River
• Pemaquid River
• Megunticook River (Rainbow trout)

Long Pond (Belgrade): April is the perfect time to fish for rainbow trout on Long Pond in Belgrade. Being spring spawners, the rainbow trout will be seeking areas of moving water (inlets and outlets), so those are the perfect areas to get onto some fish. You can certainly try casting some spinners and spoons, but the best way to have serious success is to work with the flowing water and drift salmon eggs, nymphs, or even a piece of worm under a small float or strike indicator. Many of these fish will be in the 14-16 inch class, with some occasional fish approaching 20 inches.
 
Brook Trout Ponds: Early spring is a great time to try some small brook trout ponds in central and MidCoast Maine. These are ponds that get stocked annually with brook trout, and those trout survive to older ages and larger sizes. Some of these ponds see very few anglers and they are definitely worth a try if you want a shot at some nice trout. You could catch trout ranging from 10-20 inches, depending on which pond you choose. Some of these little gems produce brook trout over 4 pounds. Fishing regulations vary on these ponds, so check the fishing rules before you wet a line. Here are some ponds to try:

• Halfmoon Pond (Prospect)
• Bowler Pond (Palermo)
• Upper Pond (Bristol)
• Tyler Pond (Manchester)
• Egypt Pond (Chesterville)
• Kimball Pond (Vienna)

April water temperatures are going to be on the cold side, so remember that fish will be a bit lethargic. Slow down your presentation a bit, and if you're fishing flowing water, try to get your bait closer to bottom. When temperatures warm up, you can work lures and baits faster but slow it down while it's cold.
 
Enjoy the spring fishing opportunities and be safe out there.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Ridge Osgood, 3/26/26

This year's winter has made for fantastic ice fishing conditions throughout the Downeast Region, but like all good things, it is coming to an end – albeit gradually. As spring arrives and the days get longer, many of us find our attention shifting toward preparing our gear for open water and all the opportunities it brings.

Where to fish:
Early spring, right after ice out, is a great time to fish for trout and salmon as they can be found near the surface and close to the shoreline. Smaller ponds and waters close to the coast are likely to open up before larger, more inland lakes. Anglers eager to catch some early season brook trout may want to consider fishing Birch Harbor Pond in Winter Harbor, Bubble Pond in Bar Harbor, East Pike Brook Pond and West Pike Brook Pond, both in T18 MD BPP, or Salmon Pond in T30 MD BPP. Lily Pond in Deer Isle also provides good brook trout fishing with the chance of catching a larger brown trout.

Later in April, once the ice has gone out of larger lakes, opportunities to fish for landlocked salmon become abundant. Anglers interested in trolling for salmon this spring should consider Green Lake, Donnell Pond, and Cathance Lake. On fair weather days, fishing near shore from a canoe or kayak may also prove to be productive on these waters.

For those interested in fishing streams and rivers, April 1st marks opening day. Early stream fishing can be tricky with high flows and cold temperatures. Anglers have historically had early season success catching landlocked salmon at Grand Lake Stream. Recent surveys indicate that anglers can expect to catch healthy salmon with an average length of around 17 inches.

Fishing Tips:
Trout and salmon are often found close to shore or in shallow water in the early spring. For brook trout, try using small spoons or spinners and fish around structure in 1 to 6 feet of water. If you're eager to hook up on a fly rod, cast small streamers or nymphs and retrieve slowly. For salmon, try using lures or flies that imitate a smelt in the water and slowly retrieve parallel to the shoreline in 1 to 10 feet of water. Be patient and move around until you find fish. 

Reminder:
With spring comes mud season and road closures. Access may be limited or temporarily restricted to some waters, especially those north of Route 9 during this time of year. Plan ahead by contacting landowners to ensure roads are open before you go on your trip. Always respect private property and landowner requests. Access to Bubble Pond is via Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park and is also subject to seasonal closures. Park Loop Road is officially set to open to motor vehicles on April 15th.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Tyler Grant, 3/24/26

T.S. Elliot wrote once that: "April is the cruelest month." Open water anglers would disagree though.  April is the time when the ice is melting, the streams are flowing and the early season bite is on. 

For stream anglers, April marks the beginning of open water fishing in most places in the north zone. The western Maine mountains have plenty of early spring opportunities for those anglers who enjoy casting a line. Temple Stream is the outlet of Schoolhouse Pond in Avon. It flows down through the Spruce Mountains and enters the Sandy River in Farmington and is an excellent place to do some spring fishing for stocked brook trout. 

Wilson Stream is another good early season spot. The stream stretches from Hills Pond in Perkins Twp to the Sandy River at Farmington Falls and comprises both the main inlet and outlet of Wilson Pond in Wilton. Wilson Stream is stocked with brook trout and may occasionally hold a salmon or two. Both streams have plenty of access points and are usually a good bet for early season success.

Anglers looking for a little more adventure could try Berdeen Stream or Mountain stream in the town of Byron. Both are tributaries to Swift River and have wild populations of brook trout. The Bemis Road follows almost the entire reach of Berdeen stream making access easy. Sunday River and its many tributaries in Newry is another great option for wild brook trout. Starting at the historic covered bridge, the Sunday River Road follows Sunday River and provides many access points. There are excellent pools to try, and the entire stream is managed under general law.

For those who aren't ready to give up the jig rod and tip-ups just yet, late season ice could be scarce this year. Northern options like Chain of Ponds and Spencer Lake should have ice through late March and early April. Remember though that ice conditions can change rapidly in April. Always test the ice before you venture onto it, even when travelling over an area that you crossed earlier in the day.

Fishing tip: Stream fishing in April is a great chance to take a young angler fishing with you.  There are fun things to occupy short attention spans and being on land allows the mobility that being in a boat or canoe doesn't permit. Additionally, the black flies aren't as fierce in April as they will be in May and June.

Reminder: When fishing a new spot, or even a spot you've fished many times before, be sure to familiarize yourself with the 2026 fishing lawbook paying close attention to any special fishing regulations (bag limits, length limits, gear restrictions) on waters you plan to fish. The Fishing Laws Online Angling Tool (FLOAT) for showing what the current regulations are with just the click of a mouse.

From Fisheries Resource Technician, Elijah Creedon, 3/25/26

With cold conditions persisting in much of the region through March, ice is very likely to remain on many of our waters in the Moosehead Lake region well into the month of April. That said whether through the ice or on open water great fishing experiences can still be found.

Tips for smelt and spring fishing: As their spawn moves closer, smelt will begin to congregate around their frequented spawning tributaries, and where there's smelt hungry game fish follow. Fishing around the mouths of tributaries (where safe conditions occur) can be the ticket to a successful trip this time of year. Through the ice, targeting drop offs and structure near those tributaries can be quite effective. Fishing in a variety of water depths and varying bait placement through the water column can help narrow in on where those fish are foraging. As ice conditions deteriorate, fishing from shore or boat over those same locations can prove just as effective.

Tips for hitting the rivers

Early April: Depending on weather conditions, brook trout are likely to still be found in slower deeper overwintering areas. Keep an eye on water levels and stretches of warm weather that can increase their feeding activity.

Late April: As the rivers begin to warm insects become more active. Late April often marks the first of the spring's real hatches. So, dust off the dry fly rod, and keep an eye on the weather forecast for sunny calm afternoons. Waters like the West Branch of the Penobscot River, Roach River, Moose River, east and west outlets of the Kennebeck River, the Piscataquis River, and your favorite small stream should all start to fish well.

Reminders

• Regulations: As we move into open water season be sure to refresh yourself on the open water fishing regulations and take advantage of the Maine Fishing Laws Online Angling Tool. A reminder to ice anglers on Moosehead Lake that brook trout and land locked salmon are closed to harvest through the month of April to help support their populations. As conditions continue to vary, don't forget that it is illegal to fish open water while positioned on the ice.
• Ice Safety: If you plan on hitting the ice this April proceed with caution. Areas with current such as main lake pinch points, islands, inlets, around shorelines, and pressure ridges can become dangerous. Keep in mind that as temperatures fluctuate, what is frozen now may have been open water yesterday! And remember thick ice does not always equal safe ice, as temps' increase, ice rots and cannot support as much weight. So, travel slowly and be sure to check the ice thickness and condition as you go.

Cold water safety: Whether you plan on launching the boat, fishing from shore or wading your favorite river keep in mind that the water is cold and hypothermia is no joke. Keeping a spare change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag is a great addition to your PFD year-round. Be sure to be prepared for the unfortunate circumstance of ending up in the drink. So, tighten those wading belts and keep the life jackets on.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Kevin Gallant, 3/17/26

With the winter ice fishing season coming to an end, it is time to start thinking about open water fishing. Throughout the Penobscot Region we stock several ponds for put and take brook trout through the ice.  If these ponds don't get completely fished out, there should be opportunities for 12"+ brook trout to be caught. These waters include Wiley Pond in Patten, Middle Oxhead Pond in T40 ND and Norton Pond in Brownville. We don't expect those trout to survive the warm summer months so we would encourage you to go harvest them! 

As soon as mud gates open this spring you can target Titcomb Pond in T32 ND and Hale Pond in T2 R10 WELS for brook trout.  East Grand is always a good bet for early landlocked salmon fishing.  If you are looking to target lake trout try Pleasant Lake in T6 R1 NBPP or Schoodic Lake in Brownville.

Fishing Tip:  
If you find yourself struggling to "match the hatch", dig deep into your tackle box and try some off the wall colors to see if you can trigger the bite!  While the best bet is typically to match what the fish are eating, often you can get fish to take bright colored flies and lures. Keep in mind the contrast of color to the water or sky.  These can all increase your chances of landing that trophy fish!

Reminders: 
Schoodic Lake has a new regulation that went into effect on January 1st, 2026.  This allows unlimited harvest on lake trout (togue) less than 23" and 1 over 23".  We have been on the ice this winter at Schoodic, and we are seeing large numbers of harvested lake trout.  This increased harvest, in addition to a smelt egg transfer later this spring will hopefully help the lake trout and salmon grow like we have seen in the past.  With one of the lowest salmon stocking rates in the state, Schoodic can occasionally produce salmon upwards of 10 pounds, and regularly lake trout in the 6-10 pound range can be angled when the populations are in check and the smelts are prevalent. 

If you are fishing waters in the Pushaw Lake drainage, please keep an eye out for tags hanging off the side of pike, near the dorsal fin, towards the tail on the back. Go to mefishwildlife.com/tag to report any tagged pike to help us learn more about the movement and growth of these invasive predators.

From Fisheries Resource Biologist, Frank Frost, 3/27/26

Northern Maine is still firmly in winter at the end of March, and that trend is expected to continue into early April. While snowfall has been below average this season, consistently cold temperatures have more than made up for it. Anglers across the region are reporting upwards of 30 inches of ice on lakes and ponds, with travel conditions remaining excellent. As a result, ice fishing opportunities should persist well into April 2026. However, it remains important to check ice conditions frequently – especially with warmer temperatures in the forecast – as late season ice changes quickly and unpredictably.  
 
Where to Fish:

• Scopan Lake – Accessible from Masardis at the dam or from Castle Hill/T11R4 just south of Haystack Mountain. Stocked with splake and salmon, with additional opportunities for rainbow smelt and yellow perch.
• Arnold Brook Lake, Trafton Lake, & Monson Pond – Three easily accessible options in the Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, and Limestone region, all stocked with brook trout.
• Cross Lake (T17R5) – Access via Route 161 and Disy Road to a public launch area. Stocked with salmon, with brook trout, white perch, and yellow perch also present.

Live bait—particularly fish—remains the top choice for ice fishing, though only certain species are legal to use. Anglers may catch their own bait, but more often rely on licensed bait shops, many of which close by mid to late March. As a result, anglers may need to get creative, turning to worms, nightcrawlers, or cut bait. Catching your own bait this time of year can be challenging, as many species are less active in winter. However, smelt are still a good option and can often be found schooling near inlet areas as they prepare to spawn. If live bait isn't available, jigging artificial lures is always a reliable alternative.
 
Reminder:
Access roads begin to thaw this time of year across northern Maine, including in the North Maine Woods where gravel roads are heavily used for hauling wood products. These conditions can quickly lead to deep ruts and road damage. To help prevent this, limit travel to early mornings or colder days when surfaces are still firm—afternoon sun can quickly turn a solid road into a muddy mess.