Fishing at Bolton Lake, Washington County, Maine

• Overview

  Out in Washington County, Maine, sits Bolton Lake. The coast is 38 miles away. At some 688 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Around 5.6 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our Washington County listings. Supplies mean a trip to McAdam, 15 miles off. It is 188 miles to Lévis, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Bolton Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Washington County include alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Bolton Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 13°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Bolton Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Parker Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Bolton Lake.