Parker Lake in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Parker Lake in the Washington County part of Maine. It stands 801 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Washington County list holds plenty of bigger water. McAdam lies 16 miles from the water. Lakeland Ridges lies 21 miles off, Manners Sutton another 27 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Parker Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Washington County records list alewife, Atlantic salmon and rainbow smelt among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work Parker Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• 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. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Parker Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This sits inside Spednic Lake Provincial Park, so read the reserve notices first. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Bolton Lake, 1.4 miles away. Signs at Parker Lake carry more weight than any list.