Branch Lake, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Maine, Branch Lake falls inside Hancock County. The bank gives way to mixed forest. This is big water, about 4.6 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Around 21 miles of margin, so directions matter more than a general plan. Few waters listed in Hancock County are bigger. Surry is the closest place, 7.6 miles off. Sherbrooke is the closest city, 172 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Branch Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Fish documented in Hancock County include Atlantic salmon, brown trout, alewife, rainbow smelt and blueback herring. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Branch Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 18°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Branch Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Rocky Pond at 2.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Branch Lake locally before you travel.