Brayley Pond Fishing in Piscataquis County, Maine

• Overview

  This water sits in Piscataquis County, Maine. Land around it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Piscataquis County standards. Patten lies 32 miles from the water. After that come Millinocket at 42 miles and East Millinocket at 47 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Brayley Pond

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Piscataquis County records list Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, brook trout and brown trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Brayley Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 9°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Brayley Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Third Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Brayley Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.