Cat Pond in Oxford County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Oxford County end of Maine holds Cat Pond. This is lake country bush country. It measures about 25 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. For supplies, Fryeburg is 3.2 miles out. After that come Brownfield at 6.6 miles and Lovell at 6.6 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Cat Pond

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brown trout, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Cat Pond the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Cat Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Walkers Bridge Canoe Access is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. The water borders Mount Tom Preserve, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lovewell Pond sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Cat Pond before loading the car.