Coleback Lake Fishing in Washington County, Maine

• Overview

  Coleback Lake is a Washington County water, Maine side. It lies 144 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 25 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Ground here is low by Maine standards. 8.6 miles away sits Saint Andrews, the nearest town. Dartmouth is the closest city, 180 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Coleback Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Washington County list alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt and brown trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Coleback Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 66°F and January about 17°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Coleback Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Pennamaquan River Reservoir, 1.1 miles out. Treat access at Coleback Lake as something to verify.