Collins Pond near North Windham: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Cumberland County, Maine, this is Collins Pond. It lies 262 feet above sea level. Around 41 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. For a base, North Windham sits 0.7 miles out. The nearest city of size is Manchester, 78 miles away. Close by you also have: Mill Pond (0.6 miles), Chaffin Pond sits 1.4 miles out, Pettingill Pond (1.9 miles), Little Sebago Lake sits 3.4 miles out and Dundee Pond (3.4 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Collins Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Cumberland County records list brown trout, Atlantic salmon, blueback herring and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Collins Pond the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 68°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan any trip to Collins Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. The water borders Brookhaven Preserve, so expect the reserve rules to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Mill Pond at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Collins Pond in what we hold.