Fishing at Cranberry Pond, Kennebec County, Maine

• Overview

  Cranberry Pond is set in Kennebec County, Maine. This is lake country bush ground. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Kennebec County standards. The closest town, Fayette, is 3.2 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Sherbrooke, 112 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Pond

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Kennebec County: brown trout, Atlantic salmon and largemouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Cranberry Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 17°F at the bottom of winter. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Cranberry Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Basin Pond sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Cranberry Pond in particular, ask before you travel.