Fishing at Damariscotta Lake, Lincoln County, Maine

• Overview

  Damariscotta Lake is a Lincoln County water, in Maine. Around the bank it is lake country bush. At roughly 7.3 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. Some 40 miles of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. It is the biggest water on our Lincoln County list. Jefferson at 4.5 miles is the nearest place to stop. Nobleboro follows at 4.7 miles, then Waldoboro at 6.6 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Damariscotta Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Lincoln County records list brown trout, alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt and American eel among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Damariscotta Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 20°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Damariscotta Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Deer Meadow Pond at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Damariscotta Lake in what we hold.