Eastern Lake, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Washington County end of Maine holds Eastern Lake. The sea is 1.8 miles distant. The water covers some 35 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 0.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Saint Andrews is the closest place, 5 miles off. Then Calais, 9.1 miles, and St. Stephen, 9.6 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Eastern Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Washington County, recorded fish include alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, Atlantic cod and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Eastern Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Eastern Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Moneymaker Lake is 1 mile off. The position on Eastern Lake is worth confirming on the day.