Fishing at Gardner Pond, Penobscot County, Maine

• Overview

  Set in Penobscot County, Gardner Pond is a Maine water. It stands 728 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 23 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Patten, 12 miles off. It is 130 miles to Lévis, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gardner Pond

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Penobscot County: Atlantic salmon, brown trout, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel and rainbow smelt. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Take Gardner Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Gardner Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Jerry Pond is 1.6 miles off. Check the position on Gardner Pond before loading the car.