Great Works Pond near East Machias: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Great Works Pond stands in Washington County, Maine. Tidal water begins 4 miles from here. At about 182 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. You are looking at roughly 3.3 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Ground here is low by Maine standards. Nearest town is East Machias, 11 miles off. Machiasport lies 14 miles off, Eastport another 14 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Great Works Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Washington County include alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, brown trout and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Great Works Pond before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 66°F and January near 17°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on Great Works Pond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Great Works Wildlife Management Area covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lily Lake at 2.1 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Great Works Pond in what we hold.