Island Pond, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Island Pond in Aroostook County, Maine. Everything around it is rolling bush. The water covers some 36 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. For a base, Haut-Madawaska sits 23 miles out. Fort Kent follows at 24 miles, then Frenchville at 31 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Island Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, brook trout, lake whitefish and Arctic charr. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Island Pond should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 63°F and January near 6°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Island Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Fish Pond is 0.5 miles off. What applies at Island Pond may have changed since it was mapped.