Leonard Lake in Hancock County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Hancock County entry here is Leonard Lake, in Maine. This is mixed forest country. At about 118 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 2.9 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It lies lower than most water we list in Maine. Ellsworth sits 1.1 miles from the bank. After that come Surry at 4.8 miles and Trenton at 8.4 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Leonard Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Hancock County include Atlantic salmon, brown trout, alewife and rainbow smelt. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Leonard Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 19°F in January up to 68°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Leonard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Lower Patten Pond sits 5.3 miles off and takes the overflow. For Leonard Lake in particular, ask before you travel.