Fishing Long Pond in Hancock County, Maine

• Overview

  Long Pond lies in Hancock County, Maine. It sits 1.5 miles in from the sea. It runs to roughly 58 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.9 miles, small enough to learn in a day. The nearest town is Sullivan, 1.6 miles away. For a city, Sherbrooke is 192 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Long Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Open biodiversity records for Hancock County list Atlantic salmon, brown trout, alewife, rainbow smelt and blueback herring. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Long Pond rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 19°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That shapes the year on Long Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Schoodic Connector Trail takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Basin Pond, 0.4 miles away. For Long Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.