Long Pond in York County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The York County end of Maine holds Long Pond. The country here is rolling bush. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for York County are larger. The nearest town is Old Orchard Beach, 2.8 miles away. It is 63 miles to Manchester, the nearest city. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Long Pond

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read Long Pond for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 23°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about late December in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Long Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Ferry Beach State Park covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Short Pond sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Long Pond may have changed since it was mapped.