Lovejoy Pond in Hancock County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lovejoy Pond lies in Hancock County, in Maine. The coast is 30 miles away. It runs to roughly 30 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 0.9 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. 25 miles away sits Bradley, the nearest town. Milford follows at 25 miles, then Old Town at 25 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lovejoy Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Hancock County: 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. At Lovejoy Pond light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 16°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Expect Lovejoy Pond to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Bracey Pond at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Lovejoy Pond in particular, ask before you travel.