Lower Richardson Lake, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lower Richardson Lake lies in Oxford County, in Maine. The water sits 1,430 feet up. It covers about 4.9 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. On our Oxford County list it sits near the top for size. Milan is the closest town at 20 miles. After that come Mexico at 23 miles and Rumford at 23 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lower Richardson Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Oxford County records list brown trout, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Lower Richardson Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 64°F for July and 11°F for January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Lower Richardson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Pond in the River sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Lower Richardson Lake if anything is unclear.