McGrath Pond Fishing near Oakland, Maine

• Overview

  Kennebec County, Maine, is where McGrath Pond sits. It sits in pine and birch country. This is sizeable water at about 468 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Kennebec County list. Oakland lies 2.4 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Sherbrooke, 119 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on McGrath Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Kennebec County records list brown trout, Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and black crappie among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take McGrath Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At McGrath Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. You will be walking about 0.9 miles from the nearest car park. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Ellis Pond, 2.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on McGrath Pond before loading the car.