Mud Pond Fishing near Franklin, Maine

• Overview

  Mud Pond falls in Hancock County, part of Maine. It lies 374 feet above sea level. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Hancock County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Franklin, is 7.8 miles away. The nearest city of size is Sherbrooke, 193 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Hancock County include Atlantic salmon, brown trout and alewife. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Mud Pond decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 18°F in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Mud Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Salmon Pond, 0.2 miles away. Rules at Mud Pond are worth checking on the day.