Fishing at Mud Pond, Penobscot County, Maine

• Overview

  Mud Pond falls in Penobscot County, part of Maine. It sits at 210 feet above sea level. The water covers some 25 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The closest town, Etna, is 1.7 miles away. The big place round here is Sherbrooke, 140 miles distant. Also worth knowing: Lost Pond 1.2 miles away, Etna Pond about 2.2 miles, Pleasant Lake 4.3 miles away, Sebasticook Lake about 5.2 miles and Plymouth Pond 5.4 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Mud Pond

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name Atlantic salmon, brown trout and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Mud Pond to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 17°F in January to roughly 68°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Mud Pond the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The water borders Penobscot County Conservation Association Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Lost Pond, 1.2 miles away. Treat access at Mud Pond as something to verify.