Orange River Reservoir, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Orange River Reservoir is one of the Washington County listings for Maine. The sea is 3.6 miles distant. At some 324 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. It lies lower than most water we list in Maine. Supplies mean a trip to East Machias, 9.6 miles off. Dartmouth is the closest city, 178 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Orange River Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Washington County records list alewife, Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, brown trout and smallmouth 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. The near bank of Orange River Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 18°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Orange River Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Roaring Lake is 1 mile off. Ask locally about Orange River Reservoir if anything is unclear.