Phillips Lake, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Hancock County, Maine. Salt water lies 12 miles off. It measures some 859 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 12 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It ranks high for size among our Hancock County listings. Dedham sits 2.9 miles from the bank. After that come Holden at 5.7 miles and Eddington at 10 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Phillips Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Hancock County records list Atlantic salmon, brown trout and alewife among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Phillips Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 68°F, while January sits near 18°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Phillips Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Second Pond is 1.4 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Phillips Lake.