Fishing at Pillsbury Pond, Piscataquis County, Maine

• Overview

  Look for Pillsbury Pond in Piscataquis County, Maine. The country here is rolling bush. The water covers some 164 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.9 miles in total. Nearest place of any size is Patten, 42 miles away. For a city, Lévis is 100 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pillsbury Pond

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Piscataquis County list Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, brook trout, brown trout and Arctic charr. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Pillsbury Pond the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 64°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Pillsbury Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Little Pillsbury Pond at 1.5 miles is the sensible second choice. For Pillsbury Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.