Pocumcus Lake in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pocumcus Lake is one of the Washington County listings for Maine. Elevation runs to 295 feet. The water covers around 3.5 sq miles, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Size puts it in the front rank of our Washington County list. For supplies, St. Stephen is 30 miles out. Beyond it, Calais at 31 miles and Lincoln at 31 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Pocumcus Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Washington County cover alewife, Atlantic salmon and rainbow smelt. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Pocumcus Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 15°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Pocumcus Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Wabassus Lake sits 3.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Pocumcus Lake as something to verify.