Roaring Lake Fishing near East Machias, Maine

• Overview

  Within Washington County, Maine, you have Roaring Lake. It stands 89 feet above sea level. The water covers some 74 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The shoreline runs about 3.4 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It lies lower than most water we list in Maine. 8.6 miles away sits East Machias, the nearest town. Machiasport follows at 10 miles, then Machias at 12 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Roaring Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Washington County include alewife, Atlantic salmon and rainbow smelt. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Roaring Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 18°F to 66°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Roaring Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Orange River Reservoir at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. Where Roaring Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.