Staples Pond Fishing in Franklin County, Maine

• Overview

  In Maine, Staples Pond falls inside Franklin County. It lies 705 feet above sea level. It measures about 56 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.3 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. The nearest town is Farmington, 5.4 miles away. Sherbrooke is the closest city, 94 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Staples Pond

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Franklin County, recorded fish include Atlantic salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and rainbow smelt. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Staples Pond the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 15°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Staples Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Ballard Pond is 0.4 miles off. Check the position at Staples Pond before loading the car.