The Pool in York County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in York County, Maine, this is The Pool. It sits 0.2 miles in from the sea. For supplies, Old Orchard Beach is 4.9 miles out. For a city, Manchester is 63 miles off. Alternatives close at hand: 0.9 miles out stands Great Pond, 1.2 miles away is Lords Pond, 1.5 miles out stands Etherington Pond, 1.9 miles away is Lily Pond and 2.2 miles out stands Short Pond. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on The Pool

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. The mouth fishes hardest when the run is at its strongest. Survey and observation records for York County include brown trout, alewife, Atlantic salmon and blueback herring. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to The Pool should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 23°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at late December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The Pool fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Great Pond at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on The Pool before loading the car.