Third Machias Lake in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Third Machias Lake stands in Washington County, Maine. Salt water lies 33 miles off. It measures some 3.8 sq miles, and wind has room to build across it. Some 25 miles of shoreline means conditions can differ from one end to the other. It is among the larger waters listed here for Washington County. St. Stephen lies 29 miles from the water. For a city, Sherbrooke is 196 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Third Machias Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Washington County: alewife, Atlantic salmon and rainbow smelt. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Third Machias Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 15°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Third Machias Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Getchel Lakes is 1.1 miles distant. Confirm access to Third Machias Lake locally before you travel.