Tufts Pond, Maine: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Tufts Pond is one of the Franklin County waters in Maine. It sits at 1,250 feet above sea level. It measures about 56 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 1.5 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Kingfield at 3.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Sherbrooke, 87 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Tufts Pond

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Franklin County include Atlantic salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Tufts Pond that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That is the shape of the year on Tufts Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Shiloh Pond, 1.2 miles away. Check the position at Tufts Pond before loading the car.