Upper West Ragged Pond Fishing near Millinocket, Maine

• Overview

  Upper West Ragged Pond lies within the bounds of Penobscot County, Maine. The bank is 719 feet above sea level. The water covers some 47 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Start from Millinocket, 11 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Lévis, 137 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Upper West Ragged Pond

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Penobscot County, recorded fish include Atlantic salmon, brown trout and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Upper West Ragged Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 13°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan around that when you fish Upper West Ragged Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lower West Ragged Pond at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Upper West Ragged Pond is worth confirming on the day.