Moosehead and Penobscot ice fishing reports

Anglers looking for early season action in the Moosehead Lake region should target smaller, shallow waters that tend to freeze early.
“Ponds like Fitzgerald Pond, Prong Pond and Shirley Pond are good early season choices in the Greenville area,” said IFW Fisheries Biologist Tim Obrey. “These ponds are all stocked with fall yearling brook trout in the fall that range from 12-14 inches.”
“Brann’s Mill Pond in Dover-Foxcroft is another good bet, and a great place to take the kids,” Obrey added. The pond has white perch, bass, and pickerel to keep the action going all day in addition to the fall stocking of brook trout. Access is very easy as the main road runs very close to the pond.”
Other ponds to try for some early season action include Harlow in Sangerville and Manhanock Pond in Parkman. Both ponds are stocked with brook trout, and white perch are big and abundant. There are some monster bass in this pond but they must be released.
One other water, while not small or shallow but always freezes early is Big Wood Pond near Jackman.
“Big Wood freezes earlier than most of our larger waters,” Obrey said. “This pond is stocked heavily with splake and brook trout in the fall. In fact, this year we had a few extra brook trout in the hatchery and Big Wood Pond anglers will reap the benefits. The fishing is always fast and furious in early January on this pond and this year should be even better.”
Even with the cold weather, early season ice conditions can be tricky, so take care. “We’ve had some pretty cold days over the last week which will help make ice but caution is the rule of the day,” Obrey said. “No fish is worth a dip in the water this time of year.”
—
Ponds and even some lakes are buttoning up in the Penobscot region, but even with the spell of cold weather there are no guarantees with ice so be careful and check the ice before heading out.
“We have a number of lakes and ponds that tend to firm up early,” said IFW fisheries biologist Nels Kramer. “We stock a number of them with both fall yearling and adult brook trout.” Fall yearlings average about 12-14 inches, and the retired brood stock adult brook trout are generally in the 17- to 20-inch range.
Some of the waters to try early this season include Middle Oxhead Pond (T40 MD), Perch Pond (Old Town), Wiley Pond (Patten), Silver Lake (Lee), Upper Pond (Lincoln), Trout Pond (Lowell), Smith Pond (Millinocket), Norton Pond (Brownville), Flatiron Pond (T3R9) and Falkner Pond (Weston).
Ice fishers may also want to try Lower Shin and Upper Shin Ponds (Mount Chase), Hay Lake (T6R8 WELS), Cold Stream Pond (Enfield) and Upper Cold Stream Pond (Lincoln). Check the regulation book on these waters, as they have special S-Code regulations for the early part of the season.
Kramer and the Region F fisheries crew were trapnetting this fall, and were encouraged with the results
“We have high expectations for both salmon and togue fishing at a number of waters that will be opening on the first of January, including Schoodic Lake in Brownville, East Grand in Danforth and Cold Stream Pond in Enfield,” Kramer said. “Matagamon Lake should also have very good fishing for trout and salmon. Anglers should also do well at Scraggly and I expect to see excellent splake and salmon fishing at Nicatous Lake (T40 MD), Cedar Lake (T3R9 NWP) and Seboeis Lake (T4R9 NWP).”
The region also has some excellent children’s ponds for young anglers, such as Jerry Pond (Millinocket), Pickerel Pond (T32MD), Edwards Family Fishing Pond (Lincoln), Harris Pond (Milo), Little Round Pond (Lincoln) and Rock Crusher Pond (Island Falls)
“We always encourage any adults who enjoy ice fishing to consider taking a kid along. We have a number of ‘kid’s only’ ponds that have been heavily stocked with big trout and we’d love to see young anglers experience the thrill of hooking and landing a 12- to 18-inch brookie,” Kramer said.