Here’s where to catch fish through the ice in February

By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News Staff

At the end of last month, biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife were reporting inconsistent to poor ice conditions across most of the state.

That situation has improved during the last two weeks, but forecast warm temperatures and precipitation this week could quickly change the thickness and quality of ice on some bodies of water.

Anglers should keep those dynamics in mind and be cautious before heading out on their next ice fishing excursion. People who live on or near the bodies of water you intend to target can provide important information about ice conditions and having that knowledge can help anglers enjoy a safe and productive outing.

Moosehead Region

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Tim Obrey, Jan. 25: It’s hard to believe that we are struggling with ice conditions in the Moosehead Lake Region as January winds down. Anglers still need to use caution over the deeper areas of our larger lakes.

You might try some of the smaller waters around the region if you’re unsure about the bigger lakes. In the southern part of this region, you could hit Piper Pond in Abbot for some splake, brook trout or salmon action. Center Pond in Sangerville would be a good bet, too. We stock it with brown trout and brook trout in late fall just before freeze-up, so the ice fishing should be pretty good. 

Moving north, Hebron Lake in downtown Monson has good access and is stocked with brook trout and a few salmon. There are a few wild lake trout there as well. Most anglers put on at the public beach on the south shore.  Mountain View Pond just north of Greenville is a favorite. It is heavily stocked with brook trout and the pond is fairly shallow, so it freezes early.  Access is right off Route 15 at the public boat launch. 

Brassua Lake also has good access off Route 15 at the boat launch on the southwest end. It’s shallow down at that end of the lake, but there are a few trout and perch to be had. A snowmobile would be handy to get up the lake, if ice conditions permit.

Jackman always seems to have good ice on the local lakes. Big Wood Pond is good fishing early in the season and it tends to slow down as the winter wears on. There are splake, salmon and trout in Big Wood, along with perch, chubs and cusk. That means plenty of action for the kids. Little Big Wood might be a good spot to try if you’re over in the Jackman area. It takes a little more effort to get there but there are some nice splake in the pond.

Penobscot Region

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Kevin Dunham, Jan. 27: Though still far from those of an average year, ice conditions have improved somewhat in the last two weeks throughout the Penobscot Region. Angler use has increased steadily, though prudent, anglers, sporting camp patrons, and lakeside residents continue to concentrate their fishing efforts in coves, along shore and in front of camps. Some lakes in the region have only recently formed an ice layer, particularly away from shore, and extreme caution should be used if venturing too far onto the ice. Stay safe, and as always check ice thickness often!

A few suggested waters to target this February include:

East Musquash Lake in Topsfield: There is a plowed picnic area at the boat launch on the side of Route 6 making convenient access for anglers without a snowmobile. Along with brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout there is also a hook-and-line fishery for rainbow smelt at East Musquash.

Pleasant Pond in Island Falls: We are conducting a creel survey at Pleasant this winter so be on the lookout for a friendly fisheries biologist collecting lengths and weights from fish you catch to help monitor the fitness of this popular coldwater fishery. Pleasant Pond also has a popular hook-and-line fishery for rainbow smelt in addition to some fine salmon and brook trout fishing.

Davis (Wapiti) Pond in T5 R7 WELS: If you’re looking for an out of the way brook trout pond to try this winter look no further than Davis (Wapiti) Pond. Davis Pond has only recently been opened for ice fishing and should provide good action for brook trout, which are stocked annually. This small, 69-acre lake is a bit off the beaten path but provides a secluded wilderness experience close to the village of Shin Pond. Getting to Davis Pond in the winter can be a little tricky, but there are a couple snowmobile trails off the Wapiti Road which lead to access points on the lake. It should be worth the effort, and you may end up having the whole pond to yourself!