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Home > Fishing > Regional Fishing Information > Region A (The Sebago Region)

Regional Fishing Information - Region A (The Sebago Region)

MDIFW Regional Office
RR #1, 358 Shaker Road
Gray, ME 04039
(207) 657-2345

(Revised May, 2008) Perhaps the most impressive attribute to fishing in the Sebago Region is the wide diversity of opportunities available to anglers. Within a 90 minute drive of Portland anglers can fly fish for brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, troll for salmon and lake trout, or cast for bass. In addition, warmwater species such as pickerel, perch and black crappie abound in many of the area waters.

In recent years, Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists have developed innovative stocking programs and more progressive regulation changes to provide higher quality and more angling opportunities on a year round basis. Most trout and salmon fisheries including those on the larger streams and lakes are maintained through annual stocking programs, while most of the smaller brooks are sustained by natural reproduction, particularly brook trout.  Anglers can view water specific stocking information elsewhere on this website, including last years’ stocking records as well as current year stocking information that is updated daily during the stocking season for waters stocked with “catchable trout”.  Stocked catchable trout provide seasonal put and take harvest opportunities, and it is important for the success of this type of stocking program that anglers know when fish are stocked.  Brook trout are a focus of the catchable trout program.  Any specific questions about this program or others within the Sebago Region should be directed to the biologists at the Gray Regional Headquarters.

With the exception of the northwest corner, much of this southernmost region in the state is ice free by mid April, which affords anglers an opportunity for some early season fishing. May and June are possibly the best months to fish for trout salmon or bass, since water temperatures are optimal and the most prolific insect hatches are taking place. Well informed and prepared anglers can also expect excellent fishing throughout the summer months. The fall is a favorite time to fish for several reasons. Salmonids are in their spawning colors and sometimes are concentrated in certain streams or areas of the lake. The foliage is spectacular and generally the fall weather is favorable. Fall Fishing opportunities are available on most lakes and ponds occurring in the coastal counties within the Region.  A number of larger rivers are also open to year round fishing, and are supported by spring and/or fall hatchery stocking.  The following information will hopefully provide interested anglers with a basic understanding of some of the opportunities that exist in the Sebago Region.

Brook Trout

April, May and Early June are the most productive months of the year for the brook trout angler. Fly fishermen should be equipped with an assortment of dries and nymphs to take advantage of numerous insect hatches. Spin fishermen will do well with small trout lures, and worms are always a sure bet for fishing the many small brooks and streams in the area.

Four brook Trout

This angler caught these brook trout in 1998 while fishing in southern Maine.

Brook Trout (Lakes and Ponds)
Crocker Pond, Albany Trout 8" - 13"
Broken Bridge Pond, Albany Trout 10" - 15"
Warren Pond, Berwick "Remote" trout pond
Mosquito Pond, Albany "Remote" trout pond
Round Pond, Albany "Remote" trout pond, 10" - 14"
Overset Pond, Greenwood "Remote" trout pond, 10" - 14"
Little Concord Pond, Woodstock Trout up to 16"
Adams Pond, Bridgton Trout up to 16"
Cushman Pond, Lovell Trout up to 18"
Spicer Pond, Newfield Native Brook Trout

Brook Trout (Brooks and Streams)

Pleasant River, Windham Brook Trout/Brown Trout
Wild River, Gilead Brook Trout/Rainbow Trout
Little Ossipee River, Newfield Brook Trout/Rainbow Trout
Little River, Gorham Brook Trout/Brown Trout
Brank Brook, Wells Navtive Brook Trout
Presumpscot River, Windham Year round fishing, trout to 18"
Shephard's River, Brownfield Native Brook Trout
Cold River, Stow Native Brook Trout

Brook Trout (Popular Winter Fisheries for "Catchable Trout")

Barker (Parker) Pond, Lyman Deer Pond, Hollis
Worthley Pond, Poland Halls Pond, Paris
Otter Ponds #2 & #4, Standish Keoka Lake, Waterford
Silver Lake, Phippsburg Littlefield Pond, Sanford

 

Brown Trout

The Sebago Region affords some of the best brown trout angling in the state. Many waters are noted for producing large fish. An angler fishing Square Pond in Acton caught a whopping 23 lb. 8 oz. state record brown during the winter of 1996.

Browns in the 3-6 pound range are common and some lakes in the area produce fish up to 10 pounds or larger each year. Trolling live bait, flies or spoons is the most productive method when fishing the lakes and ponds. May and June are excellent months to fish for browns, but anglers can be very successful during the summer months if they have the gear required to troll in the cooler portions of the lake, which usually occur at depths of 15 to 25 feet. Brook and stream anglers have their best luck using flies or small spoons.

Brown Trout

Richard and Kenra Sherman caught this 32", 15 lb. female brown trout on January 28, 2001 in Square Pond, York County.

Brown Trout (Lakes and Ponds)

Hancock Pond, Denmark Browns 14" - 22"
Sabbathday Lake, New Gloucester Browns 14" - 20"
Range Ponds, Poland Browns 14" - 22"
Kennebunk Pond, Lyman Browns 14" - 22"
Long Lake, Harrison Browns/Salmon 14" - 22"
Worthley Pond, Peru Browns 14" - 22"
Canton Lake, Canton Browns 14" - 22"

Brown Trout (Rivers and Streams)

Little Androscoggin River, Minot area Browns 12" - 18"
Pleasant River, Windham Brown Trout/Brook Trout
Collyer Brook, Gray Brown Trout/Brook Trout
Little Ossipee River, Newfield Brown Trout/Brook Trout
Big Ossipee River, Hiram Brown Trout/Brook Trout


Sea Run Brown Trout

A few opportunities exist to catch sea run brown trout in this area. These fish exhibit excellent growth and average 1-3 pounds. The best fishing occurs in late fall to early winter (November to January). Flies and lures imitating shrimp or small minnows work best.

Sea Run Brown Trout

Ogunquit River, Ogunquit 14" - 16" Browns
Mousan River, Kennebunk 14" - 16" Browns



Landlocked Salmon

The southernmost region of the state is blessed with some very high quality salmon waters. Sebago Lake is certainly the best known, but other waters lie in the shadows of that great lake and produce some exciting angling opportunities. May and June are the most productive months to fish, and trolling live smelts or streamer flies is the preferred fishing method. Streamers such as the Gray Ghost, Barne’s Special or Joe’s Smelt are local favorites and are most efficient if trolled at a fairly high rate of speed. Live bait (preferably smelts) should be trolled much more slowly and are very productive. Again anglers can enjoy quality angling during the mid summer months with the proper gear.

This Sebago Lake Landlocked Salmon was landed by Steve Day in the spring of 2007.

This Sebago Lake Landlocked Salmon was landed by Steve Day in the spring of 2007.

Landlocked Salmon (Lakes and Ponds)

Sebago Lake, Windham Salmon 2 - 8 pounds, home of the world record landlocked salmon (22 lbs. 8 oz. caught in 1908)
Thompson Lake, Poland Salmon 2 - 5 pounds
Kezar Lake, Lovell Salmon 2 - 4 pounds
South Pond, Greenwood Salmon 2 - 5 pounds
Bryant Pond, Woodstock Salmon 2 - 5 pounds
Trickey Pond, Naples Salmon 2 - 6 pounds
Panther Pond, Raymond Salmon 2 - 4 pounds
Pleasant Lake, Casco Salmon 2 - 4 pounds
Auburn Lake, Auburn Salmon 2 - 4 pounds
Moose Pond, Bridgton Salmon 2 - 4 pounds

Landlocked Salmon (Rivers and Steams)

Crooked River Fall angling for Sebago Lake landlocks
Presumpscot River (Route 35 section) Salmon 12" - 18"



Lake Trout (togue)

These fish can be taken in early spring with conventional gear such as fly rods or light trolling tackle, but after mid May anglers require equipment that enables them to lower their bait down to the feeding lakers. At Sebago Lake for instance anglers troll at 60 - 150 feet during the summer months and enjoy exceptional fishing.

Trolling sewed-on bait, spoons or flatfish at a very slow speed is the preferred fishing method. In 1996, Sebago produced a 27 pound laker as well as numerous fish over 15 pounds. Many anglers believe this lake will soon produce a new state record for the species. Several additional opportunities for quality lake trout fishing exist in this area of the state.

This 6 lb. 8 oz. Landlocked Salmon was taken in the Spring of 1998 on Auburn Lake in southern Maine.

Lake Trout (Togue)

Auburn Lake, Auburn Laker 2 - 10 pounds
Thompson Lake, Poland Native Lakers 2 - 3 pounds
Great East Lake, Acton Native Lakers 2 - 5 pounds
Sebago Lake, Windham Trophy Lake Trout

 

Splake

Splake are a fairly recent introduction into Sebago region waters and are now stocked into approximately 10 waters. These fish can be caught using similar tactics to those used for brook trout, but can also be caught using trolling gear in deeper water. Most of the area’s lakes produce fish in the 12-16 inch range with an occasional fish weighing in at five pounds or larger. A few fish in the 8 pound range have been taken.

This 6 lb. 8 oz. Landlocked Salmon was taken in the Spring of 1998 on Auburn Lake in southern Maine.

Splake
Trickey Pond, Naples
Shagg Pond, Woodstock
Indian Pond, Greenwood
Bryant Pond, Woodstock
Bear Pond, Waterford

 

Rainbow Trout

Rainbows are relatively new to Maine’s trout stocking programs, and offer some exciting angling opportunities.  Most rainbow trout lakes produce fish 14-18 inches in length, but fish up to four and five pounds are not uncommon.

Rainbow trout are fairly aggressive feeders and are readily caught using a variety of methods.  Casting and trolling flies, lures, and bait are all effective open water techniques.  Fish will be widely distributed during the spring and fall, and the fish can be caught closer to the surface, as the season progresses anglers should target cooler water in the 15-25’ depth range.  During the winter, jigging with small lures and traps with worms or crawlers are more effective than the traditional use of traps and live baitfish.  Winter anglers should typically target shallower water areas less than 15’ deep with structure (i.e. rocky points, shoals, and weed beds).

Rainbow trout caught on Little Sebago Lake, Windham.

Rainbow trout caught on Little Sebago Lake, Windham.

Rainbow Trout (Lakes and Ponds)

Upper & Middle Range Pond, Poland
Crystal Lake, Gray
Lily Pond, New Gloucester
Norway Lake, Norway
Worthley Pond, Peru
Kennebunk Pond, Lyman
Long Pond, Denmark
Little Sebago Lake, Windham
Little Ossipee Lake, Waterboro (new 2009)
Stanley Pond, Hiram (new 2009)

Rainbow Trout (Rivers and Steams)

Little Androscoggin River, Oxford - Auburn

 

Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

Nearly all waters in this part of the state have fishable populations of both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Spring and early summer provide the best bass fishing opportunity, but special regulations are in effect during this time period to protect spawning fish. The best fishing for smallmouths occurs along rocky shorelines and bars where ample structure is located. Anglers must fish deeper along these areas during the summer months since smallmouths prefer cooler water. Largemouths prefer shallow weedy coves with lots of cover such as weed beds or submerged trees.

Largemouth Bass

Little Sebago Lake, Windham

 

Moose Pond, Bridgton

Sate Record 11lb. 10oz.

Little Sebago Lake, Windham

 

Lake Arrowhead (Little Ossipee Flowage), Limerick

Trophy bass regulations in effect

Panther Pond, Raymond

 

Kezar Lake, Lovell

Spectacular scenery

Smallmouth Bass

Hancock Pond, Denmark

 

Auburn Lake, Auburn

Trophy bass fishery

Long Lake, Naples

 

Thompson Lake, Oxford

 

Rivers
Saco River, Hiram downstream Excellent fishing/canoeing
Androscoggin River, Lewiston downstream Excellent fishing/canoeing

 

White Perch and Yellow Perch

Fishing for these species is becoming increasingly popular due to their prolific numbers and fine eating quality. Fishing during the spawning runs in late April or early May can be very exciting; however, anglers can enjoy excellent fishing all season long. During the summer months perch are most easily caught using worms or live bait and the best opportunities occur at daybreak or dusk.

This 6 lb. 8 oz. Landlocked Salmon was taken in the Spring of 1998 on Auburn Lake in southern Maine.

White and Yellow Perch

Little Sebago, Windham
Panther Pond, Raymond
Lake Arrowhead, Limerick
Thomas Pond, Casco
Square Pond, Shapleigh
Auburn Lake, Auburn

 

Chain Pickerel

These toothy predators inhabit the shallow weedy covers and are very aggressive feeders. They are very abundant throughout the region. Shiny lures, flies or live bait fished in the shallows are most effective.

 

This 6 lb. 8 oz. Landlocked Salmon was taken in the Spring of 1998 on Auburn Lake in southern Maine.

Chain Pickerel

Nearly all waters in the region have fishable populations of chain pickerel.

 

Black Crappie

Black crappies are not native to Maine, but were introduced into the upper Presumpscot River basin in the early 1900’s. They have since become well established in more than 20 waters within the region. While not pursued by many native anglers, crappies provide a lot of action and offer great table fare. While crappies average 7 to 12 inches long, they can reach a size upwards of 15 inches. Crappies are more numerous, but generally of smaller size, where there is an over abundance of shallow weedy habitat. Fishing is best early and late in the day, during periods of diminished light. Small live minnows or jigs (less than 1/8 oz.) work best, particularly when fished near structure. Crappies can be light biters, so small diameter line (2 to 6 pound test) in combination with active jigging techniques work best.

This 6 lb. 8 oz. Landlocked Salmon was taken in the Spring of 1998 on Auburn Lake in southern Maine.

Black Crappie

Mousam Lake, Acton
Balch & Stump Ponds, Newfield
Little Ossipee Flowage, Waterboro
Estes Lake, Sanford
Rock Haven Lake, Newfield
Bonny Eagle Flowage, Standish
Saco River

 

Anglers are encouraged to contact the regional biologists at (207) 657-2345 for additional information on the lakes in this region.