Special Opportunities for Kids

Letter Codes

Special rules for ice fishing and open water fishing (S-Codes) that apply to the kids only waters

Unless otherwise stated below, the following waters are ONLY open to fishing for persons under 16 years of age. Restricted to two lines per person. Daily bag limit on trout.

Androscoggin County

  • Pettingill Park Pond, Auburn. Open to fishing May 16 – September 30. Closed to all fishing October 1 – May 15.

Aroostook County

  • Aroostook River: All salmon caught in any flowing water of the Aroostook River Watershed, must be released alive at once.
    • From the Caribou Dam, in Caribou, downstream to and including Otter Brook, including all tributaries in this section upstream to the first highway bridge intersecting each tributary: Children 12 years of age or younger may fish from shore with a single-baited hook and line.
    • From Hockenhull Brook in Fort Fairfield downstream to and including Pattee Brook, including all tributaries in this section upstream to the first highway bridge intersecting the tributary: Children 12 years of age or younger may fish from shore with a single-baited hook and line.
  • Hannington Pond, Reed Plt. CI.
  • Mantle Lake, Presque Isle. Fishing restricted to persons under 16 years of age and complimentary license holders only. CI. S-4.
  • Pearce Brook, Houlton. From Meduxnekeag River upstream to the Hollywood Road, so-called: fishing restricted to persons under 16 years of age and complimentary license holders only.
  • Rock Crusher Pond, Island Falls. Open to fishing from January 1 – December 31: S-19.

Cumberland County

  • Aldens Pond, Gorham. CI.
  • Coffin Pond, Brunswick.S-13.
  • Hinckley Pond, Lower, South Portland. D.
  • Stevens Brook, sometimes called Cemetery Brook, New Gloucester. From Church Rd. downstream to Gloucester Hill Road.

Franklin County

  • Carrabassett River. From its confluence with the West Branch of the Carrabassett River to Rt. 146 crossing: Children 16 years of age and under may fish under S-4.
  • Haley Pond Outlet, Rangeley. S-1, S-4,
  • Mill Pond on Muddy Brook, Industry. From the dam on the outlet of Clearwater Pond to the next dam located below Route 43.
  • Pinnacle Pond, Kingfield. CI. S-4. Remains open from October 1 – November 30: S-6, S-7.
  • Toothaker Pond, Phillips. B. S-4 ice fishing only. Remains open from October 1 – December 31: S-6, S-7.
  • Wilson Stream, Wilton. From the first bridge downstream of Wilson Lake, including the canal, to the third (Route 156) bridge downstream of Wilson Lake.

Hancock County

  • Pickerel Pond, T32 MD. D. From January 1 – December 31. No motor vehicles allowed on the ice.

Lincoln County

  • Quarry Pond, Waldoboro.

Oxford County

  • Abbott Brook, Mexico.
  • Aunt Hannah Brook, Dixfield. From Rt. 142 downstream to the confluence with Webb River.
  • Billy Brook, Brownfield. From confluence with Shepherd’s River upstream to the first bridge.
  • Magalloway River including tributaries above Parmachenee Lake. S-5, S-13, S-20, S-22.
    • Daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish.
    • From August 16 – September 30: S-7.
    • From Bennett’s Covered Bridge in Lincoln Plt. to red markers approximately 1,300 feet upstream: From June 1 – August 15, persons under 16 years of age wishing to fish under the S-4 regulation may do so only from the shore with barbless hooks; all other length and bag limits apply.
  • Pennesseewasee (Norway) Lake Outlet, Norway. From the dam at Main Street (Route 117) downstream to the dam at Route 26: S-9 applies only during April and May.

Penobscot County

  • Cold Stream, Enfield. S-19, S-33. From the highway bridge on State Route 188 in Enfield to the red markers by the old hatchery fishway: Fishing restricted to youth (under 16 years of age) and complimentary license holders. From August 16 – September 30: River/Brook/Stream General Law terminal gear regulations stated for April 1 – August 15 apply.
  • Giles Pond, Patten.
  • Jerry Pond and tributaries and outlet to barrier dam, Millinocket. D. Motorboats prohibited.
  • Johnny Mack Brook, Orono. General Law terminal gear provisions and length limits apply from April 1 – September 30.
  • Lincoln Kids Pond, Lincoln. D.
  • Mattagodus Stream, south of Route 6. Fishing restricted to persons under 16 years of age and complimentary license holders, S-19. From August 16 – September 30: River/Brook/Stream General Law terminal gear regulations stated for April 1 – August 15 apply.
  • Mill Stream (outlet of Little Wassookeag Lake), Dexter. From the dam on Little Wassookeag to the downstream side of the Liberty Street Bridge: General Law terminal gear provisions and length limits apply from April 1 – September 30.
  • O’Roake Pond, Sherman.
  • Penobscot County Conservation Association Pond, Brewer. Open to fishing January 1 – December 31.
  • Rocky Brook, Lincoln.
  • Round Pond, Little, Lincoln. From December 1 – April 30: S-9, S-19.

Piscataquis County

  • Drummond Pond, Abbot. A. S-9 (Ice fishing only). Open to open water fishing from April 1 – November 30: S-19.
  • Dunham Brook (including Kiwanis Park Pond), Dover-Foxcroft. CI. Open to fishing from April 1 – November 30: S-9, S-19, General Law terminal gear provisions and length limits apply from April 1 – November 30.
  • Harris Pond (Milo Farm Pond), Milo. A. Open to open water fishing from April 1 – November 30.

Sagadahoc County

  • Stephen E. Powell (Swan Island) Wildlife Management Area, Richmond.

Somerset County

  • Hight Pond, Skowhegan. CI.
  • Kennebec River: From the confluence of Austin Stream to the Route 16 bridge, Bingham/Concord Twp. Persons under 16 years of age may use worms as bait. Length limit on landlocked salmon and trout: 12 inches. Daily bag limit on landlocked salmon and trout: 2 fish.
  • Mill Stream, Embden. From the Embden Pond outlet to the Cross Town Road bridge (minus the 200 foot zone from the hatchery).
  • Tibbetts Pond, Concord Twp. B. S-4.

Washington County

  • Foxhole Pond on headwaters of Great Falls Branch Brook, Deblois. D.
  • Meyers Pond, North and South, Columbia. CI.
  • Middle River, Marshfield, Machias. Below the bridge on the Marshfield Road downstream to the mouth of Smelt Brook: S-9; however, persons age 16 and older can fish minnow traps to catch live bait.

York County

  • Leavitt Brook, Limerick. From the F.R. Carroll facility access road (Dole Ridge Road) to the first downstream dam: S-13.
  • Round Pond, Lyman. From ice-in until ice-out: S-9. Open to open water fishing from April 1 – December 31: S-6.
  • Wilcox Pond, Biddeford. CI.

Letter Codes

Many waters have special rules that differ from the general law provisions. Check the list of individual waters under each county. If the water you wish to fish appears in that list, the letter codes will direct you to the special rule(s) which are in effect that differ from general law or the provisions for Maine’s counties. The meanings of the letter codes are as follows:

A: Open to ice fishing and open water fishing for all fish from December 1 – April 30.
B: Open to ice fishing and open water fishing from January 1 – March 31.
D: From December 1-April 30: Open to ice fishing and open water fishing for all fish; Salmonids (trout, landlocked salmon, and togue) may be legally harvested. General law terminal gear regulations apply.
CI: Closed to ice fishing.

Special rules for ice fishing and open water fishing – (S-Codes) that apply to the kids only waters

S-1: Closed to taking smelts.
S-4: Use or possession of live fish is prohibited. (The use of dead fish, salmon eggs, and worms permitted.)
S-5: Fly fishing only.
S-6: Artificial lures only.
S-7: All trout, landlocked salmon, and togue caught must be released alive at once.
S-9: Open to fishing only for persons under 16 years of age. Restricted to two lines per person. Daily bag limit on trout:
S-13: No size or bag limit on bass.
S-19: Daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish.
S-20: All trout less than 6 inches and longer than 12 inches must be released alive at once.
S-22: Daily bag limit on landlocked salmon: 1 fish.
S-33: Maximum length on landlocked salmon and brown trout: 25 inches.