Maine is an incredible place with plenty of ice fishing to do. The lakes seem nearly endless. You will not be disappointed by the ice fishing that this state has to offer.
- Moosehead Lake
- Sabattus Pond
- Lake Wassookeag
- Allagash Lake
- East Grand Lake
- Sebago Lake
- Eagle Lake
- Portage Lake
Not only are there plenty of areas and species of fish to find but ice fishing is very popular here. Some areas even have ice fishing derbies that are really fun to go to. You will find plenty of people that find the same joy in ice fishing that you do and you might even make new connections.
Moosehead Lake
Types of Fish: landlocked salmon, brook trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass
Moosehead Lake is arguably the most popular lake in Maine to ice fish on. It is massive. It sits at an impressive 40 miles long and 12 miles wide. It stretches its mass out to lots of smaller areas as well. There is plenty of places for you to set up shop and drop down a line.
Lots of families come here. It is a popular spot so that is expected. If you want to start bringing your family with or teaching your children how to ice fish and embrace the cold, this is a great place to start.
Since the popularity of the lake is spread wide, there is an ice fishing derby held on the lake every year during the last week of January. They have cash prizes for the top three winners and if you haul in the biggest one, you will net yourself a nice $1500! Maybe you will get your lucky break when you come and check out Moosehead Lake.
Sabattus Pond
Types of Fish: northern pike, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, white perch, black crappie, yellow perch
Sabattus Pond is a place in southeast Maine that deserves your attention. They have plenty of fish to catch and the upkeep at this place is top notch. Pike is the main haul here. Some of these suckers are 20 pounds or more! That is what this pond is mostly known for. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries keep things stocked and in shape so you can catch some truly great game fish.
Similar to Moosehead Lake, Sabattus Pond has an ice fishing derby but this one is specifically for pike. The Derby is for the “Fish for a Cure” non-organization that fights against cancer. It is a great event and I recommend it. I am always in favor of helping out cancer research institutes and other organizations for the good of people.
Lake Wassookeag
Types of Fish: brook trout, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, lake trout, American eel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, yellow perch, white sucker, white perch
Dexter, Maine houses Lake Wassookeag. It is a beautiful lake. If you ever get the chance to go, please do. There is plenty to do here in the winter but today we are talking about ice fishing. There is quite the variety here, even American eel.
There are two parts to this lake. There is a bigger lake and a smaller lake. They are split by a dam that was created to control the water. Now both lakes are flourishing. There are differences between the lakes. The bigger one goes a lot deeper and it is fished much more than the other one. There are different rules and regulations for each of the lakes. I have provided a link that will take you to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website where it has information regarding the rules on the big and little lakes.
Allagash Lake
Types of Fish: brook trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, burbot, salmon, northern pike
Would you rather spend your time ice fishing somewhere remote? So far I have only talked about popular spots with lots of anglers and families. If you would rather be more connected with nature while ice fishing, you should go to Allagash Lake. It is situated in northern Maine and away from people. The Lake is a great place to get away. The lakes in Maine are breathtaking.
Make sure to bring your warm clothes and plenty of heat. You will need it. You will not have to worry about finding a place to stay though because just up the road is Johnson’s Allagash Lodge to keep you warm when the night rolls in.
East Grand Lake
Types of Fish: brook trout, smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, lake trout, yellow perch, white perch, American eel
East Grand Lake is another popular spot for ice fishing in Maine. The lake is well sized at 20 miles long. It earns the name and that is not surprising considering its size. I like to fish here. The main hauls are mainly brook trout and bass. You know what you are getting into when you come here.
Since it is big, you might be wondering where to go to catch the best fish. The best place I know of is north of Work Cove. When you get there, you can even ask others. If you see a bunch of people together, you could gather some good info and then find your own spot.
Sebago Lake
Types of Fish: brook trout, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, smallmouth bass, lake trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, white perch, yellow perch
Sebago Lake is situated in the southern part of Maine. The main haul here is trout. You have a few varieties. Fun fact about this place is that it is the second largest lake in Maine! It is so big that once in a while the middle of the lake will not freeze during the winter. It has a maximum depth of 316 feet to add to its already massive size. This place can be very intimidating to someone who is here for the first time.
There are tons of areas to fish at and tons of areas to see. The have coves, inlets, and other parts of the lake that allow for more of a variety of fish like black crappie or yellow perch. If you are looking for some variety and a change of pace, I would give Sebago Lake a go. I recommend it.
Eagle Lake
Types of Fish: brook trout, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout
Eagle Lakes happens to be near a small community with a nice town and friendly people. Eagle is a fairly small lake. There is not as much of a chance to get lost here and it is not intimidating as Sebago Lake is. There are not many species of fish here but you can check some pretty big trout. I have seen plenty of people walk out of there with big trout. Who knows, that might be you next time.
One of the perks about Eagle Lake is that there are plenty of other lakes surrounding it. Square Lake, St Froid Lake, and Cross Lake all are close by. If you want to try another lake, they are not far away. Sometimes when you ice fish, it can be hit or miss. If you are struggling at one lake, give another a try.
Portage Lake
Types of Fish: landlocked salmon, brook trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, white crappie
Portage Lake is one of those places that located in a small town. The town has roughly 400 people in it. When I said small, I meant small. The town is big-hearted. You will not find someone who is not willing to help. The fish here are plentiful and the trout are good sized. The ice gets pretty slippery in some areas. I would recommend ice shoes for this trip. Safety first.
There are plenty of inlets here and I always tell people to use this to their advantage. When there are smaller bodies of water that lead to bigger ones, the fish will migrate into bigger areas. The smaller areas will freeze faster and the fish will begin to slowly move away. You can fish near the opening and hopefully catch some fish. This is a tactic I like to use and I hope that you will find some use out of it too. Good luck out there and stay warm!