Sabattus Pond is one of many hot spots for local ice fishermen.
As a new year begins, local anglers are anxious to be out on the ice after their favorite quarry. While the ice may not be safe on large bodies of water, several smaller local ponds and lakes are typically frozen this time of year and provide a variety of fish for anglers.
One such nearby spot is Sabattus Pond. Once primarily regarded as a mediocre bass and white perch pond, the recent illegal introduction of Northern Pike into Sabattus Pond has transformed this sleepy pond into a hot spot for anglers in search of big fish, both during the open-water and ice-fishing seasons.
Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) biologists report that pike are routinely caught in the 10- to 12-pound range, with some fish weighing in at 15 pounds and more. DIF&W biologists have even taken reports of anglers catching a dozen pike in one outing.
Prior to the introduction of northern pike, Sabattus Pond was a top local spot for white perch and bass. Although white perch fishing has declined, fisheries’ biologist Jim Lucas reports seeing many large white perch, a sign that the pike are impacting perch, but not decimating them completely. Similarly, bass fishing has declined, although some anglers still catch largemouth bass in the 2- to 3-pound range. Sabattus Lake also experiences a summer algae bloom that may also account for the decline in some fish species.
Hot spots for pike seem to be along the western shore, starting at the boat launch, heading north to Nason Beach. Shiners are the preferred bait for pike, but any weedless spoon or lure should also work.
Sabattus Pond is shallow and weedy, with a moderately developed shoreline. Summer activity is heavy, especially on weekends. The Town of Sabattus maintains a good boat ramp with ample parking. To access the launch from Route 126, turn at the blinking light onto High Street which will turn into Greene Street. Bear right onto Elm Street then turn right onto Lake Street which will run into the launch.
One of the busiest fishing spots in January has always been Middle Range Pond in Poland. Middle Range Pond offers a great variety of fish and also lies quite close to downtown Lewiston/Auburn. Although a few salmon do exist in the pond, ice anglers concentrating on bass or brown trout would have better luck. Togue are also present in Middle Range, but not in large numbers. White perch, however, are abundant and seem to always be on the bite. I have had my best luck for white perch at Middle Range on the lower end of the lake in 40 feet of water. I use small shiners, but I have heard other anglers use worms with success.
Brook trout have done quite well in the Range Pond chain, as frequent stockings in the last few years have added thousands of the colorful fish for anglers to pursue. Anglers fishing the brooks that enter Middle Range along the west shore have the best luck. Most anglers use the traditional nightcrawler or worm set-up for brookies on Middle Range, and small shiners seem to work well, too. Fourteen- to 16-inch fish are the common catch, and some larger fish in the 18-inch range do exist.
Brown trout are the real success story, increasing in both numbers and in size in both Middle Range and Lower Range Ponds. Over the past few years, thousands of brown have been stocked including large breeder fish. Brownies in the 6- to 8-pound range are caught in the spring and summer, but winter anglers have just as much of a chance at one of those leviathans. Anglers fishing the shallows on the east shore, especially around the boat launch in Lower Range do well. No matter what species of fish you prefer, the Range Pond chain should produce some fine catches.
Just down the road from the Range Pond Chain is Worthley Pond, located off Route 122 in Poland Spring. This little body of water is a popular early season haunt for anglers, as it always seems to freeze up first. Don Rioux lives right next door to the pond and knows it as well as anyone. Don, son D.J. and a host of other family or friends call Worthley “home” in the winter and always report good catches. I have fished Worthley Pond in both the winter and spring and have almost always caught a fish or two, thanks to liberal stocking efforts by the DIF&W.
Hot spots on the pond would be in front of the two brooks located on the south end of the pond, or the one that enters the pond on the middle of the west shore. Be certain to use caution in these spots, as the mouths of these brooks don’t always freeze. I would recommend nightcrawlers and small shiners for anyone visiting “Don’s pond.”
As its name implies, Crystal Lake in Gray is home to clear water and is a great trout lake. Crystal Lake has been heavily stocked over the past few years and the brown trout have truly taken over the lake. In addition to heavy brown trout stocking, Crystal Lake has received a fair share of large brook trout as well.
With a maximum depth of 59 feet, Crystal Lake has plenty of shallow spots near shore that brown trout typically haunt. There is also a brook that feeds into the lake from the north that would be a good spot to set up for brookies. Local anglers use a variety of methods on Crystal Lake in the winter, but tip-ups baited with either a large glob of worms or a small shiner seem to work best. Rainbow trout have also been experimentally stocked in Crystal and anglers report catching these colorful fish all the time. Don Hamel of Auburn is a regular visitor to Crystal Lake and his reports of trout catches have included one of each stocked trout species. Access to Crystal Lake is easily obtained by parking in the plowed boat launch on the southwest shore by Dry Mills.
With the help of cold temperatures to make ice, this month should be an exciting one for area anglers. As the mercury continues to drop as we head into February, more and more local fishing spots will freeze up, providing areas sportsmen and women a plethora of angling adventures. Just be cautious on any frozen body of water to ensure a safe and fun fishing trip.
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