jbmaine Posted May 3, 2018 Posted May 3, 2018 Now that I am retired we are thinking of moving within the next year. We currently live in very southern Maine, and unlike many,we would like to move further north. Our criteria are- being close to conveniences ( doctors, stores, etc.), lower taxes than what we pay now, and of course, better , closer, fishing. I have never been in the Belgrades lake area but it looks like it would check all our boxes. Currently we fish four bodies of water but they are an hour away or better. I'd like to be closer. Also down here it's mostly LM & SM. I would love to try for Pike, and have trout streams near by. It's also close enough to come back down for family visits. So if you fish/live in that area could you let me know what you think of it. Is the fishing really as good as some say it is? Does it get so crowded with jet skies and things you just don't like fishing there any more, you know, that kind of thing. Thanks Jim Quote
starkeer Posted June 3, 2018 Posted June 3, 2018 My family has a cottage on Long Pond that I get to for about a week every summer (I am from the midwest). It is my favorite place in the world. The smallmouth fishing is amazing, not a lot of monsters but you can consistently catch fish in the 14-17 inch range, we have also caught multiple pike over 35 inches, and several LMB's over 5lbs. I have spent almost all of my life fishing on Long Pond and the lake is definitely large enough that pleasure boaters/jet ski's are never much of an annoyance. If you are willing to get out early for the best bite you will often have the entire lake to yourself. Hope this helps! Quote
jbmaine Posted June 4, 2018 Author Posted June 4, 2018 20 hours ago, starkeer said: My family has a cottage on Long Pond that I get to for about a week every summer (I am from the midwest). It is my favorite place in the world. The smallmouth fishing is amazing, not a lot of monsters but you can consistently catch fish in the 14-17 inch range, we have also caught multiple pike over 35 inches, and several LMB's over 5lbs. I have spent almost all of my life fishing on Long Pond and the lake is definitely large enough that pleasure boaters/jet ski's are never much of an annoyance. If you are willing to get out early for the best bite you will often have the entire lake to yourself. Hope this helps! This is just the kind of info I was looking for. Thanks Quote
bumper02 Posted June 29, 2018 Posted June 29, 2018 I have been going to the Belgrade area for the last 15 years with several members of my club. We usually make trips in early June and mid September. We stayed in cabins on Great Pond, however the owner recently decided to sell and we are looking at some new places to house our clan when we invade the north. The fishing there is outstanding compared to what we have here in eastern Connecticut. Some of my personal favorite lakes in the area: Torsey - Launch is just a dump off on the side of the road with parking for about 7 to 8 trailers if you are creative. Lots of cabbage and floating scrub and flooded timber. Largemouth haven through most of the lake, with some smallies mixed in on the eastern side. Lots of healthy 2-3 lbrs with occasional larger fish. My favorite jig spot up there. East Pond - Stop at D&L store on the corner before the turn to the launch. Get yourself a sub, you won't be disappointed. They are huge. The pond itself has a sandy beach launch which requires backing in pretty deep to get the boat floating. On the northwest corner of the lake is a tributary that winds quite a ways (we call it the serpentine). Lot's of pads, cabbage, milfoil, floating scrub. When there is a dragonfly hatch, the largemouth go insane. We have had 8 boats in a line fishing our way up and down this area, and everyone got 50+ bass for the day. Many heavy 4's with a few giants mixed in. Some pike as well. North Pond - My personal favorite for smallies. Another side of the road launch with limited parking, best to hit during the week when the locals are working. From the launch, head to the southwest side of the lake, there is a small pocket (called Little North) separated from the main lake by broken islands. The main lake side of those islands is all rocky bottom and smallies spawn all over here. Couple bags of sluggos and some poppers and you will be sore by the time you get home. Lots of 17 inch smallies with quite a few in the 20s. Inside little north there is floating scrub and tends to hold large mouth. A few years ago, one of our members pulled a 7 and a 8 lbs largies in back to back casts. Great Moose - Lies about an hour north of Belgrade and can be tricky to find. Has a beautiful launch hidden on unpaved back roads. The western side of the lake has huge flats covered in pads, millfoils, and reeds. Some of biggest largemouth have come from this area. My personal best included (7 lbs). There are also lots of spots where the shoreline is rocky with lots of riprap and holds some decent smallmouth. We always save the best weather day of the trip for this place. Messalonskee - Has 2 launches, one of the north end and one on the east side about mid lake. Main lake holds mostly smallmouth with some largies mixed in. Wacky rig around the numerous docks and boats seems to work the best. South end of the lake has floating scrub and reeds. Largemouth and pike can be had there. Some other waters of note that we fished with decent success: Three Mile, Flying Pond, Echo, Annabessacook, and Long to name a few. 1 Quote
jbmaine Posted June 30, 2018 Author Posted June 30, 2018 bumper02-- Thanks, that is wonderful info. Am I reading your description to say there is milfoil in some of these waters? Quote
Arcs&sparks Posted June 30, 2018 Posted June 30, 2018 5 hours ago, jbmaine said: bumper02-- Thanks, that is wonderful info. Am I reading your description to say there is milfoil in some of these waters? http://maine.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=126b9dbc59f44f969f74739bc9bc4ade Map of known invasive aquatic vegetation. Quote
jbmaine Posted June 30, 2018 Author Posted June 30, 2018 4 hours ago, Arcs&sparks said: http://maine.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=126b9dbc59f44f969f74739bc9bc4ade Map of known invasive aquatic vegetation. That's good to know, thanks Quote
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