Down East Ponds????

[chucknduck]

I am planning my annual pilgrimage to the state where life is good and the pond's uncrowded (my local resevoir,Loch Raven has that tournament look on most day's). I have fished on quite a few lakes-ponds in maine and this trip will be staying in a new unfamiliar area, Jones Pond in Gouldsboro, the renters write that pond has smallies,trout and pickerel. Was wondering what other nearby lakes-ponds might be like????.....Will have my trusty pontoon boat with me.

[chucknduck]

Flanders pond, Tunk lake, Spring river lake, Donnell Pond, Morancy pond, West Bay pond,Lower West Bay pond, Upper pond ,Bogus Meadow pond, Little Tunk pond .... Anyone know a little about any of these :confused: ?????... I am looking to catch a few Maine Brookies this trip and always enjoy a good smallmouth pond!!!

[teflon_jones]

Sorry, can't really help! I used to vacation very close to there but I was always focused on the salt. Are you going to be doing any fishing in the salt too?

[chucknduck]

Teflon, I will have some fly gear with me for the salt since I usually manage some (1 day) striper fishing around the kennebec on the way up or back.

[titleguy]

Check out these sites:

http://flyfishinginmaine.com

http://www.maineflyfish.com/index.htm

I don't do a whole lot of still water fishing, but there are plenty who post there who do.

[chucknduck]

Thanks Titleguy, I've put a post on the flyfishing in maine site but no word from them, they must still be snowed in,.... Will check the Maine fly site,... also have tried the NE sportsman website (http://www.nesportsman.com/)which has lake maps for most of New England.....

[Eric L]

Chuck,

I lived in Maine prior to moving to Baltoland and then further south...

When are you planning to go? Ice out in that area is often not until early May. Also, you can get a good idea of what ponds you want to fish from the Maine fishing regulations (they are available on-line). Special reg places are generally better than those under general regs.

I lived for several years near Bangor and generally headed north for trout fishing. That said, there are a couple of good FFable trout ponds on MDI. Hint: look at the regs and see what's got special trout regs on MDI.

Again, when are you going? Too soon and you'll find only hardwater. By mid June surface temp exceed 70 degrees and the fish head for springholes or the thermocline. Feel free to email or PM me if you want some speific suggestions.

Eric

[TimSt]

Chuck-
I just saw this post while sitting in my office about 5 miles from Gouldsboro (monthly weekend trips courtesy of Uncle Sam). I spent last spring a bit further north of here, and did a fair amount of the same kind of fishing you're interested in.

My biggest difficulty was finding public shore access; a kayak or float tube would've opened up a lot more water for me. Since you'll be bringing your pontoon boat, you'll be fine.

There are LOTS of ponds up here, so it's probably just easier to get some info directly from the campground or wherever you're staying. It seems that every pond holds smallies and pickerel--I can't comment on which ones are better than the others. I guess that's the real info you need (they all seemed about the same to me); sorry, can't help in that regard.

As far as trout and pond fishing, I didn't do any of that while I was here. GLS is a bit of a hike for you, but there's some great landlocked salmon and trout fishing up that way if you feel like making a daytrip (at the right time).

The other links already posted will get you the info you need; I did the same as you (posted there before my trip last year), and got lots of e-mails with driving directions, fly recommendations etc.

[chucknduck]

Thanks Tim, Eric.... am going to be on Jones pond near Gouldsboro 6/17-24 then to MDI near Eagle Lake 6/24-31.I have stayed on MDI many times on Seal cove pond (smallmouths pickerel and perch). Fished on Somes pond once (couple smallmouths) put in a few hours on Eagle lake and Hadlock ponds (1 brook trout)and Long Pond (the big one) which produced a few smallmouths. I know thats not enough time put in on some of them to really get a good idea of well they may fish but places I have been to inland (Abrams pond, Big lake, Webb pond, Damariscotta lake, Pocomoonshine, Meddybemps, Crawford, North pond etc...I do a lot of smallmouth fishing up there) always seem a little to a lot better. I will probably fish Jones pond most of the time while there but want to give one or two other ponds in the area a look.

[TimSt]

On an unrelated note, not sure where you plan on eating while you're here. Just a couple of quick recommendations: skip the 'downeast deli' near Prospect Harbor--it's where I'm forced to eat my lunches one weekend a month, and the sandwiches are really lame, as are the calzones.

My admin assistant from my time in Cutler highly recommends 'Jordan's Takeout' on route 1 as you leave Ellsworth heading towards Gouldsboro. I haven't had a chance to eat there yet, but when a downeaster tells me that's where the best (fried) seafood is in the area, I'd listen.

[chucknduck]

On same unrelated note, when my wife and I have gone to Schoodic peninsula from MDI for day trip bike riding we went to little diner type place called "Bob and Cathy's" ,$$ :) :) , (hope I got names right) on RT 1 in gouldsboro area.Breakfast there was excellent and locals we spoke to said dinners were really good too. The place did not look great from outside but we found it well worth the visit. For fancy dining the place (couple years old) at Bunkers Harbor was very good ,$$$ :-% ,....give them a try on the next trip.....Seem's like everyone goes to Jordans, I've been by it countless times but never had time to eat there