Best Fishing In Maine
Guide to fishing in the Pine Tree State
Maine is a haven for anglers, offering a wide variety of fish species and diverse fishing opportunities across its warm water fisheries, cold water fisheries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.
In Maine's warm water fisheries, anglers can target species like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, and black crappie. Lakes and ponds like Sebago Lake, Messalonskee Lake, and Pushaw Lake are popular warm water destinations, providing thrilling fishing experiences during the summer months. Anglers can enjoy the challenge of luring bass with various lures and techniques, while also catching other panfish species that inhabit these waters.
Maine's cold water fisheries offer a unique chance to pursue prized species like landlocked salmon, lake trout (togue), brook trout, and rainbow trout. Rivers like the Kennebec, Penobscot, and Androscoggin, and lakes such as Moosehead Lake and Rangeley Lake, provide excellent opportunities for trout and salmon fishing. The colder temperatures in these waters create an ideal habitat for these species, attracting anglers from all over seeking the thrill of catching trophy-sized trout and salmon.
Additionally, Maine boasts numerous ponds, many of which are hidden gems for fishing. These ponds may hold various species, including bass, trout, perch, and sunfish. While some are easily accessible, others offer a more remote and adventurous fishing experience, providing an escape into the tranquility of nature.
Maine's rivers also present abundant fishing opportunities, with stretches famous for their fly fishing experiences. Fly anglers can target trout and salmon as they cast their lines in the scenic rivers, surrounded by the state's breathtaking wilderness.
Maine's fishing opportunities are incredibly diverse, catering to all types of anglers, whether they prefer the thrill of bass fishing in warm waters or the challenge of landing a trophy trout or salmon in the cold waters. The state's pristine natural beauty and thriving fish populations ensure unforgettable fishing experiences for all who venture into its waters. As always, anglers should be mindful of fishing regulations and conservation practices to preserve the state's rich fishing heritage for generations to come.
The state of Maine has over 2,000 lakes and ponds. Additionally there are streams and rivers as well as coastal waters providing fishing opportunities. We will focus here on some of the larger fishing lakes in Maine.
The state offers a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, Atlantic salmon, chain pickerel, muskie and northern pike in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams. Ice fishing in winter is popular across the state.
Major Maine Lakes & Species
Lake & Fish Chart
This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.
For a detailed list of primary fish species in ME, plus state fish records, see the list below.
Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.
Allagash Lake is a 4,300-acre lake in the west-central part of the state.
Androscoggin Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Wayne.
Aziscohos Lake is a 6,700-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Parkertown.
Baskahegan Lake is a 6,900-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Brookton.
Big Lake is a 10,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Princeton.
Chamberlain Lake is an 11,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 10 miles northeast of Chesuncook.
China Lake is a 3,900-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 10 miles south of Waterville.
Chesuncook Lake is a 26,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, southeast of Chesuncook.
Cobbosseecontee Lake, aka Cobbossee Lake, is a 5,550-acre lake in southern Maine, at Manchester.
Damariscotta Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Jefferson.
Eagle Lake is a 5,600-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Eagle Lake.
East Grand Lake is a 16,000-acre lake on the eastern Maine-Canada border, at Danforth.
Flagstaff Lake is a 20,000-acre lake in the mid-western part of the state, at Flagstaff.
Gardner Lake is a 2,200-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, at East Machias.
Graham Lake is a 2,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Fletchers Landing.
Grand Lake Matagamon is a 6,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Trout Brook.
Great Pond is an 8,200-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Rome.
Lobster Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 3 miles east of Northeast Carry.
Long Lake (Harrison-Naples) is a 5,300-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, between Harrison and Naples.
Mattawamkeag Lake is a 3,300-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 3 miles east of Island Falls.
Meddybemps Lake is a 6,800-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Meddybemps.
Messalonskee Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Belgrade.
Millinocket Lake is an 8,900-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, 6 miles north of Millinocket.
Moosehead Lake is a 75,000-acre lake in the mid-western part of the state, between Greenville and Kineo.
Mooselookmeguntic Lake is a 16,300-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Rangeley.
Munsungan Lake is a 1,500-acre lake in the north-central part of ME.
Pemadumcook Lakes encompass 18,000 acres in the north-central part of the state, 8 miles west of Millinocket.
Portage Lake is a 2,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Portage Lake.
Pushaw Lake is a 5,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Glenburn.
Rangeley Lake is a 6,300-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Rangeley.
Richardson Lakes (Upper & Lower) is a 7,100-acre impoundment in the southwest part of the state, at Richardsontown.
Schoodic Lake is a 7,100-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Lake View Plantation.
Sebasticook Lake is a 4,300-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Newport.
Sebago Lake is a 28,700-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 4 miles west of Windham.
Sebec Lake is a 6,800-acre lake in the mid-western part of the state, at Sebec.
Square Lake is an 8,100-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Square Lake.
St Froid Lake is a 2,400-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Winterville Plantation.
Thompson Lake is a 4,400-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Oxford.
Webb Lake is a 2,100-acre lake in the western part of the state, at Weld.
West Grand Lake is a 14,300-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, at Grand Lake Stream Plantation.
Fish Species & State Records in Maine
Bass
Largemouth bass
World record: 22 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 11 lbs 10 oz
Smallmouth bass
World record: 11 lbs 15 oz
State Record: 8 lbs 0 oz
Catfish
White catfish
World record: 19 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 6.69 lbs
Crappie
Black crappie
World record: 6 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 3 lbs 9.76 oz
Trout
Rainbow trout
World record: 42 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 13 lbs 9 oz
Brook trout
World record: 14 lbs 8 oz
State Record: 9 lbs 2 oz
Brown trout
World record: 40 lbs 4 oz
State Record: 23 lbs 5 oz
Lake trout
World record: 72 lbs 0 oz
State Record: 39 lbs 2 oz
Panfish
Bluegill
World record: 4 lbs 12 oz
State Record: 0.51 lbs
White perch
World record: 4.6 lbs
State Record: 3.48 lbs
Yellow perch
World record: 4 lbs 3 oz
State Record: 2.12 lbs
Salmon
Atlantic salmon
World record: 79 lbs 2 oz
State Record: 22 lbs 8 oz
Other species
Pickerel
World record: 9 lbs 6 oz
State Record: 7 lbs 2 oz
Muskie (Muskellunge)
World record: 69 lbs 9 oz
State Record: 33 lbs 0 oz
Northern pike
World record: 55 lbs 1 oz
State Record: 31 lbs 2 oz
Click the images and links above for species details.
State of ME Fishing Information
Visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website to review fishing regulations and acquire additional information about fishing in Maine.
Acquire a Maine fishing license online, here.
You can fish some of the backwoods ares of these lakes if you are willing to get away from the crowds and go camping. For those who prefer not to rough it but want to keep cost down, used motorhomes in Maine are available through private parties or motorhome dealers across the state. This option allows you to be indoors in the great outdoors, and just maybe discover some great fishing.
Fish for big bass
Excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is available to anglers.
Fishing in all states
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