Aroostook.com: Where the County Clicks

Fishing

Cast a Line into Maine’s Fishing Legacy.

Fishing in Aroostook County spans wild river systems, remote headwater ponds, and deep chains of glacial lakes. Anglers find exceptional coldwater sport across the region, targeting wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, togue, Arctic charr, and muskellunge. From long-standing wilderness sporting camps to ice derbies drawing thousands, these waters shape an angling culture that runs deep through every season.

Illustration of I would like images depicting a fisherman in different rivers and streams for three of the images and the main image I want to depict a fisgereman on a dock at a lake camp deep in the woods of norther Maine.

Across northern Maine, fishing in Aroostook County centers on expansive waterways that sustain deep-water coldwater fisheries. The Fish River chain forms a core part of this landscape, holding some of the most robust wild populations of brook trout in the eastern United States across small streams, ponds, and rivers. Spanning 5,581 acres and reaching depths of 136 feet, Eagle Lake sustains wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout, with trailered access on Disy Road. Anglers targeting the chain explore Long Lake, the deepest water in the chain at 163 feet across 6,000 acres, as well as the 8,150 acres of Square Lake, the 2,400-acre waters of St. Froid Lake, and 307-acre Carr Pond. Further west in the North Maine Woods, the 2,642-acre Fish River Lake holds native salmonids feeding on rainbow smelt, while Crater Pond in Deboullie Township naturally sustains brook trout on spring seepages. Elsewhere in the county, 5,120-acre Scopan Lake offers stocked splake, brook trout, and landlocked salmon, while the Meduxnekeag River drainage provides the management region's only stream opportunity for brown trout.

Moving eastward, flowing waters offer their own rich tradition. The Aroostook River winds from the North Maine Woods through agricultural land as a recognized high-quality brook trout fishery. Anglers launch from a state gravel site with trailer parking, a boat launch off US-1 in Presque Isle to fish downstream along 'The Reach' below tributary mouths, or a paved ramp with a dock off Riverside Avenue past the US-1A bridge in Fort Fairfield. Town access in Allagash provides carry-in and hard ramp launches to the Allagash River, while the Fort Fairfield Fish and Game Club offers access to Monson Pond off Dorsey Road. Historic sporting camps have welcomed fishermen for generations, from Bradford Camps on Munsungan Lake hosting trips for wild brook trout, lake trout, and Arctic charr, to Fish River Lodge on Eagle Lake instructing prospective Registered Maine Guides. Waters here have delivered historic catches, including an 8-pound, 8-ounce brook trout from Chase Pond landed by James 'Bob' Foster Sr. in 1979, Carter McLaughlin's 5.24-pound record blueback trout from Pushineer Pond on August 20, 2008, Annette Dumond's 18-pound, 8-ounce cusk from Eagle Lake in 1986, and Onezime Dufour's 33-pound muskie taken from the St. John River at Madawaska on May 15, 2010.

Illustration of I would like images depicting a fisherman in different rivers and streams for three of the images and the main image I want to depict a fisgereman on a dock at a lake camp deep in the woods of norther Maine.

Fisheries management keeps these waters thriving alongside long-standing local derbies. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks hatchery brook trout into Arnold Brook Lake and Echo Lake in Presque Isle, supplements East Grand Lake and the Fish River in Fort Kent, stocks lake trout into northern Glazier Lake, and conducts radio telemetry tracking on lake trout and brook trout spawning shoals in Eagle Lake. Community engagement runs through every corner of the sport, seen when local elementary students carry trout in five-gallon buckets to help stock Mantle Lake for the Presque Isle Elks Lodge youth derby, or when the Aroostook Band of Micmacs raises native-strain brook trout at their Caribou hatchery. Summer brings the Fort Kent International Muskie Derby, covering over 225 miles of the St. John River and its tributaries west of Grand Falls for fish measuring at least 38 inches. When winter arrives, heated ice shacks dot the landscape, Butterfield's Landing in Weston hosts weigh-ins for the East Grand Lake Ice Fishing Derby, and the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby, founded in 2005 by the Black Bear Rod & Gun Club and St. Agatha, draws over 1,800 anglers across ten regional waterways to support the Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund.

Where to go: St. John Valley · Central Aroostook · Southern Aroostook · North Woods

Rules, seasons, permits, water levels and weather change. Before you go, check current conditions and requirements with the agency that manages the place you plan to visit.

Illustration of a calm lake at dawn with a wooden dock and a small aluminum fishing boat tied up in fall

The facts behind this guide

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Access (6)
Allagash River Public Access in Allagash Allagash
Anglers access the Allagash River in the town of Allagash via a municipal carry-in and hard ramp facility managed locally by the Town of Allagash.[1]
Aroostook River Boat Launch at Fort Fairfield Fort Fairfield
Anglers access the Aroostook River for brook trout and salmon fishing at a paved boat ramp with a dock located off Riverside Avenue past the US-1A bridge in Fort Fairfield.[2]
Aroostook River DIFW Access Site Aroostook River
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife manages a state gravel boat access site on the Aroostook River in Aroostook County featuring trailer parking for river access.[1]
Eagle Lake Disy Road Boat Access Eagle Lake
Anglers targeting coldwater species like landlocked salmon and lake trout access Eagle Lake via an improved trailered boat launch located on Disy Road in Eagle Lake.[3]
Monson Pond Fort Fairfield Access Fort Fairfield
Anglers fishing for stocked brook trout in Monson Pond can access the water near the Fort Fairfield Fish and Game Club off Dorsey Road in Fort Fairfield.[4]
Presque Isle US-1 Aroostook River Access Presque Isle
Anglers launching boats at the US-1 boat launch in Presque Isle can fish for brook trout downstream along 'The Reach' stretch of the Aroostook River below the mouths of entering coldwater tributaries.[5]
Conservation (6)
Arnold Brook Lake Stocking Management Arnold Brook Lake
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks spring brook trout into Arnold Brook Lake in Presque Isle to provide managed public angling opportunities.[6]
East Grand Lake Salmonid Management East Grand Lake
State fisheries biologists manage the coldwater fishery of East Grand Lake on the Aroostook County border with ongoing supplemental stockings of brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon.[6]
Echo Lake Brook Trout Stocking Program Echo Lake
Echo Lake in Presque Isle is actively stocked with thousands of brook trout by state hatchery managers to maintain high-yield trout angling opportunities.[6]
Fish River Hatchery Stocking Fish River
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks sport fish directly into the Fish River in Fort Kent, releasing hatchery brook trout and landlocked salmon to support recreational angling.[6]
Glazier Lake Togue Stocking Management Glazier Lake
MDIFW manages cold-water sport fishing opportunities in Glazier Lake along the northern border of Aroostook County by regularly stocking hatchery-raised lake trout.[6]
MDIFW Radio Telemetry Lake Trout Research Eagle Lake
Biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Region G crew captured and radio-tagged wild lake trout and brook trout in Eagle Lake to pinpoint deep-water spawning shoals and track population balance.[7]
Culture (8)
East Grand Lake Ice Fishing Derby Weston
The annual East Grand Lake Ice Fishing Derby is hosted in southern Aroostook County with weigh-in festivities organized at Butterfield's Landing in the town of Weston.[8]
Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund Support St. Agatha
A central tradition of the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby in northern Aroostook County is charitable fundraising, with proceeds from registrations dedicated to supporting patients through the Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund.[9]
Fort Kent International Muskie Derby Tradition Fort Kent
The Fort Kent International Muskie Derby is an annual multi-day sportfishing tournament held in Fort Kent that covers more than 225 river miles across the St. John River and its tributaries west of Grand Falls.[10]
Fort Kent Muskie Derby Minimum Length Fort Kent
In the Fort Kent International Muskie Derby, eligible muskellunge must measure at least 38 inches to qualify for scoring and official weigh-in consideration.[11]
Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs Youth Derby Presque Isle
Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954 hosts the annual 'Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs' youth fishing derby at Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle for young anglers ages 3 to 16.[12]
Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby Founding St. Agatha
The Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby began in 2005 when members of the Black Bear Rod & Gun Club partnered with the town of St. Agatha, launching its first official competition in January 2006 to bring the community together during winter.[13]
Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby Scope Long Lake
The annual Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby centers in St. Agatha and spans ten lakes and waterways across the St. John Valley, featuring competition categories for brook trout, lake trout (togue), landlocked salmon, and muskellunge.[14]
Mantle Lake Community Trout Stocking Tradition Presque Isle
Before the annual Presque Isle Elks youth fishing derby at Mantle Lake, local elementary students assist state hatchery personnel by carrying and stocking hundreds of trout into the lake using five-gallon buckets.[12]
History (5)
Bradford Camps at Munsungan Lake Headwaters Munsungan Lake
Established over a century ago at the headwaters of the Aroostook River on Munsungan Lake, Bradford Camps operates as a historic wilderness sporting camp catering to anglers pursuing unstocked, wild brook trout, lake trout, and Arctic charr.[15]
Chase Pond Historic State Record Brook Trout Chase Pond
In 1979, angler James 'Bob' Foster Sr. caught an 8-pound, 8-ounce wild brook trout from Chase Pond, establishing a Maine state record that stood for thirty years.[16]
Fish River Lodge Guiding Tradition Eagle Lake
Fish River Lodge on Eagle Lake has operated as a traditional sporting camp where anglers fish for landlocked salmon, lake trout, and brook trout, while also hosting instruction programs for prospective Registered Maine Guides.[15]
Mi'kmaq Farms Brook Trout Hatchery and Stocking Caribou
The Aroostook Band of Micmacs established a land-based fish hatchery in Caribou that raises native-strain brook trout to stock private ponds and regional waters throughout Maine.[17]
Pushineer Pond State Record Blueback Trout Pushineer Pond
On August 20, 2008, angler Carter McLaughlin caught the Maine state record blueback trout (Arctic charr), weighing 5.24 pounds, at Pushineer Pond.[18]
Ice fishing (7)
Charitable tradition of the Long Lake Derby St. Agatha
All proceeds raised by the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby benefit the Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund to assist local cancer patients.[19]
East Grand Lake Ice Fishing Derby tradition Weston
The Greater East Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual winter ice fishing derby centered on East Grand Lake with weigh-ins hosted at Butterfield's Landing in Weston.[8]
Origin of the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby St. Agatha
The Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby was founded in 2005 by the Black Bear Rod & Gun Club and the Town of St. Agatha, launching its first competition in January 2006.[19]
Scale and turnout of the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby St. Agatha
Billed as the largest ice fishing derby in Maine, the event regularly draws over 1,800 registered anglers competing on frozen waterways across the St. John Valley.[20]
Waters and species targeted during the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby Long Lake
The derby spans ten lakes and waterways across the St. John Valley, including Long Lake, Cross Lake, Square Lake, and Eagle Lake, targeting landlocked salmon, togue, brook trout, muskie, cusk, and perch.[21]
Winter hard-water angling in the Fish River Chain of Lakes Eagle Lake
Fish River chain waters like Eagle Lake, Square Lake, and Long Lake are prime winter destinations for anglers targeting native brook trout, togue (lake trout), and landlocked salmon through the ice.[22]
Winter ice shack and sporting camp culture Long Lake
Ice fishing tradition across northern Aroostook County includes setting up permanent and portable heated ice shacks, with sporting camps hosting generations of returning winter anglers.[23]
Fish species (8)
Carr Pond Headwater Trout Fishery Carr Pond
Located in the Fish River Chain headwaters, Carr Pond sustains cold-water fisheries for wild brook trout, naturally reproducing lake trout (togue), and landlocked salmon.[24]
Crater Pond Natural Brook Trout Production Crater Pond
Crater Pond in Deboullie Township is a spring-fed water body whose brook trout fishery is sustained entirely through natural spawning in gravel areas and spring seepages.[25]
Fish River Lake Salmonid Fishery Fish River Lake
Fish River Lake supports cold-water sport fisheries for native brook trout, lake trout (togue), and landlocked salmon, which feed primarily on rainbow smelt.[26]
Fish River Lakes Brook Trout Abundance Fish River
The Fish River Lakes Region in northern Aroostook County contains some of the most robust wild populations of brook trout in the eastern United States, sustaining brook trout fisheries in small streams, ponds, large lakes, and rivers.[27]
Meduxnekeag River Drainage Brown Trout Meduxnekeag River
Within northern Maine's fishery management region, the Meduxnekeag River drainage provides the only stream opportunity for anglers to target brown trout.[28]
State Record Blueback Trout from Pushineer Pond Pushineer Pond
The Maine state record blueback trout (Arctic charr), weighing 5.24 pounds, was caught by angler Carter McLaughlin in Pushineer Pond on August 20, 2008.[29]
State Record Cusk from Eagle Lake Eagle Lake
Maine's state record cusk (burbot) was caught in Eagle Lake by angler Annette Dumond on March 15, 1986, weighing 18 pounds 8 ounces.[29]
State Record Muskie from the St. John River St. John River
The official Maine state record muskellunge, weighing 33 pounds, was landed by angler Onezime Dufour on May 15, 2010, while fishing the St. John River in Madawaska.[29]
Waters (8)
Aroostook River trout fishing Aroostook River
Flowing through Aroostook County from the North Maine Woods to eastern agricultural lands, the Aroostook River is recognized by state fisheries biologists for its high-quality large-river brook trout fishery.[27]
Carr Pond deep-water salmonid habitat Carr Pond
Situated in the headwaters of the Fish River chain in T13 R8 WELS, 307-acre Carr Pond reaches a depth of 72 feet and supports coldwater sport fisheries for wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, and naturally reproducing lake trout.[24]
Eagle Lake salmon and trout fishery Eagle Lake
Covering 5,581 acres with a maximum depth of 136 feet, Eagle Lake supports a coldwater fishery of statewide significance for wild brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout (togue).[30]
Fish River Lake salmonid waters Fish River Lake
Located in the North Maine Woods across T13 R8 and T14 R8, the 2,642-acre Fish River Lake is the westernmost water of the Fish River Chain and supports wild brook trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon fisheries.[26]
Long Lake deep-water fishery Long Lake
Encompassing 6,000 acres and reaching a depth of 163 feet as the deepest water in the Fish River chain, Long Lake provides a sport fishery of statewide significance for brook trout and landlocked salmon.[31]
Scopan Lake splake and salmonid fishing Scopan Lake
Scopan Lake covers 5,120 acres with a maximum depth of 58 feet in Scopan Township, where it provides sport fishing for stocked splake, brook trout, and landlocked salmon.[27]
Square Lake coldwater fishery Square Lake
Square Lake encompasses 8,150 acres with a maximum depth of 122 feet in T16 R5 WELS and is managed as a primary coldwater sport fishery for wild brook trout and landlocked salmon.[27]
St. Froid Lake salmonid fishery St. Froid Lake
Spanning 2,400 acres with a maximum depth of 114 feet in Winterville and T14 R7, St. Froid Lake maintains a sport fishery of statewide significance for brook trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout.[32]
Sources (32)
  1. Boat Sites: Public Boat Launches: Boating Opportunities: Water Activities: State Parks and Public Lands: Maine DACF — maine.gov , viewed Oct 9, 2026
  2. How to Fish near Aroostook River Boat Ramp in Maine - Access Points | onWater — onwaterapp.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  3. Region G - Fish River Lakes Region: Places to Fish: Maine Fishing Guide: Fishing: Fishing & Boating: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  4. Fishing on the Aroostook River - Undiscovered Maine — umaine.edu , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  5. Aroostook River Paddling Route (Presque Isle to Caribou) - Maine Trail Finder — mainetrailfinder.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  6. current_stocking_report.pdf - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  7. MDIFW fisheries biologist Frank Frost captured this fascinating footage of lake trout preparing to spawn on Eagle Lake in northern Aroostook county. F | Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife — facebook.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  8. Fishing Derbies: Fishing: Fishing & Boating: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  9. Subzero temperatures didn't stop Maine's largest ice fishing derby - The County — thecounty.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  10. Aroostook town prepares to host Maine's largest muskie derby - Bangor Daily News — bangordailynews.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  11. Fort Kent International Muskie Derby — fortkent-muskie.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  12. Elks annual youth fishing derby set for May 30 - The County — thecounty.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  13. About the Derby - Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby — longlakeicefishingderby.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  14. Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby | Visit Aroostook — visitaroostook.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  15. Fishing Camps - Visit Maine — visitmaine.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  16. A fishing record that lives on - Bangor Daily News — bangordailynews.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  17. Micmac Farms - Destination Native America — destinationnativeamerica.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  18. Hunting & Fishing Records - The Maine Sportsman — mainesportsman.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  19. About the Derby - Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby — longlakeicefishingderby.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  20. Biggest fish tops 16 pounds at Long Lake derby - The County — thecounty.me , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  21. Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby | Visit Aroostook — visitaroostook.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  22. Region G - Fish River Lakes Region: Places to Fish: Maine Fishing Guide: Fishing: Fishing & Boating: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  23. Where to Go Ice Fishing in Maine: The Best Lakes in Aroostook County — maineguideflyshop.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  24. Carr Pond T 13 R 8 WELS. Aroostook, Co. U.S.G.S. Carr Pond, Me. (7 1/2') Landlocked salmon Lake trout (togue) Brook trout Lake w - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  25. pond depth maps of the Deboullie Township - The Red River Camps — redrivercamps.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  26. Fish River Lake (Fish Lake) T13 RB, T14 RB, Aroostook County U.S.G.S. Fish River Lake, Me. (7 1/2 - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  27. Region G - Fish River Lakes Region: Places to Fish: Maine Fishing Guide: Fishing: Fishing & Boating: Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  28. Fishing on the Aroostook River - Undiscovered Maine — umaine.edu , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  29. Maine Freshwater Fish Records - » UNTAMED Mainer — untamedmainer.com , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  30. Eagle Lake - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  31. Madawaska, Me. - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026
  32. ST. FROID LAKE Winterville Twp., T14 R7, Aroostook County U.S.G.S. Eagle Lake, ME (7112 - Maine.gov — maine.gov , viewed Oct 10, 2026

Last updated October 10, 2026.