Youth Only Fishing Water: Pickerel Pond (TWP32MD)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.

Pickerel Pond is located off from the Stud Mill Road in Township 32 just outside of  the town of Milford and is one of my favorite youth only fishing waters in Maine.

The pond is stocked with brook trout and provides a fantastic location to teach children who are 15 and under to fish. There are docks and plenty of open areas to access the pond. This is also a great location to fish from a canoe or kayak.

Pickerel Pond is the home of the Maine Youth Fish & Game Association, a fantastic organization that holds events to teach children to respect, enjoy and appreciate  the Maine outdoors.

Maine Youth Fish and Game Association has a beautiful lodge at the pond with classroom space, a full kitchen and a bathroom.  There is also a rifle range and Adirondack shelters.   The facility was built with donations from individuals, organizations, local governments and businesses. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife owns the land where the facility and pond are located.

For a better look at Maine Youth Fish and Game check out a past blog post: LEGACY: Maine Youth Fish & Game Association

Pickerel Pond is a great place for young anglers to fish from a canoe or kayak

There are docks and a beach area to fish from shore

Pickerel Pond is stocked with brook trout to provide special opportunity for children 15 and under.

Summer camp participants at MYFGA assist with stocking brook trout in Pickerel Pond

 

Youth Only Fishing Water: Mill Stream (Embden)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.

Mill Stream from the Embden Pond outlet to the Cross Town Road bridge is one of Maine’s youth only fishing waters.  Children who are 15 or under can fish in this section of the stream which is managed to provide special opportunity for young anglers.  There is a 2 trout limit and the 200 foot zone from the Embden Fish Hatchery is excluded.  Anglers are restricted to 2 lines.

The stream can be easily accessed from the public boat launch off from Cross Town Road in Embden where there is plenty of parking and a clear area for children to fish.  There is also a nice area to fish the stream at the Cross Town Road bridge.  Mill Stream provides a great opportunity for youth to experience “brook fishing” in Maine.

Mill Stream youth only fishing area at the outlet of Embden Pond

The public boat launch on Embden Pond provides parking and easy access to the youth only fishing area on Mill Stream

A small area to fish Mill Stream at the Cross Town Road Dam

Youth Only Fishing Water: Pettingill Park Pond (Auburn)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.  

Pettingill Park Pond is a fantastic fishing opportunity for young anglers in the Lewiston-Auburn area.  As one of Maine’s youth only fishing waters the pond is stocked with brook trout to provide a special chance for kids to have success while they’re out casting a line.

The pond is located in Pettingill Park in Auburn on Pettengill Park Street (off from Winter Street).  The area around the pond is easily accessed by a walking path and is beautifully landscaped.  There are benches and a playground nearby and there is plenty of parking making this a great location to spend time as a family in the outdoors without the needing to travel far.

Remember that you must be 15 or under to fish in youth only fishing waters and always be sure to review the fishing regulations before you head out!  Check out some of our tips for taking kids fishing for the first time.

Free Fishing Weekend

Free Fishing Weekend is coming up on June 1-2! On these days, any person (except those whose license has been suspended or revoked) may fish without a license. This is a great weekend to get out as a family and experience what Maine has to offer.  This year there are several special events planned around the state.

Bryant Pond 4-H Camp & Learning Center, Bryant Pond
Saturday, June 1 from 9am-3pm
Bryant Pond 4-H Camp is holding their 8th Annual Youth Field Day and Open House.  Activities are offered at no charge to children and their families and include archery, rifle, shotgun, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, geocaching, primitive skills, falconry and K9 demonstration.  The Maine Warden Service, Trout Unlimited, the National Turkey Federation, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and several other organizations will be on hand.  Lunch is available for a nominal fee or pack a picnic lunch to enjoy by the water! The camp is next to Lake Christopher on Conservation School Road in Bryant Pond village. For more information, call the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp at 665-2068 or visit their website!

Angevine Park, Bethel
Saturday, June 1 from 9am-2pm
The Upper Andro Anglers Alliance in co-operation with Trout Unlimited is hosting a free family fishing festival. The festival will be held at Angevine Park, 456 North Road, Bethel, from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine. Free casting workshops and fly-tying instruction will be available throughout the day. Local Maine guides and members of the Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited will teach the workshops.  Instruction will include both spin casting and fly casting for older youth and parents.  Maine’s Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program will supply complimentary rods and reels for use at the festival.  For more information: Free Family Fishing Festival 2013

Penobscot County Conservation Association, Brewer
Saturday, June 1 from 10am-4pm
PCCA is hosting a Free Family Fun Day at their facility in Brewer.  Activities include canoeing, fly casting, geocaching, archery, air rifles, trapping display and more! For more information: Outdoor Family Fun Day

Other upcoming outdoor opportunities for families:

Damariscotta Lake State Park, Jefferson
Saturday, June 8 from 8am-3pm
Experienced boaters will bring children and their parents to prime fishing spots on the lake and there will be plenty of on shore activities to keep families occupied.  Equipment, boats, bait, tackle and life jackets will be provided free of charge.  Children are invited to register for one hour boat rides with experienced fishermen.   Register by contacting the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association at (207) 549-3836 or emailing webmaster@dlwa.org

Pineland Farms, New Gloucester
Saturday, June 8 from 9am-12pm
The Gray – New Gloucester Optimist Club is partnering with the Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to hold their annual Family Fishing Event at the Pond at Pineland Farms from 10am-1pm.  This is a free event and will provide opportunity for children and families to learn more about the sport of fishing.  Equipment, bait and tackle will be available for those who need it.  This event is rain or shine!

Youth Only Fishing Water: Carrabassett River (Kingfield)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.

There is a section of the Carrabassett River that runs from Kingfield  to New Portland that has special fishing regulations for youth.

Unlike the other youth only fishing waters that I have highlighted this one does permit adults to fish (fly fishing only) and although anglers who are under the age of 16 are also prohibited from fishing with live bait they are permitted to fish this section using dead fish, salmon eggs and worms.  I will add though that the Carrabassett River is also an excellent place to teach a young angler how to fly fish!

The section of the river designated with this special rule for youth anglers begins from its confluence with the West Branch of the Carrabassett River in Kingfield and continues down to the Route 146 crossing in New Portland.  This picturesque section of the river provides ample opportunity to inspire youth to fall in love with fishing in Maine.

As always be sure to consult the Maine Open Water & Ice Fishing Rules and Regulations before heading out to fish.  

The start of the section of the Carrabassett River that provides special fishing opportunity to youth anglers.

A beautiful setting to spend some time fishing with a child

The Wire Bridge in New Portland falls within this section of the Carrabassett River

Signs are posted along the river indicating that there are special regulations for anglers.

The Route 146 crossing in New Portland is the end of the section of river with special regulations for youth anglers.

Youth Only Fishing Water: Quarry Pond (Waldoboro)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.

This past weekend my niece Taylor and I took a trip to check out Quarry Pond, one of Maine’s youth only fishing ponds.  The pond is located on Quarry Hill Road off from Depot Street just a short drive from Route 1 in Waldoboro.

One of the newest youth only waters, Quarry Pond is stocked with Brook Trout to provide a special opportunity to youth anglers (15 and under).

The pond is in a quiet location and has a small parking area for easy access.  There is a nice clear opening for fishing as well as a beaten path to other areas around the pond.  There are a couple of places that require climbing down a ledge to access the water but ropes have been installed to aid those who need it.

Quarry Pond is one of the only youth only waters you will find in the mid-coast area!  Taylor and I will certainly plan another trip soon so she can try her luck.  Happy fishing!

Parking is available near the pond

There is a nice open area for fishing very close to the parking area

There is a path to other areas of the pond that are suitable for fishing

Look for Quarry Hill Road off from Depot Street in Waldoboro. The pond is just a short distance up this gravel road.

Youth Only Fishing Water: Wilson Stream (Wilton)

Each week I’ll be highlighting one of Maine’s youth only (15 and under) fishing areas.  You can see a complete list of these areas here.

A portion of Wilson Stream in Wilton is designated as one of Maine’s youth only fishing waters and is managed to provide special fishing opportunity to young anglers who are under the age of 16.   The area begins just below the first bridge at the head of Wilson Lake and ends at the third bridge (Route 156) downstream from the lake.

The daily bag limit is 2 trout and anglers are limited to two lines.

The youth only fishing area is easily accessed at the Wilson Lake boat launch on Canal Street.    This is a great location for local children to fish together and a great place for families to visit and cast a line.  Wilson Lake is nearby which also offers great fishing and boating opportunities.

 

Wilson Stream is easily accessed from the Wilson Lake Boat Launch on Canal Street

 

 

Some local young anglers enjoy a little fly fishing below the dam on Wilson Stream