Maine biologists' November report: fresh-stocked trout, big Long Pond browns and a Schoodic togue push

Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has posted its November regional fishing reports, with updates from its biologists dated Oct. 25 through Nov. 2. They say cooling water is bringing trout and salmon back into the shallows, and fall hatchery stockings are adding fish.

In the Belgrade Lakes Region, Jason Seiders recommends freshly stocked coastal rivers: the St. George, Medomak, Megunticook, Pemaquid and Nezinscot. He also suggests Long Pond in Belgrade, which gets heavy fall stockings of rainbows 14 inches and up and can produce brown trout in the double digits. Lake St. George in Liberty has good numbers of salmon around 20 inches, under fall rules of artificial lures only with catch and release. In the Sebago region, Brian Lewis points to fall yearling trout in Crystal Lake in Gray, the Otter Ponds in Standish and Chaffin Pond in Windham. He reminds anglers that no live bait is allowed and trout and salmon must be released.

Downeast, Jacob Scoville lists brook trout ponds that stay open in the fall, along with brown trout lakes and small ponds where recent surveys found browns over 20 inches. Some waters, such as Berry Patch Pond, close to all fishing on Dec. 1. In the Penobscot Region, Schoodic Lake has a new fall season through Dec. 31 that allows togue harvest. It's part of an effort to thin a population of more than 14,000 togue longer than 13 inches.

The biologists also mention late-season options on the Dead River, Flagstaff Lake and the Kennebec's East Outlet. They urge anglers to check water-specific rules, wear a life jacket and add blaze orange while deer season is open.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Maine IFW Fishing Report (regional updates Oct. 25–Nov. 2, 2026).