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DEPARTMENT INFORMATION |
State of Maine
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NOTE: Don’t throw away your most recent ice fishing law book! The regulations are in effect for another year, through March 31, 2010. |
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The following laws and rules are effective from through March 31, 2010.Each revision of this publication shall, upon filing with the Secretary of State, constitute an official consolidation of fishing rules as printed.
To view the PDF version of the Ice Fishing Laws and Rules below, you will need the free Adobe Reader. If you need assistance, view our PDF Help page, e-mail us or call us at (207) 287-8000.
If you would like to receive an official copy of the current State of Maine Ice Fishing Laws and Rules by mail, please send your request by email or call us at (207) 287-8000.
The Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife receives federal funds from U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all programs must be operated free from discrimination in regard to race, color, national origin, age, or disability. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
If you wish to make a comment about any member of the Department, please come to or call the closest IF&W office and talk to the appropriate staff member. Written comments should be mailed to: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0041. Receipt of your correspondence will be formally acknowledged in writing.
How do I find the fishing regulations on the water(s) I want to fish?
New Regulations for 2007-2009 Ice Fishing Season
Laws Pertaining to Bait Dealers/Use of Live Bait
Laws Regarding Ice Fishing Shacks
Fish Consumption Advisories/Warnings on Eating Fish [off-site]
Free ice fishing days will take place on Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding President’s Day each year. Any person, except those whose license has been revoked or suspended, may fish on these days without a license. All other laws and regulations apply.
Special Regulations (S-Codes)Special regulations may apply to waters in any county. Whenever any water is followed by an S-Code you must refer back to this table to determine which special regulations apply. |
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S-1 |
Closed to the taking of smelts. |
S-2 |
No longer used. |
S-3 |
No longer used. |
S-4: |
Use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited. |
S-5: |
Daily bag limit on togue: 3 fish; minimum length limit: 14 inches, only one may exceed 18 inches. |
S-6: |
Daily bag limit on togue: 6 fish; minimum length limit: 14 inches, only one may exceed 23 inches. |
S-7: |
Boundary waters with New Brunswick. |
S-8: |
Restricted to two lines per person. |
S-9: |
Border waters with New Hampshire. |
S-10: |
Daily bag limit on landlocked salmon: 3 fish; minimum length limit: 12 inches. |
S-11: |
Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish; All bass between 13 and 18 inches must be released alive at once. |
S-12: |
No longer used. |
S-13: |
No size or bag limit on bass. |
S-14: |
Daily bag limit on bass: 1 fish; All bass between 16 and 20 inches must be released alive at once. |
S-15: |
Daily bag limit on trout: (includes splake) 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches, only one may exceed 12 inches. |
S-16: |
Daily bag limit on trout: (includes splake) 2 fish; minimum length limit: 12 inches, only one may exceed 14 inches. |
S-17: |
Minimum length limit on landlocked salmon: 16 inches. |
S-18: |
Total daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length limit: 18 inches. |
S-19: |
Daily limit on trout: 2 fish. |
S-20: |
Daily bag limit on white perch: 25 fish. |
S-21: |
Daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish; minimum length limit: 14 inches. |
S-22: |
Daily limit on landlocked salmon: 1 fish. |
S-23: |
Daily limit on togue: 1 fish. |
S-24: |
Open to fishing for children under 16 years of age. Restricted to two lines per person. Daily limit on trout: 2 fish. |
The following are some of the more significant general rule changes for the 2007-2009 ice fishing season. In addition there are numerous changes on individual waters.
WARNINGIt is illegal to release unused live fish bait into any waters. |
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It is unlawful to deposit any meat, bones, dead fish or other food material for the purpose of luring fish.
A person who sells bait may not provide or sell the bait in containers that are composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam plastic. This does not apply to baitfish.
All inland waters including those in Indian Territory are closed to ice fishing except those which have been opened by rule.
Where county lines divide a body of water, the more liberal county rule shall apply to the entire body of water.
All lines set at night (sunset to sunrise) for cusk must be visited at least once every hour by the person who set them.
Except when taking smelts in a tributary or within 100 feet of the mouth of a tributary, a device consisting of a rigid frame filled with netting, firmly attached to a rigid handle and manually operated by a single person; and when used to take smelts in a tributary or within 100 feet of the mouth of a tributary, a device consisting of a rigid circular frame that is not more than 24 inches in diameter as measured at any point on the hoop, filled with netting, firmly attached to a rigid handle and manually operated by a single person. (Section 1001, subsection 12-A)
It is unlawful to keep black bass, landlocked salmon, togue or trout at any sporting camp, hotel or public lodging place without attaching to the fish the name and address of the person who caught them.
Unless otherwise provided by rule, a person may fish through the ice with not more than 5 lines.
Taking freshwater fish during the ice fishing season through man-made openings in the ice by the use of ice fishing devices.
Any device used to take fish through the ice including a trap (tip-up), jig stick, rod in hand or handline. Except that a person engaged in taking smelts and baitfish may do so in accordance with the laws and rules governing these activities.
An ice fishing device for storing line, designed to be set through the ice and to indicate when something has disturbed the bait attached thereto.
It is unlawful to fish other than by the use of a single baited hook and line, artificial flies, artificial lures and spinners, except that this restriction does not apply to hook and line smelt fishing. All other rules and regulations governing the taking of smelt apply. Use of a gaff is unlawful.
Adding substances containing ethylene glycol or other antifreeze agents to waters of this State is a violation of Title 38, §413.
It is unlawful to sell a lead sinker for fishing that weighs 1/2 ounce or less. This does not include artificial lures, weighted line or lines, or jigheads.
It is unlawful to dispose of litter (which includes abandoned ice fishing shacks) anywhere in this State except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose. Convicted violators face fines up to $200 for the first offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses.
It is unlawful to tag, fin clip, or otherwise mark any fish to be released alive into inland waters without expressed written consent from the Commissioner.
Minimum legal length is total length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the lobes of the tail squeezed together.
Except as otherwise provided by rule, all waters open to ice fishing are open to ice fishing 24 hours a day. All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them. Exception. All lines set at night for cusk must be visited at least once every hour by the person who set them.
The owner of any motor vehicle or snowmobile which becomes submerged or partially submerged in the waters of the State shall immediately notify the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the event and the location of the vehicle. The owner shall be legally liable for removal and pay any damages resulting from the submersion or removal. The vehicle shall be removed within 30 days (same day if public water supply).
Taking freshwater fish during the open water fishing season by means of hook and line in hand or attached to a rod, or by casting or trolling artificial flies, lures, or baited hooks, provided that the person angling does not take fish through the ice, from the ice, or from any object supported by the ice.
A person shall not possess at any time more fish than he may lawfully take in one day.
It is unlawful to alter the length of landlocked salmon, trout, lake trout, lake whitefish, and black bass unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking. It is unlawful to possess or transport fish dressed in such a manner that the species of fish cannot be identified, unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking (smoking does not constitute cooking).
It is unlawful to buy or sell, directly or indirectly, any landlocked salmon, trout, togue, black bass, white perch, or pickerel.
Whenever any waters have a special bag limit, no person shall possess more than one day's bag limit taken from those waters.
All lines must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them.
All ponds of ten acres or less formed on brooks, streams or rivers are governed by the same fishing rules which apply to the brook, stream or river on which the pond is situated, whether the pond is natural or artificial. (This does not apply to private ponds.)
Ask FirstMost outdoor recreation in Maine takes place on private property through the generosity of the landowner. Only by respecting landowners and their property can we be sure we will have land available in the future for the various forms of outdoor recreation we enjoy. If you know you are welcome to use someone's land, don't abuse the privilege. If you don't know whether you are welcome, find out. If the land is posted or you know you are not welcome, find another location.ALWAYS SEEK PERMISSION before engaging in any form of outdoor recreation on property which belongs to someone else. |
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Waters affected by this section are as follows (regulations listed below apply):
In Aroostook County:
Glazier Lake (see exception 1 below), North Lake, The Thoroughfare between North Lake and East Grand Lake, and East Grand Lake (see exception 2 below).
New regulations effective January 1, 2009 for St. John River as follows. St. John River, from the International Bridge in Van Buren downstream to the ME/NB border at the easternmost border of the town of Hamlin. Total weight of landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and black bass not to exceed 7 1/2 pounds (3.5 kg.).
In Washington County:
Mud Lake, East Grand Lake (see exception 2 below), Spednic Lake (see exception 3 below), Grand Falls Flowage east of a line between red markers on McAlister's Point and Abbot’s Point, and St. Croix River Flowage (Woodland Flowage).
Season: January 1 through March 31.
Daily bag limits on landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and black bass: three fish in the aggregate not to include more than 2 landlocked salmon, 2 togue.
Daily bag limits on other species:
Minimum length limits:
Equipment: On all open waters - five (5) lines per person.
Bait: Use or possession of spiny-finned fish as bait is prohibited.
Legal hours: From 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. (No night fishing.)
Exceptions:
Licensing Requirements:
Either a Maine or New Brunswick License will be honored while fishing on the main body of the above waters. Fishing on these waters from shore or in any area or cove where jurisdiction can be determined by a straight line drawn between two points of land requires the appropriate state license.
Umbagog Lake, Upton, Maine; Errol/Cambridge, New Hampshire (waters of Umbagog Lake include the waters of the Androscoggin River upstream of the Errol Dam, the waters of the Magalloway River within the State of New Hampshire, and the waters of the Rapid River upstream to the marker at Cedar Stump in the State of Maine).
Great East Lake, Acton, Maine; Wakefield, New Hampshire
Salmon Falls River, Acton, Lebanon, Berwick and South Berwick, Maine; Wakefield, Milton, Rochester, Somersworth, and Rollinsford, New Hampshire. Province Lake, Parsonsfield, Maine; Effingham/Wakefield, New Hampshire
Balch Pond, Parsonsfield, Maine; Wakefield, New Hampshire
Horn Pond, Acton, Maine; Wakefield, New Hampshire. Signs posted at the most downstream extent of the great east dam outlet canal denote the boundary between Horn Pond and the Salmon Falls River.
Milton Watershed, Lebanon, Maine; Milton, New Hampshire - Milton watershed includes all of the Milton Three Ponds - Northeast Pond, Milton Pond, Townhouse Pond (Beginning at the Dam in Milton to the influx of the Branch River and the Salmon Falls River).
Lower Kimball Pond, Fryeburg, Maine; Chatham, New Hampshire
Spaulding Pond, Lebanon, Maine; Milton, New Hampshire
General Interstate Rules
Exceptions to the General Interstate Rules
Umbagog Lake: Closed to ice fishing is that portion of the lake north of a straight line from a red post set on a point between Spillman and Glassby Coves on the east shore in Maine, and a red post set at Molls Rock, so-called, on the west shore in New Hampshire. S-18
Great East Lake: Restricted to two lines per person. Minimum length limit on togue (lake trout):16 inches.
Lower Kimball Pond: Smelt dipping is allowed between sunset and 10:00 p.m. with nets not over 18 inches in diameter.
Salmon Falls River: Closed to ice fishing.
Ice Fishing Season: (exception: Salmon Falls River) January 1 – March 31: All species except landlocked salmon.
Daily Bag Limits:
Length Limits:
License Requirements:
Fishing licenses issued to any person by either this State or New Hampshire shall be recognized when used on any lake or pond which is partly in both states of Maine and New Hampshire.
As a result of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over fishing on any pond or lake of greater than 10 acres with 50% or more of shoreline within Indian (Passamaquoddy and Penobscot) Territory and any section of a river, brook, or stream both sides of which are in Indian Territory or one side of which is in Indian Territory for a continuous length of 1/2 mile or more. The Commission has adopted the following ice fishing rules which affect inland waters within Indian Territory.
Passamaquoddy Territory
Franklin County
Lowelltown
Big Indian Pond, Clear Pond, Elaine Pond, Little Indian Pond, Trout Pond, and Twin Island Pond: Closed to ice fishing.
Hancock County
T3 ND
Side Pistol Lake: Closed to ice fishing.
Lower Pistol Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
T4 ND
Kilman Pond, Middle Pistol Lake, and Upper Pistol Lake: Closed to ice fishing.
Middle Chain Lake and Upper Chain Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
Penobscot County
T5 R1 NBPP
Mill Privilege Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
Somerset County
Holeb Township
(Big) Fish Pond, Little Fish Pond, and Grassy Pond: Closed to ice fishing.
Prentiss Township
Cape Horn Pond, Duncan Pond, Hall Pond, and Lower Welman Pond: Closed to ice fishing.
Duncan Pond and an unnamed inlet stream from Hall Pond: Closed to smelting in every even-numbered year. The daily bag limit on smelts is 1 quart.
Washington County
T5 ND BPP
Lower Chain Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
Sysladobsis Lake (Lower): Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
T19 MD BPP
Grassy Pond: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31. Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish.
Penobscot Territory
Franklin County
Alder Stream Township
Round Mountain Pond: Closed to ice fishing.
Snow Mountain Pond and Blanchard Pond are regulated by the Penobscot Nation and are closed to ice fishing.
Penobscot County
T2 & 3 R9 NWP
East Branch Lake: Open to ice fishing from January 1 - March 31, Daily bag limit on bass: 1 fish; minimum length limit on bass is 10 inches. All bass between 16 and 20 inches must be released alive at once.
Big Mattamiscontis Lake and Little Mattamiscontis Lake: Open to ice fishing for all fish except landlocked salmon, trout, togue, and bass from the time ice forms in the fall until December 31. Open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1 - March 31.
T6 R8 WELS
Mountain Catcher Pond: Closed to ice fishing.
First Lake Matagamon: Open to ice fishing from January 1 – March 31. S-5, S-15.
Rivers, Brooks, and Streams
All rivers, brooks and streams in Indian Territory are closed to ice fishing. These include all rivers, brooks, and streams:
Contacts
Anyone with questions about ice fishing in Indian Territory, should contact any of the following:
Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
PO Box 87
Hallowell, ME 04347
(207) 622-4815
Passamaquoddy Warden Service
Indian TWP
PO Box 446
Princeton, ME 04668
(207) 796-2677
or
Pleasant Point
PO Box 343
Perry, ME 04667
(207) 853-2551
Penobscot Nation
Dept. of Natural Resources
12 Wabanaki Way
Indian Island, ME 04468
(207) 827-7776
The ice traveler should look for bluish ice that is at least 4 to 6 inches thick, in order to support people and their gear. Even if the weather has been below freezing for several days, don't guess about ice thickness. Check ice in several places. Use an auger, spud, or axe to make a test hole, beginning at shore and continuing as you go out.
If ice at the shoreline is cracked or squishy, stay off. Don't go on the ice during thaws. Watch out for thin, clear or honeycomb-shaped ice. Dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.
Choose small bodies of water. Rivers and lakes are prone to wind and wave action, which can break up ice quickly. Avoid areas with currents, around bridges and pressure ridges.
In the wintertime, outdoor enthusiasts frequently need to know how thick the ice is and whether it is safe to walk across it.The American Pulpwood Association has published a handy reference chart that gives a good rule-of-thumb for ponds and lake ice thickness.
The chart below is for clear, blue ice on lakes. Reduce the strength values by 15% for clear blue river ice. Slush ice is only one-half the strength of blue ice. This table does not apply for parked loads.
"Wait for a long cold spell, then test the ice thoroughly.
Ice Thickness
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Permissible Load - Clear, Blue Lake Ice
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2 |
One person on foot |
3 |
Group of people walking single file |
7 1/2 |
Passenger car (2 ton gross) |
8 |
Light truck (2 1/2 ton gross) |
10 |
Medium truck (3 1/2 ton gross) |
12 |
Heavy truck ( 7 - 8 ton gross) |
15 |
Heavy truck ( 10 ton gross) |
20 |
25 tons |
25 |
45 tons |
30 |
70 tons |
36 |
110 tons |
What if I break through the ice?
If you break through the ice, don't panic.
- Don't try to climb out - you'll probably break the ice again.
- Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Roll to safety.
- To help someone who has fallen in, lie down flat and reach with a branch, plank, or rope; or form a human chain. Don't stand. After securing the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.
- The victim may need treatment for hypothermia (cold exposure), artificial respiration or CPR
"If your feet are cold, put on your hat."
- That may seem odd, but it's good advice. Most of our body heat is lost through your head and neck. So wear a hat and cover your face and neck.
- Dress in layers. Wool, silk and certain synthetics are best; they'll keep you warm even if they're wet.
- Insulated, waterproof boots, gloves and a windbreaker are very important. Take extra clothing.
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