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Home > Laws and Rules > Fishing > Open Water Fishing Laws and Rules > Franklin County

Franklin County

See general law fishing provisions.

Exceptions below - Special Rules (S-Codes) are listed at the bottom of this page.

Unless otherwise noted below, the daily bag limit on brook trout is 2 fish on lakes and ponds.

Alder and Little Alder Streams and their tributaries, Alder Stream Township. S-26.

Alder Stream and its tributaries, Jim Pond Township. S-5.

Arnold Pond, Coburn, Gore. S-5, S-17.

Ballard Pond, Farmington, Temple. S-24.

Barnard Pond, Eustis. S-4, S-24.

Beal (Trout) Pond, Madrid. S-5, S-17, S-24.

Beattie Pond, Beattie, Lowelltown Township. S-5, S-16.

Beaver Mountain Lake (Long Pond), Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-17.

Beaver Pond, Seven Ponds Township. S-5.

Beaver Pond and tributaries, Township D. S-4, S-24.

Bemis Stream and tributaries, Rangeley Plantation, Township D. From the headwaters downstream to the red posts on Mooselookmeguntic Lake: S-5, S-17. From August 16 to September 30: S-27.

Blanchard Pond, Alder Stream Township. S-26.

Blanchard Ponds, Davis Township, Lang Township. S-5.

Boundary Pond, Beattie Township. S-4, S-24.

Boundary Pond, South, T3 R6. S-5.

Bug Eye Pond, Kibby Township, Chain of Ponds Township. S-6, S-8, S-24.

Butler Pond, Kingfield. (See Somerset County).

Caribou Bog, Chain of Ponds Twp. S-5, S-24.

Caribou Pond, Mt. Abram Township. S-5.

Carrabassett River.

  • From its source in Carrabassett Valley downstream to Rt. 146 crossing: S-5, S-19. From October 1 to October 31: S-5, S-21.
  • From Rt. 146 crossing to its confluence with the Kennebec River in North Anson: S-19. From October 1 to October 31: S-6, S-21.
  • From its confluence with the West Branch of the Carrabassett to Rt. 146 crossing: Children 16 years of age and under may fish under S-4.

Cascade Stream (See Saddleback Stream).

Chase Pond, Jim Pond Township. S-4.

Clear Pond, Lowelltown Township. S-4, S-26.

Clearwater Pond, Farmington, etc. S-2, S-3, S-15.

Cow Pond, Lang Township, T2 R3. S-4.

Crosby Pond, Coburn Gore. S-5, S-17.

Crowell Pond, Chesterville, New Sharon. S-24.

Cupsuptic Lake, Adamstown, etc. S-2, S-3, S-4, S-17. Daily limit on landlocked salmon: 3 fish. Minimum length limit on landlocked salmon: 12 inches, only 1 may exceed 16 inches. That portion of Cupsuptic Lake at the mouth of the Kennebago and Rangeley rivers from red markers on outer boom piers to the confluence with the above rivers: S-27. Daily limit: 1 fish until August 15. From August 16 to September 30: S-27.

Day Mountain Pond, Avon. S-5, S-16.

Dead River, North Branch, Alder Stream Township. S-26.

Dead River, North Branch and tributaries. S-5.

Dead River, South Branch, from Route 16 bridge in Dallas Plantation to Langtown Mill Bridge: S-19, S-24.

Dodge Pond, Rangeley. S-4, S-17.

Drury Pond, Temple. S-24.

Dutton (Shiloh) Pond, Kingfield. (See Shiloh Pond).

Eddy Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Egypt Pond and tributaries, Vienna, etc. S-4, S-19.

Elaine Pond, Lowelltown Township. S-26.

Ethel Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4.

Farmers Brook. (See Varnum Pond).

Fellows Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Flagstaff Lake, Flagstaff Township, Bigelow Township, etc. S-24.

Flatiron Pond, Davis Township. S-5, S-17.

Gammon Pond, Freeman Township. S-24.

Grants Pond, Massachusetts Gore. S-5.

Greely Pond, Dallas Plantation. S-4.

Greely Pond, Little, Dallas Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Grindstone Pond and tributaries, Kingfield. S-4, S-24.

Gull Pond, Dallas Plantation. S-4, S-24. Pond and tributaries: S-1.

Haley Pond, Rangeley, etc. S-4, S-24. Motorboats over 6 horsepower prohibited.

Haley Pond Outlet, Rangeley. S-1, S-4, S-11.

Halfmoon Pond, Carthage. S-24.

Hammond Pond, Little, Carrabassett Valley. S-5, S-17.

Harvey Pond, Madrid. S-4, S-24.

Hathan Bogs, Coburn Gore. S-5.

Hid Pond, Kingfield. S-5, S-17.

Hills Pond and tributaries and outlet to barrier dam, Perkins Township. S-4, S-24.

Horseshoe Pond, Coburn Gore. S-5.

Horseshoe Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Hurricane Pond, Kibby Township. S-6, S-17, S-24.

Huston Brook, including Huston Brook Pond, T3 R2 (Also Somerset County). S-5.

Indian Ponds, Big and Little, Lowelltown Township. S-26.

Island Pond, Big, Seven Ponds Township, T3 R5. S-5, S-17.

Island Pond, Little, Seven Ponds Township, T3 R5. S-5.

Jim Pond, Jim Pond Township, T1 R5. S-4.

Jim Pond, Little, Jim Pond Township. T1 R5. S-5, S-18. Open to fishing in October: S-5, S-27.

Johns Pond, T3 R3. S-5.

Kamankeag Pond, Davis Township. S-5.

Kennebago Lake, Big, Davis Township. Open to fishing from April 1 to October 31. S-5. Daily limit on trout: 5 fish; minimum length limit on trout: 6 inches, only 1 trout may exceed 12 inches. Tributaries closed except Kennebago River. (See separate listing below.)

Kennebago Lake, Little, Stetson Township. T3 R5. S-5, S-17. Motorboats prohibited.

Kennebago River, Seven Ponds, etc.

  • From Big Island Pond downstream to Cupsuptic Lake: S-5, S-17, S-22; all tributaries closed. From August 16 to September 30: S-27.
  • The Logans, so called, from upper (Mahaney) dam upstream to red markers: Open to fishing April 1 to September 30: S-5, daily limit on trout: 5 fish; minimum length limit on trout: 6 inches, only 1 may exceed 12 inches.
  • From lower (Kennebago Falls) Dam downstream to Cupsuptic Lake: S-1.
  • That section of river in Lower Cupsuptic Township. known as the spawning beds approximately 200 yards long between red markers: Closed to fishing after September 15.

Kibby Stream and tributaries, Kibby Twp. S-5.

Kimball Pond and tributaries, New Sharon, Vienna. (See Kennebec County).

L Pond, Seven Ponds Township. S-5, S-17.

Ledge Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Locke Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Long Cove Pond and tributary and outlet to barrier dam, Phillips. S-4.

Long Pond, Seven Ponds Township. S-5, S-17.

Long Pond, Townships D and E. S-4. Motorboats over 10 horsepower prohibited.

Long Pond, Sandy River Plantation. (See Beaver Mountain Lake).

Long Pond Stream, tributary to Rangeley Lake. Closed to fishing.

Loon Lake, Rangeley, Dallas Plantation. S-4, S-24. Motorboats prohibited.

Lufkin Pond, Phillips. S-24.

Massachusetts Bog, Massachusetts Gore. S-5.

McIntire Pond, New Sharon. S-5, S-18. Open to fishing in October: S-5, S-27.

Midway Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Rangeley. S-2, S-3, S-4, S-17. Daily limit on landlocked salmon: 3 fish. Minimum length limit on landlocked salmon: 12 inches, only 1 may exceed 16 inches.

Mount Blue Pond, Avon. S-2, S-3, S-13, S-16, S-24. Motorboats with internal combustion engines prohibited.

Mountain Pond, Rangeley Plantation. S-5, S-16.

Moxie Pond, Township D. S-5, S-24.

Mud Pond, Township 6 North of Weld. S-6, S-24.

Mud Pond, Tim Pond Township (T2 R4). (See Tim Pond).

Mud Pond, Coburn Gore. S-5.

Mud Pond, Jim Pond Township. S-4.

Norcross Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

North Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Northwest Pond, Massachusetts Gore (T3 R6). S-5.

Northwest Pond, Little, Massachusetts Gore (T3 R6). S-5.

Otter Pond, Chain of Ponds. S-4, S-24.

Parker Pond (Mirror Lake), Jay. S-24.

Parker Pond, Chesterville, etc. (See Kennebec County).

Pease Pond, Wilton. S-24.

Perry Pond, Sandy River Plt. S-4, S-24.

Pinnacle Pond, Kingfield. S-4, S-11, S-24.

Podunk Pond, Carthage. S-4, S-24.

Porter Lake, Strong and New Vineyard. S-2, S-3, S-13, S-15, S-22.

Quill Pond, Dallas Plt. S-4.

Quimby Pond, Rangeley. S-5, S-17. Closed for 20,000 square feet around the Wilbur Spring. Motorboats prohibited.

Rangeley Lake, Rangeley. S-2, S-3, S-4, S-17, S-22.

Rangeley River, Rangeley. S-1. That portion of Rangeley Lake and Rangeley River from two red posts set about 300 feet above the fish screen downstream to the confluence of the Rangeley and Kennebago Rivers: S-5; daily limit: 1 fish. From downstream side of dam on outlet of Rangeley Lake to the confluence of the Rangeley and Kennebago River: Open to fishing in October: S-5, S-27.

Rapid Stream, Kingfield, etc. S-5.

Redington Pond, Redington Township. S-5, S-17.

Rock Pond, Chain of Ponds Township. S-5, S-17.

Rock Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Ross Pond, Rangeley. S-5.

Round Mountain Pond, Alder Stream Township. S-26.

Round Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Round Pond, Rangeley. S-5, S-24.

Round Pond, Township E. S-5, S-24.

Sabbath Day Pond, Township E. S-5, S-16.

Saddleback (Cascade) Stream and tributaries, Sandy River Plantation. From confluence with Long Pond Stream upstream to its junction with the outlets of Midway and Eddy Ponds: S-5.

Saddleback Lake, Dallas Plantation. S-6, S-24. Motorboats prohibited.

Saddleback Pond, Sandy River Plt. S-4, S-24.

Sand Pond, Chesterville. S-24.

Sandy River, Madrid, Philips, Strong, etc. S-13, S-19. Maximum length limit on landlocked salmon and brown trout: 25 inches.

  • From its origin at the outlet of the Sandy River Ponds to the upper (Route 142) bridge in Phillips: S-6.
  • From the upper (Route 142) bridge in Phillips, downstream to its confluence with the Kennebec River, Starks and Norridgewock: Open to fishing in October: S-6, S-21.

Sandy River Ponds, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Schoolhouse Pond, Avon. S-6, S-16, S-24.

Secret Pond, Seven Ponds Township. S-5.

Shiloh (Dutton) Pond, Kingfield. S-5, S-24.

Snow Mountain Pond, Alder Stream Township. S-26.

South Bog Stream, Rangeley Plantation. From the headwaters downstream to the red markers on Rangeley Lake: S-5, S-17. From August 16 to September 30: S-5, S-27.

South (Pine Tree) Pond, Sandy River Plantation. S-4, S-24.

Spencer Pond, Township D. S-5, S-24.

Staples Pond, Temple. S-24.

Stetson Pond, Phillips. S-4, S-24.

Swift River Pond, Township E. S-6, S-17, S-24.

Swift River Pond, Little, Township E. S-6, S-17.

Tea Pond, Jim Pond Township. S-2, S-3, S-4, S-17, S-24. No size or bag limit on togue.

Tea Pond, Little, Jim Pond Township. S-5, S-8. Open to fishing in October: S-5, S-27.

The Horns Pond, Wyman Township. S-24.

Tim Brook, Eustis. S-5.

Tim Pond and Mud Pond, Tim Pond Township. S-5. Tributaries closed to all fishing.

Toothaker Pond, Phillips. S-4, S-24.

Trout Pond, Lowelltown Township. S-26.

Tufts Pond, Kingfield. S-1, S-3, S-6, S-17, S-24.

Tumbledown Pond, Township 6 north of Weld. S-4, S-24.

Twin Island Pond, Lowelltown Township. S-26.

Varnum Pond, Wilton and Temple. S-4, S-15. Farmer’s Brook: S-1.

Walton’s Mill Pond, Farmington. Motorboats prohibited.

Webb (Weld) Lake, Weld. S-1, S-3, S-24.

Welhern (Wethern) Pond, Eustis. S-24.

Wilson Pond, Wilton. S-2, S-3, S-15.

Wilson Stream, Wilton. From the first bridge downstream of Wilson Lake, including the canal, to the third (Route 156) bridge downstream of Wilson Lake: S-11.

Special Regulations (S-Codes)

Waters that have exceptions to the general law are listed by county. In most cases, the exception will be one of the codes listed below and may affect only a portion of the regulations that govern that particular body of water, i.e. only the bag limit on salmon is different from the general law in which case it would read as follows: Smith Pond, Anytown. S-22. All other provisions of general law would apply.

S-1: Closed to the taking of smelts.

S-2: Closed to the taking of smelts, except by hook and line.

S-3: Tributaries closed to the taking of smelts.

S-4: Use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited. (The use of dead fish, salmon eggs, worms are permitted.

S-5: Fly fishing only.

S-6: Artificial lures only.

S-7: Boundary waters with New Brunswick.

S-8: All trout less than 6 inches and longer than 12 inches must be released alive at once.

S-9: Border waters with New Hampshire.

S-10: Daily bag limit on togue: 1 fish.

S-11: Fishing restricted to persons under 16years of age; daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish.

S-12: No longer used.

S-13: No size or bag limit on bass.

S-14: No bag limit on pickerel. From July 1-September 30, artificial lures only and minimum length limit on trout: 8 inches.

S-15: Daily bag limit on togue: 3 fish; minimum length limit on togue: 14 inches, only one may exceed 18 inches.

S-16: Daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 12 inches, only 1 may exceed 14 inches.

S-17: Daily bag limit on trout: 2 fish; minimum length limit: 10 inches, only 1 may exceed 12 inches.

S-18: Daily bag limit on trout: 1 fish, minimum length limit 18 inches.

S-19: Daily bag 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 bag limit on salmon: 1 fish.

S-23: No longer used.

S-24: Extended Season - Remains open to fishing from October 1 - December 31; artificial lures only; all trout, salmon, and togue must be released alive at once.

S-25: Daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish; all bass between 13 and 18 inches must be released alive at once.

S-26: Indian Territory Regulations.

S-27: All fish caught must be released alive at once.

S-28: Togue do not count towards the 5 trout and salmon, in combination, daily aggregate bag limit.