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

Washington County

See general law fishing provisions.

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

County-Wide Specials:

On all waters, In Washington County, except West Grand, East Grand, Spednic, Cathance and Nash Lakes, the maximum length limit on landlocked salmon and brown trout: 25 inches.

See Boundary Waters with New Brunswick.

Ackley Pond, Cutler. S-24.

Baker Brook, T28 MD, T29 MD. S-14. (Also Hancock County).

Barren Pond, T24 MDBPP. S-24.

Barrows Lake, Alexander. S-24.

Baskahegan Lake, Brookton Township, etc. S-20, S-24.

Bearse Lake, Meddybemps, Baring. S-24. Outboard motors are prohibited.

Beaver Dam Lakes (North and South), T26 EDBPP. S-24.

Beaver Dam Stream, T26 EDBPP, Wesley. S-14.

Beaver Lake, Calais. S-24.

Beddington Lake, Beddington. S-24.

Berry Patch (Unnamed) Pond, T31 MD. S-19, S-24.

Big Lake, No. 21 Township, T27 EDBPP. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Bog Brook Flowage, Deblois. S-24.

Bog Lake, Northfield. S-24.

Bog Lake, Marion Twp. S-4, S-19.

Bonney Brook Lake, Grand Lake Stream Plantation. S-24.

Bowles Lake, T31 MDBPP. S-24.

Boyden Lake, Perry, Robbinston. S-2, S-3, S-24,

S-25.

Cathance Lake and all tributaries, No. 14 Township, etc. S-13, S-17, S-24.

Cathance Lake, Little, No.14 Township. S-13, S-24.

Cathance Stream, No.14 Township, Edmunds, Marion Township. S-14.

Chain Lake, Lower, T5 NDBPP. S-26.

Chain Lakes, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, T26 EDBPP. S-24.

Chain Lakes Stream, T31 MD. S-13, S-19. From the Route 9 bridge to its confl uence with Old Stream: S-6, S-13, S-19.

Chalk Pond, Beddington. S-24. (Also Hancock County).

Chases Mill Stream, East Machias. S-14.

Clifford Lake, T26 and 27 EDBPR. S-20, S-24.

Coleback Lake and tributaries and outlet down to barrier dam, Charlotte. S-4, S-16.

Conic Lake, Baring Plantation. S-24.

Cranberry Lake, Lower, T30 and 36 MDBPP. S-24.

Cranberry Lake, Upper, T30 MDBPP. S-24.

Crawford Lake, Crawford. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Crooked Brook Flowage, Danforth. S-24.

Crooked Brook Lake, Forest Township. S-24.

Crooked River and tributaries, T30 MD.

  • From headwaters down to bridge at Champion 48-000 road: S-6, S-19.
  • From the bridge at Champion 48-000 road downstream to the confl uence with the Machias River: S-14.

Dennys River. S-13, S-14. That portion of the Dennys River in the town of Dennysville and Plantation 14 from a red painted marker approximately 100 feet upriver from the mouth of Batson Meadow Spring to a red painted marker approximately 100 feet downriver from Batson Meadow Spring: closed to all fishing.

Drake Lake, Forest Township. S-20, S-24.

Farrow Lake, Topsfield. S-2, S-3, S-10, S-17, S-22.

Fifth Lake Stream and tributaries. (See Hancock County).

Flood Lake, Talmadge. S-6, S-17.

Flood Lake, Upper, Talmadge. S-6, S-21.

Fulton Lake, Northfield. S-24.

Gardner Lake, East Machias. S-24.

Getchell Pugs, T43 MDBPP. S-6. All bass must be released alive at once. S-24.

Goulding Lake, Robbinston. S-24.

Grand Falls Flowage, Indian Township, Princeton, etc. S-20, S-24, S-25. For that portion of the flowage east of a line at McAlister’s Point, see Boundary Waters Between Maine and New Brunswick.

Grand Lake, East, Danforth, Weston. S-7.

Grand Lake Stream, Grand Lake Stream Plantation, etc. S-5 from April 1 to October 20, including that portion of the stream adjacent to the hatchery pools. Closed to all fishing within 150 feet of Grand Lake Stream dam. From April 1 to August 15: S-19, S-22. From October to 20: S-27.

Grand Lake, West, T6 NDBPP, etc. S-25. Daily bag limit on whitefish: 8 fish. From October 1 to October 20: S-6, S-27.

Grassy Pond, T19 MBPP. S-26.

Greenland Cove Brook, Danforth. S-1.

Greenland Pond, Big, Danforth. S-24.

Greenland Pond, Little, Danforth. S-19, S-24.

Grover Lake, T31 MDBPR. S-24.

Hadley Lake, East Machias. S-24.

Hobart Lake, Edmunds Township. S-19.

Hot Brook Lakes, Lower and Upper, T8R4 NBPP, Danforth. S-20. All bass caught must be released alive at once. S-24.

Hound Brook Lake, Dyer Township. S-24.

Howard Lake, Calais. S-16.

Indian Lake, Whiting. S-13. From October 1 to October 31: S-6, all fish caught except for bass must be released alive at once.

Jackson Brook Lake, Forest Township. S-20, S-24.

James Pond, Charlotte. S-24.

Josh Pond, Whiting. S-24.

Keeley Lake, Marshfield. S-24.

Keene’s Lake, Calais. S-2, S-3, S-19, S-24.

Knox Lake, T36 MD. S-24.

LaCoute Lake, Vanceboro. S-24.

Lambert Lake, T11 R3 NBPP. S-24.

Ledge (Bald Ledge) Pond, Charlotte. S-4, S-17, S-24.

Lewy Lake, Princeton, Indian Township, etc. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Lily Lake, T30 MDBPP. S-24.

Lily Lake, Trescott Township. S-4, S-19, S-24.

Little River (Eastern River), Centerville, Columbia Falls. S-14.

Little River Lake, T43 MDBPP. S-24.

Long Lake, Wesley, T19 EDBPP, etc. S-24.

Long Lake, Princeton, etc. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Long Lake, Marion Township. S-16.

Love Lake, T19 ED. S-24.

Machias Lake, Fifth, T36 MD. S-24.

Machias Lake, First and Second, T37 MDBPP. S-24.

Machias Lake, Third and Fourth, T5 ND, T42 & T43 MDBPP, etc. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Machias River, from outlet of Fourth Machias Lake to tidewater: S-14.

Machias River, East, from outlet of Crawford Lake, Crawford to tidewater: S-14.

Machias River, West Branch, T30 MDBPP, T36MDBPP. S-14.

Maine River and tributaries, Alexander, etc. S-20. All largemouth bass between 14 and 20 inches must be released alive at once; only 1 largemouth bass may exceed 20 inches.

Marks Lake, First, Marshfield. S-24.

Meddybemps Lake, Meddybemps, Alexander, etc. S-13, S-20, S-24.

Meyers Pond, North, Columbia. S-11.

Meyers Pond, South, Columbia. S-11.

Middle River, Marshfield, Machias. The portion from the bridge on the Marshfield Road downstream to tidewater is restricted to fishing by children under 16 years of age; however, persons age 16 and older can fish minnow traps to catch live bait.

Moneymaker Lake, Robbinston. S-17.

Monroe Lake, T43 MDBPP. S-4, S-24.

Monroe Pond, East, T43 MDBPP. S-4, S-19. Closed to fishing in odd-numbered years.

Monroe Pond, West, T43 MDBPP. S-4, S-19. Closed to fishing in even-numbered years.

Montegail Pond, T19 MD. S-19.

Mopang Lake, Devereaux Township. S-16, S-24.

Mopang Lake, First, Devereaux Township. S-24.

Mopang Stream, T19 MD, T24 MD, T25 MD, T30MD. S-14.

Mud Lake, Upper and Lower, Alexander. S-20, S-24. All bass caught must be released alive at once.

Munson Lake, T18 and 19 EDBPP. S-24.

Musquash Lake, East, Topsfield. S-10, S-24.

Musquash Lake, West, T6R1 NBPR. S-17.

Narraguagus River.

1) From outlet of Deer Lake, T34 MD, & T35 MD, downstream to Route 193 bridge in Deblois: S-14.

2) Above Route 193 bridge in Deblois, taking of fish is prohibited except by use of a single hook on a line.

3) Closed to all fishing is that portion of the Narraguagus River from a red marker at the mouth of Sodom Brook in Deblois, downstream approximately 150 yards to a red marker.

4) Below Deblois bridge: S-5. No bag limit on pickerel, From July 1 to September 30, minimum length limit on trout: 8 inches.

5) See Schoodic Brook.

6) From 100 feet above the ice control dam and extending upriver approximately 1-3/4 miles to red markers situated on each side of the river: general law fishing, with single-pointed hook is permitted from May 1 to August 15; from August 16 to September 30, artificial lures with single pointed hook, total daily bag limit on landlocked salmon, trout and togue: 1 fish.

7) Closed to all fishing within 100 feet of the ice control dam in Cherryfield.

8) Closed to all fishing from the ice control dam to the railroad bridge in the town of Cherryfield, except from May 1 to June 10 a portion of river between two sets of red posts (at 100 feet below and 450 feet below the ice control dam) is open to fly fishing.

Nashs Lake, Calais. S-2, S-3, S-13.

New Stream downstream of Route 9, Wesley, Northfield. S-14.

Northern Stream, T18 EDBPP, T19 EDBPP.

Northern Stream, from outlet of Love Lake down to confluence with Rocky Lake Stream. S-13, S-14.

Old Stream and tributaries from Rt. 9 down to Guptill Rd., Wesley, T31 MD, T25 MD: S-6, S-13, S-19. From outlet of Second Old Stream Lake to Rt. 9 bridge, and from Guptill Rd. down to confluence with Machias River: S-13, S-14.

Orange Lake, Whiting. S-24.

Otter Lake, Wesley. S-24.

Oxbrook Lake, Upper and Lower, T6 R1 NBPP, T6 ND. Motorboats prohibited.

Patrick Lake, No. 14 Plt. S-24.

Patten Pond, Waite. S-24.

Peaked Mountain Pond, Centerville, etc. S-16, S-24.

Peep Lake, T30 MDBPP. S-4, S-17, S-24.

Penman Pond, T26 ED. S-24.

Pennamaquan Lake, Charlotte. S-24.

Pickerel Lake, T30 MDBPP. S-24.

Pickerel Pond, Topsfield. S-24.

Pickerel Pond, Little, Brookton Township. S-24.

Pike Brook Pond, East, T18 MDBPP. S-4, S-24.

Pike Brook Pond, West, T18 MDBPP. S-6, S-17, S-24.

Pineo Pond, Deblois. S-5, S-17, S-24. Pineo Pond shall be called a great pond.

Pleasant Lake, Alexander. S-2, S-3, S-24.

Pleasant Lake, T6 R1, T7 R2 NBPR. S-19. Closed to the taking of togue.

Pleasant River Lake, Beddington. S-1, S-3, S-13, S-16, S-24.

Pleasant River, Beddington, T24 MD, T18 MD, Columbia, Columbia Falls. S-13, S-14.

Pocomoonshine Lake, Princeton, etc. S-20, S-24, S-25.

Pocumcus Lake, T5 and 6 NDBPP. S-25. Daily bag limit on whitefish: 8 fish.

Pork Barrel Lake, T6 R1 NBPP. S-6, S-16.

Possum Pond, T26 EDBPP. S-24.

Pug Lake (Hosea), T26 EDBPP. S-16, S-24.

Pug (Silver Pug) Lake, T26 EDBPP. S-20, S-24. All bass must be released alive at once.

Pug Lake, T5 R1 NBPP. Daily bag limit on whitefish: 8 fish. From April 1 to June 20, daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish; All bass longer than 12 inches must be realeased; From June 21 to September 30, daily bag limit on bass: 2 fish between 10 and 12 inches, except that 1 may exceed 16 inches.

Rand Lake, Robbinston. S-24.

Roaring Lake, Whiting. S-24.

Rocky Lake, T18 EDBPR. S-24.

Rocky and Sunken Lakes, Whiting, Marion. S-21, S-24.

Round Lake, Charlotte. S-24.

Round Lake, T18 and 19 EDBPP. S-24.

Salmon Pond, T30 MDBPP. S-4, S-24.

Sam Hill Lake, T31 MDBPP. S-24.

Schoodic Brook, Cherryfield. Closed from red post at its mouth to red post 1,000 feet upstream.

Schoodic Lake, Cherryfield. S-13, S-24.

Seavey Lake and Little Seavey Lake, Wesley. S-24.

Seavey Stream, Wesley, T19 EDBPP. S-14.

Second Lake Old Stream, T37 MD. S-18, S-24

Second (Gardner’s) Lake, Marion Township. S-24.

Second Lake, T18 EDBPR. S-24.

Shattuck Lake, Calais. S-6, S-16, S-24.

Shaw Lake, T6R1 NBPP. S-24.

Shorey Brook, Beddington. S-14.

Simon Pond, Codyville Plantation S-24.

Simpson Pond, Roque Bluffs. S-4, S-24. Motorboats prohibited.

Sinclair Brook, T29 MD. S-14.

Six Mile Lake, Marshfield. S-4, S-13, S-24.

Spectacle Lakes, T19 EDBPP. S-24.

Spednic Lake, Vanceboro. S-7.

Spruce Mountain Lake, Beddington. S-24.

St. Croix River, Baileyville, etc. S-7. (Also see Atlantic salmon regulations).

Sucker Lake, Danforth. S-24.

Sysladobsis (Lower) Lake, T5 NDBPP. (See Indian Territory regulations).

Third Lake Old Stream, T37 MD. S-18, S-24.

Tomah Lake, Forest Township. S-6, S-17, S-24.

Tomah Lake, Little, Topsfield, etc. S-24.

Trout Lake, T31 MDBPP. S-24.

Trout Lake, Kossuth Township. S-6, S-17.

Tunk Stream, T10 SD, Cherryfield, Steuben. (See Hancock County).

Unnamed Pond, Topsfield. S-4.

Unnamed Pond (Foxhole Pond) on headwaters of Great Falls Branch Brook, Deblois. S-11.

Vining Lake, Cooper. S-19, S-24.

Vose Pond, Calais. S-24.

Wabassus Lake, T5 and 6 NDBPP, T43 MDBPP. S-20, S-24. All bass must be released alive at once.

Western Lake, Robbinston. S-4.

Woodland Flowage, Baileyville. S-7, S-20.

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.