Hardwater anglers enjoyed a long season across northern New England last winter. Cold temperatures took hold early with most trout lakes offering safe ice on opening day. Severe cold, some of the coldest on record, arrived in mid-January and lasted through February, providing ice and good fishing conditions until the end of March, making the 2004 ice-fishing season one of the longest in memory.

The million-dollar question is: What will this season bring? The eternal unknown is: Who knows? Anything can happen (early ice, or no ice at all), but whenever conditions allow, we head for the lake.

It is now February, however, and if history is any indicator, it is a good bet that our best trout lakes have allowed access for at least a couple of weeks, perhaps longer in some instances. Except for portions of our biggest lakes, they most always do.

While predicting an unusually lengthy season like last year would be sticking your neck out, ice-fishermen across the rooftop of New England should expect at least two solid months of good fishing in 2005.

There are other reasons to be optimistic. Fisheries departments are continuing or increasing their fall stocking efforts, which means more and larger trout will be available for the winter season. In some cases, bag limits have been increased. All in all, things look pretty good as the peak of 2005 season gets underway. With that in mind, here are some waters that consistently make winter angling news each year.

MAINE

Kennebunk Pond

While the largest lakes in Maine typically get most of the press due to their size, quantity and variety of trout species, the truth is that some of the state’s smaller waters offer worthwhile winter angling. On average, the fish may not be as large, although some do produce a few lunkers from time to time, and because of their size, the numbers of fish may not be as great and the fishery may be dependent upon stocking. Nonetheless, they are definitely worthy of mention.

One prime example is Kennebunk Pond in the town of Lyman in York County. Covering 224 acres, this pond is well developed, as most southern Maine waters are these days, and it is stocked annually with 400 to 500 brown trout, with some going in during October or November in anticipation of the winter season. Brook trout, and some rainbows when they are available, are also stocked.

While Kennebunk Pond is dependent upon the hatchery truck to sustain its trout fishery, it consistently produces some of the best winter ice- fishing in the county. In the 1990s, landlocked alewives were stocked as a forage base, and since then fish in the 1- and 2-pound class are considered common and 5-pound fish are just average. The deepest water runs from about the middle of the lake toward the east end, but some of the most popular fishing areas during the winter season are from the center of the lake toward the west end in 20 to 30 feet of water. Getting on the pond’s east end where there is public access and limited parking is easy from Route 111, which runs between Biddeford and Sanford, via the Kennebunk Pond Road.

For information on lodges and services in the area, contact the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce at (207) 282-1567, or visit the agency’s Web site at www.biddefordsacochamber.org. Also, try the Sanford Chamber of Commerce at (207) 324-4280, or visit them at www.sanfordchamber.org.

More Super Browns

If you’re in the market for some lake trout through the ice, Hancock Pond in Denmark will produce a few good lunkers, but three other waters in southern Maine have to be mentioned. One is Square Pond in Acton. The winter fishing here can be a bit tedious at times, and though only about 500 browns are stocked annually, when you hook into a fish, it just might be a something to write home about. Back in 1991, a 32-inch, 15-pound specimen was taken there and in 1996, the pond gave up a whopping 32-inch, 29-pound, 8-ounce specimen that became the state record for the species. Both fish were taken through the ice!

Access to the pond is possible from Route 11/109 west of Sanford via Square Pond Road and West Shore Road. Lodging is limited in the area, and Sanford is the closest major population center with services.

Another lake that has been giving up some decent browns in the 14- to 20-inch range, as well as some lunkers, is Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro. Much of the fishing takes place in the main basin, although fish are also caught in the narrows as well.