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Maine · Fishing
Poland, Maine sits in the Oxford Hills region and offers a quiet, unhurried kind of fishing built around ponds and bogs rather than big rivers.
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Poland, Maine sits in the Oxford Hills region and offers a quiet, unhurried kind of fishing built around ponds and bogs rather than big rivers. The four fishable waters here — Estes Bog, Worthley Pond, Shaker Bog, and Tripp Pond — are all lake and pond fisheries, which means you're looking at bass, perch, pickerel, and likely some stocked trout depending on the season and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife management for each body of water. Worthley Pond is the largest of the group and tends to draw the most attention, with enough depth to hold fish through summer. The bogs, Estes and Shaker, fish differently than the open ponds — expect shallower, darker water with more vegetation, which suits largemouth bass and pickerel well but requires a different approach than casting open water. Tripp Pond rounds out the options with a more classic Maine pond character. None of these waters require a long hike or technical access, making Poland a reasonable destination if you want productive stillwater fishing without a lot of logistics. A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older, and current regulations from IF&W should be checked before you go since rules can vary by water body and season.
All four waters here are classified as lake and pond fisheries, so your most likely targets are largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch. Worthley Pond may also hold trout depending on current stocking by Maine IF&W — check their online stocking reports before your trip to confirm what's been put in and when.
Shore access varies by location. Worthley Pond and Tripp Pond have public access points that allow shore fishing, though a canoe, kayak, or small motorboat opens up significantly more water. Estes Bog and Shaker Bog are shallower and more vegetation-heavy, where a kayak or canoe is genuinely useful for working the edges and pockets where fish hold.
Estes Bog
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Worthley Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Shaker Bog
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Tripp Pond
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Raymond Pond
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Nubble Pond
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Whitney Pond
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Thomas Pond
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Saturday Pond
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Bay of Naples
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
The Basin
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Tarkill Pond
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Late May through June is generally the most productive window — water temperatures are comfortable, bass are moving shallow to spawn, and any spring trout stocking is still fresh. Early fall, September into October, is a close second as fish feed aggressively before winter. Midsummer midday fishing on the ponds slows down; early morning and evening hours are more reliable then.
A medium-light spinning setup handles most situations across these waters. For the bogs, bring weedless rigs or Texas-rigged soft plastics since Estes and Shaker have heavy vegetation. On Worthley Pond and Tripp Pond, you have more flexibility — crankbaits, spinners, and live bait all work depending on the season. Polarized sunglasses help you read the shallower bog water.
Yes, a Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older. You can purchase one online through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website, at most local sporting goods stores, or through licensed agents in the area. Make sure to also check current regulations for each specific water body, as rules on things like bag limits or ice fishing can differ.
