Fishing Report For Cobbosseecontee Lake, ME

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

This lake is known for both smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing, with most of the bigger fish being largemouths. Considered one of the best bass fishing lakes in the state, it continues to uphold that reputation.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 30's, and bass can be found on the bottom, or suspending from 15 to 30 feet deep, occasionally shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Anglers seldom fish for bass during ice season, and focus on other species. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, and finesse worms are often the key to getting bites, for those who do target bass while ice fishing.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 10 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 12 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 8 to 15 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing around mid-lake humps and weedlines.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 10 to 15 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 to 20 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Pike fishing is quite popular here. The action is not always fast and furious, but dedicated anglers catch a few of these toothy critters that exceed the minimum length of 28 inches. Bright colors, whites, flashy lures and spoons all appeal to these predators. Alternate between baits until you identify which one triggers the most bites for the day.

WINTER. Pike remain active in Winter, often congregating in or near remaining weedbeds, especially along the edges. Other structure options include long points, reefs, ledge drop-offs, and rocky humps, ideally nearby deeper water. Ice fishing for northerns last winter was quite good, with some big northerns caught on spoons and baited jigs. With ice season just starting, look for them in 10 to 15 feet of water. They are being caught using baited tip-ups, keeping the bait around 4 feet above the bottom. The ice fishing season was good here last winter, and should be again this year. At times, when oxygen is depleted in deeper water, northerns suspend directly under the ice, where maximum oxygen is available. Other times they hold on structure in deeper water.

SPRING. Once the ice melts, anglers report catching northern pike in the shallows on flashy lures. For many decades the Johnson Spoon has been a deadly bait for northerns, especially when tipped with a white, or bright colored trailer. Jerkbaits, big spinners, swimbaits all catch northerns here. As the water warms, noisy topwater baits like the Whopper Flopper are a good choice. Once water temperatures reach around 40 degrees, they move into even shallower areas with vegetation, to spawn. Ideal depths range from 4 to 10 feet. Big pike stage on points, shallow flats and inside coves. Shallow areas around the islands and along shallow, weedy shorelines, have been good places to catch northern pike. After spawning they linger in the shallow bays for a short period. Once water temperatures rise into the 50's, they move to deeper weedbeds and shallow structures 4 to 12 feet deep, adjacent to even deeper water.

SUMMER. Northern pike scatter all around the lake, rather than gather in groups. This makes them difficult to locate. During the day they are holding shallow around weed beds in 8 to 10 feet of water, or up to 15 feet deep on ledges, reefs, rock piles, islands and channel edges. Some of the larger specimens are suspending in open water, just outside shallow feeding areas. Trolling or drift fishing produces some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners, cut bait, and deep diving crankbaits. Early and late in the day, they move shallow to feed and can be caught around most weedy shorelines, in 4 to 8 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, noisy topwater lures, and Johnson spoons with curly-tail grubs, catch nice pike when they are shallow.

FALL. As the weather starts turning cold, water temperatures cool fastest in the shallows. This brings schools of shad into shallower water, and northerns follow this food source. They hang around weedbed edges, main-lake points, reefs, and rocky shorelines to ambush prey in 8 to 15 feet of water. This is a prime feeding time, as they prepare for winter. It is also a good time to catch a trophy pike.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

, and then again in Summer when they move into the warmer shallows. Fat yellow perch here feed on small fish and invertebrates. Minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers worked well ice fishing, and these baits will continue to work now that the ice is gone. Small swimbaits, underspins and jigs tend to work all through the warm season. Anglers are now catching them in 4 to 10 feet of water, around any type of vegetation. As Summer warms the water, they will move deeper, and can be found 20 feet deep, or deeper.

WINTER. ICE The cold of winter has driven perch in search of food and stable water conditions. The best time to catch perch here is in Winter through the ice, which has started off very good this year. They are currently being caught while ice fishing in 10 to 20 feet of water, especially on the north end of the lake. Mid-depth flats with good drop offs are ideal Winter holding spots. Later in Winter, shallow perch are typically caught when they are feeding in weedy areas on flats, in 8 to 12 of water. Other schools suspend 20 to 30 feet deep, over deeper structure changes. Fishing for them in Winter is good using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. These baits work now while ice fishing, and will continue to work once the ice is gone.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Anglers will begin to catch them in 4 to 10 feet of water using spinners, small spinnerbaits, underspins, minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers. Docks, weed lines, drop offs all attract yellow perch searching for a meal. They spawn in 4 to 6 feet of water. Later in Spring, they migrate back to deeper water to feed. Areas with submerged vegetation and weedline edges have historically delivered great stringers of perch.

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 15 to 20 feet of water. In early Summer, plus the first and last hours of the day, seek them out in feeding zones, 4 to 10 feet deep. Drop-offs, standing timber, lay-down trees, shallow weed lines, and in areas with submerged vegetation, are key feeding spots. Later in Summer, perch drop into 15 to 20 feet of water.

FALL. Early Fall finds yellow perch feeding in 10 to 20 feet of water. Later in the Fall, they begin migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper sections, around the edges of weedbeds, drop offs along flats, channel edges, rock piles and humps. In late Fall focus on 15 to 25 feet deep cover in sheltered bays and coves. Minnows, spinners, spoons and small jigs are ideal this time of year.