Frosty Fishing Forecast: Maine's Coastal Catches and Inland Hotspots for Winter Anglers

Today, January 26, 2025, the fishing scene in Maine's coastal waters is looking promising, despite the cold winter conditions.

### Tidal Report
For those planning to head out, here are the tide times for Bar Harbor, which should give you a good idea of the tidal movements in the area. Today, you can expect a low tide at 1:47 AM with a height of 1.98 ft, followed by a high tide at 8:01 AM with a height of 10.35 ft. The next low tide will be at 2:31 PM with a height of 0.71 ft, and the final high tide of the day will be at 8:41 PM with a height of 9.2 ft[5].

### Weather
The forecast is calling for a frosty but favorable day, perfect for ice fishing on the larger lakes, but for coastal fishing, you'll need to bundle up. Expect clear skies with a crisp wind, making the conditions ideal for spotting fish activity.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at 6:57 AM, and sunset will be at 4:34 PM, giving you ample daylight to get out on the water.

### Fish Activity
Yesterday saw a good bite in several areas. In the Kennebec River and Merrymeeting Bay region, smelt camps were active, and anglers reported finding smelt in larger portions of the river. This has been attracting a variety of fish, including salmonoids[1].

### Types of Fish and Catches
Anglers have been targeting trout, salmon, and even some large pickerel. On Sebago Lake, areas like The Station and Raymond Beach have started to freeze over, but the open waters are still yielding 34-40” togue (lake trout) close to shore. Smelt fished tight to the bottom have been accounting for a solid salmon and laker bite[1].

### Best Lures and Bait
For targeting white perch and lake trout, Tim Moore recommends using 3-pound fluorocarbon and white Clam blade spoons. For those after salmonoids, smelt fished tight to the bottom are highly effective. If you're looking to catch pike, setting traps with suckers near shoal water can be very productive[1].

### Hot Spots
- **Sebago Lake**: Areas like The Station and Raymond Beach are good spots as the ice begins to form, but you can still catch fish close to shore.
- **Kennebec River/Merrymeeting Bay**: The smelt camps here are active, and this is a great place to find salmonoids.
- **Thomas Pond, Crescent Lake, Highland Lake, and Chaffin Pond**: These smaller water bodies are stocked with brook trout and other warm water species, making them excellent alternatives if you prefer smaller, more manageable waters[1].

Overall, it's a great time to get out and enjoy the winter fishing in Maine's coastal and inland waters. Just make sure to dress warmly and be prepared for the cold conditions.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI