ICE FISHING REGULATIONS MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
284 State Street, Station 41
Augusta, ME 04333-0041
Once you have determined the location (town & county) of the body of water you will be fishing:

• 1) Find the appropriate county and read the instructions under the county heading to determine the meanings of the letter codes that follow the listed waters. ONCE YOU HAVE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, look for the water you wish to fish.
• 2) If the water is listed with a county abbreviation, (e.g. AK for Aroostook, KC for Kennebec), look at the special county rules at the end of the listing for regulations that apply specifically to that body of water, then check the General Laws/Regulations for provisions that were not affected by the Special Regulation.
• 3) If the water is listed with only an A or B and then the General Laws & Regulations apply.
• 4) If the water is listed with an A or B and an S-code, refer to the following table to see what Special Regulations apply to that body of water, then check the General Laws/Regulations for provisions that were not affected by the Special Regulation.

EXAMPLE: MOOSE POND, Bridgton. B, S-17, the water is closed until January 1 and then open to ice fishing for all fish from January 1-March 31 and General Law provisions apply except that the length limit on salmon is changed to 16 inches. Be sure to check the text before each county listing-each county's heading is different. Most brooks, streams and rivers are CLOSED to ice fishing. Any that ARE open will be so listed under the appropriate county heading.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS

• S-1: Closed to the taking of smelts.
• S-2: No longer used in book-general law permits the taking of smelts through the ice by hook & line only.
• S-3: Night fishing for smelts permitted; 3 hooks per line permitted, hooks to be not less that 4 inches apart.
• S-4: Use or possession of live fish as bait is prohibited.
• S-5: Smelts may be taken at night.
• S-6: Open to night fishing for smelts, yellow perch, and chubs.
• S-7: Boundary waters with New Brunswick: SEE BOUNDARY WATERS BETWEEN MAINE AND NEW BRUNSWICK
• S-8: Restricted to two lines per person.
• S-9: Border waters with New Hampshire.
• S-10: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish: minimum length: 12 inches, only 1 may exceed 14 inches.
• S-11: Two fish daily bag limit in the aggregate of salmon, trout, and togue.
• 2-12: No size or bag limit on bass and pickerel.
• S-13: No size or bag limit on bass.
• S-14: Open to the taking of cusk in the nighttime with 5 lines.
• S-15: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish: minimum length limit: 10 inches, only 1 may exceed 12 inches.
• S-16: Daily bag limit on brook trout: 2 fish: minimum length limit: 8 inches.
• S-17: Minimum length limit on salmon: 16 inches.
• S-18: Minimum length limit on togue: 16 inches.
• S-19: Daily limit on trout: 2 fish.
• S-20: Daily limit on whitefish: 3 inches.
• S-21: Minimum length limit on trout: 12 inches.
• S-22: Daily limit on salmon: 1 fish.
• S-23: Daily limit on togue: 1 fish.
• S-24: Minimum length limit on brook trout: 10 inches.

These special regulations may apply to waters in ANY county. Whenever any water is followed by one of the above, you must refer back to this table to determine which special regulations apply.

FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY

Trace amounts of dioxin have been detected in fish tissue in certain sections of the Penobscot, Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers. The Department of Human Services currently advises that "women of childbearing age still should not eat any fish from the Androscoggin River, the Kennebec River below Skowhegan and the Penobscot River below Lincoln. Furthermore, the general public should not eat more than one fish meal per month from the Androscoggin or more than two fish meals per month from those sections of the Kennebec River and Penobscot River. Mercury Contamination: Pregnant women, nursing mothers, women who may become pregnant, and children less than 8 years old, should not eat fish from lakes and ponds in the state. Other people should limit consumption of fish from these waters to 6-22 fish meals per year. People who eat large (old) fish should use the lower limit of 6 fish meals per year. People who limit themselves to eating smaller (younger) fish may use the upper limit of 22 fish meals per year.

GENERAL LENGTH, BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS
DAILY BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS FOR ICE FISHING SALMON---TROUT*---TOGUE

5 fish in the aggregate, not to include more than the following from all waters open to ice fishing:

Salmon	2
Togue	2
Brown Trout	2
Rainbow Trout	2
Brook Trout (incl. splake)	5*

*The term "trout" when used alone includes brook trout, rainbow trout, sunapee trout, blueback trout and splake.
The term "brook trout" also includes splake.
MINIMUM LENGTH LIMITS
SPECIES
Salmon LAKES & PONDS 14 inches BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 14 inches
Togue (Lake trout) LAKES & PONDS 18 inches BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 18 inches
Brown Trout LAKES & PONDS12 inches BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 6 inches
Rainbow Trout LAKES & PONDS12 inches BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 6 inches
Brook Trout (incl. splake) LAKES & PONDS6 inches* BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 6 inches
Bass LAKES & PONDS12 inches** BROOKS, RIVERS, STREAMS 12 inches**
Other species No length restrictions
EXCEPTIONS

On lakes and ponds in ANDROSCOGGIN, CUMBERLAND, KENNEBEC, KNOX, LINCOLN, OXFORD, SAGADAHOC, WALDO & YORK Counties: The daily bag limit on brook trout is 2 fish and the minimum length limit is 8 inches.
** In AROOSTOOK, HANCOCK, PISCATAQUIS AND WASHINGTON Counties: The minimum length limit on bass is 10 inches.
OTHER SPECIES

SPECIES
BASS* DAILY LIMIT 1
PICKEREL DAILY LIMIT 10
WHITEFISH DAILY LIMIT 8
SMELTS DAILY LIMIT 2 quarts
OTHER SPECIES DAILY LIMIT N/A
The term "bass" means bass or black bass, including largemouth and smallmouth.

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BAG LIMIT Any legal fish except baitfish and smelts, taken from inland waters shall be immediately released alive into the waters from which it was taken or shall be killed at once. Any fish killed becomes part of the daily bag limit.
WEIGHT LIMIT No person shall take, catch or kill in any one day or possess at any time from any or all inland waters more than 7 ½ pounds in the aggregate of salmon, trout and togue unless the last fish caught increases the combined weight to more than 7 ½ pounds. The daily bag and possession limits and minimum length limits on this page apply to waters that are open to ice fishing which DO NOT have special regulations stating otherwise.

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GENERAL LAWS & REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO ICE FISHING
Closed waters. All inland waters are closed to ice fishing except those which have been opened by rule.
Ten acre ponds. All ponds of ten acres or less formed on brooks, streams or rivers are governed by the same fishing rules which apply to the brook, stream or river on which the pond is situated, whether the pond is natural or artificial. (This does not apply to private ponds).
Possession limit. A person shall not possess at any time more fish than he may lawfully take in one day.
Minimum legal length. Minimum legal length is total length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the lobes of the tail squeezed together.
Special bag limit. Whenever any waters have a special bag limit, no person shall possess more than one day's bag limit taken from those waters.
County lines. Where county lines divide a body of water, the more liberal county rule shall apply to the entire body of water.
Five line restriction. Unless otherwise provided by rule, a person may fish through the ice with not more than 5 lines, all of which must be under the immediate supervision of the person who set them.
Illegal fishing. It is unlawful to fish other than by the use of the single baited hook and line, artificial flies, artificial lures and spinners, except that smelts may be taken in accordance with rules promulgated in regard to the taking of smelts. Use of a gaff is unlawful.
Night fishing. Ice fishing at night ( ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise) is prohibited except as provided by special rule.
Cusk Lines. All lines set at night for cusk must be visited at least once every hour by the person who set them.
Sale of certain fish prohibited. It is unlawful to by or sell, directly or indirectly, any landlocked salmon, trout, togue, black bass, white perch or pickerel.
Advance baiting. It is unlawful to deposit any meat, bones, dead fish or other food material for the purpose of luring fish.
Use of helicopter to transport fishermen. It is unlawful to use a helicopter to transport a fisherman or game fish to or from any pond under 10 acres in size or any beaver flowage.
Failure to label fish. It is unlawful to keep black bass, salmon, togue or trout at any sporting camp, hotel or public lodging place without attaching to the fish the name and address of the person who caught them.
Removal of heads and tails - species identification. It is unlawful to alter the length of salmon, trout, togue and black bass unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking. It is unlawful to possess or transport fish dressed in such a manner that the species of fish cannot be identified, unless the fish are being prepared for immediate cooking (smoking does not constitute cooking).
Marking fish. It is unlawful to tag, fin clip or otherwise mark any fish to be released alive into inland waters without expressed written consent from the Commissioner.
Illegal use of antifreeze. Adding substances containing ethylene glycol or other antifreeze agents to waters of this State is a violation of Title 38.
Litter. It is unlawful to dispose of litter (which includes abandoned ice fishing shacks) anywhere in this State except in areas or receptacles designed for that purpose. Convicted violators face fines up to $200 for the first offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses.
Notice of submerged vehicle. The owner of any motor vehicle which becomes submerged or partially submerged in the waters of the State, shall immediately notify the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the event and the location of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle shall be legally liable to remove such vehicle and pay any damages resulting from the submersion or removal. The vehicle shall be removed within 30 days (same day if public water supply).

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Laws Regarding Placement of Ice Fishing Shacks
It is illegal for any person who owns any shack or temporary structure used for ice fishing to place or allow the shack or structure to be placed on the ice of any inland water more than 3 days before the water is opened to ice fishing.
Any ice fishing shack left on property not owned by the person owning the structure without permission of the landowner for more than 15 days is considered abandoned and may be removed or destroyed by the landowner. The landowner may recover any costs incurred for removal or destruction of the shack through civil action.
All ice fishing shacks, while on the ice of any inland waters must be labeled on the outside in 2 inch letters with the name and address of the owner. Ice fishing shacks must be removed from the ice of inland waters within 3 days after those waters close to ice fishing. (This also applies on border waters with New Hampshire).

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Fishing derbies and Tournaments
A permit must be obtained prior to conducting a fishing derby or tournament. For detailed rules and laws, contact the Fisheries Division at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Station #41, Augusta, Maine 04333-0041 or call 207-287-5261.

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Laws Pertaining To Bait Dealers/Use of Live Bait

• A. Live bait restriction. It is unlawful for any person to take, sell, use or possess, either dead or alive, for use as bait for fishing in inland waters, any pickerel, goldfish, yellow perch, white perch, bass, sunfish, crappie, hornpout, carp, alewife or any spiny-finned fish.
• B. Importation of bait-fish prohibited. It is unlawful to import into this State any live baitfish or smelts.
• C. Bait Dealer's license. It is unlawful for any person to deal in live baitfish or live smelts without first obtaining a valid dealer's license. For further information, contact this Department. (NOTE: A person may take live baitfish for their own use, by the use of hook and line or bait trap only, if that person holds a valid fishing license.)
• D. Permit to take bait from closed waters. Any person (including licensed bait dealers) who wishes to take live baitfish from inland waters which are not currently open to fishing must first obtain a written permit from this department. There is no charge for this permit. (NOTE: No permit is required to take baitfish from inland waters during the open fishing season on those waters.)
• E. Checking baitfish traps. All baitfish traps must be checked at least once in every 3 calendar days by the person who set them.
• F. Bait traps to be marked. All bait traps and bait holding boxes must be marked with the name and address of the person who is taking or holding the bait.
• G. Marking holes. When using drop nets to fish through the ice for baitfish/smelts, all holes made in the ice MUST BE MARKED by suspending at least 1 strand of fluorescent biodegradable tape at least 3 feet above the ice around the entire perimeter of the hole so that the tape is visible from all sides.

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TIPS FOR CATCHING AND RELEASING FISH
By carefully following these simple instructions, you can release your fish unharmed.
One good way to aid you in releasing your fish quickly is to use barbless hooks in the first place - or bend the barbs over as shown - or simply file them off!

• 1. Time is of the essence. Play and release the fish as quickly and carefully as possible. An exhausted fish may be too weak to recover.
• 2. Keep the fish in the water as much as you can. A fish out of water is not only suffocating, but may also be subjected to a "quick freeze".
• 3. Be gentle. Keep your fingers away from the gills. Don't squeeze the fish.
• 4. Remove the hook with small pliers or a similar type tool - If the hook is deeply embedded or in a sensitive area such as the gills or stomach, cut the leader close to the snout. Make an effort to usse regular steel hooks to promote early disintegration. Do not use stainless or gold-plated hooks.
• 5. Lake trout (togue) often have expanded air bladders after being pulled up rapidly from deep water. If the belly appears expanded, release the fish from the hook first, then gently press syour thumb along the stomach near the paired belly fins and move it forward a few times to remove air from the bladder. Finally, proceed to revive and free the fish.

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BOUNDARY WATERS BETWEEN MAINE AND NEW BRUNSWICK

Waters affected by this section are as follows (regulations listed below apply):
In Aroostook County - Glazier Lake (1), North Lake, The Thoroughfare between North Lake and East Grand Lake, and East Grand Lake (2).
Open Season: January 1 through March 31.
Daily bag limit on salmon, trout, togue and black bass - three fish in ANY combination not to include more than 2 salmon and 2 togue. Total weight of these fish not to exceed 7½ pounds (3.5 kg.).
Daily bag limits on other species:

• Whitefish - eight (8); no size or weight limit.
• Smelts - two hundred (200); no size or weight limit.
• All other species (except Atlantic sea run salmon) - NO limits.

Minimum length limits:

• Black bass - 10 inches (25 cm)
• Landlocked salmon - 14 inches (35 cm)
• Togue - 18 inches (45 cm)
• Trout - 6 inches (15 cm)

Equipment: On all open waters - five (5) lines per person.
Bait: Use or possession of spiny-finned fish as bait is prohibited.
Legal hours: From ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. (No night fishing.)
Exceptions:

• (1) Glazier Lake is open to the taking of cusk in the nighttime.
• (2) East Grand Lake: Daily bag limit on white perch: 25 fish.
• (3) Spednik Lake: Closed to the taking of bass; daily bag limit on white perch: 25 fish.

Aroostook County Ice Fishing laws - Aroostook County

Penobscot County Ice Fishing laws - Penobscot County

Piscataquis County Ice Fishing laws - Piscataquis County

Somerset County Ice Fishing laws - Somerset County

Washington County Ice Fishing laws - Washington County

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