Key Species: white perch, landlocked salmon, pickerel
Best Way to Fish: boat, canoe
Best Time to Fish: May through September
MAG: 23, C-3
Description: A boat ramp at the north end of the lake provides access to 881-acre, 49-foot-deep Brewer Lake. You will need a boat or canoe to fish here. Brewer Lake is dotted with cottages and is a popular spot for sailboats. Nearby Holden offers a campground, and motels are available in Bangor and Brewer.
Fishing index: Brewer Lake is a popular panfish lake, and few anglers take advantage of the landlocked salmon fishery. Nevertheless, salmon fishing is good here. The lake receives annual stockings of salmon and has a healthy population of fish weighing 4 pounds or more.
From June through September, white perch anglers can take fish away from the shorelines, anywhere the water is more than 20 feet deep. Bait fishing is most productive; the most popular baits are earthworms, night crawlers, and small minnows, in that order.
You can take salmon by trolling around the shorelines in early spring. Use tandem streamers such as gray ghost. The ever-faithful Jerry’s smelt is another good choice. You can also take salmon by trolling with Mooselook Wobblers in chrome or copper, and with orange and gold Flash Kings. Be sure to use a rudder if you plan to troll with spinning tackle. Troll fast and follow an erratic pattern. When summer comes, a 48-foot-deep hole in the center of the lake holds many salmon, drawn by the cool water. Use deep-trolling techniques, such as lead-core line and a minnow behind a set of lake trolls, or a minnow or Jerry’s smelt fished with a downrigger. Pickerel can be found around the islands at the north and south ends of the lake. Use small Dardevles, Mepps spinners, or any bucktail containing yellow or orange.
Directions: From Bucksport, head north on Maine Route 15. In Orrington, just one mile from the Brewer line, turn right on the Snows Corner road. Continue on the Snows Corner Road, and go straight through a 4-way intersection, which will lead you to the lake. Turn right at the 2-way intersection and follow that road to the boat ramp.
For more information: Contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Regional Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Bangor.
