Key Species: brook trout, landlocked salmon, lake trout
Best Way to Fish: canoe, boat
Best Time to Fish: May through September
MAG: 16, B-3
Description: Eagle Lake is a pure, coldwater lake of 436 acres, with a maximum depth of 110 feet. It supplies drinking water to Bar Harbor. Special regulations include a ban on boats with motors of more than 10 horsepower. Part of the northeast corner of the lake is closed to all activity and is clearly marked with white buoys. Many of Mount Desert Island’s most scenic mountains are visible from Eagle Lake, including Cadillac and Pemetic mountains.
Fishing index: This lake’s great depth, cool temperatures, vast amounts of dissolved oxygen, and high water quality make it a premiere spot for trophy coldwater game fish. Try fishing for brook trout along the rocky shores in spring, early summer, and cool midsummer days. Fly fishers should use smelt imitations such as Jerry’s smelt in sizes 8 and 10. Brook trout will average around 12 inches, but trophy fish are a distinct possibility here.
Try landlocked salmon fishing a bit further out in the lake, but do your best to follow the contour of the shoreline. Metal wobblers and streamer flies will do the trick when salmon are holding near the surface. In summer, try deep-trolling techniques for landlocked salmon and lake trout.
Directions: From Bar Harbor, drive west on Maine Route 233 for about 2.7 miles. Look for a boat ramp on the left, at the north end of the lake.
For more information: Call the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in Bangor, or Acadia National Park.
