Key Species: brown trout, smallmouth bass, pickerel Best Way to Fish: canoe, bank Best Time to Fish: May through September MAG: 13, D-5
Description: This small, quiet river flows through rolling farm country. The Medomak sees little fishing pressure except in early spring. From June through September, you may well have the river to yourself. The river is easily fished at several bridges, from shore, or from a canoe. Special fishing regulations include an artificials-only rule from August 16 to October 31 in the section from Winslow’s Mills in Waldoboro to tidewater.
Fishing index: Medomak River is stocked annually with brown trout, but sees little pressure from trout anglers. Local anglers take browns in late April and May by fishing from the bank with night crawlers (wading is not recommended because of a silty bottom and sharp drop-offs in the larger pools). Fly fishers can take browns by using small bucktails (black-nosed dace, Edson tiger light, or any of the Thunder Creek series) on a sinking fly line. If you come in spring, bring some red quills and a few Adams in size 12, 14, and 16. Use medium or light tackle here because the river, for the most part, is really just a large stream. While May and early June are the best times for brown trout, smallmouth bass can be taken throughout the season. Smallmouth bass fishing is fantastic in September, when it is possible to take 30 or more fish in a day. Use ultralight spinning tackle and small plastic-bodied jigs.
If you do not have a canoe, stop at the various bridge crossings and fish the deep holes. Medomak Pond, a flow-through for the river, is a small but choice spot for brown trout and white perch.
Directions: From U.S. Route 1 in Waldoboro, take Maine Route 220 north for 7 miles. Look for a turnoff by a small bridge. Other sites include the U.S. Route 1 bridge in Waldoboro and the Wagner Bridge Road bridge, reached by driving north for 4 miles on Upper Depot Street from its intersection with U.S. Route 1 in Waldoboro.
For more information: Contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Regional Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Gray or the department office in Augusta.
