UTERSmallmouth bass fishing in Maine freshwater
In Maine freshwater, smallmouth bass peak June–October and are around May–November, spawning in July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Bass on the beds in the big lakes — Sebago, Belgrades, Grand Lake Stream chain.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Smallmouth bass in Maine freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakBass on the beds in the big lakes — Sebago, Belgrades, Grand Lake Stream chain.
- JulySpawning
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish smallmouth bass near Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake, Rangeley Lakes
The brook trout and landlocked salmon state: thousands of cold lakes and ponds, famous rivers like the Kennebec and Grand Lake Stream, togue in the deep lakes, and bass in the southern lakes.
What to use for smallmouth bass
- CrayfishHooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- LeechesHooked once through the sucker end on a #8 to #4 hook under a slip bobber or on a live-bait rig — walleye and smallmouth can't leave them alone.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–82°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch smallmouth bass in Maine freshwater?
Peak season is June–October, with fish spawning in July (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Smallmouth bass are in Maine freshwater May–November. June: Bass on the beds in the big lakes — Sebago, Belgrades, Grand Lake Stream chain.
Where do smallmouth bass hold in Maine freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake, reservoir, bridge, dock / pilings — around Sebago Lake, Moosehead Lake, Rangeley Lakes, Grand Lake Stream, Kennebec River, Belgrade Lakes.
What is the best bait for smallmouth bass in Maine freshwater?
Live bait: crayfish, minnows (fatheads, shiners), leeches, nightcrawlers. Crayfish: Hooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for smallmouth bass in Maine freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and change — read the current rule at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/laws-rules/index.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/licenses-permits/index.html.
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