Damariscotta Lake, in Jefferson, Newcastle, Waldoboro and Nobleboro, has quietly turned into a brown-trout Mecca in the area, and Davis said the browns run 14 to 16 inches with the opportunity of taking an 8 pounder. A 4-pounder won't raise many eyebrows. Nearby Little Pond, in Damariscotta, has earned the reputation of being the place in all of Maine to go for a trophy brook trout, but Davis said an illegal stocking largemouth bass may eventually hurt this water's brook-trout potential. Nearby Basin Pond in Fayette has splake in the 16-inch range. Not far away, Egypt Pond, in Vienna, etc., was once a hot spot for Kennebec County anglers, but Davis explained that spot has fallen on hard times.
Hornpout are abundant, which hurts salmonids to some extent.
Egypt was once a great rainbow-trout water. Scott said Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes was quiet this winter, so it should be hopping this spring. The department biologists have netted browns up to 5 pounds here. This week should produce lively angling, and it is all happening on a water near you. Folks have called me all week with horror stories about rude behavior during the turkey-hunting season.