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Now is the time to enjoy the fall foliage views, lack of mosquitoes, and get in the last of your 2025 fishing days!
During the fall months there are special fishing regulations in place as some species are spawning and many waters do close to fishing starting October 1, but there are still hundreds of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds open for fishing.
To find a place near you to fish, check out the October Fishing Report. A few report highlights include:
- Year-round fishing opportunity and exciting salmon fishing in southern Maine
- Catch-of-a-lifetime brown trout fishing in the Belgrade Lakes area, plus bass and rainbow trout opportunity
- Salmon and trout waters in the Grand Lake Stream area that are open through October
- Hike-in fishing trips with exceptional views in the Rangeley Lakes Region
- A list of trout ponds open through November and river fishing opportunity in the Moosehead area - cast and blast anyone?
- Brook trout fishing with Mount Katahdin views in the Penobscot Region
- Late season stocked fisheries in Northern Maine to top off your hunting getaway
You can also visit the Special Fishing Laws page of the MDIFW website. The Fall Fishing column is marked with a "yes" or "no" indicating if a water is open to fishing in the fall, please note waters marked as open to fall fishing may only be open in discrete sections and/or during limited time frames. Please read regulations carefully to ensure you are following them accurately.
Fishing Resources at Your Fingertips
Download ME Outdoors, our new app!
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Find places near you to hunt, fish, trap, wildlife watch, and explore.
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Access detailed maps showing fish stocking locations, water access sites, wildlife management areas, game registration stations, wildlife management districts, expanded archery areas, and more.
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Purchase and store licenses, permits, and recreational vehicle registrations for yourself and others—right on your phone.
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Stay informed with quick access to Maine's outdoor laws.
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Enjoy offline capabilities for use even when you're out of service range.
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And much more!
Download today to better plan your next outdoor adventure in Maine. Available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Search "ME Outdoors" or click the button below to get started.
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Protect our waters from aquatic invasive species
CLEAN
- Clean off plants, animals, and mud from gear and equipment including waders, footwear, ropes, anchors, bait traps, dip nets, downrigger cables, fishing lines, and field gear before leaving water access.
- Scrub off any visible material on footwear with a stiff brush.
- Dispose of debris in a trash reciprocal or a responsible location away from the water.
DRAIN
- Drain water from the watercraft prior to entering a waterbody and when preparing to leave a launch site.
- Maine law requires that prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites, boaters must remove or open any devices designed for routine removal/opening (for example, hull drain plugs, bailers, live wells, ballast tanks) to encourage draining of areas containing water (excluding live bait containers). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.
- Boats should NOT be drained on the boat launch ramp. Since the transfer of aquatic invasive species to new areas within a water body can worsen the infestation, especially in high traffic launch areas, the preferred practice is to prevent direct draining back into the water body even when leaving the water body
DRY
- Dry completely before reuse.
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Enjoy your time on the water, and remember:
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Leave no trace – Carry out all that you carry in.
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Park in public or designated areas – Don't block paths or other roads. Be mindful of muddy and soft roads.
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Respect private property – Utilize public access sites or areas where you have permission to park or access.
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Be prepared – Check the weather, bring what you need for the day, and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
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Take care of your catch – If you are practicing catch and release, do so quickly and responsibly. If you harvest your catch, please bring it home with you. If you harvest your catch, please bring it home with you.
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