It’s a fishing day

Kennebec River (Augusta) fishing conditions · Maine

Sit it outno common carp window clears the bar in 36 hours

Common carp is the best bet here today.

Log a trip here
Right now: 44 for common carp, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Common carp, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 444 pm
  2. 44
  3. 44
  4. 447 pm
  5. 30
  6. 30
  7. 2310 pm
  8. 23
  9. 23Sun
  10. 231 am
  11. 30
  12. 30
  13. 234 am
  14. 30
  15. 23
  16. 237 am
  17. 30
  18. 30
  19. 3010 am
  20. 30
  21. 30
  22. 301 pm
  23. 33
  24. 33
  25. 334 pm
  26. 33
  27. 33
  28. 337 pm
  29. 33
  30. 33
  31. 2310 pm
  32. 23
  33. 23Mon
  34. 231 am
  35. 23
  36. 23
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Common carp range 52–86°

Wind
10 mph

From the north

Flow
3,420 cfs

rising · +83% in 24 h

Light
Twilight

Sunset 4:21 pm

Sky
Light Rain Likely

56% chance of rain

Air
51°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maine non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

44Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Sep. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maine general law: inland species not listed in the statewide table, carp included, have no bag limit and no length limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maine non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

26Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Smallmouth bass is here May–Oct. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maine South Zone general law: 2 bass a day, no minimum, only 1 over 14". The North Zone has no bass limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maine non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

26Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Brown trout is here Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Artificial lures with a single hook only; 12" minimum, 2 trout and salmon a day combined, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kennebec River, Lockwood Dam to the head of tide in Augusta

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Aug–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River3,420 cfs · rising · +83% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.71 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:21 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:25 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:30 pm–11:30 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 9:50 am–11:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The freshwater Kennebec above the head of tide at Augusta — a strong smallmouth bass and brown trout river restored to health since the Edwards Dam removal in 1999. Live USGS flow at North Sidney reads the river; smallmouth fill the rips and rock all summer.

Lockwood Dam to the head of tide: open all year with single-hook artificial lures; trout and salmon 12" minimum, 2 a day combined. South Zone bass: 2 a day, only 1 over 14". Striped bass must be released May 1–Jun 30.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Sebago Lake52 mi · MaineBest now until 8 pm
79Worth the trip
Penobscot River (Bangor)58 mi · MaineBest tonight 7 pm–8 pm
69Marginal
Moosehead Lake78 mi · MaineLandlocked salmon, best now until 8 pm
75Worth the trip
North Hampton State Beach109 mi · New HampshireBest now until 7 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Kennebec River (Augusta)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Kennebec River (Augusta) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Kennebec River (Augusta)?

Kennebec River (Augusta) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Kennebec River (Augusta)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Kennebec River (Augusta) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Kennebec River (Augusta) have?

Kennebec River (Augusta) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Lockwood Dam to the head of tide: open all year with single-hook artificial lures; trout and salmon 12" minimum, 2 a day combined. South Zone bass: 2 a day, only 1 over 14". Striped bass must be released May 1–Jun 30.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Kennebec River (Augusta)?

state agency regulations apply at Kennebec River (Augusta). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Kennebec River (Augusta) tidal water?

No. Kennebec River (Augusta) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.