It’s a fishing day

Moosehead Lake fishing conditions · Maine

Nothing in seasonfor anything people fish for here

Every species people fish for here is out of season or closed today.

Log a trip here

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.

Landlocked Salmon

Landlocked salmon

Salmo salar

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

No water reading here right now. Landlocked salmon bite in 38–60° water, best near 50°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–70 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 1 a day

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. 18" minimum, 1 a day. Closed to taking salmon until Feb 15, and ice-caught salmon must be released Jan 1–Feb 14 and in April.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Moosehead Lake salmon

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on landlocked salmon

Lake Trout

Lake trout

Salvelinus namaycush

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

No water reading here right now. Lake trout bite in 40–52° water, best near 48°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 30–200 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. No minimum length; 5 togue a day, only 1 of them over 18".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Moosehead Lake togue

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on lake trout

Brook Trout

Brook trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

–Not scoredNo targeting

No targetingClosed to targeting. Release any you hook at once.

Water

No water reading here right now. Brook trout bite in 40–65° water, best near 52°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Brook trout is here May, Oct. Holds 1–10 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 1 a day

Release 18–22".

Closed to targeting. Release any you hook at once. 14" minimum, 1 a day; brook trout from 18 to 22" must be released. Ice-caught brook trout must be released in April.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Moosehead Lake brook trout

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 brook trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.83 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:18 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:27 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:30 pm–11:30 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 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 largest lake in Maine — 75,000 acres of cold, wild water in the North Woods at Greenville. A premier landlocked salmon, lake trout, and wild brook trout fishery surrounded by undeveloped forest; trolled at ice-out and in fall, with the brookie fishing among the best in the East.

Salmon 18" and 1 a day, closed to taking until Feb 15; brook trout 14" and 1 a day with 18–22" released; togue 5 a day with only 1 over 18". Closed to all fishing Oct 1–Dec 31.

Nearby

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

Penobscot River (Bangor)61 mi · MaineBest tonight 7 pm–8 pm
69Marginal
Sebago Lake121 mi · MaineBest now until 8 pm
79Worth the trip
Lake Memphremagog (Newport)132 mi · VermontBest tomorrow 9 am–6 pm
80Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Moosehead Lake?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Moosehead Lake?

Moosehead Lake is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, Brook Trout. 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 Moosehead Lake?

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 Moosehead Lake 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 Moosehead Lake have?

Moosehead Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Salmon 18" and 1 a day, closed to taking until Feb 15; brook trout 14" and 1 a day with 18–22" released; togue 5 a day with only 1 over 18". Closed to all fishing Oct 1–Dec 31.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Moosehead Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Moosehead Lake. 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 Moosehead Lake tidal water?

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