Fishing
EPI welcomes anglers to fish the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds within the inland EPI sanctuaries, many of which are notable as high-quality native brook trout fisheries. The lakes and ponds are also home to landlocked salmon, togue (lake trout) and other fish.
Flyfishing for both wild brook trout and landlocked salmon occurs on the 26-mile stretch of the Penobscot East Branch that runs from Matagamon Lake through the East Branch Sanctuary. The northern section of the river, characterized by spectacular rapids and waterfalls, can be accessed on foot or by canoe or kayak. If visitors travel by boat, several portages are required. Campsites spaced along the riverbank encourage multi-day wilderness trips. The Seboeis River, Wassataquoik Stream and Sandy Stream also provide excellent opportunities to fish for brook trout.
The Big Benson-Sebec Sanctuary has numerous trout ponds, three of which are over 10 acres in size, including Big Benson and Little Benson ponds, as well as over 30 miles of brooks and streams. Big Benson, a 320-acre pond with a depth of 83 feet, is excellent fishing, providing anglers the opportunity to catch togue and brook trout among other fish. The pond is open to both freshwater and ice fishing, which runs from January 1 through March 31. Trout streams and ponds are also found in the Appalachian Trail Sanctuary, which has seven ponds larger than 8 acres in size.
To the northwest, Moosehead Lake, from which rises Mount Kineo, is well-known for brook trout, lake trout, and wild and stocked salmon, and is a major lake for ice fishing.