Updated for 2024
Moosehead Lake is a fishing paradise with over 75,000 acres to fish and various species to go after. The fun doesn’t end when the snow flies, either. Ice fishing Moosehead Lake is extremely popular, with the official ice fishing season running from January 1 through April 30.
Winters at Moosehead Lake are nothing short of spectacular. Once the snow flies and the lake freezes, it’s almost an entirely different world. Snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing are the recreations of choice, with ice shacks dotting the lake.
If you’d like to go ice fishing at Moosehead Lake, just let us know, and we’ll help you get there! Our Moosehead Lake bed and breakfast, The Lodge at Moosehead Lake, offers quick access to the lake, and we love sharing the area with our guests.
Ice-Fishing Moosehead Lake
Ice fishing can be a lot of fun, and you can see why it’s such a popular winter pastime. Here at Moosehead Lake, anglers can expect to haul togue, brook trout, cusk, and salmon during winter. Salmon can often be caught right under the ice!
The process is pretty simple for those who’ve never been able to try ice fishing. You drill a hole in the ice, bait the hook of your “tip-up” or jigging rod, set it up, then sit back and wait for the fish to come. Many employ portable ice shacks to stay warm. They also bring chairs, food, cooking gear, and more, often on snowmobiles and ATVs. It is a lot of fun!
You’ll need a few items before you start.
- A Maine fishing license is required to put your line in the water.
- Familiarize yourself with state fishing rules and regulations.
- This free Maine Fishing Guide covers all the particulars.
A Maine Free Fishing Weekend is coming up on February 15-16, 2025, and again on May 31 – June 1. Maine Free Fishing Weekends allow anyone to fish, with or without a license. All other fishing laws and regulations apply, of course.
Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven
The annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby is one of the highlights of the winter season.
This fun weekend celebrates the ice fishing tradition of the Moosehead Lake Region with a derby hosted by NASCAR personality Ricky Craven.
Prizes are awarded for the first, second, and third largest togue, ranked by weight.
- 1st place earns $1,500
- 2nd place $500
- 3rd place $250
Ricky Craven will be at the event, cruising around the lake on his sled during the weekend and at the final weigh-in on Sunday afternoon.
Even more exciting, you don’t need to fish to be a winner. Buying a ticket enters you in a drawing for over 50 door prizes awarded throughout the weekend. Gift cards, gift certificates, gas cards, sports tickets, goods, and a big check for $1,500!
The Togue Derby began in 2008 as a strategy to help control the lake’s then exploding togue population in Maine’s largest lake. The strategy proved successful, showing increased health in the lake’s salmon and togue populations in just four short years. Consequently, contestants can join the derby, knowing they’re not just having fun but helping the lake.
The upcoming Moosehead Lake Togue Derby will take place from January 31 to February 2, 2025. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information and tickets.
After a chilly day out on the ice, you’ll want to cozy up in your room at The Lodge at Moosehead Lake. Our rooms have all the amenities to make your stay comfortable and warm. Plus, there are various fun things to do in winter during your stay.
Start planning your winter ice fishing getaway today!