Ice fishing in Maine: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

1. Moosehead Lake

At 75,500 acres of water, Moosehead Lake is a huge piece of water. Expect lake trout, trout and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 246 ft. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Moosehead Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Sebago Lake

Sebago Lake spreads over 30,500 acres. The fish here are lake trout, trout, northern pike and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 316 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Sebago Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Chesuncook Lake

Chesuncook Lake covers some 25,200 acres. You will find it about 27 miles southeast of Millinocket. It is the West Branch Penobscot River behind Ripogenus Dam. The fish here are lake trout. The deepest water is around 150 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Chesuncook Lake is Maine's third-largest lake, formed by damming the West Branch Penobscot River. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Chesuncook Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Flagstaff Lake

At some 20,300 acres, Flagstaff Lake is a big lake. You will find it about 12 miles south of Kingfield. Long Falls Dam holds it on the Dead River. It holds trout. It goes down to about 48 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Flagstaff Lake was created in 1950 when Long Falls Dam flooded the town of Flagstaff and other settlements along the Dead River. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

Flagstaff Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Elbow Lake (Pemadumcook Chain)

Elbow Lake (Pemadumcook Chain) is a natural lake of about 19,400 acres. The lake is near Millinocket. It is the West Branch Penobscot River behind North Twin Dam. Trout, lake trout, yellow perch and largemouth bass are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Elbow Lake is a wide, lake-like stretch of the West Branch Penobscot River within the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

Elbow Lake (Pemadumcook Chain) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Spednic Lake

Spednic Lake spreads over 17,200 acres of water. It lies about 22 miles northwest of Hodgdon. The fish here are yellow perch and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 54 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Under the ice, yellow perch: cold. Deep schools; small jigs or minnows.

Spednic Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. East Grand Lake

East Grand Lake covers 15,900 acres. You will find it about 16 miles north of Hodgdon. Expect lake trout, trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. At about 128 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. East Grand Lake straddles the Maine-New Brunswick border and is part of the Chiputneticook Lakes chain. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

East Grand Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Chamberlain Lake

At 10,900 acres of water, Chamberlain Lake is a big lake. It lies near Patten. The fish here are lake trout and trout. It goes down to about 154 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Chamberlain Lake lies in Maine's North Maine Woods and was re-routed by 19th-century logging dams to send water toward the Penobscot River instead of the Allagash. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Chamberlain Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Eagle Lake (Allagash)

At 9,550 acres of water, Eagle Lake (Allagash) is a good-sized lake. It lies near Patten. Lake trout and trout are the draw. At about 124 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Eagle Lake is the first, largest, and deepest lake along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Maine's North Maine Woods. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Eagle Lake (Allagash) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Graham Lake

At 9,380 acres, Graham Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is near Ellsworth. It is the Union River behind Graham Lake Dam. Yellow perch, trout and smallmouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 47 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Graham Lake is a hydroelectric reservoir on the Union River about four miles upstream from Ellsworth. Under the ice, yellow perch: cold. Deep schools; small jigs or minnows.

Graham Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

What to bring

• Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
• A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
• A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
• A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
• Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie