For anglers, June is a jackpot

Warm weather and cool water temperatures make June a ‘perfect’ time to explore Maine waterways. Photo by Upsplash.

June 2, 2026

By Jake Scoville

June is the month when, if the stars align, fishing diversity here in the Downeast Region peaks. Warm weather and cool water temperatures make the perfect storm, and there is no shortage of options for anglers looking to fish Downeast.

Where to fish

Deciding where to fish in June is the toughest decision you'll face. Most rivers and streams should be near prime water temperatures if you are looking to chase stream-dwelling brook trout; ponds are cool enough that fish can be active throughout the water column; and in larger lakes, salmon are still easily targeted.

Rivers and streams

For the first part of June, I'd suggest targeting your favorite trout brook. Check the water temperatures first, but if flows are right, this is when some of the best stream fishing can happen. If you are looking to try a new trout stream, I'd recommend Pleasant River near Deblois, or one of the many tributaries to the Machias River.

Ponds

Insect hatches should be in full swing, and fishing in the Downeast Region's brook trout ponds should be very good throughout the month. As water temperatures increase, just fish deeper, or around dawn and dusk. Ponds I would recommend fishing are Youngs Pond in Otis, Birch Harbor Pond in Winter Harbor, Six Mile Lake in Marshfield, Ledge Pond in Charlotte, West and East Pike Brook Ponds in Deblois, and Witch Hole Pond in Bar Harbor.

Lakes

Anglers trolling for salmon in the Downeast Region's larger lakes have been the highlight of the spring here at our office. Great reports from across the region have been coming in. West Grand Lake is the crown jewel of the region, and the salmon fishing there has been excellent so far this year. Green Lake in Ellsworth has also been fishing really well, in addition to Long Pond on MDI. If you'd like to catch smallmouth bass, there is no shortage of lakes to try in the region: Big Lake in Grand Lake Stream, Cathance Lake in Cooper, Branch Lake in Ellsworth, Meddybemps Lake in Meddybemps, and Pleasant River Lake in Beddington.

Tip

June is a great month for dry fly fishing, and the typical caddis and mayfly patterns are old reliable staples. But I have found that on many streams full of hungry brook trout, using bigger hopper patterns can be just as effective, if not more so. It makes for some exciting eats!

Reminder

On June 13, Friends of Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with Cobscook State Park, MDIFW, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host a Kids Fishing Derby. This derby happens annually and is always a great time and an excellent opportunity to bring a child fishing! The derby is located at the Cobscook State Park Pond in Edmunds. For more information, please contact the Friends of Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

—Scoville is a Fisheries Resource Supervisor with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.