West Lake
Fishing and stocking
Brook trout and atlantic salmon water; 4 stockings on the 2026 record, spread April to October. A 1,390-acre lake, and the most-stocked water on the Hancock County record for 2026.
Hancock County · Maine · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Brook trout
Atlantic salmon
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked yesterday.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 | Brook trout | adult | 600 | completed |
| May 27 | Atlantic salmon | yearling | 500 | completed |
| Jun 1 | Brook trout | adult | 200 | completed |
| Oct 7 | Brook trout | adult | 300 | completed |
When to fish West Lake
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:09-11:09 am and 9:31-11:31 pm | 3:24-4:24 am and 3:40-4:40 pm |
| Tomorrow | 9:54-11:54 am and 10:18 pm-12:18 am | 4:37-5:37 am and 4:00-5:00 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Stocked 16 days ago (Oct 7)
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Maine fishing forecast
Gear for this water
Stocked within the last three weeks: fish are still bunched near the release points and keyed on familiar smells.
For the trout (brook trout stocked 3 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Ultralight spinning rod | 6 to 7 ft ultralight, 4 lb line; long casts from the bank |
| Dough bait rigs | floating dough bait 18 inches above a small egg sinker; hatchery fish know the smell |
| Casting spoons | 1/8 to 1/4 oz in fluorescent or metallic; count down until you find the depth |
For the salmon and steelhead (atlantic salmon stocked 1 time here in 2026, stillwater)
| Trolling flies and dodgers | for landlocked salmon in the lakes, early and late in the day |
| Medium spinning rod | 8 to 9 ft with 8 to 12 lb line; big water, big runs |
| Spoons and spinners | 1/4 to 1/2 oz metal; cast across and swing through the run |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Nicatous Lake | 3.2 mi | Oct 13 |
| Side Pistol Lake | 5.2 mi | May 27 |
| Duck Lake | 5.4 mi | Oct 6 |
| Spring Lake | 6.9 mi | Oct 1 |
| Burnt Land Lake | 10 mi | May 19 |
Follow Hancock County stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule