Wildlife, water, woods and do you see bald eagles in Maine?
You experience it all when you spend time in Maine.
If you were living here, you would be already home right? On a short weekend trip or a week’s vacation, you get a taste of living in the state of Maine. But nothing like living here for a stretch of months or all year long.
No Two Maine Lake Sunsets The Same. Cause You’re Not. They Hit You Differently.
Like on a Maine lake, bald eagles.
Here’s one from this morning’s coffee as the pink, blue shades of sunlight appear around the waterfront.
Usually Up In The Tall Pine On The Point, But Not Today. Needed A Drink. Bald Eagle On A Maine Lake.
You have to be quick, before gotta go happens. Bald eagle heads away and not because of being startled.
Bald Eagle Taking Off On Drews Lake.
The lake in Maine offers a change of seasons perspective too. Like the ice over so we can have winter fun on the Maine lake. The tug of war between Old Man Winter and Mother Nature is a strong one.
Winter in Maine changes the habits of the bald eagle too… swooping down from the big lone point pine for a fish differ is hard. When your Maine lake has a sheet of ice for a lid that can only be opened with a Jiffy Ice auger and limited to five hole traps.
Maine lakes are very peaceful as the ice freezes over to prepare for different ways to enjoy them.
Make way for ice fishing, pond hockey and skating, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Do you own a set of snowshoes to tramp out to the ice shacks that pop up when the Maine game warden announces the lake thickness is enough to be safe?
This morning circles of ice form with the spin like a potter’s wheel on Drews Lake.
Been at the lake longer this year and seeing lots that goes unnoticed other years.
Ice Thin Sheets Appear Out Front The Maine Lake Home. Ice Forming In Unique Ways. See The Ice Circle Forming?
Glad you are following our Me In Maine blog and images.
When you are parked on a lake in Maine full time, lots more eye candy is generated.
We toss in a few videos like this scene of a pair of Maine lake otters early one morning.
The photos of Maine lake life doing the heavy lifting today.
Mist, Color, The Temperatures Change On A Maine Lake.
Living on a Maine lake, the experience is not just summer BBQ’s and let’s take a dip, go water skiing.
Dig in, learn more and sample another helping of Vacationland, living on a Maine lake year round.
Yikes. (Pause, keyboard goes quiet, slurp of early morning black coffee sound). Does that come off a little too vague, lofty or just leave you thinking “people don’t talk that way”?
I am sorry, starting again.
This Me In Maine blog tries very hard not to come off as a sing song tired warp record typical tourist discovery channel.
The conversation should be me seeing and thinking of just how I can help you out there in the blogging audience. Talking about what I know living in Maine.
What do you need, what can I provide starts with pondering who are you?
A big segment of you reading this blog post now have already been to Maine.
She is no stranger and you test positive. Maine has you by the heartstrings hook line and sinker. You cannot wait to visit her again.
Classic Small Maine Downtown Like Houlton Maine. The County Seat, The Craftsmanship Preserved.
I can’t wait to sample something new and different and I live here in Maine.
Always! But choosing to Maine my full time home, living here already provides a unique advantage. To share the local experience with photos, sometimes videos and always helpful links to learn more.
Peaceful, Like A Bottom Smooth And Glassy. Maine Lakes Have Different Surfaces And Change With The Weather.
Simple blog posts on a slew of topics that all distill down into pure, all-natural Maine.
Variety, the hunt for new topics, sometimes revisits to Maine venues but covering them in a different season. My bug to provide information started working as a Maine broadcast journalist.
The decision that I wanted to raise my family in Maine made me realize I did not want to leave Maine to work my way up the broadcast ladder. I did not want to cheat the four children out of the rich experience I had growing up in rural small town Maine.
So now you know and back to giving you something worthwhile to share in this Me In Maine blog post installment today.
I am still at a Maine lake home. Not sure when or if Meg and I will move back in town for the winter. Being on a Maine lake after the summer tourists headed south is so peaceful. And now enjoying the most beautiful fall foliage season I can ever remember has made us drag our feet.
In Groups, Birds Of A Feather Fly (And Float) Together Like Maine Lake Loons.
I know plenty of other people who bought a Maine lake camp and suddenly, when COVID happened, they found themselves living there too like me now.
Figuring if they had Internet, why not park it for a spell on the Maine waterfront and work online remotely. Converting their camp into a simple home. And then realizing if I can work remotely up in Maine, if I don’t have to return to the urban location expensive grind, I’m sticking around in the Pine Tree State.
Thank you COVID 19 for that life detour that turned out all for the better.
Each day living on a Maine lake, you see different wildlife walk, fly over, float by like these white helmet hooded mergansers.
Shy, Getting Ready To Fly South. Feeding On Maine Lake Fish To Bulk Up For The Flap Flap Flap Work Out.
Never saw them before and learned it is because they are shy.
Less people on the Maine lake this time of year reduces the anxiety as the bird in the duck family fish the water and prepare to migrate elsewhere for the winter.
The bald eagle in the big stately pine tree here at the lake is exciting to watch swoop down and clutch a large fish.
Then with serious effort flap his wings low to the water and struggle to get to higher ground and land with the mealtime prize.
The smaller group of year rounders living on a Maine lake are a special group. Banding together to clear private roads of tree limbs that hang over and threaten power lines in the fall. To prevent losing electricity in the winter months when ice and snow bring them down.
The Maine lake properties are accessed by private roads.
Sand and salt barrels are refreshed to be ready to spread on icy roads ahead.
Holiday parties with the local Maine lake community happen. Someone brought a guitar, everyone brought their signature covered dish tid bit.
Folks who own waterfront property used seasonally will reach out to local year rounders who make sure all is well at their vacant lake place.
Living Full Time On A Maine Lake, What’s Like? The Gray Lake Home Where I Am Blogging This Morning. The Red Camp For Kids, Company, Overflow.
You see ice fishing shacks appear on shore around a Maine lake this time of year.
Waiting for the tug across frozen lake ice when the local warden service declares it is safe.
Ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snow shoeing, pond hockey are ahead out front on a Maine lake.
Five Holes, Drill Them In A Jiffy With A Jiffy Or By Hand. To Ice Fish On A Maine Lake.
Plowed roads, groomed ITS snowmobile trails across the Maine lake and small shanty villages of ice shacks start popping up as the winter season unfolds.
Getting the snowplow back on the Ford pickup one the to do list this week.To maybe plow the Maine waterfront properties.
Plow three properties, maybe four this year if we hang around the Maine lake property.
Parked On The Point. Pair Of Drews Lake Homes.
Mainers are prepared and weather speeds up the getting ready process. The lake shore dock all pulled in and parked onshore.
Seadoos, kayaks, pontoon boats all put away with deck chairs and the hammock in the storage shed. Gas grill still ready to fire up and sizzle.
The sunrises and sunsets served up are different now than back in spring or summer on a Maine lake.
Maine is like a gift that you get to keep opening up. Just providing different colors, a not quite the same angle of the sun for lighting and not one constant same temperature. All your senses get a work out living up here in rural Maine.
What else happens this time of year, late fall heading into early winter on a Maine lake?
Every vehicle you meet has something orange on the occupants. Or you see the orange hat visible on the dashboard of everyone you meet on the road.
Hunting for deer, moose, black bear to stock the freezer to pull from over the winter. The winter wood supply is ready, next year’s cut in tree length and being processed to fit the particular stove used to heat your Maine home.
Can I Help You? Here To See A Maine Moose? You Are Seeing Double! Did You Shoot With A Camera Or A Gun? Have A Moose Lottery Permit This Season?
Stars, when I got up this morning you cannot miss them.
Last night when Meg and I got home to the lake, the black velvet sky was loaded with stars. Maine is a dark place said in a good not sinister way.
Maine has some of the darkest, least light or smog polluted skies known to man. I think looking up and seeing the star constellations you learned about in eight grade science just intensifies the awareness.
There’s less noise, it’s more real and up close personal and sometimes just hard to explain. Everyone gleans something different depending on what else is going on in their life to color the Maine experience.
Roads, Across Water Trails That Freeze Over. Over 23,000 Miles Of Snowmobile Trails In Maine. To Allow Stops At Ice Shack Shanties.
There’s Orion’s Belt, the Big and Little Dipper. The Seven Sisters.
Oh how lucky we are to live in Maine where nature and astronomy take turns surrounding us day and night. I think awareness of life, people, the environment all increases as the population around you decreases.
Will share more on life at the Maine lake in future blog posts. Hoping this installment helped share the what’s it like on the Maine waterfront.
Many folks are “uptah camp in Maine” for hunting season now. Lots of them end up spending Thanksgiving enjoying their turkey spread in their rural Maine woods camp.
Nothing compares, it’s not the same unless there is water at your lake home in Maine for sale.
Waterfront properties offer a ‘hole ‘nother life experience. They say “water fixes everything”. Morning hot fresh coffees looking out over the Maine lake. Finding yourself talking and sharing in a circle of chairs by a lakefront campfire cures what ails you.
Maine Fall Colors, Harvest Foliage. This Land Has Private Maine Lake Access.
Let’s face it. Many of us work too hard, pulled in every direction and just need downtime. Time away from the office, a string of days or even weeks to unplug and recharge and gain life perspective.
Vacation mode at the lake home in Maine for sale.
Paddling a kayak, walking along the shore, diving into a Maine lake or lucky enough to be out in a boat fishing for trout, bass, salmon.
Maybe the kids are up for water skiing lessons this afternoon at the lake home in Maine. Dream of being in that kind of Maine real estate setting?
Dip your toes, soak up to your neck and feel the refreshing cold spring fed Maine lake property you invested in.
Vacations In Maine. Try Something Rock Solid, On A Maine Island Coast Line.
Maine real estate lake homes on the water are highly sought after and always in short supply.
Many would argue there is no better Maine property investment than something next to the waterfront.
Here’s a new Maine lake home listing to consider using real estate video to easily show and tell right now.
What you get? 4.15 acres of level to rolling wooded waterfront land to develop and surrounding you for extra privacy protection. Your family can come up to the lake home in Maine location and park a camper trailer up back.
Besides one beautiful lake home at 101 South Shore Drews lake, you also own two outbuildings already in place.
Modify them into bunk houses for the overflow vacationing quests. Easily place private guest camps behind your lake home or park RV’s on your 4.15 acres connected by existing camp roads “up back”.
Lake properties come in different size waterfront containers too.
Looking For Up Close, On The Maine Waterfront?
Are you looking for a Golden Pond or a big ocean like experience large body of waterfront? Every waterfront listing in Maine is not created the same due to a slew of factors.
Looking for waterfront property in Maine with a vacation log home plus extra lot to develop?
There is nothing like being on the water, parked beside a Maine lake any season of the year. The sound of it, the wildlife that swim, fly, wander over to it all part of the Maine waterfront experience. The setting in rural Maine, in simpler living locations is a pleasant surprise to many without that luxury that may not be so lucky.
All Natural, Outdoors In Nature. That Is The Big Maine Attraction.
Looking for a property on the water in Maine, say a lake home for sale?
Other kinds of water bordering your property in Maine can happen too… streams, rivers, oceanfront, not just lakes or ponds. Here to help in your search for anything Maine real estate related!
Everything You Need to Know About Ice Fishing in Maine
Winter in Maine, like the other three seasons in Vacationland, locals spend it outdoors. Natural, clean, crisp and sugar coated new white. Have you ever lived where the snow glistens? And looked up in a Maine winter night sky to see all the brilliant points of lights on the black velvet backdrop? Get to Maine, sample all four of the seasons on the calendar to see what you are missing!
Maine’s long winters bring a unique tradition that transforms frozen lakes into bustling, temporary villages of shanties and fisherman: ice fishing.
Kinda Windy Out In The Open On A Maine Lake Ice Fishing. Kids, Dogs, Lots Of Social Interaction Happens Ice Fishing On A Maine Lake.
Get your shiners, a bucket of bait at $5 a dozen announced on the Mac’s Trading Post in Houlton sign. Noticed the invitation to buy ice fishing bait from my neighbor just down the street and on the other side.
Let’s head to the Maine lake with ice fishing traps.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or have never stepped foot on a frozen Maine lake before, there’s an undeniable magic to the sport—one that goes beyond the fish beneath the ice. It’s about the camaraderie, the fresh air, and the winter traditional thrill of the catch.
Getting Started: Drilling Holes & Setting Up
Choosing the Right Bait & Cost
The type of bait you use can make a big difference in what you catch. Common bait options include:
Live Smelt – Great for catching lake trout and landlocked salmon, usually costing around $5-$10 per dozen.
Shiners – Ideal for bass, perch, and pike, available for $5-$8 per dozen.
Nightcrawlers & Worms – Effective for brook trout and perch, costing about $3-$5 per container.
Cut Bait – Used for cusk and lake trout, typically priced at $5 per package.
Bait shops near popular Maine ice fishing lakes usually stock all of these options, making it easy to find what you need before heading out.
Ice fishing begins with cutting a hole through the ice, which can be done using a hand auger, a gas-powered auger, or even a chisel. Many anglers drill multiple holes to increase their chances of success, setting up tip-ups or jigging rods at various depths depending on the fish species they’re targeting. 5 traps at a time limit to ice fishing and it is a pretty slow, not to strenuous winter waterfront sport.
Maine Drews Lake Ice Fishing Derby Happened As Part Of Moosestompers Weekend. See Me In Maine Blogger A Licensed Drone Operator In The Lake Image?
Best Maine Lakes for Ice Fishing & What You’ll Catch
Maine is home to hundreds of excellent ice fishing spots, each offering a variety of species:
Sebago Lake (Large, deep lake, 100+ feet) – Known for its legendary lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon.
Moosehead Lake (Large, deep lake, 80-150 feet) – A haven for brook trout and cusk, plus stunning winter scenery.
Great Pond (Medium-depth lake, 20-50 feet) – Offers a solid mix of perch, bass, and pickerel.
Eagle Lake (Medium-depth lake, 20-60 feet) – Ideal for northern pike, known for their aggressive fight.
West Grand Lake (Large, deep lake, 100+ feet) – Home to trophy-sized landlocked salmon.
East Grand Lake (Large, deep lake, 50-120 feet) – Famous for its salmon, trout, and smallmouth bass fishing.
Aroostook County Lakes (Varied depths, small to large lakes) – Lakes like Long Lake, Eagle Lake, and Portage Lake are excellent for brook trout, salmon, and yellow perch. The deep, cold waters of many Aroostook lakes make them ideal for trout fishing, while the shallower waters are great for perch and pickerel.
Each lake in Vacationland has its own rules and regulations, including bag limits and species restrictions, so checking with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife before heading out is crucial.
Luxuries Of Home At Your Maine Ice Shack. Just Watch For Thin Ice. Don’t Want Your Car Or Truck, Snow Sled Sinking To The Maine Lake Bottom.
Regulations & Maine Lake Ice Shack Rules
Good Stewardship & Environmental Responsibility
One of the biggest challenges Maine game wardens face is ensuring that ice shacks and all debris are removed before the ice melts in the spring. Every year, abandoned structures and litter create hazards for Maine’s pristine lakes.
It is essential to remove everything—including trash, broken fishing lines, and leftover bait—to protect this natural resource. Even blackened firewood from a fire doused with water after a day 0r season ice fishing at the Maine lake.
Why It Matters:
Plastic can holders and other debris – These pose dangers to Maine fish and other wildlife that can become entangled or ingest harmful materials.
Old ice shack debris – If left behind, it can sink into the lake, polluting the water and disrupting aquatic life.
Responsible fishing ensures future seasons – Cleaning up and following regulations help maintain healthy Maine fish populations and lake ecosystems.
Maine game wardens frequently patrol to enforce these rules, but ultimately, it is up to every angler to do their part in preserving Maine’s waters for future generations.
Maine’s ice fishing season typically runs from January 1st through March 31st in the southern regions, while northern Maine lakes often freeze earlier.
Some waters are open for ice fishing year-round, so be sure to consult Maine’s fishing regulations.
Ice Shacks In Maine! Be Careful Of Thin Ice, Open Water, Pressure Ridges. No One Wants To Take A Dip In January Or February On A Maine Lake.
Ice Shack Guidelines:
Permanent ice shacks must be removed from the ice before April 1st.
All shacks must have the owner’s name and address clearly displayed.
While some lakes allow temporary shelters to be left overnight, others require daily removal.
How to Stay Safe on the Ice
Understanding ice thickness is essential for safety:
4 inches – Safe for foot traffic.
5-7 inches – Supports ATVs and snowmobiles.
8-12 inches – Suitable for cars.
12-15 inches – Strong enough for trucks and ice shacks.
Always check ice conditions before heading out on a Maine lake and bring safety gear like ice picks, a throw rope, and a buddy.
Old Port ME, Ice In The Harbor During A Maine Snowstorm Stay.
Why You Don’t See Ice Shacks on the Ocean?
Unlike Maine freshwater lakes, the ocean ice is unpredictable and dangerous due to tides, currents, and salt content. Those weakens the ice. Even if ice forms on coastal waters, it can shift and break apart quickly, making it unsafe for long-term structures like ice shacks. This is why ice fishing in Maine remains a freshwater tradition.
Ice fishing isn’t just about the fish; it’s about the Maine lake experience. Many fishermen set up their ice shacks in small clusters, creating a winter village of anglers. With a small propane heater inside, shacks are surprisingly cozy. Some bring portable grills for fresh-cooked meals right on the ice, while others gather around a bonfire for warmth and storytelling.
Ice Fishing On Maine Lakes, A Plowed Or Groomed Roadway Leads To The Village Of Ice Fishing Shacks.
Kids love the freedom of ice fishing camps, running around with sleds and playing with dogs while adults tend to the lines.
Pond hockey games from cleared sections, snowmobiles pulling flying saucers.
Ice fishing is a slow sport, one where patience is rewarded. Time slows down enough to appreciate nature’s beauty. The sun rises and sets on the Maine lake while your lungs fill with fresh air and the feeling of a deafening quiet with wide open space surrounding you. It can be a tad windy out on an open Maine lake. Bundle up the kids, don’t leave Rover or Fido at home. They like social, shaking off cabin fever in Maine too!
Ice fishing in Maine is more than standing on a frozen lake waiting for a flag to pop up. It’s an escape, a chance to breathe in the fresh winter air, bond with friends and family, and enjoy the stillness of nature. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of landing a trophy trout during a fishing derby or just enjoying a day with loved ones, ice fishing is an experience unlike any other.
So bundle up, grab some bait, and head out onto the ice. The Maine adventure—and the fish—are waiting! But yes, you do need a ice fishing license in Maine to angle for fish and wet your line.
Artistry Thanks To Mother Nature. What You See On A Walk In Maine.
Spending time in a Maine ice shack waiting for your five traps to trip is all about staying entertained, warm, and making memories with friends and family. Here are some fun things to do while waiting for the flags to pop:
Classic Ice Shack Pastimes:
Cribbage – The ultimate Maine ice fishing game. Keep the pegs moving while watching the traps!
Poker or Card Games – Bring a deck for Euchre, Rummy, Go Fish, or Texas Hold’em.
Dice Games – Try Left, Right, Center (LCR), Yahtzee, or Farkle for quick fun.
Dominoes – Play Mexican Train or straight dominoes while keeping an eye on the traps.
Stay Warm & Satisfied:
Cooking on the Wood Stove – Grill up moose sausage, hot dogs, deer venison stew, or fresh fish right in the shack.
Hot Drinks – Sip hot coffee, tea, or cocoa (maybe with a little extra “warmth” added).
Ice Fishing Snack Table – Set up a small spread with jerky, smoked fish, cheese, and Maine whoopie pies.
Outdoor Fun While You Wait:
Ride the Snowmobile Trails – If the groomed trails run past your shanty, take a ride through the woods or across the lake.
Snowshoe or Walk the Shoreline – Check out the frozen beauty of Maine’s back country.
Try Jigging Inside the Shack – If you’re getting impatient, drop a jigging rod inside the shack while you wait for the orange flag tip-ups.
Tech & Trivia Time:
Listen to a Game on the Radio – Catch a UMaine hockey or a Bruins game while you fish. Talk about your local high school baskeball team chances to make it to the tournament.
Tell Hunting & Fishing Stories – No ice shack trip is complete without some good old storytelling (or exaggeration).
Watch a Classic Ice Fishing Movie – If you have a generator or power pack, put on Grumpy Old Men or On Golden Pond. Many shacks have satellite dishes.
Shack Shenanigans & Challenges:
Bet on the First Flag – Everyone throws in a few bucks or a beer, and the first person whose flag pops gets the pot.
Build a Snowman or Ice Sculpture – Get creative with the extra ice and snow around the shack.
Practice Axe Throwing (Safely!) – Set up a log target away from people and see who can land the best throws.
Make a Frozen Shot Glass – Carve out some ice and enjoy a Maine cold shot of Allen’s Coffee Brandy.
Whether you’re in Island Falls, Escort Station, Vanceboro, Rge Forks, Moosehead, Sebago, or somewhere off a backwoods logging road, ice fishing in Maine is about relaxing, having fun, and enjoying winter the way life should be.
🔥 Hot Food Served Up at the Ice Shack
Hearty Crock Pot & Dutch Oven Creations (Let it simmer while you fish!)
Chowder – Classic Maine haddock chowder or a creamy corn and bacon chowder that keeps everyone warm.
Chili – A big batch of venison or moose chili, slow-cooked all day for maximum flavor.
Baked Beans & Franks – Slow-cooked with molasses, brown sugar, and smoked bacon for a true Maine classic.
Pulled Pork – Throw a pork shoulder in a slow cooker or Dutch oven and serve on bulky rolls, or rolled up in a taco.
Buffalo Chicken Dip – A crowd favorite, easy to scoop up with tortilla chips while waiting for flags.
Grill Set-Up Right on the Ice (Keep it sizzling!)
Burgers & Cheeseburgers – Smash-style on a cast-iron griddle or traditional grill.
Venison or Moose Sausages – Tossed on the grill with peppers and onions.
Hot Dogs & Brats – Quick and easy, served up with grilled buns and mustard.
Chicken Thighs or Wings – BBQ, buffalo, or teriyaki-glazed, cooked up fresh.
Grilled Cheese & Ham, Tuna Sandwiches – Cooked on a cast-iron pan right in the Maine ice shack.
Campfire or Propane Stove Classics
Steak & Potatoes – Thick-cut ribeyes with foil-wrapped baked potatoes right in the fire. You get hungry out on a Maine lake.
Fried Fish Tacos – Freshly caught white perch or brook trout, fried up with coleslaw.
Breakfast Sandwiches – Eggs, bacon, and sausage on English muffins cooked over the fire. Breakfast for lunch or supper hits the spot.
🔥 Snacks & Warm Drinks for the Ice
Whoopie Pies – Because no Maine outing is complete without them.
Cheese & Sausage Board – Sliced cheddar, pepperoni, and summer sausage for easy munching.
Thermos Full of Clam Chowder – Hot, hearty, and portable.
Hot Cocoa, Coffee, or Allen’s Coffee Brandy – For keeping warm the “Maine” way.
Homemade Fudge or Peanut Butter Balls – The perfect snack between checking traps.
🔥 Ice Shack Traditions & Shenanigans
While the food is cooking, there’s plenty to do:
✔ Cribbage tournament (Maine’s official ice shack game)
✔ Betting on the first flag (Who gets the first fish? Throw a dollar in the pot!)
✔ Storytelling & tall tales (Because every ice fisherman has one that got away.)
✔ Snowmobile rides (When the traps aren’t tripping fast enough.)
Maine Ice Shacks Get Trailside Snowsled Visitors Stopping By To Say “Hi”. Ice Shack Passed Snowshoeing On Nickerson Lake In New Limerick Maine.
Whether you’re at Sebago, Moosehead, East Grand, or Mattawamkeag, a well-stocked ice shack menu turns a regular day of fishing into a winter tradition. Flags up, food hot, and good times rolling—that’s the Maine way!
Have you ever ice fished a Maine lake or enjoyed the Pine Tree State on vacation during the winter months?
Maine lakes with motorboat horsepower restrictions.
Depending on your age and way you enjoy your waterfront in Maine, it’s important to know which lakes allow power boats. And the Maine lakes that limit the power attached to the back end of your boat. This blog post covers the A-Z of motorboat horsepower limits. Also the lakes in Maine that don’t allow power besides what you produce with a pair of paddles. Or harnessing the wind with a sail and tightening / loosening ropes.
For starters, in Maine there are do’s and don’t to protect the waterfront. In Maine lakes are protected by shoreland zoning regulations.
Any community can enact stricter Maine shoreland zoning rules and regulations too. So check for the latest on any new lake in Maine you want to fish, jet ski, slide your pontoon boat into on a hot summer day.
I listed and sold an Oakfield Maine lake cottage on Timoney Lake in Aroostook County where under ten horsepower is the rule then and today for motor size.
The owner included in the Maine waterfront property sale the cutest, smallest pontoon boat with a 9.9 horsepower motor for propulsion strapped to the back.
What’s Pushing Your Boat On A Maine Lake? Some Lakes Have Motor Boat Horsepower Limits. Or No Motors Allowed At All.
The questions comes up a lot on a Maine real estate call when a buyer wants to know is there a limit to the size of your boat motor.
Sometimes they have a pair of jet skis and want to pull tubes behind whatever brand they put in at the boat launch. Or no no, the cottage or lake lot buyers is not so cranked about jet skis or fast moving power boats. They want to paddle a kayak or have a small say 7.5 horsepower or smaller motor to push the craft around the Maine lake.
Dozing Off In The Maine Lakeside Hammock. Thinking You Have Next Year’s Firewood All In Place. Mainers are prepared, not taken by surprise.
The Maine lake survey list is here for depths, types of fish species, temperature, everything about each waterfront jewel.
Where is the list of Maine lakes with motorboat horsepower size limits or that ban anything beyond the paddle power?
No People, No Man Made Structure Or Noises. Welcome To Baxter State Park’s Mt Katahdin.
Maine lakes with horsepower restrictions, it all depends where you plan to float your boat.
Peace and quiet, no harm to the wildlife or shoreline happens when no motor is pushing you around a Maine lake or pond.
No motor boat lakes or ponds in Maine list.
Cushman Pond, Lovell,
Horseshoe Pond, Denmark
Boston Pond, Denmark
Bradley Pond, Lovell
Trout Pond, 13R5
Wylie Pond, Boothbay
Little Kennebago Lake, T3R4
Upper Dam Pool, T4R1 (from gates of dam, downstream or westerly 150 yards)
Durgin Pond, T2RG BKP WKR
Little Berry Pond, T2R6 BKP WKR
Lone Jack Pond, 12RS BKP WKR
Round Pond, T1 R6 BKP WKR
Fry Pan Pond, T2R5 BKP EKR
Blood Pond, T2R13 WELS
Loon Lake, Rangeley and Dallas Townships
Martin and/or Long Pond, The Forks Pit
Big Brook from Burt Garrity Road in T13 R1O WELS to and including Big Brook Lake in T14R1O WELS
Simpson Pond, Roque Bluff
Southern most part of Thompson Lake separated from the main body by a causeway known as The Heath, Casco
Little Pond, Damariscotta
Moxie Long Bog, Bald Mountain twp.
Clay Pond, Fryeburg
Watson Pond, Rome Twp.
Walton’s Mill Pond, West Farmington
Sand Pond, Limington Twp.
Saddleback Lake, Dallas Plt.
Hooper Pond (Little Sabattus), Greene
Adams Pond, Boothbay
Levenseller Pond, Searsrnont
Portage Lake, T13R6 WELS, that portion known as the Floating Island Area, north and westerly of a line beginning at the eastern edge of the marshy peninsula running out from Hutchinson Ridge, running 50 yards outside of the floating islands in a northerly direction to the mouth of Mosquito Brook
Quimby Pond, Rangeley
Jerry Pond, so called, situated within the boundaries, or having a shoreline abutting, the incorporated municipality of Millinocket and the unincorporated Townships being TlR7 and TAR7
Upper and Lower Ox Brook Lakes in the towns of T6ND, T6R1 and Talmadge
Snow’s Pond (as referred to in the Dunham-Daves Work Plan) situated west of Rt. 7, Dover-Foxcroft
Welcome To Nearly 2500 Acre Portage Lake Maine!Lots Of Room To Play, Fish, Relax On Clean Portage Lake Maine.
Maybe wind power and sailing is more your speed plying back and forth tacking on a Maine lake.
Depends on the day and the strength of the breeze on what type of sailing you will have on any lake in Maine. Check with the town or state regulator. Avoid a game warden giving you a warning or maybe a fine. Think of the loons nesting on that island over there. That the big waves created by round and round too close to shore can cause erosion. Mess up water fowl nesting areas, create sound pollution, etc. Plenty of Maine lakes for recreational boating but know before you go.
Erosion hurts the Maine lake, everything in swimming in it or around the precious body of water.
The lake camp and home owners on a Maine lake work hard to protect it.
Maine Shoreland Zoning Waterfront Regulations< Check With DEP Before You Buy Existing Or Building. !
Check with the local Maine lake association to learn more about each particular protected waterfront resource.
Some Maine lakes allow a certain horsepower for a period of months but not the entire season. Baxter State Park rules say no motorboats allowed except on Webster and Matagamon Lakes.
The next town over from where I live in Aroostook County Maine is Hodgdon. In the Lt. G. Manuel Wildlife Area in Hodgdon, Cary, Linneus Maine, no motorboats allowed at all. You can have a boat you hand paddle or slide in a kayak, a canoe powered the same way by hand. Why? Bald Eagles, other wildlife like the no motor interruption and others enjoying the natural resource area do too. These are not the place to jet ski and motorboat in Maine and are protected.
Peaceful, Quiet, Magical Mist Enjoying Fresh Coffee Early Morning On A Maine Lake.
Sometimes a retainer wall needs repair and less wave action from large boats that are not 200 feet or more from shoreline.
Respect whatever Maine lake you plan to enjoy any season of the year. Maine is the way life should be. But it does not just happen. Common sense is not enough. Study your lakes in Maine for the do’s and don’ts and respect it please. Be a good steward of the waterfront and protect it, pass it on in as good or better condition than you received it. That’s Maine, the way life should be.
Protecting water quality, the Maine wetlands wildlife regulating the use and construction in the shoreland area. Maine shoreland zoning regulations are the do’s and don’ts for the permitted use and new construction along the waterfront today. And Maine’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance is a working document steadily being amended and improved to preserve and protect this precious natural resource.
Crystal Clean And Maine Shoreland Zoning Protected Waterfront Property.
Prior to 1971 when the Maine legislature passed the mandatory shoreland zoning act, there were no statewide standard rules for waterfront use and development.
This blog post about Maine shoreland zoning regulation of waterfront property.
Shoreland zoning in Maine established land use regulations for real estate properties within 250 feet of ponds, freshwater wetlands that are 10 acres or larger. Maine shoreland zoning rules cover development and use of rivers with watersheds 25 miles or more and land within 75 feet of specific streams.
Maine’s many small towns needed help in coming up with a set of rules to follow for new waterfront construction or use and expansion of existing structures.
Soil erosion control, heck a cutting operation many miles away can affect a Maine lake’s quality because of run off and contaminants dumped into from the watershed drainage.
Watch a Maine shoreland zoning regulations video for the do’s and don’ts around waterfront properties.
Maine shoreland zoning regulations are all about controlling erosion in drainage areas, coastal wetlands and tidal water to protect the natural resource.
Prior to 1971’s enactment of shoreland zoning regulations, a Maine lake property owner might not have thought much about a woodlot cutting operation many miles away. But environmental education, best practice workshops, media coverage and shoreland zoning regulation enforcement changed all that. It spelled out clearing your lot, what you had to keep, what could be pruned and opened up or not.
Shoreland zoning defined conforming or non conforming uses and limitations or presented an outright ban on what a property owner thought they could do on their property.
Maine Shoreland Zoning Waterfront Regulations< Check With DEP Before You Buy Existing Or Building. !
The shoreland zoning in Maine statutes increased awareness of what helps or hurts the waterfront environment. It provides constantly update rules each Maine community has to adopt.
The 450 townships, plantations and unorganized areas of Maine not just the handful of Maine cities all have waterfront development and use rules. Some stricter than the Maine shoreland zoning ordinance allows. So check with your local Maine code enforcement official empowered for the area of the big state of Maine you want to develop or are thinking of buying before you do.
Protecting Maine Precious Natural Resources. Maine Shoreland Zoning Does That.
Protecting the Maine environment through adoption of shoreland zoning rule and regulations.
So current land owners and future generations can appreciate the waterfront that makes Maine such an attractivr state and vacation destination for many.
Before the standardization for the state to follow or elect to beef up with something stricter for shoreland zoning waterfront land use, it was anything goes.
Maine lake loons, fish swimming in the water out front, wildlife around the waterfront has little protection. Development done the wrong way around the Maine waterfront shoreland zones threatened their natural habitat.
You Hear Them, Admire Them And Shoreland Zoning In Maine Protects Them. Maine Lake Loons, Other Wildlife, Fish!
Prior to 1971, creating a land bridge to an island, putting out a gravel pier or altering the shoreland by removing rocks or adding a load or two of sand or gravel.
Anything goes with no boundaries set backs to follow for where you could build. No concern on how many trees you can clear and in what period. Missing enforceable regulations lon size and density limits. Or number of structures you can build what size and where had no regulation.
It was take a bulldozer out into the water to move rocks more to your liking. Bring in a dump truck load of sand or gravel to have it your way along the Maine shoreline. Throw in a 55 gallon drum for a septic system. That no one needed to use disclosing tablets down the toilet or camp kitchen sink. To see what is leaching into the water out front of your crudely built cabin or camp with no water resource protection supervision
Forget what Mother Nature provided and rework the shoreland landscape as you see fit for your own personal enjoyment consideration only.
Maine shoreland zoning standardized regulations were much needed in Maine. To set up procedures, what to do in this case, that one. Plus the penalties for enforcement teeth if you were a renegade. Causing havoc and harm for neighbors, wildlife, fish, loons and anything around or in the Maine waterfront.
Maine’s Waterfront Shoreland Zone Is The Protected 250′ Buffer Strip Of Land Surrounding, Bordering The Wetlands.
Human nature kicks in and removing lots or all of trees to improve the view or ripping out protective shoreline vegetation. That’s not what protects the waterfront natural resources Maine is fortunate to possess.
The septic system to handle sewerage loads of laundry or a swinging door of too many guests next to the delicate Maine shoreland waterfront was up to the property owner. Along with Maine shoreland zoning regulation, much was done to tighten up the state’s plumbing code to protect and preserve the waterfront.
Leachfield designs to handle seasonal or more demanding year round Maine shoreland loads kept the wastewater on shore instead of dumping it into the fragile waterfront.
Maine Waterfront Rules & Regulations. 450 Maine Small Town Communities, The Handful Of Cities All Adopted Shoreland Zoning Regulations To Go By.
How Many Trees Can You Clear, Which Ones And Where Are Untouchable? Study Maine Shoreland Zoning Regulations.
Maine shoreland zoning helps waterfront property owners know how to protect against erosion while affording scenery and preserving recreation.
Protecting resale value of the Maine waterfront real estate should not be the driving force to do your part to protect the natural resource you are lucky to border. Although the Maine REALTOR’s Shoreland Handbook is a valuble resource.
Being a good steward, passing on the waterfront property to the next person in as good or hopefully better shape than you received it. That is what Maine shoreland zoning is all about… resource protection. Before expanding an existing waterfront property structure, check with the local shoreland zoning officer in your area of Maine.
What Can You Do Around A Maine Waterfront Property?
Don’t just start building. And a seasonal camp needs to go through some inspections and certification to show you are allowed the conversion to a year round residence.
Ever heard of milroil in a Maine lake, pond, watershed?
This is what it looks like and you don’t want it in your waterfront resource. It messes with oxygen levels for the fish, affects the water temperature and enjoyment with the invasive vegetation of a milfoil family plant.
Milfoil Free Lakes In Maine, Go Further North, East, West. Away From Development And Population Centers To Avoid Already Infested ME Waterbodies.
I hope this blog post, video and photos on Maine shoreline zoning is helpful. Please reach out if you have any waterfront development questions about existing or new construction projects you are considering. Here is another excellent state of Maine soil and water erosion protection publication to glean.
Stay tuned for more on Maine shoreland zoning developments and best practices.
For many years I was president of a Northern Maine lake association in Aroostook County. All the camp waterfront owners learned much from the workshops on what causes the harm. We were lucky to get funds to study the entire shoreland of Drews Lake and where to identify problems needing solutions.
Protecting Maine’s Waterfront Shoreline Takes All Of Us. Get Involved! Be A Good Steward To Help Our Natural Resource.
Money from soil and water conservation awards help our lake association from successful grant writing to protect the Maine shoreland.
To address non source point pollution, constructing riparian buffers, how to slow water from racing down a hill, what to do to battle milfoil, etc. It’s our Maine waterfront to protect and if we don’t, it’s gone and wasted. You stuck around to the very end of the blog post. Thank you! See you next time on ME In Maine blog and thank you for being a loyal follower.
