Oakland, Maine

Fishes:

Landlocked salmon, Brook trout, Rainbow smelt, Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, White perch, Yellow perch, Northern pike, Chain pickerel, Minnows (Golden shiner, Fallfish (chub)), White sucker, Hornpout (bullhead), Redbreast sunfish, Pumpkinseed sunfish, American eel

Physical Characteristics:

Area: 3,510 acres
Maximum Depth: 113 feet

Principal fisheries: Landlocked salmon, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white perch, chain pickerel Messalonskee Lake is the second largest body of water in the famed Belgrade Chain of Lakes. It is also the the lowermost lake in the chain, draining to the Kennebec River at Waterville via Messalonskee Stream. Messalonskee's shoreline is heavily developed with permanent and seasonal homes. Excellent boat launching and parking facilities are present on Belgrade Stream, the lake's major inlet, and at the outlet in the Town of Oakland.

Cold water fishery management at Messalonskee Lake emphasizes salmon. Intensive management of this species has provided a popular sport fishery for many years.

Salmon growth rates at Messalonskee have historically been slower than those from other regional lakes. This slow growth may be partially attributed to past over stockings of salmon. This probably impeded their growth by reducing the lake's population of smelts, the principal forage of salmon. In recent years, stocking rates have been kept relatively low. This action should help to maintain the lake's smelt population at high levels and enhance the growth rate of stocked salmon.

  The information above is from the Maine State Website and other sources.