Lake Of The Week
Mousam Lake
Location: Shapleigh, Acton; York County
Acres: 900
Maximum Depth: 88 feet
Gamefish: Brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass
Other Species Present: Landlocked salmon, white perch, yellow perch, black crappie, pickerel, hornpout, suckers, smelt, sunfish
Mousam Lake is a good brown trout fishery that has produced trophies up to ten pounds. However, anglers can expect average browns to run about 18-inches with an average weight of 2-pounds. The lake trout average 22-inches with an average weight of 3-pounds. Brook trout average 15-inches with a weight of 1-pound and smallmouth bass averaging 17-inches with an average weight of 2-pounds.
Recently the lake was stocked with landlocked salmon and these fish have reached 16 to 18 inches. Trolling or casting flies and lures can catch browns from shoreline at dawn and dusk; brookies will also fall to these methods. The lake trout are generally caught in the deep water in the middle of the lake.
Black crappie provide an interesting diversion and the fishing can be excellent around dusk and dawn. Casting from the Emery Mills Dam at dusk generally produces fish. The bass fishing is good all over the lake, but the most consistent fishing seems to be on the west shore of lower Mousam.
The lake is heavily developed and is crowded with recreational boaters on weekends. Early mornings during mid-week are the best times to fish this water. Mousam has a new public boat launch with docks, tar and concrete ramp and a large parking area located on Route 109 just north of Emery Mills. Nearby is Lakeside Marina and Parker’s Marina to serve anglers’ needs.
Best places to fish include: For brown and brook trout, fish the shoreline at dusk and dawn. During warm-water conditions, troll deep offshore. Casting from points of land and rocks with lures will also take fish. To catch lake trout consider jigging in the deep sections of the lake or trolling spoons deep through these areas. Smallmouth bass hold near rock points and weed areas in the back bays. Anglers should look for underwater rocks to locate smallmouths.