Fishes Grand Lake Stream
Creek · Washington County, the short controlled outlet between West Grand Lake and Big Lake in the Downeast lakes country · Maine
Grand Lake Stream Fishing Guides
Three miles of controlled outlet water between West Grand Lake and Big Lake, and one of the most storied landlocked salmon fisheries in the eastern United States.
Map of the Grand Lake Stream
8 numbered points: 2 access points, 1 bridge, 1 hazard, 1 USGS gauge, 3 points of interest. Tap a marker for details. Reviewed Sep 25, 2026.
- Access / boat ramp (2)
- Bridge crossing (1)
- Dam / hazard (1)
- USGS gauge (1)
- Point of interest (3)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Points are curated from OpenStreetMap and state agency sources; confirm access and hours before you go.
Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
Open the printable mapAll 8 points on this map
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hand-carry access above the dam West Grand Lake side | Access / boat ramp | 45.18194, -67.77773 | Unnamed slipway in OSM. |
| 2 | Hand-carry access below the dam Dam pool at the head of the stream | Access / boat ramp | 45.18128, -67.77860 | Unnamed slipway in OSM. |
| 3 | Grand Lake Stream Dam Outlet dam, West Grand Lake | Dam / hazard | 45.18136, -67.77802 | The stream begins in the pool below the dam. Special MDIFW rules apply at the dam - see the current law book. |
| 4 | Milford Road Road bridge in Grand Lake Stream village | Bridge crossing | 45.17889, -67.77632 | |
| 5 | USGS gauge 01019000 - Grand Lake Stream at Grand Lake Stream Live stage and discharge | USGS gauge | 45.17250, -67.76889 | |
| 6 | Big Falls Named falls and pool | Point of interest | 45.17231, -67.76861 | |
| 7 | Little Falls Named falls and pool | Point of interest | 45.16697, -67.75209 | |
| 8 | Gould Landing Locality at the foot of the stream on Big Lake | Point of interest | 45.16513, -67.74376 |
Guides on the Grand Lake Stream
Claimed profiles take booking requests. Unclaimed profiles are built from public records so the river is never empty; the guide can claim or remove one any time.
About the Grand Lake Stream
Grand Lake Stream is barely three miles long, running from the dam at the foot of West Grand Lake down to Big Lake in Washington County, and it has a reputation out of all proportion to its size. It is the landlocked salmon water that most anglers in the Northeast measure others against, and the village that shares its name has been built around guiding, canoe building and fly fishing for well over a century.
The stream is a controlled outlet, which is the single most important thing to understand about it. Flow is set at the dam rather than by the previous night’s rain, and the gauge reading is therefore a direct statement about what the stream will be like when you arrive rather than a guess. Low, settled flows concentrate fish in the named pools and make for delicate, technical fishing. Higher releases spread the salmon out, push them into the faster water, and reward a heavier approach. Neither condition is bad; they are simply different fisheries, and knowing which one you are walking into is most of the preparation.
Salmon are the headline, and they are wild fish supported by stocking rather than a put-and-take population, so they fight accordingly. Brook trout are present throughout and are genuinely wild. Smallmouth move up out of Big Lake in the warmer months and are often treated as an intrusion, which is unfair to a good sporting fish. The water is fly-fishing-only for much of its length, with regulations that have changed over the years and should be read before travelling rather than assumed. Access is exceptionally good by Maine standards: the stream is short, the pools are named, well known and reachable on foot, and the village sits directly alongside it.
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Access
Grand Lake Stream village - the settlement on the stream itself, with guides, lodges, fly shops and foot access to every pool.
Dam Pool - the uppermost water directly below the West Grand Lake outlet, and the first place most anglers look.
West Grand Lake - the large lake above the dam, a major salmon and smallmouth fishery in its own right.
Big Lake - the receiving water at the foot of the stream, holding smallmouth, pickerel and white perch.
Princeton - the nearest town with fuel, groceries and a general store, a short drive east.
Pocumcus Lake - part of the connected Downeast chain above the stream, reached by boat for a longer day.
Calais - the nearest larger town on the New Brunswick border, with lodging and full services.
Seasons
Spring: ice-out through May is the classic period, with salmon running well and the best fishing of the year.
Summer: warmer water pushes salmon to the heads of pools and brings smallmouth up from Big Lake into the lower stream.
Fall: September and October fish strongly again as the water cools, with salmon colouring up before the close.
Winter: the stream is closed to fishing, and the surrounding lakes carry the local ice season instead.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Grand Lake Stream?
As of Oct 18, 6:00 pm, the USGS gauge Grand Lake Stream at Grand Lake Stream, Maine reads 369 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Grand Lake Stream?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Chain Pickerel, Fallfish, Landlocked Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, White Perch, White Sucker on the Grand Lake Stream in Maine.
Are there fishing guides on the Grand Lake Stream?
GuidedFloats lists 1 guide and outfitters on the Grand Lake Stream. Claimed profiles accept booking requests; unclaimed profiles are built from public records and link to the business.
Where can you access the Grand Lake Stream?
Grand Lake Stream village - the settlement on the stream itself, with guides, lodges, fly shops and foot access to every pool. Dam Pool - the uppermost water directly below the West Grand Lake outlet, and the first place most anglers look. West Grand Lake - the large lake above the dam, a major salmon and smallmouth fishery in its own right. Big Lake - the receiving water at the foot of the stream, holding smallmouth, pickerel and white perch. Princeton - the nearest town with fuel, groceries and a general store, a short drive east. Pocumcus Lake - part of the connected Downeast chain above th...
When is the best time to fish the Grand Lake Stream?
Spring: ice-out through May is the classic period, with salmon running well and the best fishing of the year. Summer: warmer water pushes salmon to the heads of pools and brings smallmouth up from Big Lake into the lower stream. Fall: September and October fish strongly again as the water cools, with salmon colouring up before the close. Winter: the stream is closed to fishing, and the surrounding lakes carry the local ice season instead.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Grand Lake Stream?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Maine agency site: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/laws-rules/index.html