Physical Characteristics:
Area - 2,260 acres Maximum depth - 118 feet 100 feet - 47°F
Suggested Management
Auburn Lake is a water supply for the greater Lewiston-Auburn
area. The water district over the years has purchased nearly all the
shorcfront area surrounding this lake, and consequently Auburn Lake is
almost devoid ofall shoreline development. This unique feature offers a
rare opportunity for anglers fishing in southern Maine to enjoy a fishing
tri p with a natural picturesque surrounding usually afforded only in the
remote undeveloped portions of Maine. Auburn Lake thermally stratifies
in the summer season, and it has a large volume of cold well-oxygenated
water providing excellent habitat for coldwater sport fish.
The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife initiated a management
program for lake trout in the 1950's. Since that time, lake trout have
provided a high quality fishery with fish commonly exceeding the 10pound
mark. Despite their existence in the lake for more than 25 years,
ou r surveys have failed to show any natural spawning or wild fish.
Consequently, the population is being maintained through annual
stockings with hatchery-reared fish.
In recent years, landlocked salmon stocked, at a relatively low rate,
havl' provided additional fishing opportunities for anglers. Periodic
stodjngs with brook trout have also provided additional diversity for
anglers, especially along the shore during the spring. Shore fishing isvery popular around Auburn Lake. The roadway along much of the
shoreline provides ample opportunity for anglers to take advantage
of the very popular white perch run in the spring. Thousands of
hours are spent each spring and early summer in pursuit of this
popular warmwater game fish. In recent years, smallmouth bass and
largemouth bass have become very popular among the serious bass
anglers. Results tabulated from annual bass tournaments indicate
that there is a good quality, well-balanced population of both species
in this lake.
General law regulations are currently in effect at Auburn Lake
and appear to be adequate to maintain the fisheries in this lake at
desirable levels. The lake is closed to winter angling because of its
designation as a water supply. Due to its location adjacent to the
Lewiston-Auburn area, however, it is doubtful this very popular lake
could withstand the additional fishing pressure. With heavy utilization
during the summer season, exploitation is near the maximum
limit that the lake is capable of producing. Any increase in fishing
pressure will likely necessitate more restrictive regulations if the
quality of Auburn Lake's fishery is to be maintained.
Auburn Lake is very accessible to the angling public. There is
one hard-surfaced ramp and several gravel ramps for launching
boats. In addition, the roadway surrounding much of the lake
affords ample opportunity for shore-angler access. We are fortunate
to have a resource like Auburn Lake to use and to enjoy. We must
realize, however, that this is a water supply lake, and we all need to
share in the responsibility of keeping the lake and its shorefront
areas clean. You can help to assure that the privileges we now have
are available to us all in the years ahead.