What special fishing regulations apply at Umbagog Lake?

Umbagog Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout (togue) and Smallmouth bass. One of them reads: "North Zone (Oxford County, north of the Androscoggin River). NH/ME boundary lake — NH portion 3,500 acres, ME portion 4,350 acres; brook + lake trout + landlocked Atlantic salmon (stocked); smallmouth + largemouth bass on the ME portion follow North Zone general law — no daily limit, no minimum length; reciprocal NH licence honored on ME-portion boundary waters per inter-state agreement." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Umbagog Lake?

Yes. Umbagog Lake is in Maine, so a valid Maine fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Umbagog Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.

Do Umbagog Lake's special rules replace Maine's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Umbagog Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Umbagog Lake?

Lake trout (togue) and Smallmouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on Umbagog Lake, each linking to its full Maine regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maine limits.

2026 regulation year

Umbagog Lake 2026 — Maine Fishing Regulations

Maine statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Umbagog Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Maine's 2026 fishing rules — covering Lake trout (togue), Smallmouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

North Zone (Oxford County, north of the Androscoggin River). NH/ME boundary lake — NH portion 3,500 acres, ME portion 4,350 acres; brook + lake trout + landlocked Atlantic salmon (stocked); smallmouth + largemouth bass on the ME portion follow North Zone general law — no daily limit, no minimum length; reciprocal NH licence honored on ME-portion boundary waters per inter-state agreement
Source: Maine special-water list

Per-species rules on Umbagog Lake

Lake trout (togue) regulations →
18 in min, 2 / day; boundary water under NH/ME reciprocity
Smallmouth bass regulations →
North Zone (Oxford north of the Androscoggin River): no daily limit, no min length; boundary water under NH/ME reciprocity

Official source

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater publishes the authoritative 2026 Maine fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Maine fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Maine trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Maine

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Umbagog Lake?: Umbagog Lake carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Maine's statewide 2026 rules, covering Lake trout (togue) and Smallmouth bass. One of them reads: "North Zone (Oxford County, north of the Androscoggin River). NH/ME boundary lake — NH portion 3,500 acres, ME portion 4,350 acres; brook + lake trout + landlocked Atlantic salmon (stocked); smallmouth + largemouth bass on the ME portion follow North Zone general law — no daily limit, no minimum length; reciprocal NH licence honored on ME-portion boundary waters per inter-state agreement." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Umbagog Lake?: Yes. Umbagog Lake is in Maine, so a valid Maine fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW) — freshwater; Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) — saltwater. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Umbagog Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Maine rules.
Do Umbagog Lake's special rules replace Maine's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Maine's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Umbagog Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Umbagog Lake?: Lake trout (togue) and Smallmouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on Umbagog Lake, each linking to its full Maine regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Maine limits.

← Back to Maine regulations overview