World-class fishing and great Maine vacation lakefront camps and cottages can be found on Little Ossipee Lake in York County, Maine. This 564-acre lake is located beside Waterboro Center on Route 5, also known as Sokokis Trail.
Little Ossipee Lake is traditionally one of the first lakes to ice over. As I drove by last weekend, it had already become an ice shack city. Do check conditions before you head out. Access is easy and there is ample parking at the public boat launch on Route 5, about a half mile from Waterboro Center.
On Little Ossipee, you are limited to two lines. The daily bag limit is two fish in the aggregate (salmon, trout, togue). It was listed by Al Raychard in New England Game and Fish as one of "Maine's Hottest Winter Trout Lakes."
If you are an ice fisherman you won't want to miss this: mark Sunday, February 14 on your calendar for the 11th annual F.E.T. Ice Fishing Derby. Grand prize is $3,500 for the Cold Water Division and $1,000 for the Bass Division. In the children's division, the grand prize is a $100 savings bond and a trophy. Sounds like a great way to spend Valentine's Day!
Little Ossipee is also an exceptional lake for swimming, boating, watching the stars at night and listening to the loons in season. Like most lakes in Maine, it's protected by a lake association, which helps monitor the water quality. The Little Ossipee Lake Association (LOLA) has the following mission: "E-cubed: Preserve and Protect Little Ossipee Lake through Education, Eradication and Erosion Control."
In their 2009 newsletter, Mike Taflas, President, stated, "LOLA continues significant efforts this year with the Erosion Control Program, which is vital to the health of the lake now and in the future. This program is designed to combat shoreline erosion issues that negatively impact water quality and habitats in and around Little Ossipee Lake. To ensure success, we are incorporating the expertise of the York County Soil and Water Conservation District."
The lake is 3.5 miles long, with an average depth of 21 feet and a maximum depth of 74 feet. This is the largest body of water in Waterboro. Bob Labelle, a LOLA Board member, helps monitor the lake for water quality. "Test results continue to show the quality of Little Ossipee Lake to be excellent and the potential for nuisance algae blooms is considered to be very low." That's excellent news if you are considering purchasing lakefront property for a seasonal camp or year-round home.
Above the lake is Ossipee Mountain, at 1,058 feet. The Ossipee Mountain Trail is maintained for hiking, ATVs and other outdoor adventures. At the top of the mountain stands an historic fire tower, which is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. The first tower was erected in 1918. After that burned in the October 1947 Forest Fires, a second tower was built with a 13' x 13' shingled wood cab. This is owned and maintained by the Maine Forest Service and controlled by the Waterboro Fire Department.
You can check out all the current lakefront real estate listings on Little Ossipee Lake by clicking on the box below:
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