Pay lakes in Maine

Usually not. Anglers at a licensed Maine private fee pond do not need a Maine fishing license; bag, length and season rules also do not apply there.

Maine licenses pay lakes through its Private Fee Pond License (12 M.R.S. §12508), run by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). The license rule depends on the lake holding that state license, so ask the lake if you are unsure.

"authorizes persons who fish in that pond to fish for, take, possess and transport fish harvested from that pond notwithstanding other provisions of the law or rules of the department pertaining to manner, time, season, bag limit, length limit or fishing license requirements."

Source: 12 M.R.S. §12508 License to operate private fee pond, checked November 2026. Compare every state on our pay lake license rules page.