Echo Lake {Crotched Pond}

Fayette, Mt Vernon and Readfield Twps., 

Kennebec County

U.S.G.S. Fayette, Maine

Physical Characteristics

• Area - 1185 acres

• Maximum depth - 117 feet

• Temperatures

  • Surface - 71 °F

  • 109 feet - 42°F

Echo Lake is very scenic body of water in central Maine. Its deep, clean cool waters provide

suitable habitat for coldwater species. Although hampered by competition from numerous warm water species, the coldwater fisheries are considered satisfactory. Echo Lake is one of the few central Maine lakes with a natural reproducing lake trout population. Annual stockings of a small number of togue are necessary to maintain an acceptable fishery.

Landlocked salmon were stocked for a number of years until it became evident that salmon would not provide anglers with an acceptable fishery. 

In an effort to provide more diversity for anglers, experimental stockings of brook trout and splake were implemented. Brook trout should provide high angler catch rates, and it is hoped the splake will "hold-over" and produce larger older fish for anglers.

Echo Lake's rocky shores and shoals are excellent smallmouth bass habitat. Unfortunately, the bass fishery may be compromised by the bass tapeworm parasite, common to many Maine waters, which causes slower growth and limits bass reproduction.

The spring smelt run in the inlet by the "chimney" at the north end of the lake is very popular with smelt dippers. The inlet itself is closed to dipping, but anglers dip smelt from boats anchored off the mouth. This allows for unmolested spawning once the smelts enter the stream.

A very nice boat launch facility with ample parking is located on the north shore in West Mt Vernon off State Route #41.

Fishes

• Salmon

• Brown trout

• Lake trout (togue)

• Brook trout

• Splake

• Rainbow smelt

• Smallmouth bass

• Largemouth bass

• White perch

• Yellow perch

• Chain pickerel

• Minnows (Golden shiner, Common shiner, Fallfish (chub)

• White sucker

• Hornpout (bullhead)

• Burbot (cusk)

• Redbreast sunfish

• Pumpkinseed sunfish

• Slimy sculpin

• American eel

Surveyed - August, 1940

Revised - 1963, 1977, 2000

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and wildlife

Funded in part by Federal Aid in Restoration Act

under Federal Project F-28-P

L5814B