5.0(6 Reviews)Lake Sebago Ice Fishing Adventure with Tony
5.0(6 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Top Rated
Sixhour ice fishing adventure on Sebago and Moosehead LakesAll gear provided with experienced guide Tony KariotisTarget salmon and bass with fourperson maximum capacity
There's nothing quite like drilling through thick Maine ice and dropping a line into the cold, clear waters below. When you book with Tony Kariotis Guide Service for a 6-hour ice fishing trip on Lake Sebago, you're signing up for one of the state's most popular winter fishing adventures. Tony's been guiding these waters for years, and he knows exactly where the fish are holding during the coldest months. Whether you're a complete beginner who's never held an ice auger or a seasoned angler looking to expand your winter fishing skills, this top-rated experience delivers consistent action and plenty of laughs along the way.
Your day starts early when Tony picks you up and loads the gear onto his snowmobile. Lake Sebago stretches out like a frozen highway in winter, and Tony knows every productive spot from the deep basin areas where salmon cruise to the rocky shoals where bass stack up. The trip accommodates up to 4 anglers, so you'll have plenty of room to spread out and work different depths without crowding each other. Tony brings all the essential gear - ice augers, tip-ups, jigging rods, bait, and even portable shelters if the wind picks up. He'll also pack hot chocolate and hand warmers to keep everyone comfortable during those Maine winter conditions. The beauty of ice fishing here is that you're fishing structure you can't easily access during the open water season, giving you shots at fish that see very little pressure.
Tony runs a mix of tip-ups and jigging setups depending on what the fish are doing. For the salmon and trout, he'll often set tip-ups with live bait at various depths, letting you cover water while actively jigging for bass in shallower areas. The ice drilling process alone gets everyone excited - there's something satisfying about that first breakthrough when the auger punches through to open water. Tony teaches proper jigging cadences for different species, showing you how a subtle lift-and-drop works for finicky trout while aggressive ripping motions can trigger reaction strikes from bass. He's got underwater cameras too, so you can actually watch fish approach your bait and learn to read their behavior. The gear stays simple but effective - medium-action ice rods paired with small reels and 6-8 pound test line. Tony handles all the technical stuff like reading his electronics and adjusting depths, letting you focus on the fishing.
"Tony was awesome! We had an amazing day with him. He was so knowledgeable and gave us and our kids an experience we will never forget. The kids said they will never forget using the ice drill, riding on the skidoo and pulling a fish up out of the ice! Highly recommend having this once in a lifetime experience with Tony." - Adam
"My grandson and I went ice fishing with Tony. The experience could not have been better. Tony is a great guy, very knowledgeable, and was able to connect with my 7-year-old grandson without any problem. He even brought along hot chocolate. It was a great experience, not just for being in the outdoors with an experienced guide, but for the opportunity to meet a wonderful person. Five stars plus! Steve Watson" - Steve
"Tony is an amazing guide and great teacher to anyone starting out ice fishing. We learned so much with him and caught so many fish! Would highly recommend booking a trip with him!" - Isabella Lamb
Largemouth Bass in Lake Sebago act differently under the ice than they do in summer. These fish relate heavily to structure during winter months, especially rocky points and submerged ledges in 15-25 feet of water. Tony targets them with small jigs tipped with minnows or grubs, working them slowly near bottom. Maine largemouth can reach impressive sizes here, with 3-4 pounders being common and bigger fish always possible. They fight hard in the cold water, making long runs that test your drag settings. The best action usually comes during low-light periods, early morning and late afternoon.
Smallmouth Bass school up tight during ice season, and when you find one, you'll often find a dozen more in the same area. These bronze fighters prefer deeper rocky structure, typically 20-35 feet down along the main lake basin edges. They hit small tubes and hair jigs worked vertically, and their winter fight is legendary - strong initial runs followed by bulldog head-shaking battles right at the hole. Smallies here run smaller than the largemouth on average, but their aggressive nature and willingness to bite makes them a customer favorite for consistent action.
Brook Trout represent some of Maine's finest native fishing, and Lake Sebago holds a quality population that many anglers never target through the ice. These colorful char prefer cooler water temperatures, making winter an ideal time to connect with them. Tony finds them in 20-40 feet of water over muddy bottoms, often suspended and feeding on small baitfish. They respond well to small spoons and jigs fished with subtle movements. Brook trout here commonly reach 12-16 inches, with their brilliant orange and red coloration really popping against the white ice backdrop.
Atlantic Salmon in Lake Sebago are the crown jewel of this fishery. These silvery rockets spend winter months cruising open water areas, typically in 30-50 feet of depth. Tony uses tip-ups with live bait to target them, as their roaming nature makes them perfect candidates for set lines. When a salmon hits a tip-up, the flag goes up and everyone scrambles over to help with the fight. These fish can reach 20+ inches and put up aerial displays even in winter, jumping and running like their ocean-bound cousins. The salmon population here is self-sustaining and represents some of the best landlocked Atlantic salmon fishing in New England.
Rainbow Trout round out the species mix, offering
Salmo SalarAtlantic salmon are the crown jewel of Maine waters, averaging 28-30 inches and 8-12 pounds with their distinctive silver bodies and forked tails. These anadromous fish split time between freshwater and the Atlantic, returning to spawn. You'll find them in deeper, cooler sections of lakes and rivers, often near current breaks and drop-offs. Late spring through early fall offers prime fishing when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is their legendary fighting ability - they're called the "king of fish" for good reason, known for spectacular leaps and long runs. The meat is world-class eating with that prized orange-pink color. One key tip: use the swing technique with your fly, casting downstream at 45 degrees and letting it swing naturally in the current - that's when they'll hit.
Salvelinus FontinalisMaine's native brook trout are stunning fish with olive-green backs, yellow spots, and those signature red spots circled in blue. These beauties typically run 8-24 inches and prefer cold, clean water below 68°F. You'll find them in small streams, ponds, and lake shallows around fallen trees and boulders. They're excellent indicators of water quality - if brookies are there, the water's pristine. Late spring through early fall gives the best fishing, especially in the cooler morning and evening hours. Anglers love them for their spirited fight and incredible table fare. They're related to salmon, so they pack serious punch for their size. My tip: use small flies or spinners and approach quietly - these fish spook easily in the clear water they call home.
Micropterus SalmoidesThese green giants with dark horizontal stripes average 12-24 inches and 1-4 pounds, but can get much bigger. They love weedy, shallow areas and structure like fallen trees or docks. That huge mouth extends past their eyes, making them perfect ambush predators. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're actively feeding in warmer water. Summer finds them deeper during the day - try early morning or evening. What guests love most is the fight - largemouth are famous for their aggressive strikes and jumping battles. They're also great eating when caught from clean water. Pro tip: they're attracted to red colors, so don't overlook red lures or flies when other colors aren't working.
Oncorhynchus MykissRainbow trout are gorgeous fish with that signature pink stripe and black-spotted silver body. They typically range 8-24 inches and 2-8 pounds, preferring water temperatures between 55-64°F. Look for them in fast-flowing streams with rocky bottoms, or deeper lake water during summer heat. They love areas with natural cover like vegetation and gravelly shorelines. Spring and fall provide the best action, especially during their feeding times at dusk. What anglers love is their acrobatic fight - these fish jump and run like crazy when hooked. The pink flesh is excellent eating too. They're also great pollution indicators, so if you're catching rainbows, you know the water's clean. Pro tip: fish during insect hatches using dry flies or nymphs - they're opportunistic feeders that won't pass up an easy meal.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass are pound-for-pound fighters that'll test your gear every time. These bronze-backed beauties with vertical dark stripes typically run 18-20 inches, with females hitting 3-6 pounds. They love clear water with rocky or rubble bottoms, and you'll find them around structure like boulders and drop-offs. In summer they head to deeper, cooler water, but spring and fall bring them shallow. Early morning and late evening are prime times, especially on calm days with light wind. What makes smallmouth special is their incredible fight - they're absolute bulldogs that won't give up easily. The meat's firm and mild, perfect for the dinner table. Here's my go-to trick: use weightless soft plastics that can hang just above the bottom - they drive smallmouth crazy.
5.0 out of 5.0Tony was awesome! We had an amazing day with him. He was so knowledgeable and gave us and our kids an experience we will never for...
Adam, It was great meeting you, Tori, Lola & Finn. Thank you! You folks were awesome and it was...
My grandson and I went ice fishing with Tony. The experience could not have been better. Tony is a great guy, very knowledgeable, ...
Tony is an amazing guide and great teacher to anyone starting out ice fishing. We learned so much with him and caught so many fish...
Tony is an amazing guide and great teacher to anyone starting out ice fishing. We learned so much with him and caught so many fish...
Isabella, Thank you! It was a pleasure taking you and Celina out. I'm looking forward to meeting you...
Tony is an absolutely wonderful guide and we had such an enjoyable time fishing with him. He is a great teacher and helped up catc...
Tony is an absolutely wonderful guide and we had such an enjoyable time fishing with him. He is a great teacher and helped up catc...
Sebago Lake, ME