Boat Landings for the St. John International Muskie Derby

All launches are approved public launches. Some are private and most are town or state owned. Launches are shown on the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG) Map Number and Coordinates follow the MAG Designation.

This is not a complete list. There are many more options available to the south. If you have one you would like to share with other derby participants please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with MAG numbers and a brief description.

Van Buren Public Boat Launch MAG 69 D-2

If you can trailer it, you can launch it. Deep water both up and down stream from the launch. Suitable for bass and muskie boats. Float Plane access as well with docks at the launch for planes and boats.

Madawaska Town Launch MAG 68 A-3

Look for the signs on the east end of town it is on the Public Works Street. Shallow water with lots of current. Best suited for canoes at any water level

Frenchville Town Landing MAG 68 B-2

Brand new launch not yet on the maps. Marked with a boat ramp sign you can’t miss it on Rt 1. Excellent ramp and suitable to launch 14 to 16 boats at medium to high water. Use caution up or down the river from this point there is some shallow stretches.

Fort Kent Town Boat Landing MAG 67 B-4

Dirt ramp but suitable for 14 to 16 foot boats at medium to high water. Down stream travel limited with boats (but good for canoes) due to rips. Up stream travel is good at medium to high water. RV sites available through the Town Office in Fort Kent.

St John Plantation, Jalbert Canoe Landing MAG 67 C-2

Hand carry canoe landing on the side of Rt 161. Side of the road parking only.

St Francis, Hartt Canoe landing MAG 67 C-1

Good canoe landing both for hand carry and trailer canoes. Small boats at medium to high water. Parking at the picnic area at the ramps entrance

Glazier Lake, Canadian Side MAG 66 C-5

Excellent ramp for large or small boats. Must have passport or travel card to cross back and forth. Please see Maine and New Brunswick fishing law books for license requirements. Access by Canadian Rt 205

Allagash, Two Rivers Lunch MAG 66 D-4

Hand carry canoe launch in front of the restaurant. Parking is available at no charge. Live bait shop, restaurant, cabin rentals and bunk room. Best access for the Allagash River from confluence with the St. John to Allagash Falls. Easy day float and fish from here to Fort Kent or other landings in between.

Landings behind North Maine Woods Gates

Glazier Lake Maine side of the Border MAG 66 C-4

Access through the Little Black Check Point. Hand Carry ramp. Small boats and canoes. Camp site at the launch. Easiest of the two launches to reach located on the Conner’s Cove Rd. NOTE: Ramp and camp sites are being improved as of 7-20-11. New ramp may be open for trailerd boats by the 2011 Muskie Derby. Please call North Maine Woods at 207-435-6213 ask for Al or Mike.

Old Priestly Bridge east side of the river MAG 61 C-3

Take unnamed right hand road at bottom of hill after Mainbec Logging Camp. Large gravel pit at this intersection. Decent road that will bring to old bridge road bears right and is rough but you will come to an unimproved ramp that you can launch a trailerd canoe from.

Old Priestly Bridge west side of river MAG 61 C-3

First right after crossing new bridge. Camp sites at the river and you can hand carry a canoe to the water.

New Priestly Bridge MAG C-3

Easy location but a bit of a steep bank. Do not park on the main road Monday through Friday and do not block the road/ trail that will allow you to back up to the river bank to launch. Others may use it as well.

Old Nine Mile Bridge MAG 61 D-1

Camp site right at the river. Small bank to get down to river but easy. Easy day long float and fish from this location to Priestly Bridge. Best access id from the west side of the river off the Depot Road. East side road is rough at best.

Old Moody Bridge Crossing MAG 54 A-5

Camp site right at the river. Only access is from Depot Road left onto Reality Road. Camp site and landing at the old bridge crossing. Easy day float and fish to Nine Mile Bridge.

Red Pine Landing Strip and Camp site MAG 60 E-5

Great camp sites and a trail leads to the river down an inclined but not too steep bank. Easy access to Red Pine Deadwater.

Depot Lake MAG 60 C-5

Hand carry for canoes or small boats. Access at Joe Labrie Blvd off the Depot Road. Take first right after camp site. Road has an old sign post at mouth of road. You will see the trail on at the end of the road.

Presley Lake MAG 60 D-4

Hand carry trail off of Road 4 off of Road 1(Lac Frontier Rd). Very shallow lake but does hold a few muskie. Best checked before fishing by flying over it and looking for fish.

Shield’s Branch MAG 61 A-2

Access to Nine Mile Deadwater on the Big Black. Steep bank but doable with canoes and small 14 foot boats right at the bridge. Camp roads with better access are gated at the bridge please respect these gates. Do not park on the main road Monday through Friday. Do not block camp driveways.

Nine Mile Deadwater on the Big Black River MAG 61 B-2

This is for canoes only at best! Access is off the Estcourt Rd into what is referred to as the Camp 109 roads. You will see the road comes very close to the river and crosses a small brook at a wooden bridge. There is a small ditch that leads from the old beaver pond at the bridge crossing to the river. It is less than 75 yards to the river. It is easy to drag a canoe down this ditch to the river. You come out directly across from Shield’s Branch right on the Nine Mile Deadwater.