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Maine · Fishing
Greenville sits at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake in the heart of Maine's North Woods, and while Moosehead itself draws most of the attention, the fishing options listed here focus on three quieter waters nearby: Big Wilson Stream Reservoir, Upper Wilson Pond, and Lucky Pond.
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Greenville sits at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake in the heart of Maine's North Woods, and while Moosehead itself draws most of the attention, the fishing options listed here focus on three quieter waters nearby: Big Wilson Stream Reservoir, Upper Wilson Pond, and Lucky Pond. All three are lake fisheries, which means you're looking at still-water techniques rather than river wading. The Wilson watershed in particular is well-known to locals for holding cold, clean water well into summer, making it worth the drive up from town on a warm July morning when shallower ponds have already turned over. Lucky Pond is the most accessible of the three for anglers who don't want to deal with a long carry or rough roads. None of these are destination waters that will show up in a magazine, but that's part of the appeal — you're unlikely to share a cove with another boat. If you're already making the trip to Greenville for Moosehead, tacking on a half-day at one of these ponds is easy to do and often more productive than fighting for space on the big lake.
The available listing data identifies all three as lake fisheries but does not specify species for each water. In this part of Maine, cold, deep ponds like these typically hold brook trout, lake trout, and smallmouth bass, but you should check the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) online lake survey database for each specific water body before you go — it will tell you exactly what's been documented there.
Yes, a valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older. You can buy one online through the MDIFW website, at Greenville's local sporting goods stores, or at many convenience stores in town. If you're fishing with a registered Maine guide, confirm whether their trip includes a license or whether you need to purchase your own.
Upper Wilson Pond
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Moosehead Lake - Rockwood Access
~26 min drive
Moderate
Big Wilson Stream Reservoir
~12 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Kennebec River - The Forks
~45 min drive
Moderate
Mountain View Pond
~14 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Big Moose Pond
~17 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Lucky Pond
~19 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Trout Pond
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Big Indian Pond
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Little Wilson Pond
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Moose Pond
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
Shirley Pond
~23 min drive
A worthwhile stop near ME.
A medium-action spinning rod in the 6- to 7-foot range handles most situations on small Maine ponds. For trout, small spinners, live bait rigs with worms or shiners, and small jigs all produce. If you're targeting bass, standard soft plastics and topwater lures work well along shoreline structure in the warmer months. Bring a small canoe, kayak, or car-top boat if you can — shore access on these ponds is limited.
Early morning, roughly the first two hours after sunrise, is consistently the most productive window on still Maine ponds, especially for trout. Evening from about an hour before sunset through dusk is a close second. Midday fishing in summer tends to slow down as surface temperatures rise and fish move deeper.
Lucky Pond is the most approachable option for beginners given its easier access. Still-water fishing from a boat or canoe is generally more forgiving for newer anglers than river fishing because you can reposition easily and cover water at your own pace. That said, all three ponds require some basic boat-handling ability or a willingness to fish from shore, so check access conditions before you arrive.
