Mountainview Pond (a.k.a. Fitzgerald Pond) is a 550-acre body of water located at the base of Big Moose Mountain and the Big Squaw Ski Resort a few miles west outside of Greenville, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 C1). Access is off Rockwood Road (Route 6/15) down a gravel road to an excellent hard-top boat launch with ample parking space available. A big sign on Rockwood Road clearly indicates the access point to the pond.
The rough launch can only accommodate hand-carried craft.
Salmon Pond is a 12-acre body of water located a few miles outside of Greenville, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 D3). Access is via an old logging road off the Katahdin Iron Works (KI) Road. I was able to easily find it using my phone’s GPS thanks to a strong signal coming from Greenville. The KI Road, and the side road leading to the pond, are rough in spots but quite drivable using a regular car. Hence, no need for a four-wheel drive vehicle. The pond is accessible by foot via a short forest trail. Only hand-carried craft can be launched on it.
Secret Pond is a small but deep 14-acre body of water located a few miles outside of Greenville, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteermap 41 D3). Access is via an old logging road off the Katahdin Iron Works (KI) Road. I was able to easily find it using my phone’s GPS thanks to a strong signal coming from Greenville. The KI Road, and the side road leading to the pond, are rough in spots but quite drivable using a regular car. Hence, no need for a four-wheel drive vehicle. The pond is accessible by foot via a short forest trail. Only hand-carried craft can be launched on it.
The launch at Sawyer Pond can only accommodate hand-carried craft.
Sawyer Pond is 67-acre body of water located off Scammon Road a few miles outside of Greenville, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 41 D3). I was able to easily find it using my phone’s GPS thanks to a strong signal coming from Greenville. The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer shows a launch for trailered boats on the eastern shore. Do not believe it! Only hand-carried craft can be released from that location, as I found out the hard way. Ample parking is available nearby.
Grenell Pond supports a native and genetically pure brook trout population
Grenell Pond is a small 6-acre body of water located a few miles outside of Greenville, Piscataquis County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteermap 41 D3). Access is via an old logging road off the Katahdin Iron Works (KI) Road. I was able to easily find it using my phone’s GPS thanks to a strong signal coming from Greenville. The KI Road, and the side road leading to the pond, are rough in spots but quite drivable using a regular car. Hence, no need for a four wheel-drive vehicle. The pond is accessible by foot via a short forest trail. Only hand-carried craft can be launched on it.
The boat launch for Echo Lake is by Ikes Point off Busy Route 102.
Echo Lake covers 237 acres and is partially located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C2). Access is down an unnamed Park road off Route 102. Look for the “Ikes Point” sign. Drive down this short Park road, passed the parking lot, to the public boat launch at the end. The unimproved sandy launch can accommodate trailered boats. Keep in mind that boat engines over 10 HP are not allowed on this water body. Also, be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places.
The access point can only accommodate hand-carried craft. The rock jutting out in the pond is a great place to fish from shore!
Lower Hadlock Pond covers 39 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteermap 16 C3). Access is a couple of 100 ft. down Hadlock Pond Road off busy Route 3/198. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The launch site can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.
The public access point by the outlet can only accommodate hand-carried crafts
Upper Hadlock Pond covers 35 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteermap 16 C3). Access is via Route 3/198 which runs parallel to the entire western shoreline of the pond. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The public launch site by the outlet on Route 3/198 can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.
I did not anticipate this situation… I ended up hauling my canoe up to the pond.
Lake Wood covers 16 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 B3). Access to this pond is via Lake Wood Road off Crooked Road. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your car anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. I reach Lake Wood Road at 2:30 pm and am surprised to see that the park gate is closed. Crap… I park my truck on the shoulder of Crooked Road and walk around the gate to reconnoiter. It is about a half-mile stroll up and down a good gravel road to reach the parking lot and then the pond itself. Unfortunately, I left my canoe wheels at home because I did not anticipate this situation. And I do not want to carry my canoe all the way in. So, I head back out, put on my hip boots, pick up my ultralight spinning rod and reel, and walk back in. I start casting out a #2 Mepps spinner full of anticipation when I suddenly feel water trickling into my right hip boot. You have gotta be kidding me! The boot sprung a leak somewhere. I grit my teeth, walk back out, offload the canoe on my back, and walk back in. I then make one last trip to bring in the rest of my fishing gear. Thank goodness, I can finally start fishing one and a half hour behind schedule, and four miles later!
Cobb’s Camp, my base of operation for the weekend.
Pierce Pond is a 1650-acre protected gem located in Pierce Pond Township, Somerset County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 30 A2). I have visited this beautiful three-basin lake (Lower Pond, Middle Pond, and Upper Pond) annually for well over 20 years during the long Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. The goal, always, is to catch landlocked Atlantic salmon and brook trout on dry flies during the spectacular mayfly hatches that peak during that period. This year, I wanted to mix things up a bit by fishing on opening day, which on this lake is May 1. I made prior arrangements with Cobb’s Camp to stay in one of their cozy cabins for two nights and spare me the hassle of having to haul out and set up my camping gear.
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