Greenwater Pond Fishing Spot

• County: Berkshire - Becket MA
• Acreage: 88
• Public Fishing: Yes
• Mean Depth: 23'
• Max Depth: 58'
• Bathymetry Map: View Greenwater Pond Bathymetry Map
• Website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pdf/dfwgree.pdf
• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 08/18/09 02:09 PM
• Ask about Greenwater Pond in our Fishing Forums

This 88-acre, two-story trout pond is sandwiched between Route 20 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. It is a deep lake with a maximum depth of 58 feet and an average depth of 23 feet. The water in this lake is exceptionally clear with a transparency of 23 feet. The bottom varies from mud in the north and northwest end, to boulder and rock along the western shore, and to sand and gravel along the southern and eastern end. Aquatic weeds are scant, except in the outlet cove, where they are common. The shore is heavily developed (mostly with road) and there is very little open space. Greenwater pond can be reached by traveling approximately 4.7 miles east on Route 20 from the center of Lee. There is no public access to the pond for boaters, and shore fishing is primarily limited to the area adjoining Route 20. Some individuals launch small car top boats and canoes off Route 20, but this practice is not recommended due to the lack of parking and the danger posed by high speed traffic. Fish Populations: smallmouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, longnose sucker, goldfish and golden shiner. Rainbow trout and brown trout were also recorded present, the result of annual trout stockings conducted every spring and fall. This pond also contains a population of rainbow smelt.

This is a fine trout and smallmouth bass pond, but the water is infertile and only moderately productive. If public access were improved, increased fishing pressure would probably cause the smallmouths to decline in both abundance and average size. The best spot for smallmouth should be along the boulder-strewn western shore. Bouncing jigs, crayfish imitations, nightcrawlers or shiners along the bottom should be effective. Thanks to the cold water here, trout can hold over from year to year. Browns in the three to five pound range are reported fairly regularly. The sharp drop off along Route 20 is probably the best bet for trout, and productive even in mid summer. Artificial baits resembling smelt should be most effective in fooling lunkers, but most recently stocked trout are taken on small spinners and spoons, or on worms, salmon eggs or dough baits fished on the bottom. Smelt fishing at night during the ice fishing season is popular and productive. The yellow perch are of low average size.