Arnold Pond in Hampden County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Arnold Pond sits in Hampden County, out in Massachusetts. It stands 243 feet above sea level. Southwick lies 3 miles from the water. Beyond it, North Granby at 3.8 miles and Salmon Brook at 4.3 miles. Others worth noting: Limon Pond near enough 0.1 miles, South Pond within 0.2 miles, Spencer Pond near enough 0.6 miles, Congamond Lakes within 0.7 miles and Goose Pond near enough 0.9 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Arnold Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Hampden County include bluegill, white sucker and pumpkinseed. The county list is broader than any single water. Treat Arnold Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 71°F and January at 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near late December: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Arnold Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Saunders Boat Livery sits half a mile away and handles boats. New Town Beach takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Limon Pond is 0.1 miles distant. None of that is settled for Arnold Pond in what we hold.