Bourn-Hadley Pond near Templeton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It stands 879 feet above sea level. The water covers some 26 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Templeton sits 1.1 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Worcester, 25 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bourn-Hadley Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Worcester County include bluegill, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Bourn-Hadley Pond the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 68°F and January at 20°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on Bourn-Hadley Pond follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. The water borders Burnshirt River Wildlife Conservation Easement, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Brazell Pond is 0.8 miles distant. None of that is settled for Bourn-Hadley Pond in what we hold.