Bradford Pond Fishing near North Reading, Massachusetts

• Overview

  In Massachusetts, Bradford Pond falls inside Middlesex County. It stands 125 feet above sea level. At 14 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Nearest town is North Reading, 1.7 miles off. Middleton lies 3.2 miles off, Lynnfield another 4.5 miles. In the same area: Frye Pond 0.9 miles off, Sudden Pond 1.1 miles away, Stearns Pond 1.3 miles off, Berry Pond 1.4 miles away and Swan Pond 1.6 miles off. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Bradford Pond

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Middlesex County include bluegill, pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, yellow perch and common carp. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Bradford Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 26°F in January. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Bradford Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Reserve land runs up to the bank here, so read the notices. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Frye Pond sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Bradford Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.