Dykes Pond Fishing in Essex County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Essex County in Massachusetts is where Dykes Pond sits. It sits 1.7 miles in from the sea. Around 107 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. On our Essex County list it sits near the top for size. Manchester-by-the-Sea is the closest place, 2.9 miles off. Further out sit Gloucester (3.3 miles) and Essex (3.4 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Dykes Pond

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Fish documented in Essex County include Atlantic cod, alewife, bluegill and striped bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Dykes Pond that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 27°F at the bottom of winter. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Dykes Pond the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. You will be walking about 0.9 miles from the nearest car park. Gloucester Water Supply Land runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Haskell Pond at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Dykes Pond.