Fishing Fernwood Lake in Essex County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  This water sits in Essex County, Massachusetts. The coast is 0.7 miles away. Roughly 26 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Start from Gloucester, 1.9 miles down the road. Beyond it, Manchester-by-the-Sea at 4.2 miles and Essex at 4.5 miles. Others within reach: Upper Banjo Pond 0.3 miles away, Lower Banjo Pond 0.5 miles off, Wallace Pond 0.6 miles away, Buswell Pond 1.1 miles off and Dykes Pond 1.4 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Fernwood Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name Atlantic cod, alewife, bluegill, striped bass and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Fernwood Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 71°F in July and bottoms out near 27°F in January. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It sets the rhythm of the year at Fernwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A ramp is mapped within 0.9 miles. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. The water borders Fernwood Lake Water Supply Land, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Upper Banjo Pond is 0.3 miles off. Rules at Fernwood Lake are worth checking on the day.