Hathaway Pond in Plymouth County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, sits Hathaway Pond. Tidal water begins 4 miles from here. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Ground here is low by Massachusetts standards. Nearest place of any size is Rochester, 1.2 miles away. Marion Center follows at 2.8 miles, then Marion at 3 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hathaway Pond

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Plymouth County: tessellated darter, striped bass, bluegill and swamp darter. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Hathaway Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 29°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Hathaway Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. Leonards Pond Recreation Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Marys Pond, 1.4 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Hathaway Pond.