Fishing Lake Lorraine in Hampden County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  This water sits in Hampden County, Massachusetts. It stands 210 feet above sea level. It measures about 28 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Ludlow sits 2.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Wilbraham lies 4.5 miles off, Chicopee another 4.8 miles. Within easy reach: Fivemile Pond some 0.3 miles off, Mona Lake at 0.4 miles, Plastic Park Pond some 0.6 miles off, Loon Pond at 0.8 miles and Dimmock Pond some 1.2 miles off. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lake Lorraine

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Hampden County records list bluegill, white sucker and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Lake Lorraine for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 25°F and July at about 73°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. The season between ice runs from about late March to late December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Lake Lorraine.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. The water borders Lake Lorraine State Park, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Fivemile Pond is 0.3 miles off. The position on Lake Lorraine is worth confirming on the day.