Fishing at Norcross Pond Number One, Hampden County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  In Massachusetts, Norcross Pond Number One falls inside Hampden County. The land about it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Hampden County list holds plenty of bigger water. Wales lies 2.5 miles from the water. Springfield is the closest city, 17 miles away. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Norcross Pond Number One

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Across Hampden County, recorded fish include bluegill, white sucker, pumpkinseed and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Norcross Pond Number One should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about late December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Anyone fishing Norcross Pond Number One regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary 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. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Norcross Pond Number Two, 0.4 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Norcross Pond Number One.