Fishing at Long Pond, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Long Pond lies in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It sits 27 miles in from the sea. It measures about 177 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge covers about 3.2 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. On our Middlesex County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is Tyngsboro, 3 miles away. Further out sit Pelham (3.6 miles) and Dracut (3.9 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Long Pond

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Middlesex County names bluegill, pumpkinseed and chain pickerel. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Long Pond fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 23°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. On average, late March opens the water and late December closes it again. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Long Pond that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Althea Lake is 1.9 miles distant. The position on Long Pond is worth confirming on the day.