Cast the Water

Congamond Lakes

Massachusetts · Hampden

The pin is approximate, near the middle of the water. The shoreline on the map comes from OpenStreetMap.

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Overview

Congamond Lakes is a bass lake: largemouth over 5 pounds are common, and several tournaments run here each year. The 477-acre great pond is in Southwick off Route 168, right on the Connecticut border. Channels that all but the biggest boats can run link three basins:
- **North:** 47 acres, 21 ft average, 46 max.
- **Middle:** 284 acres, 22 ft average, 42 max.
- **South:** 146 acres, 16 ft average, 27 max.

Clarity varies from basin to basin over a mostly mud bottom with some gravel and cobble. Herbicide treatments keep weeds patchy. The east side of the north basin is protected as Southwick WMA. The rest of the shore is lined with year-round homes, and summers are busy.

Fishing

Besides the bass, big yellow perch and crappie bite all year. Spring and fall stocked trout are popular, but there's little cold, oxygenated water in summer, so few trout survive to grow large. Award fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass; chain pickerel; brown trout; and panfish such as black crappie, sunfish and yellow perch.

Species

MassWildlife surveys found largemouth, rock and smallmouth bass; chain pickerel; panfish such as black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, white perch and yellow perch; brown bullhead; and banded killifish, common carp, golden shiner, landlocked alewife and white sucker. The middle basin is stocked with trout every spring and fall.

Regulations

MassWildlife freshwater regulations apply: https://www.mass.gov/freshwater-fishing-regulations. Check local town or DCR rules for access fees and restrictions.

Licensing

A Massachusetts freshwater fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older.

Access

Southwick runs two fee ramps, both on the middle basin:
- **North ramp, Point Grove Road:** double concrete ramp with a fishing pier and small picnic area, parking for about 30 trailers.
- **South ramp, Berkshire Road (southeast shore):** one concrete lane (watch the abrupt drop-off), parking for about 18 trailers.

Shore fishing is limited to the ramps and the north basin's east shore. To reach it, hike in through Southwick WMA from the lot on South Longyard Road. Contact the town about fees and rules.

Amenities

Fishing pier and picnic area at the Point Grove Road ramp.

Water facts

477 acres; basins 47/284/146 acres; max depth 46 ft (north basin).

Nearby waters

More in Hampden

MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife)