Cast the Water

Quaboag Pond

Massachusetts · Worcester

The pin marks the middle of the water, for directions. The shoreline on the map comes from USGS NHD.

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Overview

Quaboag Pond, also called North Pond, is famous across Massachusetts for trophy northern pike, some over 20 pounds. The 558-acre great pond lies on the Brookfield-East Brookfield line, about 2 miles southeast of Brookfield center. It's shallow (6 ft average, 15 max), and weeds are common anywhere under 10 feet. Homes cluster on the north and east shores. The southwest shore is undeveloped and protected as the Quacumquasit Wildlife Management Area. The East Brookfield and Quaboag rivers feed the pond. Motorboats can run up the Quaboag River through the Quaboag WMA as far as the Long Hill Road crossing. In summer the pond is busy with boaters, swimmers and paddlers.

Fishing

Winter is pike season. Most of the big pike come through the ice, along with plenty of crappie, pickerel and largemouth, a few of them reported over 7 pounds. In summer, anglers work the Quaboag River's banks and weed beds for bass and pickerel, and fish the main pond for bullhead. Award fish include largemouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, yellow and panfish such as crappie, sunfish and white perch; and bullhead.

Species

MassWildlife surveys found largemouth bass; chain pickerel and northern pike; panfish such as black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, white perch and yellow perch; brown bullhead and yellow bullhead; and golden shiner, landlocked alewife and white sucker. MassWildlife stocks northern pike here when fish are available; see its pike and tiger muskie stocking page for details.

Seasons

Winter: trophy pike through the ice. Summer: bass and pickerel along the Quaboag River; bullhead in the pond.

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

- **Main ramp, Shore Road (north shore):** Brookfield's large concrete ramp, with parking for 30 trailers. Shore fishing along Shore Road.
- **Cartop launch, Lake Road (south tip):** 12-car lot, right next to Quacumquasit Pond.
- **Quacumquasit WMA (southwest shore):** walk-in shore access.

Contact the town of Brookfield about fees and rules.

Ice fishing

This is the prime pike-through-the-ice water. Most trophy pike are taken in winter, with crappie, pickerel and largemouth too (MassWildlife).

Water facts

558 acres; average depth 6 ft; max 15 ft.

Nearby waters

More in Worcester

MassWildlife (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife)