Description
Cliff Pond is a 206-acre kettlehole pond with an average depth of 33 feet and a maximum depth of 96 feet. The pond bottom is primarily sand with mud in the deeper areas, water transparency is exceptional, often extending to 25 feet and aquatic vegetation is scant. Cliff Pond has 2.6 miles of shoreline that are undeveloped and protected within the confines of Nickerson State Park. The name Cliff Pond comes from the steep cliffs which touch parts of the shore.
Recreational access
There are two major access points at Cliff Pond, both of which are within Nickerson State Park which is located off of Route 6A in Brewster. The first is a concrete pad boat ramp and fisherman's landing suitable for trailered boats with parking for roughly 10 vehicles with trailers off of Nook Road on the western shore of the pond (get directions). The second is a shallow cartop access with parking for about 20 vehicles at the Cliff Pond Beach off of Flax Pond Road on the eastern shore of the pond (get directions). The entire shoreline of the pond is assessable from numerous DCR trails and nearshore areas are wadable. Motors are limited to 10 horsepower in size. Please contact DCR Offices of Nickerson State Park for additional information, fee structure, and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of Cliff Pond.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- smallmouth bass
- largemouth bass
- brown bullhead
- yellow perch
- banded killifish
- alewife
- rainbow smelt
- American eel
Cliff pond is stocked each spring and fall with trout.
Fishing
Cliff Pond is the most heavily stocked waterbody on Cape Cod and receives all four species of trout produced at MassWildlife hatcheries. The pond retains a layer of cold oxygenated water throughout the year permitting stocked trout to holdover multiple years. Holdover rainbow and brook trout consistently exceed 2 - 3lbs while brown trout in excess of 5lbs are not uncommon. During the summer and early fall, trout will be located at depths of 30 to 40 feet, but for the rest of the year they can be found at almost any depth. Try trolling for them with smelt streamers or small, narrow spoons and spinners. Although trout are the main attraction, some decent size smallmouth and largemouth bass can also be found. Cliff Pond has produced largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and tiger trout that meet the minimum size for recognition by the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
More fishing resources:
Stop aquatic hitchhikers
Prevent the transport of nuisance species; clean all recreational equipment. Visit ProtectYourWaters.net to learn more.