Description
Lancaster Mill Pond is a 23-acre impoundment of the Nashua River located off of Route 62 just south of the center of Clinton. This pond sits immediately downstream of the Wachusett Reservoir and dam and receives water from the reservoir via the spillway at high flows and through a low elevation outlet which enters the pond through a fountain on the southwestern tip of the pond. Lancaster Mill Pond has an average depth of 12 feet, a maximum depth of 23 feet, and submergent aquatic vegetation covers the majority of the pond bottom.
Recreational access
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Water Supply Protection manages a parcel of land on the eastern shore where one can fish from shore. Launching of boats, however, is prohibited. Park roadside along Nashua St. and walk across the bridge to the state-owned property behind a gate on River Road (get directions). Access is also available via the Wachusett Dam Trail off of Bolyston St. where the pond lay at the bottom of ~150 stairs (get directions). fishing around the fountain is prohibited. Please contact the Wachusett offices of DCR Division of Water Supply Protection for additional information, and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of Lancaster Mill Pond.
Parking at the top of the dam is limited with additional room along the road. Be careful of traffic on Route 140 when parking.
It is a scenic walk to the water from the top of the dam.
Fish populations
No survey data exist for Lancaster Mill Pond.
Lancaster Mill Pond is stocked each spring with trout.
Fishing
Lancaster Mill Pond is a popular trout fishing destination in spring. When the reservoir is spilling you never know what you might catch as fish from the reservoir occasionally come over the spillway. Lake trout, landlocked salmon and large holdover rainbow trout, while not frequent, have all been caught out of Lancaster Mill Pond. Fish can be found where the small waterfall empties into the southwestern most part of the pond, providing anglers with a good opportunity to catch trout in the spring. Lancaster Mill Pond has produced chain pickerel, lake trout and rainbow trout that meet minimum sizes 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.