Description
The Oxbow is a fertile, 231-acre oxbow lake of the Connecticut River located off of Rt. 5 near the Easthampton-Northampton town line. This horseshoe shaped lake is an old meander in the Connecticut River than was cut from the main channel after a flood in 1840. Boaters may travel around the bend in the Oxbow and to and from the Connecticut River via bridge passageways under Rt. 91 and Rt. 5, however the northeastern lobe of the Oxbow is cutoff from boat access. The average depth of the Oxbow is 8 feet with a maximum of 33 feet. However, because the Oxbow is still hydrologically connected to the Connecticut River, changes in river flow will cause depths and water clarity to vary. The bottom is primarily silt intermixed with areas of muck and gravel. Aquatic vegetation is common and can become thick in some nearshore and backwater areas. The Oxbow is home to one of the largest marinas on the Connecticut River and is a popular destination for recreational boaters, water skiers and anglers and hosts several fishing tournaments each year.
Recreational access
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) manages a large concrete boat ramp and adjacent parking are suitable for 32 trailers off of Route 5 in Easthampton (get directions). Shoreline access here is limited to areas adjacent to the ramp. A second access managed by Mass Audubon is located in Acadia Wildlife Sanctuary on Old Springfield Road and is suitable for shore fishing and cartop boats (get directions). Please contact the DCR offices of the Connecticut River Greenway State Park for additional information, and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of The Oxbow.
The concrete boat ramp, suitable for trailered or cartop craft, which grants access to the both the Oxbow and the Connecticut River.
Some of the parking around the boat ramp for The Oxbow, suitable for around 32 trailered vehicles.
Parking near the bridge over the Mill River on Old Springfield Road.
Its a short walk to the water from the parking area to this cartop launch by the bridge.
An example of some of the shore fishing opportunities off of Old Springfield Road into the Oxbo.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- largemouth bass
- smallmouth bass
- northern pike
- chain pickerel
- bowfin
- common carp
- channel catfish
- walleye
- yellow perch
- white perch
- black crappie
- bluegill
- pumpkinseed
- rock bass
- brown bullhead
- yellow bullhead
- white sucker
- American eel
- gizzard shad
- fallfish
- tessellated darter
- golden shiner
Fishing
The Oxbow, largely due to the influence of the Connecticut River is one of the most productive and species rich waterbodies in the commonwealth. Large and smallmouth bass fishing is very popular with fish commonly reaching 4 - 5 lbs. Northern pike in the 10- 20 lbs range, carp between 20 – 30 lbs, 5 lb walleye and 5 lb bowfin are also consistently produced in this waterbody. Yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, and large bullhead are also abundant. The sheer diversity of game fish present in the Oxbow draws anglers from across the state as one could theoretically catch every non-salmonid game fish (with the exception of tiger muskie) recognized by the Massachusetts Sportfishing Awards program within the Oxbow. Oxbow has produced largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, bowfin, common carp, channel catfish, walleye, yellow perch, white perch, black crappie, bullhead, and sunfish 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.