Description
West Washacum Pond is a 120-acre great pond located off of Gates Road in Sterling. West Waushacum Pond has an average depth of 16ft and a maximum depth of 31ft and the waters are typically transparent to between 8 and 10ft. The pond bottom is comprised of rocks and gravel with areas of mud and aquatic vegetation is common along the shoreline and shallow shoals. The shores of West Waushacum Pond lie within the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Water Supply Protection lands and are free from development. Access to the Quag is provided via a narrow channel under the central mass bike path on the western shore.
Recreational access
The Department of Conservation and Recreation manages a small gravel launch off of Gates Road in Sterling (get directions). The launch is behind a gate and closed to trailered craft but cartop boats can be carried in; the use of gas-powered engines is prohibited. There is some parking along the shoulder of Gates Road with excess parking available at a gravel lot associated with the Central Mass Rail Trail 200 yards from the ramp on Gates Road (get directions). The shoreline may be accessed via the Central Mass Rail trail along the western shore and in areas adjacent to the ramp. West Waushacum Pond and The Quag are situated on watershed protection land and fishing is closed seasonally from December 1st to the first Saturday in April; no ice fishing is allowed. Please contact DCR Division of Water Supply Protection for closure dates and additional information and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of West Waushacum Pond.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- largemouth bass
- smallmouth bass
- chain pickerel
- black crappie
- yellow perch
- white perch
- bluegill
- pumpkinseed
- brown bullhead
- yellow bullhead
- golden shiner
West Waushacum Pond is stocked each spring with trout.
Fishing
The presence of water supply protection lands and restrictions on internal combustion engines make West Waushacum Lake an ideal location for paddle boat fishing. Those fishing in spring and early summer will find stocked trout in abundance. Bluegill, pumpkinseed, chain pickerel, and largemouth bass are also abundant with the occasional larger fish. White perch and smallmouth bass are present but in much lower abundance. West Waushacum Pond has produced largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, white perch, 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.