South Pond (Lake Quacumquasit)

South Pond, officially Lake Quacumquasit, is Quaboag Pond's deep, clear neighbor on the Brookfield-Sturbridge line, and MassWildlife calls its trout fishing exceptional. At 73 feet deep it keeps cold, oxygenated water all summer, so stocked trout survive, and some pass 5 pounds. MassWildlife manages it as a special brown trout water, and it has also produced excellent crappie fishing lately.

When to fish

• Spring through fall: MassWildlife stocks trout in spring and fall and says the trout fishing is exceptional right through the summer, thanks to the cold deep water.
• Recent years: black crappie fishing has been excellent.

Where to fish

• Deep water for trout: the pond averages 31 feet and reaches 73.
• The north end: the weediest part of the pond, where the Quaboag River flows in from Quaboag Pond. Pike stocked in Quaboag occasionally turn up here.
• Trophy fish: MassWildlife lists South Pond for brook, rainbow and tiger trout and white perch, and shares Quaboag's listing for largemouth and crappie.

Getting there

MassWildlife runs a concrete ramp with parking for about eight trailers off Lake Road at the north end, with a small beach next to it for shore fishing. The pond is popular with power boaters and water skiers in summer. Brown trout here have their own special limits, so check the regulations. There's a mercury consumption advisory for the pond's fish. You need a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license, and small lead sinkers and lead jigs are banned in fresh water.