Browning Pond
Encyclopedia
Browning Pond is located in Oakham
and Spencer
, Massachusetts
. This 89 acres (360,170.5 m²) great pond forms the headwaters of the Seven Mile River
. It is part of the Chicopee River Watershed.
Browning Pond is fed from numerous small-unnamed brooks and extended wetlands that run from Paxton
and Rutland
on the north and Oakham
on west. There is a ridge in the Rutland State Park that divides the waters. Waters to its north flow into Long Pond, becoming part of the Ware River
watershed, and waters to its south flow into Browning Pond.
Browning Pond is managed for both warm water and cold-water fish. It is stocked with Trout in both the spring and autumn. Because it is somewhat acidic, Brook Trout are usually stocked in early spring, while Rainbow and Brown Trout are generally stocked in mid to late spring and fall. A limited amount of cold-water habitat persists through the summer and Trout can be expected in the deeper areas during the summer months. An excellent Largemouth Bass population is present and many large Bass were taken during the 1979 survey.
The best fishing should be along the northern and eastern shores, as weed growth is most abundant in these areas. Pan fish are abundant and provide good fishing. Yellow Perch and Bullheads are of good size.
Oakham, Massachusetts
Oakham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,902 at the 2010 census.- History :Oakham was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1762...
and Spencer
Spencer, Massachusetts
Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,688 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer , Massachusetts....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. This 89 acres (360,170.5 m²) great pond forms the headwaters of the Seven Mile River
Seven Mile River (East Brookfield River)
The Seven Mile River or Sevenmile River is a stream in central Massachusetts. It heads at Browning Pond, at the Oakham and Spencer border, and travels south through Spencer, following a short distance from State Route 31...
. It is part of the Chicopee River Watershed.
Information
The water is dark colored, but has a moderately high transparency of 10 feet (3 m). A public boat ramp is located on Boy Scout property, the Treasure Valley Boy Scout Camp, on Browning Pond Road. This is a gravel ramp, and the parking area is limited to about five cars. Shore access is limited to Browning Pond Road frontage. Aquatic vegetation and fallen trees provide cover and are scattered along the shoreline and in the northern cove. There is an old abandoned mine shaft that was used for mining copper. It can be found with the proper gear in the middle of the pond. There are also sunken rowboats and sailboats as well.Browning Pond is fed from numerous small-unnamed brooks and extended wetlands that run from Paxton
Paxton, Massachusetts
Paxton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,806 at the 2010 census.-History:Paxton was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1765....
and Rutland
Rutland, Massachusetts
Rutland is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,973 at the 2010 census. Worcester County's only buffalo herd is located in Rutland, at Alta Vista Farm...
on the north and Oakham
Oakham, Massachusetts
Oakham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,902 at the 2010 census.- History :Oakham was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1762...
on west. There is a ridge in the Rutland State Park that divides the waters. Waters to its north flow into Long Pond, becoming part of the Ware River
Ware River
The Ware River is a river in central Massachusetts. It has two forks, the longest of which begins near Hubbardston, Massachusetts...
watershed, and waters to its south flow into Browning Pond.
Fishing
A 1979 fish sampling effort indicated a fish population composed of Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow and White Perch, Bluegills, Pumpkinseeds, Red Breasted Sunfish, Black Crappie, Brown Bullheads, Rainbow and Brook Trout, White Suckers, Golden Shiners, Chub Suckers and Darters.Browning Pond is managed for both warm water and cold-water fish. It is stocked with Trout in both the spring and autumn. Because it is somewhat acidic, Brook Trout are usually stocked in early spring, while Rainbow and Brown Trout are generally stocked in mid to late spring and fall. A limited amount of cold-water habitat persists through the summer and Trout can be expected in the deeper areas during the summer months. An excellent Largemouth Bass population is present and many large Bass were taken during the 1979 survey.
The best fishing should be along the northern and eastern shores, as weed growth is most abundant in these areas. Pan fish are abundant and provide good fishing. Yellow Perch and Bullheads are of good size.