Stiles Pond Fishing Spot

• County: Essex - Boxford MA
• Acreage: 60
• Public Fishing: Yes
• Mean Depth: 14'
• Max Depth: 26'
• Bathymetry Map: View Stiles Pond Bathymetry Map
• Website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pdf/dfwstile.pdf
• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 08/20/09 09:47 PM
• Ask about Stiles Pond in our Fishing Forums

This infertile, 60-acre natural great pond is located a little more than three miles west of Boxford center. Maximum depth is 26 feet; average depth is 14 feet. Transparency is good, extending to 11 feet. Aquatic vegetation is sparse and limited primarily to a few shallow cove areas. Most of the bank around the pond is steep-sided and the shores are heavily developed with year round homes. Public access is provided by a town beach located at the pond’s southern tip at the end of a short dirt road. A small, dirt ramp located adjacent to the beach is suitable for small boats and canoes. Fish Populations: pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, golden shiner and black crappie. Rainbow trout, survivors of the annual spring stocking, were also present.

This pond is primarily” put and take” trout water, with most of the action and fishing pressure-taking place in the spring. The pond is not deep enough for trout to holdover from year to year, but enough are stocked every spring (and usually in the fall as well) to sustain a seasonal fishery. Warm water species are not productive due to the infertility of the water and the dominance of a large population of small pumpkinseeds. Slow growth rates can be expected for both gamefish and panfish. A nice bass or pickerel is occasionally boated or taken through the ice, but in general the warm water action is slow and unproductive.