Town(s):
Sandwich MA
County:
Barnstable
Size:
127
acres
Average Depth:
25
feet
Maximum Depth:
54
feet
Boating Allowed:
Kayaks, Canoes, Sail Boats, Electric Motor Boats, Power Boats, Horsepower or Speed Restrictions, Other Restrictions
Swimming:
Swimming Allowed, No Restrictions
Peters Pond is a 127-acre natural kettle hole pond with an average depth of 25 feet and a maximum depth of 54 feet. Transparency is excellent, extending to 22 feet. The pond stratifies during the summer months and trout water (< 70 F and > 5 ppm dissolved oxygen) is present from 27 to 33 feet in depth. The 2.9 miles of shoreline are developed with summer camps, residential homes and a gravel pit. The bottom is primarily sand and aquatic vegetation is scarce. Peters Pond is located a little east of Route 130. From Route 6, take exit 2 and head south on Route 130 for 1.6 miles. Take a left onto Sandwich/Cotuit Road, follow it for 2.2 miles, and take a right on to John Ewer Road. About 0.4 miles down the road, at the bottom of the hill, a paved boat ramp provided by the Public Access Board is on the right. The ramp is suitable for all moderate draft boats and includes a parking area for approximately 20 vehicles. There is also a town right-of-way over a beach area at the cove in the southern end of the pond and the town has recently acquired the former Hewlett Packard property at the north end of the pond. Large sections of the shoreline are accessible to waders. Peters Pond has long been a favored fishing locale and was reported as a favorite pond of President Grover Cleveland. A 1911 survey reported the pond was in its youth "and a few bass present but do not bite". The pond was stocked between 1933 and 1948 with brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, chinook, white perch and yellow perch. A 1948 survey found white perch, white suckers, brown trout and yellow perch. The pond was reclaimed for trout management in 1955 and 49 pounds of fish per acre was recovered. While the pond was dominated by white suckers and white perch at that time, the ten brown trout recovered weighed a total of 68 pounds! The pond was reclaimed again in 1963, 1968 and 1970. Adult smallmouth bass broodstock were stocked in 1978 and 1979.
Water Quality:
No Known Issues
Vegetation Growth:
Minimal
Non-native Species:
Fishing Comments:
The most recent fisheries survey, conducted in 1990, recorded nine species present: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, pumpkinseed sunfish, banded killifish, golden shiner, bluegill and American eel. Stocked brook trout are also likely to be present at any given time. Yellow perch are also present. Peters Pond is heavily stocked in the spring and fall with brook, brown and rainbow trout (and tiger trout when available). The ponds excellent coldwater habitat regularly produces some nice holdover trout. The best trout fishing is during the spring and fall when small spinners, spoons, streamers, worms and doughbaits account for the majority of catches. During the summer months, the pond is very heavily used by boaters and other recreational users, but this is a good time to target the healthy smallmouth bass population. Crankbaits, jigs and rubber worms are all effective, while poppers and other surface lures are great after dark. Large trout have been reported feeding on abundant young-of-year bass during the winter months. Other nearby ponds include Pimlico Pond, Snake Pond, Spectacle Pond and Mashpee-Wakeby Ponds.
Fish Species:
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish, Bluegill, Golden Shiner, American Eel
Boat Access:
Access for Power and Non-power Boats
Ramp Comments:
See above.
Parking Spaces:
11-20
Shoreline Development:
10-25%
