Town(s):
Springfield MA
County:
Hampden
Local Name:
Lake Massasoit
Size:
186
acres
Average Depth:
9
feet
Maximum Depth:
21
feet
Boating Allowed:
Kayaks, Canoes, Sail Boats, Electric Motor Boats, Gas Engines Prohibited
Boating Comments:
No motors allowed.
Swimming:
Unknown
Watershops Pond (or Lake Massasoit) is a lake in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Located in the Upper Hill neighborhood, it is the city's second-largest body of water, after the Connecticut River. Watershops Pond features 7 miles of shorelines and 186 acres. It is a major site for fishing, featuring species ranging from Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Bass. The pond was formed by damming the Mill River, which flows out of the westernmost end and continues 1.25 miles until its confluence with the Connecticut River. In the 19th century, three separate facilities: the Upper, Middle, and Lower Watershops on Watershops Pond, were built by the Springfield Armory along a dammed stream to house heavy equipment such as trip hammers, forges, and barrel rolling machinery. Eventually, these three units were combined into one facility, known as the Water Shops, which remained in service until the Springfield Armory was controversially shut down by The Pentagon in 1968. The Watershops gave name to the lake, which had initially been called Lake Massasoit. The original Watershops building still stands on Allen Street in Springfield.
Water Quality:
Town/State Monitoring
Vegetation Growth:
Abundant
Non-native Species:
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Spicatum), Fanwort (Cabomba Caroliniana)
Fishing Comments:
There is a good, well-balanced bass population here with adequate stocks of quality fish 12
inches or better. Chain pickerel don’t seem to do as well, but there are some good fish. The
spring-stocked trout do not carry over through the summer months, but they do provide some
good fishing, primarily from late April through mid May. Panfish are abundant and yellow perch
are over populated, under harvested and stunted. Black crappie and bluegill are under weight for
their size and the harvesting of these fish is encouraged to prevent stunting. Channel catfish are
scarce, but large carp are abundant.
Fish Species:
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Sunfish, Bluegill, American Eel, Bridle Shiner
Boat Access:
Primarily Car-top boats & Canoes
Ramp Comments:
Off Alden Street
Parking Spaces:
None
Shoreline Development:
25-50%
