Browning Pond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Browning Pond |
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at Treasure Valley
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 Browning Pond
Location in Massachusetts
Browning Pond
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oakham / Spencer, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°18′48″N 71°59′46″W / 42.31333°N 71.99611°W |
| Type | Pond |
| Primary outflows | 15 ft³/s (0.42 m³/s) |
| Catchment area | 12 mi² (31 km²) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1 mi (1.61 km) |
| Max. width | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) |
| Surface area | 89 acres (36 ha) |
| Average depth | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Max. depth | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Shore length1 | 2 mi (3.31 km) |
| Surface elevation | 745 ft (227 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Browning Pond is a beautiful pond located in Oakham and Spencer, Massachusetts. This 89-acre (360,000 m2) pond is the starting point for the Seven Mile River. It is also part of the larger Chicopee River Watershed, which is an area where all the water drains into the Chicopee River.
About Browning Pond
The water in Browning Pond looks dark, but it's actually quite clear! You can see about 10 feet (3.0 m) down into it. There's a special boat ramp located on land owned by the Boy Scouts of America, at the Treasure Valley Scout Reservation. If you want to use this ramp, you'll need to get permission first. It's a gravel ramp, and there's only enough parking for about five cars.
You can also access the shore from the Browning Pond Road. Along the edges of the pond, especially in the northern part, you'll find lots of water plants and fallen trees. These spots are great hiding places for fish and other wildlife.
Did you know there's a secret hidden in the middle of the pond? There's an old, abandoned mine shaft that was once used to dig for copper! You might even spot some sunken rowboats and sailboats resting at the bottom.
Browning Pond gets its water from many small, unnamed streams and wet areas. These streams flow from towns like Paxton and Rutland to the north, and Oakham to the west. There's a natural ridge in Rutland State Park that acts like a divider. Water on one side flows into Long Pond and then into the Ware River, while water on the other side flows into Browning Pond.
Fishing Fun
Browning Pond is a fantastic spot for fishing, whether you like warm-water or cold-water fish! In 1979, a study found many different types of fish here, including:
- 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
- Darters
The pond is regularly stocked with Trout in both the spring and fall, which means new fish are added for anglers. Because the water is a bit acidic, Brook Trout are usually put in earlier in the spring. Rainbow and Brown Trout are typically stocked later in the spring and again in the fall. Even in summer, you can find Trout in the deeper, cooler parts of the pond.
Browning Pond is also home to a great population of Largemouth Bass. Many big Bass were caught during the 1979 survey! The best places to cast your line are usually along the northern and eastern shores. This is where you'll find the most weeds, which are perfect hiding spots for fish.
You'll also find plenty of "pan fish" here, which are smaller fish that are fun to catch and great to eat. Yellow Perch and Bullheads, for example, are often a good size in Browning Pond.
