Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisories for Baldpate Pond:
Hazard – Mercury
All fish
Children younger than 12 years of age, pregnant women, women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, and nursing mothers should not eat any fish from this water body.
The general public should limit consumption of non-affected fish from this waterbody to two meals per month.
Largemouth Bass
The general public should not consume Largemouth Bass from this water body.
From the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife :
“Baldpate pond is a medium sized; 66-acre natural great pond located about two miles south of Route 133 on Baldpate Road. Maximum depth is 41 feet; average depth 17 feet. Transparency is good, extending to 11 feet. The bottom is mostly gravel, with accumulations of muck in the coves. Aquatic vegetation is common along the northeastern, eastern and southeastern shores. While much of the shoreline is publicly owned, there are no public parking or launching facilities (these were closed due to vandalism and teenage parties). Roadside parking is available off Baldpate Road on the pond’s western end, however, and car top boats and canoes can be launched from there. Large portions of the shoreline are suitable for shore angling, particularly in the spring before the weeds come up.”
“Fish Populations: A 1979 fisheries survey indicated stocked trout, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie, brown bullhead, bluegill, pumpkinseed, golden shiners and American eels were present. Largemouth bass and chain pickerel dominated the sample. The pond is stocked every spring with rainbow trout, sometimes with brown trout and brook trout. Fishing: Even with the poor access, some anglers fish this pond regularly, although pressure is highest in the spring during the peak of the trout-stocking season. Shore fishermen can cast to the best trout “hole” located along the middle of the northern shore. Bass and pickerel fishing are good along the weed beds. This pond is a good bet for ice fishermen looking for pickerel action and good yellow perch. Pickerel are fairly numerous and of moderate size and at least one of the yellow perch sampled in 1979 was over a foot in length.”