Thousand Acre Swamp Pond
If you like weedy lakes that contain big largemouth bass, try fishing the 155-acre Thousand Acre Swamp Pond in New Marlborough. This pond has a maximum depth of about 8 feet near the outflow dam. Its average depth is only about 4 feet. The shoreline is almost completely wooded and protected by Campbell's Falls State Park.

Water transparency is considered to be poor. Pick either very bright or very dark lure colors, to help the bass see your offerings.

Aquatic vegetation is abundant, covering about half of the pond. Also, submerged tree stumps offer the bass more protection from the sun and predators.

According to MassWildlife, there is so much cover (including weedbeds and tree stumps) on Thousand Acre Swamp Pond that anglers may have trouble deciding where to fish!

Growth rates for largemouth bass are fast, and large fish are relatively common. Because of the weeds, surface or weedless lures are mandatory.

Golden shiners and crayfish make up the main bass forage in Thousand Acre Swamp Pond. Anglers can expect to catch plenty of foot-long yellow perch and chain pickerel along with bass.

Access is provided through a state-owned boat-launching ramp suitable for shallow-draft boats, cartoppers and canoes.

Parking space is limited to about eight vehicles, so during busy summer weekends, anglers should plan to arrive early in the morning.

From Route 7 in Great Barrington, take Route 183 south for about nine miles. Turn south onto Route 272 toward Southfield. After four miles, turn left onto Hotchkiss Road to the access area.

Massachusetts's resident fishing license fees are $27.50 for the season. Non-resident license fees are $37.50 for the season, or $23.50 for a three- day permit. Anglers between the ages of 15 and 17 must purchase an $11.50 junior fishing permit.

For fishing and licensing information, contact the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02114; or call (617) 626-1590.

According to MassWildlife, there is so much cover (including weedbeds and tree stumps) on Thousand Acre Swamp Pond that anglers may have trouble deciding where to fish!

For tourism information, write to the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4510, Boston, MA 02116; or call 1-800-227-MASS.

RHODE ISLAND
Stafford Lake
Most Rhode Island ponds are small and restrictive, but 476-acre Stafford Lake in Tiverton is the exception.

One of the largest lakes in the state, Stafford Lake is oval-shaped with a deep basin of 22 feet. It has an average depth of 15 feet. Anglers will find a convoluted shoreline with numerous points and shoal reefs.

These points are important to anglers because smallmouth bass are the primary target in this lake.

The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife doesn't have a scientific basis to judge the growth rates of smallmouth bass in the Ocean State because these fish are scarce around the state. But anglers frequently report catching trophy-class smallies from the lake every year.