by Chris Jones ·
Friday, June 5, 2026
This weekend, June 6 and 7, is Massachusetts Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend, and people can fish in any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts without a fishing license. According to Ben Baron, Bare Hill Pond harbormaster, numerous fishing holes exist in Harvard, but two of the more obvious would have to be Bare Hill Pond and the Nashua River.
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has determined that Bare Hill Pond is home to lots of fish, including pickerel, bluegill sunfish, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass, and no, the town does not stock the pond. Last year, MassWildlife visited Harvard and harvested a small sample of fish. “They put a pontoon boat on the pond which has electrodes around the bottom of the boat. Then, they push a button which sends an electric charge to the surrounding water, and this stuns the fish which float to the top and are collected,” Baron said. This collection of fish has been frozen and will be analyzed soon for chemicals such as mercury, PFAS, and pesticides. However, the results aren’t in yet. Based on what floated to the surface, MassWildlife concluded that the pond looked like a healthy, robust fishery.
In addition to the data from MassWildlife, the Park and Recreation department hosts three to four fishing derbies every year that usually involve six to eight boats. In a catch-and-release competition, anglers hope to reel in the largest bass of the day. The competition is fun, but the derbies serve another purpose as well: “The competitors track the number of fish caught and the sizes, and we use that information as part of our watershed plan and share it with MassWildlife to prove that the pond is healthy,” Baron said. This data helps confirm that the 6- to 8-foot winter drawdown isn’t impacting wildlife negatively.
Of course, people are not limited to Bare Hill Pond this weekend; the Nashua River is also an option, and for residents, the river can be accessed by visiting the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge at the end of Still River Depot Road. The river contains primarily, sunfish, yellow perch, and largemouth bass, and anglers can fish off the shore as long as they stay in the refuge. Baron recommended strict catch-and-release fishing due to the river’s history of pollution.
As for Bare Hill Pond, with the exception of largemouth bass, the fish are safe to eat according to the Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisory List. Largemouth bass are bottom-feeders and consequently ingest higher concentrations of mercury, so the Massachusetts Department of Health advises against eating them.
Baron had one fishing tip for anyone reading this article about a prime location to catch fish at Bare Hill Pond: “Over where the canoes and kayaks are stored, there’s a bench, and just off shore, there’s a steep drop-off with a steady flow of water coming through.” Supposedly, the fish love this spot, and it’s a great place to drop a line, but don’t tell anyone: It’s a secret.
After this weekend, any Massachusetts resident who is over 15 and wants to fish must obtain a license from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. For those who are 15 to 17 years old or 70 and older, the license is free, but all the fishing rules and regulations apply. Fishing licenses cost $40 per year, and anglers may be asked to produce the license when fishing, so don’t leave it at home. Good luck—and don’t let the big one get away.