The most abundant fish in this pond are golden shiners and largemouth bass. Fishing pressure is high, however, with the result that there are few bass larger than 12 to 15 inches. Pan-fish are also fished hard, and in general are below average in size and numbers. Despite the relatively small average size of the fish here, this pond continues to provide fair to good fishing action, particularly for those camping out in the state forest. It should also be a good place to trap shiners.
Description
Benedict Pond is a shallow, 35 acre man-made lake at a surface elevation of 1,580 ft. It supplies Stony Brook, a tributary of the Housatonic River.
This dense forest was mostly cleared throughout the early 1800s for farming and grazing. The remaining forest was practically stripped away in the later part of the 1800s for charcoal to fuel local iron furnaces. Fred Benedict, for whom Benedict Pond was named, once owned the surrounding farmlands. He and other farmers would cut ice from what was then a much smaller pond in winter and haul it by sled to his barns, where insulated with hay, it would keep his dairy products cool during the summer. His house, Blue Hill Farm, still remains nearby. In 1921 the state acquired the land from later owners lumber dealer Warren H. Davis who had cleared off much of the timber, and the former estate of millionaire Fred Pearson.
A five dollar use fee per car may have to be paid during peak season. I have personally only paid it once in all my visits over the years.
Repair of the Dam in 2012
Built in the 1930s, Benedict Pond was created for visitors to enjoy water related recreational activities in the state forest, but the poor state of the dam challenged DCR’s ability to safely continue those activities at the site. The area reopened 23 October 2012 after a $630,000 rehabilitation project to significantly improve the infrastructure of the dam.
The project included reconstructing the dam’s upstream-facing construction, re-grading the dam crest and downstream slope, adding a universal access pathway across the entire 800 feet of the dam crest and improving day-use facilities that were disturbed by the construction work on the dam. The universal access path features an accessible deck over the spillway; the path now links the beach and parking area to campsites on the other side of the dam.
The pond’s parking area, picnic tables, benches and five campsites were also restored, offering parking for approximately 75 vehicles. The pond now boasts 12 campsites – with some of the sites right on the water.
Paddle Description
This small pond is very isolated and receives few visitors. As a result, it is possible to find yourself completely alone in the area and possibly the only boat on the pond.
Hikers may be seen all the way around the pond on the pond loop trail. At the east end of the pond the AT (Appalachian Trail) passes. On the South West shore is camping and the south shore has a small beach and beach house.