Here are some of the most common questions about membership, the fishing experience and the community at the Malden Anglers Association
Is Malden Anglers fly fishing only?
From our Fall stocking, around late-September, until mid-June, only fly-fishing is allowed on Patkin Pond. Members and their guests must practice catch-and-release. During the summer months trout cannot be sustained and the pond is open to some exciting largemouth bass fishing with flies, artificial lures and worms. During the summer, spinning gear is allowed and caught fish are allowed to be kept.
What is an angler?
An angler is a person who fishes using a rod and line. The term comes from the word “angle,” which referred to early fishing hooks as far back as the 1400s. As a result, angling came to mean fishing with a hook and line. One of the earliest written references to angling appears in The Treatise of Fishing with an Angle, a historical text attributed to Dame Juliana Berners, which helped define and document the practice of recreational fishing.
Are my spouse and child allowed to fish if I'm a member?
Yes, your spouse has all of the privileges that are afforded to you as a member except voting.
A child, a junior member, between the ages of 10 and 18 must be accompanied by you when fishing and are not allowed to fish at the pond for a two-week period beginning on Opening Day in both the Spring and Fall fishing seasons. Junior members under the age of 16 are not allowed in any flotation craft on the pond. Guests under the age of ten (10) are only allowed to fish on designated Kid’s Days.
Other rules and policy for all members can be found in our complete rules and policies.
Do I need a Massachusetts fishing license to fish on Patkin Pond?
No. If you are a member of the Malden Anglers Club, or a guest of a member, you do not need a Massachusetts fishing license to fish on Patkin Pond. The fish stocked in the pond are purchased privately by the club and are not supplied by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, so a state fishing license is not required for members or their guests.
Where can I obtain a copy of Malden Angler's Rules and Policies?
A printed copy of Malden Angler's rules and policies can be obtained at clubhouse or the latest PDF version can be obtained by clicking here. If you want a visual walk through of our Rules and Policies, click this link to see the youTube Video. https://youtu.be/s3eErrvrJkU
The club is located in SAUGUS why is it called MALDEN Anglers?
This is true. Although the Malden Anglers Association is located in Saugus today, its name reflects where it began. The club was founded in 1946 by a group of friends and anglers who met in Malden, though not all were residents of the city. In 1953, the club purchased its current Saugus property, which was originally a man‑made granite quarry used in the construction of Interstate 93. The site covers about three acres, with a pond reaching depths of roughly 8–13 feet and a walking path of about one‑third of a mile around it. The pond is fed by rainwater, runoff, and a small underground spring on the east side. In 2013, it was named Patkin Pond in honor of Jordan Patkin, a military veteran and club member who helped purchase the property. As a closed pond, water leaves only through evaporation, making it especially important to protect it from contamination.