Of the approximately 8,000 square miles that makes up the state of Massachusetts, about 3% of it’s area is covered by fresh water lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, brooks, bogs and marshes. This translates into some spectacular fishing opportunities for Massachusetts and New England fishermen. Along with the fresh water opportunities, salt water anglers are encouraged by the productive fishing that takes place along Massachusetts’ 1,800 miles of coastline. A wide range of salt water species can be found and satisfy fishermen that prefer the quiet of flounder fishing or the big game excitement of white marlin and tuna fishing.

Inland fishing in the state’s many lakes, ponds, rivers and streams attract hundreds of thousands of licensed anglers each year. The numbers of kids that take to the waters of Massachusetts can only be estimated, but the numbers are sure to be impressive.

Favorite sport fish throughout Massachusetts include brook, brown and rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, white and yellow perch, calico bass, bullheads, bluegills and sunfish. Polls taken of the state’s fishermen indicate a strong preference for trout. Natural trout habitat is limited throughout the state and natural reproduction is supplemented by an aggressive trout stocking program. The brook trout, the only trout native to Massachusetts, still exists in many colder, purer and better shaded stream without the aid of stockings. Stocking of brook trout exists in limited numbers.

Atlantic salmon were taken by early settlers in great numbers. Loss of habitat, overfishing and polluted waters took their toll on this magnificent species. Natural reproduction in local rivers was brought to a halt by pollution, siltation and the construction of dams. Strict regulations, fish passages to overcome dams and an aggressive stocking program has led to limited success in bringing back the salmon.

In some of the state’s better trout lakes, where large volumes of suitable water lasts through the critical, warm summer months stocked browns and rainbows will carry over for years and yield trophy sized fish. Limited numbers of anadromous brown and brook trout ascend coastal brooks and rivers during the spring and fall.

Largemouth bass were introduced into Massachusetts waters over a hundred years ago and, finding suitable habitat here, have become common throughout he state and are highly regarded by many fishermen. Smallmouth bass were also introduced to Massachusetts and are common although fairly well distributed across the state. Chain pickerel are native to the state and are common throughout the Commonwealth. Pickerel grow to be a of impressive size with many individual fish reaching weights in excess of five pounds. Fish surveys conducted throughout the state reveal that yellow perch are the most common species found in Massachusetts. Some perch will reach lengths in excess of sixteen inches. White perch are native to coastal rivers and streams and to bodies of water that have access to the ocean. They have been successfully stocked into many inland waters and have frequently reproduced to the point that they have become a nuisance. In such circumstances white perch never grow large enough to be pursued by serious anglers. The same thing can be said for bluegills. The sunfish is generally regarded as a "trash" fish only sought after by the kids.

Fishermen eagerly await the arrival of spring which brings the shad to some of the larger rivers. These game fish are anxiously awaited by enthusiastic anglers, especially in the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers. Fish passages have aided in the restoration of the shad so they can overcome dams and return to their historic spawning grounds.

Other fish that provide sport are carp, often in excess of twenty pounds, white suckers, northern pike, walleyes and catfish.

The Berkshire Hills is a popular summer resort and winter sport area. The lakes found in this region are often hundreds of acres in size, deep and clear. Some of the best known bodies of water are Lake Onata, Lake Pontoosac, Stockbridge Bowl, Lake Buel and Lake Garfield. All of these lakes provide fishermen with excellent bass and pickerel fishing and in addition to bass and pickerel, lake Onata has given up trophy sized brown and rainbow trout. The Cheshire Reservoir is a good example of the shallow, warm water bodies of water that provide anglers with superb bass, pickerel and perch fishing. Otis Reservoir is over 1,000 acres and provides bass, pickerel, and perch activity. The best-known trout waters in Massachusetts is the Deerfield River, which flows out of Lake Whitingham, just across the Vermont boarder, winds southward along the Mohawk Trail 39 ½ miles to discharge it’s waters into the Connecticut River. The Deerfield receives thousands of hatchery trout each year. Other Berkshire trout streams are the Konkapot, the Farmington, and the Green River. Many of the smaller brooks, streams and creeks receive annual allotments of hatchery raised trout that can be caught in good numbers and are of acceptable size.

The Connecticut River originates in New Hampshire and flows 68 miles through Massachusetts, occupying over 7,000 acres of water, with it’s main stream, backwaters and bays before it enters the state of Connecticut. One of the few walleye fisheries is in the northern part of the river. Channel catfish have been taken in the oxbow near Northampton. Bass, pickerel and panfish inhabit the backwaters. There are several launching facilities and boat-livery sites throughout the river which in being used more frequently by fishermen and other users.

In 1937, a dam across the Swift River was completed for the purpose of impounding a drinking water supply for Boston. Seven years later when the impoundment reached spillway levels, it covered 40 square miles and was known as Quabbin Reservoir. Bass, pickerel, white and yellow perch comprised the catch until 1957 when anglers started to catch lake trout, brown trout and rainbow trout that were introduced in previous years. Since that time, Quabbin has been known to anglers as prime trout waters. This reputation has been well deserved as brown trout in excess of 18 pounds have been landed by experienced anglers. Large lake trout and rainbow trout have been responsible for many heart-stopping battles between angler and fish. The trout fishery is characterized by a low success rate experienced by anglers and a large average size of fish captured. About 1/5 of the reservoir remains closed to use in order to keep contaminants under control where drinking water is drawn off. Special restrictions include the limitation of motors to outboard with limited HP and the refusal to permit swimming, water skiing or any other forms of aquatic recreation with the exception of fishing and limitations on the number of fishermen in a boat. Three state operated boat liveries and launching ramps provide access to the reservoir. Besides being a well known fishing location it is also known for it’s scenic beauty and the opportunity for observing seldom-seen species of birds and animals.

In central Massachusetts, many of the shallow, weedy waters yield largemouth bass that tip the scales at better than seven and eight pounds. Examples of such ponds are Long Pond, Rutland; Whitehall Reservoir, Hopkington; the lower end of Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester; lakes Lashaway, Wickaboag and Quaboag in the Brookfield area, and the Quaboag River.

For trout fishing in the central part of the state, the most productive locations are Comet Pond, Hubbardston; Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester; Lake Mattawa, Orange; Lake Cochituate, Natick; Lake Whalom, Lunenburg; Lake Quacumquasit, Brookfield; Burnshirt and Canestro Brooks, Hubbardston; Ware River, Rutland; Quinerpoxer River, Holden and the Squannacook River in Townsend. For the most part, the trout fishery consists of put and take hatchery trout but hold over fish do get caught and have been known to reach weights of between 4 and 6 pounds.

In the thickly settles northeast part of the state bass and pickerel are found in numerous bodies of water, both large and small. Some of the better known bodies of water include Lake Quannapowit, Wakefield; Spy Pond, Arlington; Long Pond, Littleton; and the Concord and Sudbury Rivers. Some of the lesser known bass and pickerel waters are Chebacco Lake, Hamilton; Putmanville Reservoir; Danvers; Longham Reservoir and Beaver Pond in Beverly and Pillings Pond in Lynnfield. The best trout fishing opportunities can be found in Sluice Pond in Lynn, Pleasant Pond in Wenham, Lake Walden and the Shawsheen River in Bedford, the Ipswich River in Topsfield and Reading, and the Nissitissit River in Pepperell. Due to it’s heavy population , trout waters in the northeast district are heavily stocked.

The southeast portion of the state is rather low-lying and has some extensive marshes and many ponds and rivers. The generally agreed best smallmouth bass pond is Watuppa Pond near Fall River. Sawdy Pond, located just a few miles away from Watuppa Pond is another body of water that supports good smallmouth fishing. Norton Reservoir is known as a "pork barrel pond" for largemouth bass, pickerel, white and yellow perch, crappies and good sized bluegills. Largemouth bass that tip the scales at up to 10 pounds are caught here every year. Monponsett Pond in Halifax and many other ponds in these and neighboring towns boast great largemouth and pickerel fishing. Long Pond in Lakeville supports both bass and has yielded good sized white and yellow perch. Good trout fishing in this section of the state is uncommon as the area’s ponds are shallow and the streams are too warm to support trout. Suitable ponds do exist in the Plymouth and Cape Cod area.

Cape Cod is a popular summer resort area that draws vacationers from all over. The deep cool water ponds provide some of the best trout sustaining waters in the state. Some of these popular waters include Cliff Pond in Brewster, Peters Pond in Sandwich, Long Pond in Plymouth, Scargo Pond in Dennis, Shubeal Pond in Barnstable and Gull Pond in Wellfleet. Most of these ponds are less that a mile pong but contain some large trout. A brown trout weighing 19 pounds was picked up on the shore of Cliff Pond after dying of natural causes. Live shrimp are one of the most effective baits for trout fishing on the Cape.

Bass, pickerel, white and yellow perch attain large size in many of these bodies of water. Among the better warmwater fishing ponds are Lake Chequaquet in Barnstable, Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee, Santuit Pond in Mashpee, Pleasant Lake in Harwich, Depot Pond in Hampton, and Lawrence, Mystic and Middle Ponds in Sandwich.

To get a better idea of the size of fish that might be caught in Massachusetts obtain a copy of the state fish records from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Fresh water fishing opportunities in Massachusetts are endless and scores of fishermen enjoy the sport each and every year while boasting some of the best fishing in New England.