Dunbar Brook Reservoir near Charlemont: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Dunbar Brook Reservoir is one of the Franklin County waters in Massachusetts. It lies 1,066 feet above sea level. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. Our Franklin County list holds plenty of bigger water. Charlemont lies 6.8 miles from the water. North Adams is 7.8 miles and Adams 9.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Dunbar Brook Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Franklin County include brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Dunbar Brook Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 19°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Dunbar Brook Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A car park lies 170 yards away, so the walk in is short. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Lower Reservoir Bear Swamp is 1.4 miles distant. Rules at Dunbar Brook Reservoir are worth checking on the day.