Northfield Mountain Reservoir, Massachusetts: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Northfield Mountain Reservoir lies in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Height above sea level is 965 feet. At about 237 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On our Franklin County list it sits near the top for size. Erving at 2.3 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 37 miles to Springfield, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Northfield Mountain Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name brook trout, white sucker, bluegill and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Northfield Mountain Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 70°F and January about 21°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. At Northfield Mountain Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A picnic site 0.9 miles off makes this workable with family in tow. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Laurel Lake, 3.3 miles away. None of that is settled for Northfield Mountain Reservoir in what we hold.