Best Fishing Spots in Massachusetts

Massachusetts splits its water almost evenly between natural lakes and reservoirs, a balance found in few other states. The reservoirs are largely a legacy of building water supply for Boston and the mill towns, so many are closed to boats or carry access restrictions that the natural ponds do not. Elevation is low, from 22 metres below sea level to 625 metres with a median near 50, so nothing here works on altitude and the season is set by latitude alone. Only 14 counties cover the state, each small and densely populated, which means almost every mapped water sits within a short drive of a town and pressure is spread thin across many small waters rather than concentrated on a few. The coast adds saltwater fishing under separate rules. Counted up, our listings for Massachusetts come to 1,883 waters in 14 counties. Expect mostly natural lakes, plus a good share of reservoirs. Quabbin Reservoir tops the list for size at around 38 sq miles. Typical winters here average 25°F, with summers near 71°F. Expect the ice to go around mid March in a normal year. The names that come up most in records are pumpkinseed, bluegill, chain pickerel and yellow perch....