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Fly Fishing in Massachusetts

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Massachusetts, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Big Pond (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Berkshire County pond with trout. Otis area fishing.
Blackstone River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Trout)
Worcester County river with bass and trout. Industrial heritage corridor.
Boston Harbor (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Flounder)
Urban striped bass fishing. Harbor islands and channels.
Buckley-Dunton Lake (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Berkshire County reservoir with trout. Becket area.
Buzzards Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Scup)
Excellent striped bass and bluefish. Diverse structure and flats.
Cape Cod Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Flounder)
Excellent striped bass fishing with spring migration. Fly fishing the flats.
Cape Cod Canal (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Tautog)
Famous striped bass fishery connecting Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay. Strong currents.
Charles River (Largemouth Bass, Carp, Pickerel)
Greater Boston river with bass and carp. Urban fishing opportunity.
Cheshire Reservoir (Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Pickerel)
Berkshire County reservoir with bass and trout. Scenic mountain setting.
Cliff Pond (Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Pickerel)
Cape Cod pond in Nickerson State Park. Trout and bass.
Concord River (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Panfish)
Historic Middlesex County river with bass and pickerel. Thoreau's fishing waters.
Congamond Lakes (Largemouth Bass, Calico Bass, Panfish)
Hampden County lakes with bass and panfish. Southwick area.
Deerfield River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Western Massachusetts' premier trout river. Catch-and-release sections with excellent hatches.
Essex Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish)
Essex County estuary with striped bass. Fly fishing the flats.
Farmington River (MA) (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Massachusetts section near Otis with wild trout. Scenic mountain stream.
Goose Pond (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Berkshire County pond with trout. Lee/Tyringham area.
Green River (MA) (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Berkshire County stream with wild trout. Popular fly fishing destination.
Housatonic River (MA) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Berkshire County river with wild brown trout. Scenic mountain valley.
Lake Buel (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Panfish)
Berkshire County lake with bass and panfish. Monterey area.
Lake Wyola (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Panfish)
Franklin County lake with bass and panfish. Shutesbury area.
Laurel Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Bass)
Berkshire County lake with trout. Lee/Lenox area.
Long Pond (Plymouth) (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Perch)
Plymouth County pond with bass and pickerel. Large warmwater fishery.
Martha's Vineyard (Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore)
Island with world-class striped bass fishing. Legendary surf spots.
Mashpee-Wakeby Pond (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pickerel)
Cape Cod pond with bass and pickerel. Excellent fly fishing.
Merrimack River Estuary (Striped Bass, Bluefish, American Shad)
Newburyport area with striped bass. Plum Island access.
Metacomet Lake (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel)
Hampden County lake with bass fishing. Belchertown area.
Millers River (Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
North-central Massachusetts river with smallmouth bass and trout. Good float fishing.
Monomoy Island (Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore)
Cape Cod National Wildlife Refuge with trophy striped bass. Remote flats fishing.
Nantucket (Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore)
Island with excellent striper fishing. Great Point and surrounding flats.
Nashua River (Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pickerel)
North-central Massachusetts river with bass and pike. Restoration success.
Nauset Beach (Striped Bass, Bluefish)
Cape Cod outer beach with striped bass. Classic surf fishing.
Nissitissit River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
North-central Massachusetts stream with wild trout. Technical small stream.
North Shore (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Mackerel)
Essex County coastline with striped bass. Rocky shoreline and estuaries.
North Watuppa Pond (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Panfish)
Bristol County pond with bass and panfish. Fall River area.
Onota Lake (Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Perch)
Berkshire County lake with trout and bass. Pittsfield area.
Peters Pond (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Cape Cod pond with trout. Sandwich area kettle pond.
Pleasant Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore)
Cape Cod bay with striped bass. Chatham area flats fishing.
Plum Island (Striped Bass, Bluefish)
Barrier beach with excellent striped bass surf fishing. Parker River Refuge.
Pontoosuc Lake (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Panfish)
Berkshire County lake with bass and panfish. Pittsfield area.
Quabbin Reservoir (Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Massachusetts' largest reservoir with landlocked salmon and lake trout. Limited access.
Quaboag River (Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Central Massachusetts river with trout and bass. Good public access.
Race Point (Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore)
Provincetown area with striped bass and bluefish. Cape Cod National Seashore.
Squannacook River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Middlesex County stream with wild brown trout. Townsend area fishing.
Sudbury River (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Carp)
Middlesex County river with bass fishing. Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge.
Swift River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Quabbin Reservoir tailwater with trophy trout. Year-round catch-and-release fishing.
Wachusett Reservoir (Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, Brown Trout)
Worcester County reservoir with landlocked salmon and trout. Shore fishing.
Walden Pond (Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, Perch)
Historic Concord pond made famous by Thoreau. Bass and panfish.
Waquoit Bay (Striped Bass, Bluefish, Scup)
Cape Cod estuary with striped bass and blue crabs. National Estuarine Reserve.
Ware River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Central Massachusetts stream with wild trout. Quabbin watershed.
Westfield River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Wild and Scenic River with wild trout. Three branches offer diverse fishing.

Fly Fishing in Massachusetts

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