They Call It Fishing Not Catching
Updated: 5 hours ago
Where to cast in the Berkshires this Fall
By Scott Edward Anderson
Thirty years ago, I was living in Alaska, working for the Nature Conservancy. Our big project that year was trying to protect a pieceof property at the mouth of Lower Talarik Creek, which empties into the Bristol Bay watershed. Every fall, the endemic rainbow trout would follow the salmon up the creek toward their spawning grounds and take as many fish as they could get away with, as would the brown bears, and the anglers followed the trout—people flew in from all over the world for it. General Norman Schwarzkopf fished that creek while we were working on the deal and caughtthe biggest trout of his life there. I spent a fair amount of that year hip-deep in waders at the mouth of the creek, casting a fly rod, trying to raise money from anglers while catching fish, though I always let the potential donors catch the best and the most. It’s an experience I’ve never forgotten.
My oldest son, Jasper, was born in Alaska that same year, and by the time he was eight he caught the fishing bug too, albeit not my version of it.His uncles were spin-casting, bait and tackle-box guys, and that’s the direction Jasper went in and has stuck with; he still makes trips out with his uncles and cousins every chance he gets, and he fishes when he comes to visit me here in the Berkshires. I used to tell him, as I told all our kids when they’d get frustrated after a day with nothing to show for it, “That’s why they call it fishing, not catching.” That line came back to me more than once while I was reporting this piece.
Fall is a prime time for fishing in the Berkshires, whether you’ve been fishing for decades or you’re just a kid putting a worm on a hook for the first time. The fish know winter is coming, and they start to eat like it. I called around to some people who spend a lot more time on our waters than I do these days: Andrew Madden at MassWildlife, Harry Desmond of Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing, and Brad Havill, who I wrote about a couple issues back for the lures he makes up in Richmond (“Lost Art Lures,” Spring 2026). Here is the advice they gave me to pass on to you.
FISH ARE BITING IN THE FALL
Andrew Madden has worked for MassWildlife’s Western District office since 2000, so he’s watched a lot of Berkshire County seasons turn over. What he likes about fishing out here, he tells me, is the range of opportunities. Inside a 20-minute drive, you can go from a tiny wild trout stream to a big river like the Westfield or the Housatonic or set up on a lake. “There’s just so much opportunity for anglers to pick and choose and find the right place,” he says.
Come October, the water cools, and fish that have lain relatively dormant or lethargic in the warmth of the summer waters come out from the shady pools. “We start to see some of the fall spawning trout moving around a little bit more, so they’re more active,” Madden says. MassWildlife stocks the Deerfield River in the fall (Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, and Deerfield) and the broader Deerfield River watershed (Florida, Monroe, and Colrain). It also stocks the East Branch of the Westfield River in Cummington and Chesterfield in years when water levels are suitable, which gives stream fishing a boost right when it’s needed. They do not stock the Housatonic or Farmington rivers in the fall, however.
In the ponds, fish that had pulled back into deeper, cooler water over the summer start moving into the shallows again as temperatures drop, which is when bassand panfish action picks back up. “It’s a combination of all those things,” says Madden: more fish activity, decent water levels, good conditions for wading or boating. Late September into October, in his words, “makes for a really nice fishing season.”
Harry Desmond, who’s been guiding fly fishing trips out of the Berkshires for 16 years as the founder of Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing, sees the same shift from the riverside, species by species. Smallmouth bass, which is the fish of choice for his summer trips on the Housatonic, start slowing down once the water cools, but northern pike wake up right around then. “Trophy fishing,” he calls it, “not a numbers game,” the kind of outing where landing one good fish rather than a bucket of them is the goal. And trout fishing, which his shop mostly sits out during the heat of summer because the water gets too warm to fish them responsibly, comes back online. “Fall can be a great time for fishing,” he says. “It’s one of my favorite times, as long as we’re having ‘normal weather,’ whatever that is these days.” After a wet summer like the one we’ve had, there should be enough water running in our streams come Fall for good fishing.
RIVERS
If your preference is a fly rod, the Housatonic is still the region’s marquee water. Desmond runs most of his trips there, in drift boats, plus the Hoosic up in the North County and, when conditions call for it, the Farmington just over the Connecticut line. Desmond doesn’t run trips on the Deerfield, but MassWildlife’s Madden points to it as a genuine fall destination in its own right, along with the branches of the Westfield River, particularly the East Branch, which runs along Route 9 down through Chesterfield Gorge and is, in his description, simply a beautiful stretch of water to fish.
Both Madden and Desmond flagged the two Green Rivers in western Massachusetts. Madden mentioning the Green, which flows from Southern Vermont through North County and into the Deerfield, while Desmond specifically noted the one in Great Barrington as good water that a lot of people pass up in favor of the Housatonic. The trouble with many rivers, streams, and creeks is access. “If all the rivers in Berkshire County were more accessible, you’d find more people fishing them,” Desmond says. A fair amount of the best water sits behind private land, or requires a difficult hike to reach, which keeps it quieter than it might otherwise be. That’s good for you if you’re willing to do the hiking; less so, if you’re not.
Madden also names Konkapot Brookin the southern part of the county as one of our better cold-water fisheries. Berkshire County, he told me, has the best wild trout populations and the best trout water in the state, a product of the high-elevation, high-energy streams that stay cold enough through the summer to support them.
If you’re newer to this sport, both gentlemen suggest avoiding the bigger rivers. The Housatonic’s catch-and-release section is popular and interesting water, Madden says, but “maybe not the place I would direct somebody who’s fishing for the first time.” Desmond and his team enjoy teaching beginners, and he estimates a 98 percent catch rate among first-timers he takes out. His approach is built around a guide managing the day and the expectations, not somebody wading in a cold current alone for the first time.
LAKES AND PONDS
For shore access without a guide, or for taking a kid out for an hour, Madden recommends Onota and Laurel lakes, and Cheshire Reservoir, which have strong public access. Brad Havill, who makes the timeless “Lost Art Lures” I wrote about, breaks down his recommendations by species whenI ask him where he sends anglers. For largemouth bass: Shaw Pond in Otis, Stockbridge Bowl, and Richmond Pond. For smallmouth bass or pike: Pontoosuc and Onota lakes in Pittsfield or the Otis Reservoir. “Granted, there are crossovers with some of those species,” he says, “and most of them would work year-round for open water and ice fishing.”
My 30-year-old son Jasper, who’s fished Laurel Lake, which sits across the town line of Lee and Lenox, calls it “the Berkshires at its finest.”
“You drive down what looks like an unassuming gravel road, when suddenly you’re greeted by a stunning panorama,” he says. Jasper likes the place not just for the view, but for its “unobstructed fishing access”—a long, clear stretch of shoreline with little in the way of snags or choking vegetation, which plagues so many ponds and lakes for the angler. Whether you’re tossinga basic worm rig for panfish or working larger lures for bass as the water cools, he says, Laurel Lake offers that rare combination of easy access, clean water, and room to cast.
Desmond’s advice for anyone with a young kid and an hour to spare says skip the fly rod and the river and head for a lake. “We have a ton of fantastic lakes in the area with really easy access,” he says; not his specialty, by his own admission, but the easiest possible way to get someone out on the water and into a fish without (for the most part) frustration.
WHAT TO BRING AND RULES TO FOLLOW
“People shouldn’t get too hung up on the gear,” Madden says. It’s about being out there on the water, enjoying the outdoors. For stocked trout in particular, Madden’s advice
is to go for buoyant lures or flashy spoons, but you can keep it as simple as a worm and a bobber and have a good day. That’s also, incidentally, the best way I’ve found to get a reluctant kid interested in fishing. At first, they might get grossed out hooking the worm, but then they’re hooked (Dad joke intended), checking the line every ten seconds to see if the worm is still there. When they land a fish for the first time, their smile can’t be beat.
There’s no new rules to worry about this fall specifically; no seasonal gear restrictions or new catch limits kicking in with the season change, according to Madden. There aresome limits, though, that shift by stream or river. All of these are posted in MassWildlife’s printed guides, available anywhere that sellsa license, and on the state’s website. The interactive “Go Fish MA!” map, which you can find at mass.gov, is worth a look before you head out; it’ll tell you what’s open and where the access points are. Anyone 15 or older must have a license, which you can buy online or in person, and it’s good statewide.
Some fish are illegal to take; others have strict catch limits, including size and number. Check the Massachusetts freshwater fishing regulations before you take any fish. And check the state department of health advisory before eating any fish from Berkshire waters. (See sidebar on this page.)
ONE MORE THING
Fall fishing can be especially fun for several reasons: the summer crowds are (mostly) gone; the fish are getting ready for winter; the fall foliage inches towards its peak; and for a few weeks, the county’s rivers and lakes are about as good as they get. “And there are fewer bugs,” Madden reminds me. “It’s a great time to introduce people to fishing.”
I haven’t picked up a rod in longer than I care to admit. In reporting this piece, I caught myself more than once thinking about digging the gear out of the garage. This is the fall I’ll do it. And for those of you making plans to go fishing soon, “tight lines.”
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
License required. Anyone 15 or older needs a Massachusetts fishing license, available online through Mass.gov.
Catch limits vary by water type and date. All lakes, ponds, and major rivers (as outlined in MassWildlife’s Hunting & Fishing Guide) are open year-round to fishing, with a trout daily creel limit of three. The Housatonic River, also open year-round, has a daily creel limit of one trout of a minimum 20” in length. All other rivers and brooks are open year-round for fishing, with daily creel limits for trout of eight fish between April 1 to September10, then three trout from September 11 to March 31 of the following year. (It’s always good advice for anglers to review the guide before heading out.)
Can I eat it? Certain water bodies carry strict “no-eat” warnings due to industrial toxins, while others limit consumption to specific species or meal frequencies. For instance, the Housatonic River advisory for adults is “Do not eat any fish (also includes frogs and turtles)” and for Pontoosuc Lake, it’s “limit Largemouth Bass to 2 meals/month; Limit other species to 1 meal/week.” Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisory Lookup Table at mass.gov.
Catch-and-release, artificial-lures- only water. The Fife Brook section of the Deerfield and stretches of the Housatonic are catch-and-release with gear restrictions; in other words, bait fishing isn’t allowed there.
Trout stocking runs through fall. MassWildlife stocks roughly 60,000 to 70,000 trout across the state’s waters each fall, and the daily stocking report at mass.gov/trout is worth checking the morning of a trip.
THE SHORT LIST
FOR THE FLY ROD
Housatonic River, Sheffield/Great Barrington/Stockbridge/LeeThe “Housy” is the Berkshire’s signature fly-fishing water, featuring both trout and a good smallmouth bass population. The catch-and-release stretch running from Sheffield up toward Lenox is where the technical dry-fly and streamer fishing happens; best suited to anglers who’ve spent some time on moving water. Trout fishing picks back up here as temperatures fall; smallmouth stay active into September.
Deerfield River, Fife Brook Section, Florida/Savoy About 25 minutes east of North Adams, the mile-and-a-half stretch below Fife Brook Dam is a cold-water tailwater with year-round releases, holding brook, brown, and rainbow trout. It’s catch- and-release, artificial-lures-only water, and the current can be strong when the dam is generating. This is a good one for experienced anglers. Fall streamer fishing here is a local favorite as the trout turn aggressive.
FOR THE SPIN ROD
Onota Lake, Pittsfield A 617-acre lake with a boat launch at Burbank Park and a fishing pier for those without a boat. Onota is stocked annually with rainbow trout and holds a healthy population of largemouth bass and big northern pike. Good option for anglers who want lake access without owning a boat.
Pontoosuc Lake, Pittsfield/Lanesborough
Best known for yellow perch and panfish, with a new boardwalk and several shore- access points that make it easy for beginners or anyone fishing with kids. Popular for both open-water fishing now and ice fishing later in the winter.
Farnams Road Causeway, Cheshire Reservoir, Cheshire The causeway splits the reservoir and gives you piers on the north side and a boat launch on the south, plus a bait shop if you forgot something. Largemouth bass is the draw, with pike also in the mix.
Stockbridge Bowl (Mahkeenac Lake), Stockbridge A scenic lake that fishes well from shore or boat, holding trout, bass, and sunfish. A good all-purpose stop if your group has mixed skill levels or mixed target species.
Laurel Lake, Lenox/Lee Panoramic views, clean water, and a long, snag-free shoreline that suits everyone from kids with starter rods to seasoned anglers chasing trout and bass.
SPOTS FOR BEGINNERS OR FAMILIES
Windsor Lake, North Adams Known locally as “Fish Pond,” this small lake is stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout plus chain pickerel, and has a seasonal beach, dairy bar, and campground.
Benedict Pond, Beartown State Forest, Great Barrington A pier, a picnic area, a beach, and trails around the water make this a good choice for a family outing built around fishing rather than fishing built around endurance. Largemouth bass and pickerel are the main catches.
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