Fishing
Massachusetts Freshwater Sportfishing

Fresh Water Sportfishing Awards
Awards for prize freshwater fish are offered in 21 categories. Each qualified entry receives a bronze pin. The largest fish in each category receives a "gold" pin and a plaque. Refer to Abstracts for minimum weight and entry requirements.

Massachusetts Freshwater Sportfishing Records
As of January 2002


Species
Lbs/Oz
Water
Angler
Year
American Shad
11/4
Connecticut River
Bob Thibodo
1986
Broodstock Salmon
22/15
Lake Mattawa, Orange
Donald Savoy
1997
Brook Trout
6/4
Otis Reservoir, Otis
Thomas Laptew
1968
Brown Trout
19/10
Wachusett Reservoir
Dana Deblois
1966
Bullhead
3/8
Stiles Pond, Boxford
Roger Aziz, Jr.
1985
Bullhead
3/8
Whitehall Lake, Rutland
Janet Bourgeois
1978
Carp
44/2
Connecticut River
Roger Pyzocha
1993
Chain Pickerel
9/5
Laurel Lake, Lee
Mrs. James Martin
1954
Channel Catfish
26/8
Ashfield Lake, Ashfield
Dana Dodge
1989
Crappie
4/10
Jake's Pond, Plymouth
James Crowley
1980
Lake Trout
22/10
Quabbin Reservoir
Anthony Wieczorek
1988
Landlocked Salmon
10/2
Wachusett Reservoir
Richard Gagne
1985
Largemouth Bass
15/8
Sampson’s Pond, Carver
Walter Bolonis
1975
Northern Pike
35/0
South Pond, Brookfield
Don Greenwood Jr
1988
Rainbow Trout
13/13
Wachusett Reservoir
Jeffrey Greco
1999
Smallmouth Bass
8/2
Wachusett Reservoir
Barbara Sasen
1991
Sunfish
2/1
S Athol Pond, Athol
Heather Bulger
1982
Tiger Muskellunge
27/0
Lake Pontoosuc, Pittsfield
James Lambert
2001
Tiger Trout
3/12
Upper Wright Pond, Ashby
Dave Maillet
2000
Walleye
11/0
Quabbin Reservoir
Robert Methot
1975
White Catfish
9/3
Baddacook Pond, Groton
Michael Payne
1987
White Perch
3/2
Wachusett Reservoir
Ray Richford
1994
Yellow Perch
2/12
S Watuppa Pond, Fall River
James O’Conner
1979


Sport Fishing Awards Program    Revised 07/99
List of Weigh Station Sorted By District By Town

Central District:
D & C Bait & Tackle
Cherry Valley
(508) 892-9037
Flagg1s Fly & Tackle
Orange
(978) 544-0034
Glenco Farms
East Brookfield
(508) 867-2173
Jerry's Bait & Tackle
Milford
(508) 473-9748
Jim’s Gun & Tackle
Townsend
(978) 597-2382
MDFW Field Headquarters
Westborough
(508) 792-7270
Northeast Live Bait & Tackle
Oxford
(508) 987-1890
Quabbin Connection
Rutland
(508) 886-2723
Quaboag Sporting Goods
East Brookfield
(508) 867-6520
Ric’s Bait & Tackle
Leomlnster
(978) 537-0065
Sportsmen’s Cellar
Fiskdale
(508) 347-3214
Wachusett Bait & Tackle
West Boylston
(508) 835-2462
Webster Lake Sporting Goods
Webster
(508) 943-6309

Connecticut Valley District               
Fish On
Holyoke
(413) 538-7105
Gate 42 Bait & Tackle
Ware
(413) 967-3758
Gate 8 Boat And Bait
Belchertown
(413) 323-7117
MDFW Conn Valley District
Belchertown
(413) 323-7632
Pioneer Sporting Goods
Northampton
(413) 584-9944
R & R Sport Shop
Belchertown
(413) 323-6785
Red Bridge Bait & Tackle
Ludlow
(413) 589-7957
Valley Sports Shop
Easthampton
(413) 527-9728

Northeast:
Arlington Bait & Tackle
Arlington
(617) 646-5598
Aziz, Roger Jr.
Methuen
(978) 975-0586
Bob’s Bait Shack
Winthrop
(617) 846-5896
Bridge Road Bait & Tackle
Salisbury
(978) 465-3321
Fishing FlNatics
Everett
(617) 381-1997
Fishing Tackle Annex
Hudson
(978) 568-0575
Fore River Fishing Tackle
Quincy
(617) 770-1397
Great Outdoors
Lynn
(781) 599-3322
Lake & Surf
Salem
(978) 744-2462
Lunkers Bait & Tackle Co
Ashland
(508) 381-0031
McDonalds Archery & Fishing
East Weymouth
(781) 335-1769
Merrmack Bait & Tackle
Merrimac
(978) 346-8335
Neponset Circle Fishing
Dorchester
(617) 436-9231
New Salem Bait & Tackle
Wakefield
(781) 224-1922
North Walpole Fish & Game
Norwood
(781) 762-3038
Pete’s BaIt & Tackle
Salem
(978) 744-9000
Surfland Bait & Tackle
Newbury
(978) 462-4202
The Bait Bucket
Waltham
(781) 891-3540
The Bait Bucket
Dedham
(781) 891-3540

Southeast:
Bass River Bait & Tackle
West Dennis
(508) 394-8666
Blackbeards Bait & Tackle
North Eastham
(508) 240-3369
Brewster Flats Fishing & Outfitters
Brewster
(508) 396-2460
Bucko Brothers
Fall River
(508) 674-6036
Budd's Bait & Tackle
Buzzards Bay
(508) 759-6600
Burgess Bait & Tackle
Norton
(508) 235-0003
Canal Bait & Tackle
Plymouth
(508) 833-2996
Cape Cod Charlie’s
Buzzards Bay
(508) 759-2611
Dockside Bait & Tackle, Inc
New Bedford
(508) 996-8682
Eastman’s Sport & Tackle
Falmouth
(508) 548-6900
Forestdale Bait & Taclke
Forestdale
(508) 539-8952
G & R Bait & Tackle
Brockton
(508) 587-7215
Goin’ Fishin’
New Bedford
(508) 993-1559
Goose Hummock Shop
Orleans
(508) 255-0455
Halifax Bait & Tackle
Halifax
(781) 294-4840
Jimbo’s Bait & Tackle
Taunton
(508) 824-6127
John’s Bait & Tackle
New Bedford
(508) 998-8886
M & D’s Bait & Tackle
Wareham
(508) 291-0820
Maco’s Bait & Tackle
Buzzards Bay
(508) 759-9836
Main Bait & Tackle
Fall River
(508) 679-3853
Murat’s Bait & Tackle
N Attleboro
(508) 695-1240
Nantucket Anglers’ Club
Nantucket
(508) 228-2299
North River Bait & Tackle
Pembroke
(781) 829-9090
One-Shot Outdoor Sports
Buzzards Bay
(508) 833-3500
Plymouth Rod & Gun Club
Plymouth
(508) 746-9805
Red Top Sporting Goods
Buzzards Bay
(508) 759-3371
Riverview Bait & Tackle
S Yarmouth
(508) 394-1036
Sports Port
Hyannis
(508) 775-3096
The Bait Shack
Orleans
(508) 240-1575
The Tackle Shop
Plymouth
(508) 746-7429
Tom's Wholesale Bait
Middleboro
(508) 947-8220
Trask Tackle Company
North Scituate
(781) 345-4228
Truman's Bait & Tackle
West Yarmouth
(508) 771-3470
Uncle Ken's Bait & Tackle
New Bedford
(508) 991-3022
Wankinquoah Rod & Gun
Middleboro
(508) 295-9877

Western
MDFW Western District
Pittsfield
(413) 447-9739
Onota Boat Livery
Pittsfield
(413) 442-1724
Sportsmen’s Stop, Beckwith’s
Gt Barrington
(413) 528-2356
Taylor's Hardware
Ashfield
(423) 628-4472


Stocking Information

TIGER TROUT
Tiger trout are a hybrid trout produced by fertilizing female brown trout eggs with male brook trout sperm. The name tiger trout stems from the appearance of the adult fish, which have beautiful tiger-like stripes on their backs. The tiger trout being stocked this year by the Division are from the Sandwich and Sunderland State Fish Hatcheries. The Division will be stocking a total of about 9,500 two year old tiger trout averaging about 14 inches long in 1999.

WATERS WHERE TIGER TROUT WILL BE STOCKED

WESTERN WILDLIFE DISTRICT (413-447-9789)
Deerfield River, Westfield River, Onota Lake, Laurel Lake, Windsor Pond, Stockbridge Bowl, Windsor Pond

CONNECTICUT VALLEY WILDLIFE DISTRICT (413-323-7632)
Chicopee Reservoir, Cranberry Pond, Forrest Lake, Lake Mattawa, Lake Metacomet, Holland Pond, Lake Nashawannuck, Puffers Pond, Watershops Pond, Westfield River, Hamilton Reservoir, Chicopee River (Red Bridge Impoundment)

CENTRAL WILDLIFE DISTRICT (508-835-3607)
Comet Pond, Big Alum Pond, Browning Pond, Lake Dennison, Fort Pond, Long Pond, South Pond, Lake Ouinsigamond, Webster Lake, Whalom Lake

NORTHEAST WILDLIFE DISTRICT (978-263-4347)
Squannacook River, Nissitissit River, Hopkinton Reservoir, Baddacook Pond, Lake Cochituate, Ashland Reservoir, Whites Pond, Walden Pond, Houghtens Pond, Jamaica Pond, Lake Pearl, Knops Pond, Long Sought For Pond, Dug Pond, Horn Pond

SOUTHEAST WILDLIFE DISTRICT (508-759-3406)
Cliff Pond, Crystal Lake, Flax Pond, Fearings Pond, Goose Pond, Crews Pond, Hathaway Pond. Little Pond, Long Pond, Lout Pond, Marys Pond, Peters Pond, Scargo Lake, Sheep Pond

SPRING BROODSTOCK SALMON STOCKED WATERS

Central Wildlife District  (508-835-3607)
Wallum Lake,  Whalom Lake, Comet Pond, Lake Quinsigamond, Webster Lake

Connecticut Valley Wildlife District  (413-323-7632)
Lake Mattawa,  Five Mile and Sheomet Ponds, Congamond and Metacomet Lakes

Western Wildlife District   (413-447-9789)
Laurel & Onota Lakes,  Stockbridge Bowl, Windsor & Goose Ponds

Southeast Wildlife District  (508-759-3406)
Little Pond, Long Pond (Plymouth), Peters Pond, Cliff Pond, Sheep Pond

Northeast Wildlife District  (978-263-4347)
Baddacook, Horn, Whites, and Sluce Ponds, Lakes Cochituate and Saltonstall,
Forest Lake and Hopkinton Reservoir

Best Bets For Bass

Bass are found in the majority of freshwater habitats in Mass., but these waters, based on fisheries sampling and angler reports, offer some of the very best bass fishing opportunities.

WESTERN DISTRICT

LARGEMOUTH BASS:
Ashmere Lake, Hinsdale; Benedict Pond, Monterey; Lake Buel, Monterey, Cheshire Reservoir, Cheshire; Lake Garfield, Monterey; Goose Pond, Lee; Laurel Lake, Lee; Onota Lake, Pittsfield; Pontoosuc Lake, Pittsfield; Three Mile Pond, Sheffield

SMALLMOUTH BASS:
Center Pond, Becket; Garfield Lake, Monterey; Goose Pond, Lee ; Greenwater Pond, Becket; Norwich Lake, Huntington; Sherman Reservoir, Rowe

CONNECTICUT VALLEY DISTRICT:

LARGEMOUTH BASS:
Congamond Lakes, Southwick; Cranberry Lake, Sunderland; Forest Lake, Palmer; George Lake, Wales; Hamilton Reservoir, Holland; Hampton Pond, Westfield; Little Alum Pond, Brimfield; Metacomet Pond. Belchertown; Quabbin Reservoir, New Salem; Warner Lake, Hadley

SMALLMOUTH BASS:
Quabbin Reservoir, New Salem

LARGEMOUTH BASS RIVERS:
Chicopee River, Chicopee, Ludlow, Wilbraham; Connecticut River and Oxbow Rivers; Quinebaug River, Holland

SMALLMOUTH BASS RIVERS:
Connecticut River; Swift River, Belchertown; Westfield River

NORTHEAST DISTRICT

LARGEMOUTH BASS:
Althea Lake, Tyngsboro; Ashland Reservoir, Ashland; Baddacook Pond, Groton; Chebacco Lake, Wenham; Lake Cochituate (North, Middle, South), Framingham, Natick, Wayland; Crystal Lake (Newfield Pond), Chelmsford; Cutler Pond, Needham; Dug Pond, Natick; Farm Pond, Framingham; Flint Pond, Tyngsboro; Forest Lake, Methuen; Forge Pond, Westford; Fort Meadow Pond, Hudson; Gardner Lake, Arnesbury; Jamaica Pond, Boston; Knops Pond, Groton; Massapoag Lake, Dunstable; North Pond, Hopkinton and Milford; Nutttng's Pond, Billerica; Lake Pearl, Wrentham; Ponkapoag Pond, Randolph; Quannapowitt Lake, Wakefield; Saltonstall Lake, Haverhill; Spectacle Pond, Litfieton; Stiles Pond, West Boxford; Whitehall Lake, Hopkinton

LARGEMOUTH BASS RIVERS
Assabet River, Hudson, Stow; Charles River, Boston, Dedham, Dover, Millis, Natick, Neednam, Sherbom, Waitham; Concord River, Bedford, Billerica; Ipswich River, Danvers, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Middleton, Peabody, Topsfield; Nashua River, Ayer, Groton, Pepperell (limit consumption of flesh); Parker River, Byfield, Georgetown, W Newbury; Sudbury River, Fairhaven Bay, Framingham

SMALLMOUTH BASS:
Archer Lake, Wrentham; Great Pond, Randolph, Braintree; Walden Pond, Concord; Whites Pond. Concord

SMALLMOUTH BASS RIVERS:
Merrimack River, Chelmsford, Lawrence, Lowell, Tyngsboro

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT

LARGEMOUTH BASS:
Cook's Pond, Fall River; Lawrence Pond, Sandwich; Long Pond, Lakeville; Mill Pond, Wareham; Monponsett Lakes, Hanson/Haiifax; New Bedford Reservcoir, Acushnet; Nippenicket Lake, Bridgewater; Norton Reservoir; Sabbatica Lake,  Taunton; Sampson's Pond, Carver; Snipatuit Pond, Rochester; South Watuppa Pond, Fall River

SMALLMOUTH BASS:
Ashumet Pond, Falmouth; Cliff Pond, Brewster; Coonamesset Pond, Falmouth; Great Herring Pond, Bourne, Plymouth; Hamblin Pond, Barnstable


Northern Pike & Tiger Muskellunge Waters

 Name of Water              Town                    Acres          Last Yr Stocked *
Assabet Reservoir #1    
Westborough
333
2001B
Ashmere Lake
Hinsdale
217
99 TM
Attitash Lake
Amesbury
335
94 NP
Buel Lake
Monterey
194
97 TM - 95 NP
Buffemville Reservoir
Charlton
186
97 TM - 94 NP
Charles River
Natick
2002 NP
Chauncey Pond
Westborough
177
2001 TM - 95 B
Chicopee River
Ludlow
97 TM
Cochituate Lake
Framingham
559
2000 T
Concord River
Concord
2000 NP
Cook Pond
Fall River
154
91 TM
Dark Brook Res
Auburn
256
90 NP
Demond Pond
Rutland
119
96 TM
East Brimfield Res.
Sturbridge
420
2000 TM - 98 NP
Forge Pond
Granby
68
87 NP
Hamolin Pond
Barnstable
149
88 TM
Hamilton Reservoir
Holland
249
97 TM - 99 NP
Hampton Ponds
Westfield
198
2001 TM
Holland Pond
Holland
65
99 NP
Indian Lake
Worcester
190
96 TM - 95 NP
Lashaway Lake
E Brookfied
270
93 NP
Manchaug Lake
Sutton
348
89 NP
Mascopic Lake
Tyngsboro
209
2001 TM
McCleod Pond
Colrain
40
91 TM
Monponsett Pond
Halifax
528
88 TM
Nippenicket Pond
Bridgewater
354
88 NP
N Spectacle Pond
New Salem
30
87 NP
Norton Reservoir
Norton
529
91 TM - 90 NP
Onota Lake
Pittsfield
617
97 TN - 98 NP
Otis Reservoir
Otis
1,200
96 TM
Plainfield Pond
Plainfield
57
99 TM
Pontoosuc Lake
Pittsfield
467
2001 TM
Quaboag Pond
Brookfield
531
97 B
Quannapowitt Lake
Wakefield
254
97 TM
Quinsigamond Lake
Worcester
475
99 TM - 95 NP
Red Bridge Impoundment
Ludlow
83
96 TM - 95 B
Rohunta Lake
New Salem
250
96 TM - 94 NP
Sabbatia Lake
Taunton
237
98 TM - 80 NP
Snipatuit Pond
Rochester
710
96 TM
South Watuppa Pond
Fall River
1,283
90 NP - 2001 TM
Spy Pond
Arlington
103
2001 TM
Sudbury River
Sudbury
N/A
1999 NP
Webster Lake
Webster
1,181
97 TM/ 99 NP
Wequaquet Lake
Barnstable
654
89 NP
Whitehall Reservoir
Hopkinton
575
88 NP
Winnecunnet Pond
Norton
148
97 TM - 95 NP

Note:   These fish are 6 to 12 inches when stocked and require up to 5 years after stocking to attain the 28" minimum length.

*  TM = Tiger Muskellunge
   NP = Northern Pike
   B indicates that both species were stocked that year