This page contains information on:
Trout Stocking
State Records
Where to fish and other useful information.
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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
|
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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
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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
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