Catch and Release Areas        

Only artificial lures may be used in Catch & Release areas. Possession of bait is prohibited.  In designated Fly Fishing Areas, all anglers must use a conventional fly rod and fly line.  Report violations to the Environmental Police 1-800-632-8075 

Upper Deerfield River         

Florida/Rowe - Fife Brook Dam to Hoosac Tunnel

Lower Deerfield River         

Charlemont- From Pelham Brook to the Mohawk Campground

Housatonic River     

Lee -From the Rte 20 Bridge in Lee downstream to the Willow Mill Dam in South Lee No Fishing from June 15 - Aug 15 within 100 feet from the mouths of posted tributaries: Beartown Brook, Goose Pond Brook and Hop Brook

Stockbridge - From the Glendale Dam downstream to the Railroad bridge. No Fishing from June 15-Aug 15 within 100 feet from the mouth of posted tributary: Hop Brook 

Westfield River         

Chesterfield/Huntington - Immediately below Chesterfield Gorge parking lot in Chesterfield to the gate north of the Corps of Engineers parking lot at Knightville in Huntington              

TROUT-STOCKED BERKSHIRE WATERS

TOWN            STOCKED WATERS

ADAMS         Hoosic River (S. Branch)

ALFORD        Green River

ASHFIELD    Ashfield Pond, Clesson Brook (Upper Branch), South River, Swift River

BECKET         Greenwater Pond, Yokum Brook, Westfield River (W. Branch), Walker Brook

BLANDFORD           Potash Brook

BUCKLAND             Clesson Brook, Deerfield River, Cooley Brook

CHARLEMONT        Chickley River, Pelham Brook, Deerfield River, Cold River

CHESHIRE    Hoosic River (S. Branch), Dry Brook, South Brook

CHESTER      Littleville Reservoir, Walker Brook, Westfield River (Middle Branch), Westfield River (W. Branch)

CHESTERFIELD       Westfield River (E. Branch), West Branch Brook

CLARKSBURG         Hoosic River (N. Branch), Hudson Brook

CUMMINGTON       Westfield River (E. Branch), Swift River (N. Branch)

DALTON       Sacket Brook, Housatonic River (E. Branch), Wahconah Falls Brook

EGREMONT Green River

FLORIDA      Deerfield River, North Pond, Cold River

GOSHEN       Swift River, Upper Highland Lake

GRANVILLE             Hubbard River

GREAT BARRINGTON       Green River, West Brook, Williams River, Mansfield Lake

HANCOCK    Kinderhook Creek, Berry Pond

HAWLEY       Chickley River

HINSDALE    Bennett Brook, Housatonic River (E. Branch), Plunkett Reservoir

HUNTINGTON         Westfield River (E. Branch), Little River, Littleville Lake, Westfield River (W. Branch), Westfield River (Middle Branch), Norwich Lake, Westfield River, Knightville Impoundment

LANESBORO            Town Brook

LEE     Beartown Brook (W. Branch), Goose Pond, Hop Brook, Greenwater Brook, Laurel Lake, Housatonic River

LENOX          Yokun Brook, Laurel Lake

MIDDLEFIELD         Factory Brook, Westfield River (Middle Branch), Westfield River (W. Branch)

MONTEREY Lake Buel, Lake Garfield, Konkapot River

NEW MARLBORO   Konkapot River, York Pond

NORTH ADAMS      Natural Bridge Pond, Windsor Lake

OTIS   Farmington River, Otis Reservoir, Big Benton Pond

PLAINFIELD             Mill Brook

PERU Trout Brook

PITTSFIELD Housatonic River (SW Branch), Sackett Brook, Onota Lake, Lake Pontoosuc

RICHMOND Richmond Pond

ROWE            Pelham Brook, Pelham Lake

RUSSELL       Potash Brook, Westfield River

SANDISFIELD          Buck River, Clam River, Farmington River

SAVOY          Chickley River, Cold River, Westfield River (E. Branch)

STOCKBRIDGE        Larrywaug Brook, Stockbridge Bowl, Housatonic River

TYRINGHAM           Hop Brook, Goose Pond Brook, Goose Pond

WASHINGTON        Depot Brook

WEST STOCKBRIDGE        Williams River

WILLIAMSTOWN    Broad Brook, Hemlock Brook, Green River (W. Branch), Green River

WINDSOR     Westfield River (E. Branch), Windsor Pond, Windsor Brook, Westfield Brook

WORTHINGTON      Westfield River (Middle Branch), Little River, Bronson Brook, West Branch Brook

Deerfield River

The Deerfield is made up mostly of deep runs, riffles, and large still water pools. The riverbed is mostly rock and boulders so cleated waders are recommended to keep your footing. Water conditions on this river can change rapidly (within minutes) with the water releases used for generating power. If you're not familiar with the water, be smart, pay attention, watch and listen for changing conditions. When the dams hold back, the river is fished and waded much easier.

Below Bardwell's Ferry and above Old Deerfield, deep and large mud bottom pools can be found, with Stillwater being a popular one. Stillwater pool is found just above the Rte 91 bridges which cross over the Deerfield.

Below Fife Brook, with a dam just above it, the river flows through pools such as Diamond Pool, Long Pool, Carbis Bend, and Shady Pool. The lower Catch & Release area starts at the railroad underpass, just above where Pelham Brook runs into the Deerfield, and runs for about two miles before it ends at the Mohawk Campgrounds. Access to the river is generally easy. There are numerous designated access points as well as other areas to pull over and fish. Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) as well as Zoar and River Road, which borders the Deerfield all the way to Fife Brook, provide parking and pathways to the river.

Fish an area and move if you're not successful. Massachusetts keeps this river well stocked so finding fish usually isn't a problem. Like all fishing, it may be waiting for the water temperatures to warm enough for them to take and flows to allow for safe fishing. Either way be patient with the fishery. The opportunity is there to hook or catch a good number trout and an occasional trophy in the twenty inch plus class. To protect this wonderful Massachusetts fishery, please catch and release whenever possible.

Click here to view the Deerfield Hatch Chart

Click here to view a Downloadable Map of the Deerfield River Upper Catch and Release