Best fishing lakes in Massachusetts: 10 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Quabbin Reservoir

Quabbin Reservoir spreads over 24,700 acres. The fish here are lake trout, smallmouth bass, trout and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 151 ft.

Quabbin Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Otis Reservoir

Otis Reservoir is a reservoir of 1,080 acres of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Chicopee (about 21 miles). The fish here are catfish, yellow perch, bluegill and muskie. The deepest water is around 48 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Otis Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Wachusett Reservoir

Wachusett Reservoir is a reservoir of 4,480 acres. The lake is right by Boylston. Wachusett Dam holds it on the Nashua River. It holds trout, lake trout and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 120 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Wachusett Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Webster Lake

At 1,440 acres, Webster Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is near Webster. Like most lakes its size in Massachusetts, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. The deepest water is around 49 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Chaubunagungamaug, commonly called Webster Lake, is one of the largest natural lakes in Massachusetts and is famous for having one of the longest place names in the United States.

Webster Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Sudbury Reservoir

Sudbury Reservoir covers 1,290 acres. You will find it right by Southborough. The usual Massachusetts mix applies: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Sudbury Reservoir is a former Boston-area water-supply reservoir now managed mainly for public recreation.

Sudbury Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Edgartown Great Pond

At about 810 acres, Edgartown Great Pond is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it about 2 miles northeast of Edgartown. The usual Massachusetts mix applies: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Edgartown Great Pond today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Cobble Mountain Reservoir

At about 1,000 acres, Cobble Mountain Reservoir is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it near Granville. Like most lakes its size in Massachusetts, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Cobble Mountain Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Long Pond

At about 870 acres, Long Pond is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it about 1.7 miles southeast of East Harwich. Like most lakes its size in Massachusetts, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Long Pond today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Quinsigamond

At some 770 acres, Lake Quinsigamond is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies next to Hamilton Worcester. Like most lakes its size in Massachusetts, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. At about 90 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Quinsigamond, between Worcester and Shrewsbury, is a long, narrow lake widely used for competitive rowing as well as fishing.

Lake Quinsigamond today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Great Stone

Lake Great Stone covers about 720 acres. The lake is next to Lawrence. Like most lakes its size in Massachusetts, it should hold smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill.

Lake Great Stone today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Quabbin Reservoir, Wachusett Reservoir, Webster Lake and Sudbury Reservoir
• Trout: Quabbin Reservoir and Wachusett Reservoir
• Crappie: Webster Lake, Sudbury Reservoir, Edgartown Great Pond and Cobble Mountain Reservoir
• Pike and muskie: Otis Reservoir
• Catfish: Otis Reservoir, Webster Lake, Sudbury Reservoir and Edgartown Great Pond

The fishing year

• Spring: largemouth bass are usually fair. Warming up. They move toward shallow flats on sunny afternoons.
• Summer: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Active early and late. Head to shade, docks and grass in midday.
• Fall: largemouth bass are usually fair. Cooling down. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.
• Winter: largemouth bass are usually slow. Cold and sluggish. Fish slow and deep near steep banks.

Before you go

A Massachusetts fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.