Pontoosuc Lake, just north of Onota in Pittsfield and Lanesborough, is another productive Berkshires lake offering largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike and dependable panfishing.
The water
Fish the weed edges and coves for largemouth and pike, and the deeper rock and points for smallmouth. Panfish, perch and crappie, school around the structure and are a fun light-tackle target.
How to fish it
Largemouth and pike from the weeds on spinnerbaits and stick worms; smallmouth from the rock on drop shots; and perch and crappie on downsized finesse rigs.
Tip Fish Pontoosuc and Onota as a pair. They sit close together with similar fisheries, so if one is slow or crowded, the other is a short move away, a nice option for a Berkshires day.
Regulations Confirm current bass and pike rules with MassWildlife.