Book Your Fishing Charter in Florida, MA

Include the tiny town of Florida in your itinerary if you're looking for a secluded getaway deep in the Berkshires. This Western Massachusetts town isn't as well-known as its namesake state, but it's still a peaceful haven with plenty of opportunities to commune with pristine nature. It is known primarily as the home to the Hoosac Tunnel, one of the engineering marvels from the 1800s that’s still being used today. Aside from that, Florida is also home to parts of three lush state forests — namely the Monroe State Forest, the Mohawk Trail State Forest, and the Savoy Mountain State Forest. 

That being said, Florida is worthy of a spot on your bucket list if you’re seeking a less trodden path in Berkshire County. It may not be as tourist-friendly as its namesake state, but it offers some of the best hiking in the region. Better still for anglers, Florida has some of the most scenic fishing spots in the county, with no usual crowds to compete with.

Florida Fishing: Access to Classic Fly Fishing Spots in the Berkshires 

The Berkshires is known for its trout fishing opportunities and fly fishing spots, and Florida is no different. 

Start your fishing trip by making a beeline for the Savoy Mountain State Forest. An RV campground haven, this state forest is also home to many ponds and streams that offer great fishing. Two ponds, in particular, the North Pond and South Pond, provide good fishing access. Both are home to pumpkinseed and brown bullhead. Of the two, North Pond may be smaller, but it is more productive as it is home to brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and golden shiner, while South Pond can only support hardy panfish in its highly acidic water. The former has a boat launch facility and good shoreline fishing, while South Pond does not have a boat launch itself.

If you want a more expansive fly fishing experience, you’ll enjoy the wide access that Florida has to the Deerfield River. The river has two catch-and-release fishing access — the Rowe/Florida on the upper and Charlemont on the lower. The Florida section supports cold-water fish species all year round, thanks to the regular water release from the nearby Fife Brook Dam. Some of the fish species you can find here are brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Other species that may be caught here include slimy sculpin, white sucker, longnose and blacknose dace. 

On the other hand, the lower section of the river can be accessed from the Mohawk Trail State Forest.  There are plenty more ponds and streams in this state park that offer excellent fishing aside from the Deerfield River section. Expect to catch some trout and other species such as smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, common carp, American eel, and shad.

Commune with Nature in Florida

1. Hike at Monroe State Forest

Every visitor must try at least three different hiking trails in this forest at least once. There’s the introductory hike on Raycroft Lookout, which affords a view of the Deerfield River valley, and two signature hikes: the Dunbar Brook Trail, which covers 3 miles, and the Spruce Mountain Trail, which covers 5 miles. 

2. BirdWatch and Camp at Savoy Mountain State Forest

Bring your RV and enjoy the diverse landscape at Savoy Mountain State Forest. Apart from being an RV campground haven, it is a bird-watching spot. It is part of the Foresters for the Birds Program of Massachusetts. This initiative helps forest landowners manage and protect their forests from supporting the birds and other wildlife lands.