Book Your Fishing Charter in Natick, MA

Make a quick detour if you’re in the Greater Boston area and find a unique respite in Natick. This historic spot is just 30 minutes away, west of the state’s capital. Once known as a shoe-making capital, today it offers a variety of sights and activities for the whole family.

Natick was once a settlement for Puritans seeking to convert a tribe of Native Americans known as the Praying Indians. It was also a thriving farming district before it made way for the shoe factories to lead the area to prosperity in the late 19th century. Nowadays, Natick is known mainly for its namesake mall, the largest indoor shopping space in New England and a favorite retail destination. But apart from fantastic shopping, Natick also has various sub-districts that are quite distinct from one another. 

For tourists and residents alike, Natick is a worthwhile place to explore. It’s a peaceful destination with historical memorials and landmarks, a lively downtown area, and pockets of undeveloped natural areas that offer surprisingly good fishing opportunities.

Natick Fishing: Peaceful and Productive Fishing in the Greater Boston Area

Natick is not primarily known for fishing but does have good bodies of water that yield a wide variety of species. If you find yourself in the area and want to fish, head straight to the Cochituate State Park, where you can access Lake Cochituate. You can target diver catch, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, white perch, chain pickerel, common carp, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, American eel, black crappie, and golden shiner here. The lake also receives stockings of rainbow trout, brook trout, tiger trout every spring and fall, and northern pike and tiger muskellunge. The park offers a boat ramp and a parking area that easily fits up to 50 trailers.

In Memorial Beach, you can access Dug Pond, a Great Pond west of central Natick. It’s a nice place to cast a line during summer, particularly for largemouth bass and panfish such as bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, white perch, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, and golden shiner. During spring, it gets quite productive with stocked trout.

Head to Pickerel Pond, a kettle pond on the Charles River watershed, for some relaxing fishing. You can fish from the shores and launch a kayak or canoe on the boat ramp to fish for some chain pickerel.

Charles River is a Greater Boston water body that’s often overlooked. However, it has received significant rehabilitation and now offers fair fishing opportunities. The most commonly found fish in the river include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, redfin pickerel, yellow bullhead, white bullhead, and brown bullhead. The rare diadromous fish that make their way in the river are striped bass, white perch, and American shad.

Plan a Family-Friendly Outing at Natick

1. Pick Fruits at Belkin Family Lookout Farm

Spend a day on one of the farm's fruit-picking tours. Then cap off the outing by dining on fresh produce and enjoying sweeping views of this historic property.

2. Watch the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon passes through Natick along Route 135/Central Street. You can join the locals in watching and cheering the runners passing through the area.