Book Your Fishing Charter in Petersham, MA

Find yourself a slice of pristine nature in the heart of Massachusetts when you book a trip to Petersham, an hour away from Boston. A significant part of the tiny locale in the central-western portion of the state is conservation land which is open for the public to enjoy.

Apart from its reservation areas and state forests, Petersham is home to the Petersham Common Historic District. This linear stretch of land, laid out in the 1700s, is dotted with structures that date back to the 19th century. It largely contributes to the area’s classic and quaint New England feel that you simply have to experience in person.

A trip to Petersham would not be complete without visiting any of its wonderfully protected lands which are plenty. These include the Quabbin Reservation Area, Petersham State Forest, Harvard State Forest, and the Federated Women’s Club State Forest. They offer miles of scenic hiking trails, but many of these also provide some of the best inland fishing in this part of New England. A day trip with friends or family may not be enough to see and experience everything that Petersham has to offer - but the good thing is that the community is a fantastic destination all year round.

Petersham Fishing: Pristine Fishing in a Major Massachusetts Reservoir

Fishing in Petersham means exploring the shorelines of the Quabbin Reservation area, a protected land surrounding its namesake reservoir. Quabbin Reservoir has been the primary drinking water source for millions of Massachusetts residents and has been open to the public since 1946. The most commonly caught fish in the man-made water body are lake trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, chain pickerel, bullhead, white perch, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass. To fish in Area 1, you will need a boat with a Quabbin Boat Seal. If you’re fishing in Area 3, you’re only allowed to ride a canoe or kayak with a ready boat seal at the boat launches. As always, it's best to check the reservation staff and experts in advance to make sure you're complying with the regulations and specific instruction for the place.

Other productive Quabbin reservoir access points include the shores at Federated Women’s Club State Forest and the East Branch of the Swift River. The East Branch is a scenic fly fishing spot annually stocked with rainbow trout. 

Just a few minutes outside Petersham, you can also enjoy fishing at Wachusett Reservoir, another primary drinking water source for the state. It is only open for shore fishing from sunrise to sunset. Despite these restrictions, the waterbody offers productive fishing for yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, and Atlantic salmon. The reservoir area offers fishing access to its primary tributaries and watershed ponds, the most popular of which can be found at Route 12 Causeway in West Boylston.

Find the Most Fascinating Things To See and Do in Petersham

1. Go Curling

Join one of Petersham Curling Club’s open house events if you’re curious about the sport of curling and would like to try it yourself.

2. Learn More About Central New England’s Forests

Visit Harvard Forest’s Fisher Museum, a world-renowned museum all about the history and conservation of Central New England’s forests. It is most famous for its main diorama exhibit that details more than 200 years of landscape development in the region.