Florida, MA Fishing: Pristine and Off-the Beaten Path

Florida is a small and sparsely inhabited rural spot deep in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It sits close by several of the highest points off the Hoosac Range, while the Whitcomb Summit, considered the highest point on the Mohawk Trail, is right within the town limits. 

With less than a thousand people, one might say that Florida is indeed uncharted territory. The Europeans first settled in the late 1700s before becoming incorporated in 1805. It was a quiet area for most of its first years as an incorporated place, before experiencing a significant boom during the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel in the mid-1800s. At the Hoosac Tunnel’s completion, it was considered the world’s second-longest. Today, it is still an active railroad and is considered the sixth-longest in the country. 

Today, Florida may not be as well-known a destination as its namesake state down south. However, it is still worth visiting. The locale, small as it is, includes parts of three lush state forests: the Monroe State Forest, Savoy Mountain State Forest, and the Mohawk Trail State Forest. You will also find some of the best views in Massachusetts when you climb up to the highest point on the Mohawk Trail, the Whitcomb Summit. Better still for anglers, Florida has great big access to the Deerfield River. This section of the Connecticut River tributary alone makes Florida one of the best trout fishing spots in the Berkshires.

Florida Fishing

As in the rest of the Berkshires, Florida is a productive fishing destination almost all year round, with many bodies of water offering fair to fantastic fishing no matter the season. As it is quite small, the main area itself has limited bodies of water to fish, but it is a good gateway to many other fishing spots all over the county.

Situated within the locality is the beautiful Savoy Mountain State Forest, a vast woodland forest known as a secluded RV campground and a nice fishing spot. It has plenty of marked trails over a diverse landscape that is open for walking and hiking and  provides opportunities for mountain biking and even cross-country skiing. The park itself is dotted with streams and ponds that offer productive fishing, particularly for panfish such as pumpkinseed and brown bullhead, and brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and golden shiner. Two ponds, in particular, are open for fishing: North Pond and South Pond.

North Pond is relatively small at 18 acres. It has a maximum depth of 28 feet but is generally 13-feet deep. It has quite an accessible shoreline, so that anglers will enjoy shore fishing in this pond. Avoid the east shore, though, because that’s where people swim in the pond. Otherwise, you’re free to fish from the shore or a paddleboat. Here, the most commonly caught fish are golden shiner, brook trout, brown trout, and brown bullhead. You may also catch stocked brook, brown, and rainbow trout during the spring. The brown trout catch here can come in trophy size and are mostly caught by expert fly fishermen, but who says you can’t try your angling skills at them?

South Pond, on the other hand, is a little wider at 25 acres but is much more shallow — on average, its depth is at 7 feet. It has no boat launch ramp, but the shoreline is accessible, so that you might enjoy fishing from its shore. Otherwise, you can quickly still launch a non-motorized boat here. Avoid the part near the adjacent campground as that’s where the swimmers usually access the pond. This slightly bigger pond is your go-to if you want to fish for some panfish, particularly pumpkinseed and brown bullhead. It is, however, not as productive as North Pond because of its acidity.

As tiny as it is, Florida’s section of the Deerfield River is quite vast and very productive, known as a fantastic fly fishing destination to most experts in the area. To ensure that it remains productive, though, its two fishing sections — the Rowe/Florida on the upper and Charlemont on the lower — are catch-and-release fishing areas, so anglers should duly note this before coming to any of the two sections to fish.

The Florida section on the upper part of Deerfield River runs downstream to the Hoosac Tunnel bridge through an undeveloped forest dotted with hills. The river itself is known for its deep pools and riffles and many rocks and boulders. Its water level is also primarily affected by the water release from the Fife Brook Dam, so anglers, particularly those fishing in the upper section, are advised to check their release schedule for their safety.

Both sections are very productive, but if you’re looking for some cold-water fishing all year round, then the Rowe/Florida section should be on your list. It benefits from the cold water release from the nearby dam, making it a lovely home to trout, particularly brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. Other species that may be caught here include slimy sculpin, white sucker, longnose and blacknose dace.

Anglers fishing on rafts or small boats can launch their watercraft at the Fife Brook Dam access, while those looking to fish the lower section can do so at the Mohawk Trail State Forest.  There are plenty more ponds and streams in this state park that offer great fishing for trout and other species such as smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, common carp, American eel, and shad.

Top 10 Fish Species in Florida, MA

The top 10 fish species to target in Florida, MA include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, white sucker, common carp, walleye, American eel, and golden shiner.

Seasonal Fishing

Fishing in this part of Massachusetts is productive all year round, particularly in the Deerfield River section in Florida. However, the best season to fish is spring and fall, when the waters are stocked with trout — particularly rainbows and browns during spring, and even more rainbows during fall. While summer may be suitable for other species, most of the bodies of water here in Florida also attract kayakers and rafters, so the waters may not be as accessible and peaceful during the season.

Enjoy Nature at Its Most Pristine in Florida, MA

Florida offers a pleasant and relatively quiet alternative to other more crowded vacation spots in the Berkshires. It’s a fantastic getaway if you’re looking for a secluded place to unplug and unwind.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Ensure the safety and productivity of your fishing experience and book a local guide to help you navigate the waters of Florida, MA, and the rest of the Berkshires.

2. Enjoy Different Levels of Hiking

Visit Monroe State Forest with your family or your hiking group and get to experience the stunning state forest on foot. 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. 

3. BirdWatch and Camp 

Savoy Mountain State Forest is a vast state park known for its beautiful campgrounds and diverse landscape. 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 that was launched to help forest management, and landowners protect their forests for the benefit of the birds and other wildlife that the lands support.