Monterey, MA Fishing: Lakes Surrounded by Gorgeous Hills

Monterey’s tiny but tailored city is nestled southwest of Massachusetts in Berkshire County. Hills surround the place, and the tranquil life of its small community makes it a charming destination for nature enthusiasts. Monterey is filled with natural areas and recreational activities as a rural community. 

A local native American tribe called Mahicans lived in Monterey before colonial settlement. It was established in 1735 as South Tyringham and was incorporated in 1847. It was also once called Green Woods until locals voted to name it Monterey in commemoration of the Battle of Monterey that took place during the Mexican-American War. The people also considered Palo Alto and Buena Vista the city’s name, but they deemed these nonnative. Before becoming a humble tiny city, Monterey was once known for its sawmills. It continues to preserve and take pride in its rich history and culture.

Monterey is freckled with lakes and ponds, making it a sweet fishing spot in the south of Berkshire County. 

The simplicity of this small city reels in visitors from all over Massachusetts and the United States. The gorgeous hills are a beautiful backdrop to every location, making every trip a memorable fishing experience.

Monterey Fishing

Southwest of Monterey is Lake Buel, an extensive nature getaway for leisure purposes like wildlife viewing, swimming, fishing, sailboating, and sunset watching. The lake is 196 acres with a maximum depth of 42 feet. It is a beautiful setting for a relaxing day of fishing. Since there is limited shoreline access, most anglers find drift fishing as the primary way to fish in the lake. Trolling is also popular, except when weed growth gets dense in spring. When this happens, rubber worms, floating frogs, and live bait become the most efficient lures for anglers.  A boat ramp is available to access the water and reel in fish species like trout and bass. Trophy largemouth bass are reportedly caught in the lake, and weedless lures are the most effective bait to use for them. Other fish species found in Lake Buel include smallmouth bass, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, horned pout, tiger muskie, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, white perch, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, rock bass, black crappie, white sucker, and golden shiner. Ice fishing in winter gets anglers trout and bass depending on their rig and bait size. Pike are often fished by specialists that use wire leader rigs and big baits. Large game over 15 pounds can be caught even in winter. A tip for anglers that love to fish in peace is to go to Lake Buel in the early mornings or late nights to avoid the crowd. Look for summer homes and boat docks where the bass is easily found, as they love to gather under the ports. From the boat ramp, turn right to find a small cove filled with lily pads where schools of bluegill and pumpkinseed commonly linger.

Lake Garfield, a great pond found in the central east of Monterey, is the city’s largest water body at 275 acres. Canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and ice skating in winter are popular outdoor activities in the lake. Even though shore fishing is not possible here, a small concrete boat ramp northwest of the lake is available to all anglers for launching access. The lake is 35 feet at its maximum depth, with its bottom being a combination of clay, mud, and boulders. Water in Lake Garfield is transparent up to 11 feet. Fish species found here include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, white perch, white sucker, yellow perch, bluegill, chain pickerel, rainbow trout, brown trout, pumpkinseed, golden shiner, and rock bass, with yellow perch as the most abundant. The lake is healthy with a balanced fish community that prevents the overabundance of small fish. Although, it was reported that the lake’s game species are average to below average in size and abundance.  The lake can still produce good bass and chain pickerel size despite this.

Beartown State Forest is a parkland with more than 11,000 pristine terrain, picnic area, and campsites. It features Benedict Pond for locals and visitors to enjoy swimming, non-motorized boating, paddling, and fishing. The pond is man-made, with a total area of 35 acres. The pond’s most abundant fish species are golden shiner and largemouth bass. Although some anglers might find fish species in the pond to have a relatively small average size due to its shallowness, the fishing action continues to be active. There may be times when the pond and the park receive few visitors, but these times may be more appealing to low-key anglers. A fishing pier for non-motorized boats is available for anglers to fly fishing or access the pond.

Top 10 Fish Species in Monterey, MA

The top 10 fish species in Monterey, MA, are largemouth bass, brown bullhead, bluegill, yellow perch, brown trout, chain pickerel, brook trout, rock bass, pumpkinseed, and black crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

Lake Buel gets dense weed growth In spring, making it hard to fish trout, but colorful weedless lures may do the trick. The lake is stocked with brook, brown, and rainbow trout in spring and fall. Warm water species like bass, pumpkinseed, pike bluegills, and crappie are prominent in winter and are best for ice fishing.

Like Lake Buel, Lake Garfield is also stocked with trout species in spring. White perch fishing can also be exceptional in the lake during this time of year. Ice fishing for yellow perch by jigging through the ice is produced in winter.

Travel the Tiny but Tailored Monterey

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Get a guide to make your fishing trip smoother and more enjoyable. Planning your fishing trip here for the first time? Having a local guide will help you with everything you need to know. Know the best fishing spots in Monterey that go well with your style. Bring your gear and reel in your best game with the help of a local guide! 

2. Bidwell House Museum Will Bid You Well

Visit the Bidwell House Museum and see the history and culture of Monterey on your next trip! Formerly a minister’s house built around the 1760s, it is now home to beautiful antiques and sits in the middle of 192 acres of picturesque fields and forest. Art and culture mix flawlessly in this house of history. Go back in time and learn about life centuries ago when you walk through the halls of artifacts. Bring families and friends on this historic journey.

3. Relax in Nature at Beartown State Forest

When you come to Monterey, don’t miss out on the relaxing opportunity that Beartown State Forest has to offer! With over 11,000 acres and a 360 degrees view of wildlife and scenic trails, you will feel rejuvenated everywhere you look. The park features year-round hiking opportunities, camping, horseback riding, a recreational pond, and snow sports in wintertime. Wildlife viewing is also popular in the park, where visitors can catch a glimpse of deer, bobcats, and the black bear, where the park’s name came from. Whether solo or with friends, you can definitely unwind in Beartown State Forest.