Mount Tom, MA Fishing: The Great Outdoors of Massachusetts

Mount Tom, Massachusetts, is the best place to reconnect with nature. It boasts a breathtaking view of the Connecticut Valley north and south, Pelham hills to the east, and Berkshire mountains to the west. Aside from that, the place also offers many recreational activities, such as hiking and walking trails, skiing, ice skating, bird watching, picnicking, camping, and fishing. 

This place got its name from Rowland Thomas, a surveyor of Springfield, Massachusetts, back in the 16th century based on popular folk tales. Thomas named Mount Tom after him, while a fellow surveyor, Elizur Holyoke, named Mount Holyoke after himself too. Mount Holyoke is on the other side of the Connecticut River. 

The mountain can be compared to Metacomet Ridge because both are basalt. Studies show that it formed as the Triassic Period reached its end when the North American continent drifted apart from Eurasia and Africa. 

Currently, Mount Tom is under the conservation of Massachusetts' Mount Tom State Reservation, a 2,028-acre expanse of land located along the banks of the Connecticut River. The reservation brags of a 20-mile long trail and five peaks, making it one of the most popular destinations for hiking. However, hiking isn't the only thing the place is famous for; it is also known for its unparalleled fishing destinations.

Mount Tom Fishing

Mount Tom offers an all-in-one experience: skiing, ice skating, hiking, nature watching, and most importantly, fishing. It features a ten-acre big lake called Lake Bray. This lake has two accessible fishing piers and is perfect for catching good games while riding a canoe or kayak. 

You can reach Lake Bray by going on the Bray Lake Trail Loop. It is just a two-mile hike. However, it can be slippery and steep in some areas. Thus, make sure to wear proper gear and be extra careful.

When you reach the lake, you will find it home to diverse plants and animals. It houses several species of vegetation, such as arrowhead and duckweed. However, there is news that invasive weeds, mainly purple loosestrife, are choking the lake. These weeds, which are spreading at an alarming rate, can disrupt the lake's ecosystem and even dry it up. Thus, the local government of Mount Tom is making efforts to nurse it back to health. 

Regardless, Mount Tom is still an excellent place to catch good games like bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout, chain pickerel, and spotted bass. Local fishing regulations also permit kayak and canoe fishing within its premises, making the experience more fun and exciting. 

On the eastern end of Mount Tom, you can venture into the banks of the Connecticut River, the longest river in the New England region of Massachusetts. Migratory fish have repopulated on the waters of Mount Tom's eastern end, thanks to the efforts of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The federal service built many fish ladders and fish elevators that allowed the fish species such as winter flounder, Atlantic herring, Atlantic salmon, striped bass, and smallmouth bass to thrive in the river. These species were nearing extinction due to constant damming projects along the waters of Mount Tom, but now anglers will be able to see them swimming in fast waters and hiding in reefs. 

Local anglers of Mount Tom openly welcome visiting anglers, and they often teach them fishing techniques. One of the most commonly shared techniques is handline fishing in the waters of Mount Tom. Handline fishing is minimalist and inexpensive because you only need a line, hook, bait, and handline glove. You need a strong fishing line to drop down a lure towards the reefs, and the glove protects your hands from bites or cuts and gives you a tighter grip. In handline fishing, you lower your line downstream with your hand, as if you are holding on a pocket watch, and when the "time is up" or when you feel you hooked a fish, you pull the line fast and hard. Locals love sharing this technique with others to ensure that the tradition lives on as handline fishing is one of the oldest and most primitive ways of fishing known to man. 

Another technique that you might pick up while fishing in Mount Tom is heavy tackle fishing, a method suitable for the great outdoors of Massachusetts. Heavy-duty gear for the rugged terrain and fast waters increases the chance of reeling in big catches. In heavy-tackle fishing, you would be packing at least a 100lb test line, heavy-duty rods, and wide reels. Using this technique, sea beasts like the goliath grouper and yellowfin tuna will become easy prey for you. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Mount Tom, MA 

The top 10 fish species to catch in Mount Tom, MA are bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout, chain pickerel, spotted bass, winter flounder, Atlantic herring, Atlantic salmon, striped bass, and smallmouth bass. 

Seasonal Fishing 

Anglers can visit the waters of Mount Tom all year-round, as long as they have a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license. For anglers who are planning to reel in trophies during the peak season, they should drop by during early June until September. These months are the summer season in Massachusetts, and water temperatures are rising in Mount Tom. Clear skies, longer hours of the day, and increased fish activity will help anglers find their targets easier.

Locals report that fish activity increases from 2 am until 10 am, the best time to fish. Indeed, you do not want to miss out during peak season, be prepared to wake up early and brace for the cold morning hours so that you can cover more ground and catch more! 

Fish are harder to find in winter or December until February but pack more weight than fish caught in other months. Once you have overcome the challenge of finding where schools of fish reside, you can quickly drop live bait with a pungent odor because fish will ignore cold waters in search of food. Be prepared for fish that will give you a fight on the line because they will not let go of your bait quickly, even if there is a hook already piercing their jaws. 

Explore the Wilderness of Mount Tom 

Aside from getting trophies and delicious fish all year round, you can also engage in these activities to experience the beauty of Mount Tom, MA.

1. Hawkwatching at Goat's Peak Tower and Bray's Tower 

At an elevation of more than 1,000 feet, Mount Tom is home to different wildlife, including the native majestic Hawks of North America. Goat's Peak Tower is the best vantage point for Hawkwatching during the fall. However, the tower can get crowded later in the afternoon. In the spring, Bray's Tower on the southwest end of Mount Tom, where the majority of the hawks fly over, offers a better viewing point. 

2. Complete the Beau Bridges Trail 

Beau Bridges Trail is a 1.4-mile trail built by Kay Burnett, one of the few people who discovered the beauty of Mount Tom State Reservation. She was also known as the "Trail Lady" for building almost 22 miles of trails around Mount Tom. If you want to take your family on a nature walk, the Beau Bridges Trail might be the perfect place! 

3. Hike on Little Tom 

Little Tom is part of the Mount Tom Range adjacent to Mount Tom. This mountain trail is part of 2,500 acres of the conserved area opened for recreational activities and scientific conservation research. If you want a warm-up before climbing Mount Tom, then hiking on Little Tom will do the job for you.