The 7 Best Fly Fishing Spots in Massachusetts!

Tying flies is an art form—at least according to many fly fishermen. Fly fishing is the reward for tying artfully and successfully. To immerse yourself in nature and hone your fly fishing skills, give Massachusetts a visit. Check out one of these revered fly fishing spots in the Bay State! 

1. Swift River, Belchertown, MA

Known for its abundance of trout, Swift River is a favorite among Massachusetts fly fishermen—and women. The river originates at the base of the Quabbin Reservoir, providing cold water all year long. It is the perfect habitat for trout. A quick five-minute walk from the parking area will see you in your waders, casting that first fly.

2. Deerfield River, Charlemont, MA

Fish early or late in the season. It doesn’t matter when you go fly fishing in the Deerfield River. The fast, cold waters are perfect for trout—brown, rainbow, and sometimes even brook trout. The area is stunning, with birch trees and ferns.

3. The Flats at Provincetown Harbor, Provincetown, MA

Fly fisherman love wading into the water at the Flats at Provincetown Harbor. Less crowded than most of the fly fishing option on Cape Cod, locals say the best of the best fishing takes place from Long Point to Wood End—especially for waders.

4. Squannacook River, Groton & Townsend, MA

A bridge on Route 225, just before the Groton/Shirley line finds you at the Squannacook River. A parking area just after the bridge allows access to just one of several spots where fly fisherman can wade into the water and fish to their heart’s delight. Another is Black Rock—another spot along the Squannacook. This is accessed in Townsend. Parking at the Hawthorne Middle School means a short walk, but is so worth the effort.

5. Housatonic River, Lee, MA

Fly fishing is the thing to do along the shores of the Housatonic River in Lee. Brown trout and smallmouth bass are the common prizes on most days. The area is also a favorite of bird watchers, so everyone respects the solitude and calm waters in this area. You’ll have to hike in, and there are no trails per se. A local business—Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing—takes tours, and guides you in and out. The walk is deemed “intermediate,” but the fishing is worth the effort.

6. Boston Harbor Islands, Boston, MA

Most people don’t think “Boston” and “fly fishing” even belong in the same sentence—unless you’ve been to the Boston Harbor Islands and given it a try. You’ll need a boat—or can take a ferry—to access the islands. Once there you’re privy to flats, boulder fields and deep coves—perfect for catching striped bass, bluefish and more.

7. Chappaquiddick Island, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Two large saltwater ponds lure fly fisherman to Chappaquiddick Island on Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re not local, you might want to contact the folks at the link provided, who will both serve as guides and provide you with over-the-sand transportation—which can be a bit difficult to navigate without a four-wheel drive vehicle. Once these little technicalities are taken care of, you’re free to enjoy your favorite pastime. Striped bass are plentiful here.

View more Massachusetts Fishing Holes.
Share your favorites!
Massachusetts Search
Find Fishing Holes Near You
Find Fishing Holes Near You
162 West Union Street, Ashland, MA
Ashland State Park has 470 acres including the 157 acre Ashland Reservoir. The park is operated seasonally and provides opportunities for swimming,... Read More
164 Cedar St, Hopkinton, MA
Hopkinton State Park is located in the towns of Hopkinton and Ashland and includes the picturesque Hopkinton Reservoir. The park offers a variety o... Read More
Rte. 135, Hopkinton, MA
This park consists almost entirely of water: the 592 acre Whitehall Reservoir was once used as a source of drinking water. The area offers boating,... Read More
43 Commonwealth Rd, Natick, MA
Cochituate State Park is a popular regional day use park featuring water based recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, windsurfing,... Read More
245 Upton Street, Grafton, MA
Silver Lake Beach, located at 245 Upton St., is open to both residents and non-residents from late June to late August and operated by the Town of ... Read More
287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA
The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park recalls the role of canals in transporting raw materials and manufactured goods between emerging... Read More
10 North Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA
Quinsigamond State Park consists of two sites located on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester: Regatta Point and Lake Park. The 25 acre Regatta Point are... Read More
915 Walden Street, Concord, MA
Henry David Thoreau lived at Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. His experience at Walden provided the material for the book Walden, whic... Read More
96 Forest Grove Road, Waltham, MA
The Upper Charles River Reservation extends from the Watertown dam to Riverdale Park in West Roxbury. Throughout the reservation, continuous public... Read More
Boylston St, Clinton, MA
The 4,135-acre reservoir was built between 1897-1908 by damming the South Branch of the Nashua river. Water was sent via an aqueduct to the Weston ... Read More
888-918 Washington St, Newton, MA
Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Hammond Pond, a wooded reservation with a large, scenic pond, is located in the Chestnut Hill section of Newton adja... Read More
107 Wallum Lake Rd, Douglas, MA
Bordering both Connecticut and Rhode Island, this popular 5,907-acre state forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjo... Read More
66 Mill Street, Belmont, MA
The first reservation established by the Metropolitan Parks Commission (later the MDC) in 1893, Beaver Brook Reservation is 59 acres of open fields... Read More
165 North Road, Carlisle, MA
Great Brook Farm State Park stands as a jewel in northern Massachusetts! Agriculture has been part of Great Brook's history for centuries. Holstein... Read More
Enneking, Turtle Pond, and Dedham Parkways, Hyde Park, MA
Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Enneking, Dedham and Turtle Pond Parkways wind through extensive tree covered hills, valleys, rock-outcroppings and ... Read More
Beacon Street, Brighton, MA
Considered a nineteenth-century masterpiece of engineering, urban planning and landscape design, the Chestnut Hill Reservation is listed on the Nat... Read More
259 Massapoag Avenue, North Easton, MA
Borderland is one of the most historically significant tracts of publicly owned land in the Commonwealth. Created in the early 1900s by artist and ... Read More
Truman Pkwy, Milton, MA
Open year round dawn to dusk. The Neponset River, unlike the Charles and Mystic Rivers, remains a natural estuary with extensive marshlands at its ... Read More
840 Hillside Street, Milton, MA
The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to spend the day and enjoy the calm, clear waters of Houghton’s Pond in the scenic ... Read More
840 Hillside Street, Milton, MA
The Blue Hills were so named by early European explorers who, while sailing along the coastline, noticed the bluish hue on the slopes when viewed f... Read More
Show More
Select a Massachusetts town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you
Nantucket County