Housatonic River (Lee and Stockbridge)

The Housatonic flows south through the Berkshires from Pittsfield toward Connecticut, and between Lee and Stockbridge MassWildlife manages two catch-and-release trout stretches. Upstream, the river and Woods Pond in Lenoxdale are a best bet for trophy pike and carp. There's one big catch: because of PCB contamination from GE's Pittsfield plant, the state says not to eat any fish from the river, so plan to release everything you catch.

When to fish

• Spring: MassWildlife stocks trout in Lee and Stockbridge (and in the East and Southwest branches around Pittsfield and Dalton).
• Summer: from June 15 to August 31, fishing is banned within 100 feet of the mouths of Beartown, Goose Pond, Hop and Mohawk brooks.

Where to fish

• Upper catch-and-release area: from the Route 20 bridge in Lee down to Willow Mill Dam.
• Lower catch-and-release area: from Glendale Dam down to the railroad bridge in Stockbridge.
• Woods Pond and the river near Lenoxdale: MassWildlife's best bet for trophy pike and carp.

Getting there

In the catch-and-release areas, use artificial lures only and release every fish; elsewhere on the main river, trout follow a special Housatonic limit. The Department of Public Health advises against eating any fish, frogs or turtles from the Housatonic in Massachusetts because of PCBs, and the EPA is overseeing an ongoing PCB cleanup of the river, so watch for work areas. You need a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license, and small lead sinkers and lead jigs are banned in fresh water.