Otis Reservoir

Otis Reservoir, 1,036 acres on the Otis-Tolland line, is a trout-trolling lake. MassWildlife stocks it every spring and fall and says the trout fishing stays good into midsummer. Its southern third lies inside Tolland State Forest and is undeveloped; the rest of the shore is lined with homes.

When to fish

• Spring into midsummer: stocked trout, and MassWildlife says the fishing holds up well into the summer.
• Late September and October: trout fishing picks up again after the fall stocking.
• Winter: ice fishing for yellow perch, bass and black crappie is productive. The reservoir is drawn down every fall and winter.

Where to fish

• The deeper sections: the reservoir averages 18 feet and reaches 52, and most trout are caught by trolling the deep water. It's big, so it can take a while to find them, but where they are, there are plenty.
• Coves: the weeds are mostly in the coves.
• Pickerel: not common here, but MassWildlife says they can top 5 pounds and lists Otis as a best bet for trophy pickerel and brook trout.

How to fish it

Troll the deep water for trout, MassWildlife's advice for most of the season. In winter, fish through the ice for perch, bass and crappie.

Getting there

DCR runs a large concrete ramp with parking for about 25 trailers off Main Road in Tolland State Forest. Shore fishing is allowed near the ramp and around the state forest campground, and a parking fee may apply there. Two dirt cartop launches, at Tolland Road and New Forest Road on the eastern bay and on Belden Road on the south shore, have room for four to six cars each and are harder to use when the water is drawn down. The state health department has a mercury advisory for fish from the reservoir; check it before you keep any. You need a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license, and small lead sinkers and lead jigs are banned in fresh water.