Great Spots to Catch a Fish in Berkshire County

Windsor Lake in North Adams is regularly stocked with trout. 

Summer may be winding down, but there is still plenty of time and great weather to catch some fish.

Most major lakes, ponds, and rivers, including the Housatonic, are open to fishing year-round with catch limits; smaller rivers and brooks have catch limits of three after Sept. 11 and eight after April 1. Find a list of fishing seasons and limits here. 

Berkshire County has scenic places to sail this fall as well as stand on the edge and cast out.

Pontoosuc Lake
Pittsfield

This lake is popular not only in the summer months but also in the winter months for ice fishing. This spot is best known for its yellow perch.

Farnam's Causeway
Cheshire

The causeway on Farnam's Road splits Cheshire Reservoir. There are multiple fishing piers on the north side and a boat launch on the south side, plus public restrooms. 

If you forget any fishing necessities there is also a shack that carries live bait. This spot is popular for large mouth bass.

Laurel Lake
Lee 

Laurel Lake is not only a great view but a great place to boat or fish. Bass are a popular catch. There's a public paved ramp and large parking lot located on the southern tip of the lake and there is no fee to launch.

Beartown State Forest and Campground
Great Barrington

Enjoy a picnic while also using the pier to fish out of Benedict Pond. If you need a break from fishing you can enjoy a lunch at one of the many park benches, a dip in the public beach, or a walk along the water on one of the trails.

The launch at Onoto Lake in Pittsfield. 

Stockbridge Bowl
Stockbridge

This is another spot you can boat but also fish from the edge. The lake is also a popular scenic spot. Fishermen are known to catch trout, bass, and sunfish here.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.