Ice Fishing Spots and Derbys This Winter

With winter really upon us and temperatures hitting negatives you might be wondering where a great spot for ice fishing might be. Throughout Berkshire county there are many different bodies of water to choose from.

Be sure to have your fishing license for those 15 years or older that you can purchase online through MassFishHunt.

Also make sure the ice is thick enough before heading out as well as let someone know where you are going. Have an ice fishing destination you want included on our list–email info@iberskhires.com.

Stockbridge Bowl
Stockbridge

The lake is a popular scenic spot. Fishermen are known to catch trout, bass, and sunfish here. This is the perfect place to set up your tent or chair and cut a hole for your fish. 

Laurel Lake
Lee 

Laurel Lake is not only a great view but bass are a popular catch. There's a public paved ramp and large parking lot located on the southern tip of the lake.

Pontoosuc Lake
Pittsfield

This spot is best known for its yellow perch. It's quite popular for ice fishing so you're sure to also meet some new friends out on the ice.

Be sure to participate in this year's annual ice fishing derby on Saturday, Feb. 21.

More information here.

Onota Lake
Pittsfield

Onota Lake is stocked with hundreds of rainbow trout every year, and with the right bait you're sure to get a catch.

Cheshire Reservoir
Cheshire

This is a great spot to catch bass, pickerel and pike. 

Be sure to participate in the years annual ice fishing derby on Sunday, February 8th.

More information here.

Windsor Lake
North Adams 

Affectionately known as Fish Pond, this small lake is stocked with rainbow trout, some brook and brown trout, and chain pickerel. 

Mercers Pond 
Great Barrington

A great place to set up a tent and make a hole for the perfect fish to hopefully win at this year's fishing derby on Saturday, Feb. 14.

More information here.

Be sure to safely get on the ice and make sure if it's good for you to go out on, MassWildlife has many tips so that you can keep yourself and others safe when ice fishing.

McCann Committee Gets First Look at $17M Renovation Progress

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Monday, October 12, 2026

The project is in the home stretch with roofing and some windows and doors still to be installed. Superintendent James Brosnan also pointed above to HVAC improvements in the Guidance Office. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The McCann School Committee got a first look at the final stretch of a $17 million overhaul aimed at making the 64-year-old vocational school safer, quieter and more energy-efficient.

After a brief School Committee meeting Thursday, Superintendent James Brosnan led the members through the school, highlighting some of the changes made in the 64-year-old building.

"Just seeing this gives you a magnitude of the amount of work that goes on," he said.

The upgrades are being funded through the Massachusetts School Building Authority's Accelerated Repair Program and the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District's member towns.

Work was supposed to be completed before the start of the school year, but weather and the removal of materials caused a delay.

The tour was all indoors, and Brosnan told a disappointed committee that he was hesitant to take them onto the roof at night, but said the new roof is near 80 percent down.

"We have another 10, and 10 percent of that missing 20 is in the AVB [air and vapor barrier] and removal phase," Brosnan said. "That particular area is across the front, down the post-secondary ... we are going to pick up from guidance. So we have that plan going through next week. Fingers crossed, within two weeks we will have that piece down."

He said the roof has been built up and insulated for more efficiency.