Ice Fishing Spots and Derbys This Winter

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
11:12AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026Print Story | Email Story

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.

Tags: ice fishing,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

State Planning to Temporarily Shut Down Route 8 Bridge in Clarksburg

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The state is shutting down the Red Mills Bridge on River Road for two months.

Select Board Chair Daniel Haskins said he, Town Administrator Ronald Boucher and Road Foreman Kyle Hurlbut had a Zoom meeting a few weeks ago with the state Department of Transportation to express their concerns.

"They're going to put a temporary bridge over the top of the existing bridge," he said at Monday's Select Board meeting. "They're going to shut down the road for about two months, which is our main artery going through town, which

we weren't too excited to hear that."

The temporary bridge is expected to serve until MassDOT installs a new one in five years.

Surveyors had been at the Route 8 bridge, at the intersection with East Road Extension, and at the bridge over Hudson Brook on Middle Road, which the state also plans to replace.

"It's still up in the air right now if we can even keep East Road still open, going up that way, because ... the temporary bridge that they're putting in the way has to kind of come out past the [existing] bridge," Haskins said. "It may block off East Road, so we're hoping to maybe at least keep it one lane for getting up there, for one-lane traffic."

Blocking off the bridge causes several issues: it blocks off East Road and Daniels for emergency services and buses, closes the main highway into Vermont, and forces large trucks to detour over narrow residential roads.

View Full Story