GUIDE TO LAKES IN THE BERKSHIRES

Getting out onto the water in the great outdoors can be one of the simplest joys during the warmer months of the year. Here in the Berkshires, we have a number of lakes and great ponds that are perfect for fishing, boating, swimming, and other recreational activities. Listed below are some of the lakes in the Berkshires that are closest to our location.

Pontoosuc Lake

• Area: ~510 acres
• Max Depth: 40 feet
• Average Depth: 15 feet
• Transparency: 11 feet

Located practically on our doorstep, Pontoosuc Lake is a popular destination for water recreation. With a densely developed shoreline, this lake does support a heavy amount of traffic throughout the year.

On the southern tip of the pond, there is a paved boat ramp with an accompanying assisting dock that allows for easy access for boats. You’ll also find plenty of parking along the southern/southeastern shore that is open to the public.

Pontoosuc Lake should be of particular interest to anglers as there are over seventeen species of fish that make their habitat here, including:

• Bass
• Pickerel
• Carp
• Pike
• Perch
• Shiners
• And more!

Pontoosuc Park, located next to the boat ramp, has amenities such as picnic tables and public restrooms that will help make your day at the lake even more enjoyable

Lake Onota

• Area: 617 acres
• Max depth: 66 feet
• Average depth: 22 feet
• Transparency: 17 feet

Like Pontoosuc Lake, Lake Onota is also considered to be a suburban lake due to the amount of development along the shoreline and the heavy amount of public usage throughout the year. With an 8 mile perimeter, paddling around the edge of the lake can make for a great daytime activity.

You’ll find a double paved boat ramp along with a public parking lot on the southeastern shore. This means Onota lake is perfect for practically any kind of trailer boat. There is also a concrete fishing pier near the ramp, a popular place to cast a line.

Lake Onata is a wonderful locale for fishing as it contains many of the same species of fish as Pontoosuc Lake with the addition of:

• White catfish
• Pumpkinseed
• Atlantic salmon

If your aim is to catch brown trout, note that there is a 15 inch one per day restriction for this body of water.

This lake is also a great place for birdwatching as it sits directly in the center of the Atlantic Flyway migration corridor. Birders can marvel at many majestic species, such as:

• Bald Eagle
• Red Tailed Hawk
• Canadian geese
• Finches 
• Cardinals
• And more!

Cheshire Reservoir

• Area: 418 feet
• Transparency: 6 feet

Cheshire Reservoir is a combination of 3 distinct basins, referred to as North, Middle, and South. As you move further north, the water becomes deeper. The maximum depth for the southern basin is 3 feet, while the deepest part of the northern basin is measured at 9 feet.

Of all the lakes in the Berkshires mentioned in this article, Cheshire Reservoir is the most popular choice for fans of canoeing or kayaking. This could be for a few reasons, one being that there is a heavy amount of vegetation in all of the basins. Another reason could be the six islands in the lake that adventurous persons can explore.

This isn’t to say that power boating and other forms of getting out onto the water can’t be done. In fact, the North basin is incredibly popular for all manner of boating.

As far as fishing is concerned, while there may not be as many species of fish here, there is a well-deserved reputation for anglers being able to catch large northern pike. You are far more likely to catch a large bass or decent sized yellow perch, however.