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Housatonic River is a public river in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, managed by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. You can fish it on a Massachusetts fishing licence; bank access is at bridge crossings, MassWildlife access points and public parks. Massachusetts riverbeds are private property up to the ordinary high-water mark except on a few federally-declared-navigable reaches, so wading or bank fishing away from a public access point needs the landowner's permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.
The Housatonic River through the Berkshires — a well-known wild and stocked brown trout fishery, though PCB contamination advisories apply to some reaches (check current MassWildlife/MassDEP consumption advisories).
It runs roughly 113 miles through the Berkshires region. Anglers here mostly fish for brown trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout. Live flow and gauge height come from the Housatonic River At Stevenson, Ct USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Plantain Pond and Hay Meadow Pond.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, MassWildlife trout designations and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Massachusetts on most inland waters — check local rules for water-supply reservoirs (Quabbin, Wachusett), which have their own posted hours and access restrictions.
Boats: Most great ponds and lakes take a car-top or trailered boat via an OFBA site; Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs restrict boat access to permit holders and DCR-operated rentals in season. No personal boats are allowed on the reservoirs.
Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at Massachusetts state forests and parks (several in the Berkshires and central uplands); Quabbin and Wachusett are day-use only with no camping.
Boat ramps: 20 mapped — Brookside Road Access, Decker Landing, Division Street Access, BNRC Fishing Access, Woods Pond Bridge, Glendale Dam Take-Out and others nearby.
Camping: 11 sites mapped nearby — Housatonic Meadows State Park Campground, Campsite, Belter's Campsites, Campsite, 4, 3 and others.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 01205500 — Housatonic River At Stevenson, Ct. Full gauge data →
Anyone 15 or older needs a Massachusetts fishing licence — the resident annual is about $28, the non-resident annual about $37, with non-resident 3-day (~$24) and 7-day (~$34) licences also sold. Massachusetts residents 70 and older need no licence, and anyone under 15 fishes free. Buy from MassWildlife at mass.gov/masswildlife. A Massachusetts fishing licence covers this water — it's on MassWildlife's 'Go Fish!' list of public fishing waters.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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