New England’s Secret Fishing Wonderland: Quabbin Reservoir
A virtual fishing nirvana is situated amongst the lowlands of central Massachusettsthat goes by the name of Quabbin Reservoir. Like many names that are found in the eastern US, the word Quabbin is derived from a local Indian tribe’s word meaning “meeting of many waters”. Quabbin Reservoir is also known as the Big Lady, the Accidental Wilderness, Big Q. or sometimes just Q. No matter its name, Quabbin Reservoir an angling wonderland.
Big Q is the most massive body of fresh water located within the State of Massachusetts. Covering almost 25,000 acres hold 412 billion gallons of water when full making it one of the greatest, minimally filtered water resources in the US. Quabbin’s high quality waters are transported approximately 90 miles to the east serving ~2.5 million inhabitants of the Greater Boston area.
The Accidental Wilderness was created over three quarters of a century ago. Quabbin has excellent water quality as evidenced by the water clarity which in many sections is greater than twenty feet. The range of water depth oscillates across the reservoir with depths greater than 100 feet in places. Usually one associates these water quality parameters are often associated cold water fisheries, Quabbin is truly an excellent two-story reservoir. More than twenty-seven different fishes cruise Lady Q’s pristine surface waters with over 20 of those being actively sought by the fishing masses each day.
People heading over to the Quabbin have the option of fishing from accessible spots on shore or a restricted power boat. Since this is the Bay State’s biggest drinking water supply, however, numerous restrictions and regulations are in effect. Each season the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation releases a fishing guide for the Quabbin that is easily down-loadable from DCR’s Quabbin Reservoir page.
The cooler, clear waters of Quabbin Reservoir play host to 5 different coldwater fish species including lake, brown, rainbow, brook trout plus salmon. Though all three of the Big Lady’s boat ramps facilitate access to the colder water portions where salmanoids call home, the favored trout and salmon area is accessible from Gate #8 located on Quabbin’s western leg in Pelham.
Though Gate #8 on Quabbin’s west arm provides the best gateway to the cold water sections, the other two launch areas at Gates #31 and #43 provide gateway to the great shallow and warm parts of impoundment. Warm water fish most sought from Quabbin Reservoir include both largemouth and smallmouth bass (though smallmouths reign supreme), chain pickerel, perch, catfish and the occasional walleye. Though a rare occurrence, the current State record walleye weighing 11 pounds even came from Lady Q in 1975.
One additional fish present in Q’s waters is often shunned is the common carp though that is not atypical on many US lakes since American’s usually consider it a “non-sports fish”.
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