Fishing Lake Onota

AKA: Onota Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Lake Onota Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Lake Onota, MA

Popular Fish Species Lake Onota, MA

Rainbow Trout Fishing

Fishing for rainbow trout at Lake Onota can be effective using worms, salmon eggs, prepared baits, small spinners, spoons, jerkbaits and small crankbaits in vibrant colors to mimic prey. Use the lightest fishing line for the best possible results, based on conditions. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing can still provide some nice fishing. Annual stocking by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game has helped to maintain a good population of rainbow trout. While fishing from a boat is often the preferred method, plenty of trout are caught here by anglers fishing from the bank. Additionally, floating or sinking flies, such as nymphs, streamers, or dry flies, are popular choices for fly anglers targeting rainbow trout. Trolling with lures or flies behind a boat, casting near shoreline structures, or still fishing with bait can all yield success. Adjusting lure size, color, and retrieve speed can enhance chances of enticing these colorful and spirited fish.

Brook Trout Fishing

Brook trout thrive in cool, clear, well-oxygenated water. Clean inflows of water are prime areas to fish. Fishing for brook trout in Lake Onota is popular due to the abundance and size of these tasty brookies. Brookies are most actively feeding at dawn, and again at dusk. Brook trout feed on plankton, worms, leeches, insects, mollusks, and small baitfish. They spawn in the Fall, rather than the Spring, and they are quite prolific spawners. Other times they tend to move deeper and are more difficult to locate. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing for brook trout is a fun way to spend a winter day. Brook trout can be easily caught on minnows, flies, small spinners, worms, maggots and wax worms.

Northern Pike Fishing

Big northern pike are thriving in the cool waters of Lake Onota. This year they are being caught in good numbers with an occasional giant. April and May are the best months of the year for northern pike fishing here. They are extremely active when feeding and they can catch and eat pretty much any food source in the lake. Northerns are very agile and powerful, plus they have big mouths with very sharp teeth. Summer can be spotty but pike are caught all through the summer. Fall can also be good sometimes stretching into October. Large, flashy lures that mimic the bait they prey upon are great lures for northerns. Trolling along weed edges can often entice strikes. When the lake has safe ice in winter, ice fishing for northern pike can be quite thrilling. Use GPS to locate spots you normally find northern pike holding during summer. Portable fish finders can also be a big help. Throughout the season, effective lures include spoons, spinners, and crankbaits, particularly those with bright colors or metallic finishes to attract the pike's attention. Additionally, big flies, soft plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits can be successful, especially when retrieved erratically to mimic wounded prey.

Lake Onota Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, tiger trout, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel and northern pike at Lake Onota in Massachusetts.

Owned by the City of Pittsfield, Lake Onota is a 617-acre lake in the northwest part of the state with over 6 miles of shoreline. There is a concrete boat ramp, parking and fishing pier, located on the southeast shore off Lakeway Drive.

One of the popular fish species found in Lake Onota is largemouth bass. Another is northern pike. The lake is also home to rainbow trout, yellow perch, sunfish, and pickerel.

Trout are often the most sought species here, but the lake has populations of bass, crappie, bluegill, perch and pike. The lake gets a lot of traffic and fishing pressure.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Onota

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Onota Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: NEARBY
RV Hookups: NEARBY
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Onota Boat Livery
Rentals: Fishing boats, pontoon boats, kayaks and canoes
413 442-1724

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Lake Onota Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Lakeway Drive, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.