Pontoosuc and Onota Lakes

[MSM072890]

I'm from CT and have family in Pittsfield.  Looking to pike and musky fish up there this winter for a weekend or two.  I go a lot in CT for pike but never been to Mass for them.  Can anyone tell me which of those two lakes are better for pike/musky and anyone got any ideas for spots on those places?  Id be willing to meet up with someone when I go up there and share some beers and food on my grill.  PM's welcome.

[pmaloney86]

Both are very popular for pike and Pontoosuc has tiger musky but I'm not sure about Onota.  I haven't fished the bodies of water much and the pike hunters are a pretty tight lipped bunch.  I'd suggest using google maps along with maps on the DFW site to find potential spots but both lakes definitely hold good sized pike.

[MSM072890]

Good to know both hold big fish.  What's the biggest anyone has caught at either? 

[pmaloney86]

State record tiger musky came out of Pontusuc and weighed in at 27lbs.  Usually a few 20lb northerns come out of each place every year.

[flyfish413]

Both spots produce monsters every year, but best of luck with spots. Pike are pike, I'd start by checking the Navionics Web app for a great contour maps of both lakes.

[Rangerboats391]

i prefer poontusic, more consistent for pike, catch one almost every trip, no real monsters yet! 12lbs last year

[Flatland]

Good luck getting info out of the pike fishers! They are tight-lipped for a reason. My sister-in-law recently married a guy from Pittsfield whose brothers and dad consistently hunt the toothy critters. I am going to see if they will take me out to their spots sometime this season.

[KillerFish]

Navionics x2

When starting on new water I usually pick out two or three places on navionics that look good to try.
Fish one spot for half the day, if it's slow switch to another spot for the next.

Remember with fishing it's not about secrets - it's about experience (and luck!)

[Sider77]

Went to Pontoosuc last year for the first time ever. Had really good luck. Caught a 13 1/2 pounder, 5 smaller pike and lost one at the hole that we nicknamed Walter! Still sick about it a year later

[Jetmec89]

Pontoosuc is better for pike. Both locations hold good fish but I always catch more at pontoosuc. I go for everything on the tip ups and consistently catch pike at pontoosuc. No records but ive landed some 10+ pounders and a couple of 16 pounders in the same day. There's potential for a monster in both ponds though. Good Luck!

[Rangerboats391]

10 inches of ice at poontusic

[mr tip up]

i would not fish it on a weekend it a cluster f..k  with all the people snowmobles quads  if it gets any more ice it will be a parking lot