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Massachusetts · Fishing
Granby is a small town in Hampshire County with a quiet fishing scene built around still water. The three lakes here — Ingraham Brook Pond, Aldrich Lake, and Forge Pond — are all lake fishing spots, meaning you're working the shoreline or a small boat rather than wading a current.
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Granby is a small town in Hampshire County with a quiet fishing scene built around still water. The three lakes here — Ingraham Brook Pond, Aldrich Lake, and Forge Pond — are all lake fishing spots, meaning you're working the shoreline or a small boat rather than wading a current. None of these are destination waters that draw crowds from outside the region, which is part of the appeal. You can show up on a weekday morning and have a bank to yourself. The fishing tends to follow the rhythms typical of western Massachusetts warmwater ponds: decent largemouth bass and panfish action through spring and summer, with things slowing down once the water heats up in July and August. Early morning and late evening are consistently the most productive windows. Access is generally low-key, without the infrastructure of a developed state boat ramp, so a kayak, canoe, or small car-top boat will serve you better than a trailered vessel. If you're coming from out of town, Granby makes a reasonable base for fishing several spots in a single day given how close the three waters are to each other.
Yes. Any angler 15 or older needs a valid Massachusetts freshwater fishing license to fish any of these waters. You can purchase one online through MassFishHunt, the state's licensing portal, or at local sporting goods retailers. Check the current Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Regulations booklet for any water-specific rules before you go.
All three are warmwater lake fisheries, so largemouth bass and panfish like bluegill and yellow perch are the most realistic targets. Pickerel show up in weedy shallows as well. None of these waters appear on state gold medal or wild trout designations, so don't plan the trip around trout.
Indian Hollow
~32 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Connecticut River - Holyoke Dam Tailwater
~14 min drive
Easy
Quabbin Reservoir - Winsor Dam Access
~16 min drive
Moderate
Swift River - Cady Lane Access
~19 min drive
Hard
Ingraham Brook Pond
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Quaboag River - Warren Access
~28 min drive
Moderate
Forge Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Westfield River - Middle Branch
~37 min drive
Moderate
Aldrich Lake
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Millers River - Erving State Forest Access
~40 min drive
Moderate
Chicopee River Reservoir
~14 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Plastic Park Pond
~14 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MA.
Also worth it near here
Early morning from first light until about 9 a.m. and the last two hours before sunset are the most reliable windows, especially for bass. Midday fishing in summer is slow once surface temperatures climb, though panfish can still be caught near structure throughout the day.
These are small ponds without developed boat ramps, so a kayak, canoe, or other car-top watercraft is the practical choice. Confirm access points locally before arriving, as parking and shore access can be limited and conditions change seasonally.
A medium-light spinning rod with 8-10 lb monofilament covers most situations across all three ponds. For bass, soft plastics and small spinnerbaits work well around weed edges and downed timber. For panfish, a simple bobber and worm rig is hard to beat. Bring polarized sunglasses to spot structure in the shallows.
