Top fishing spots near scenic Wildlife Management Areas Plan a fishing trip and make a day of it by adding a stop at one of MassWildlife’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Love to fish? Massachusetts offers exceptional freshwater fishing in spectacular settings. Many fishable ponds, lakes, and rivers are located within or very near WMAs that provide opportunities for walking, hiking, and wildlife watching. Remember, if you’re 15 or over, you need a fishing license. Buy your fishing license online.
Towns: Ashby, Groton, Shirley, Townsend The Squannacook River is an exceptional coldwater stream. Many tributaries hold wild brook trout and the main stem is stocked with trout in spring and fall and. For a bit of fun, try fly-fishing the rapids accessed from the Townsend Road parking area in Groton. When you’ve had your fill of fishing, explore the Squannacook River WMA—a patchwork of parcels that follow the river from its headwaters near the New Hampshire border to its confluence with the Nashua River. The bottomlands, oxbow wetlands, forests, and grassy openings of this WMA can be accessed using several unmarked trails. Walk along the river and watch for kingfishers, great blue herons, green darner dragonflies, emerald jewelwing damselflies, as well as barred and great-horned owls. Look along the shoreline for river otters that feed on freshwater mussels and overhead in the hemlocks for an occasional porcupine. If you explore the river from a canoe, remember to leave downed woody debris in place since it provides vital habitat for river creatures.