Where to fish
Natural reproduction
Northern pike naturally reproduce in several waterbodies in the state. The natural reproduction is able to sustain the fishery in the Connecticut (including the Oxbow), Concord, Sudbury, and Housatonic (including Woods Pond) Rivers and in Pontoosuc, Onota, Buel, Cheshire, Indian, and Wequaquet Lakes.
Tiger muskellunge is a cross between a northern pike and muskellunge, and are sterile.
Stocking
MassWildlife stocks some locations with northern pike and tiger muskellunge, which are members of the esocid family. MassWildlife does not have a warm water hatchery in which to rear esocids but usually obtains a small number of 3–12" fish each year from the New Jersey Division of Fisheries and Wildlife through a cooperative exchange program. They are stocked in selected Massachusetts waters with sufficient habitat to support them. It takes 3–5+ years for them to attain the 28" minimum legal length. Stocking information is listed in the tables below.
Northern pike and tiger muskellunge stocked waters
| Town | Water | # Acres | Years stocked with northern pike | Years stocked with tiger muskellunge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | Spy Pond | 103 | 2001, 2015 | |
| Bridgewater | Nippenicket Lake | 354 | 2003, 2004 | |
| Brookfield | Quaboag Pond | 531 | 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 | |
| Cheshire | Cheshire Reservoir | 418 | 2006, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 | |
| Concord | Concord River | N/A | 2000 | |
| Fall River | South Watuppa Pond | 1283 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 | |
| Framingham | Cochituate Lake | 559 | 2000, 2002, 2004 | |
| Hinsdale | Ashmere Lake | 217 | 2000 | |
| Holland | Hamilton Reservoir | 249 | 2000 | |
| Holland | Holland Pond | 65 | 2000, 2007, 2008 | |
| Monterey | Buel Lake | 194 | 2006, 2023 | |
| Natick | Charles River | N/A | 2000 | |
| New Salem | Rohunta Lake | 250 | 2006 | |
| Pittsfield | Pontoosuc Lake | 467 | 2000–2006, 2015 | |
| Sharon | Massapoag Lake | 353 | 2003, 2004 | |
| Shrewsbury/ Worcester | Quinsigamond Lake, Newton Pond, Flint Pond | 475 | 2002, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 | 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| Sturbridge | East Brimfield Reservoir | 420 | 2002, 2006–2008 | 2000 |
| Taunton | Sabbatia Lake | 237 | 2006 | |
| Tyngsboro | Mascopic Lake | 209 | 2000–2004 | |
| Westborough | Lake Chauncy | 177 | 2002, 2003, 2005 | 2002–2004, 2015 |
| Westborough | Assabet Reservoir #1 | 333 | 2001–2003 | 2000, 2004, 2015 |
| Westfield | Hampton Ponds | 198 | 2000–2004, 2015 |