Description
Onota Lake is a 653-acre great pond and impoundment of Onota Brook located just beyond the city limits of Pittsfield. Due to its location and accessibility, Onota Lake is heavily used by anglers, swimmers, water skiers, and sailors. The average depth of Onota Lake is 21 feet with a maximum of 72 feet, and the water is transparent to about 17 feet. Aquatic vegetation is abundant and very dense in areas that are less than 10 feet deep, particularly within the coves in the northern portion of the lake. About 25% of the shoreline is protected within the boundaries of Burbank Park which is managed by the city of Pittsfield. Shoreline development is primarily limited to the northeast and southwest ends of the lake.
Recreational access
The city of Pittsfield manages a double concrete boat ramp, fishing pier, and 75-car parking lot in Burbank Park lot located off of Valentine Drive on the eastern shore (get directions). The ramp is suitable for virtually any class of trailered boat. Shore fishing is possible near the ramp, off the pier, and in Burbank Park. The fishing pier extends nearly 75 feet into the lake and allows anglers to cast into water as deep as 45 feet. Shore fishing is also possible on the northern shore along Dan Casey Memorial Drive (get directions). Parking for 20 cars is available on the shoulder of the road which has been widened. Please contact the city of Pittsfield for additional information and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of Onota Lake.
The two lane boat ramp on Onota Lake in Burbank Park.
Some of the shore access in Burbank Park near the boat ramp.
The fishing pier adjacent to the boat ramp in Burbank Park.
Shore access along Dan Casey Memorial Drive on the northern shore.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- largemouth bass
- smallmouth bass
- chain pickerel
- northern pike
- yellow perch
- white perch
- bluegill
- pumpkinseed
- redbreast sunfish
- black crappie
- rock bass
- brown bullhead
- white sucker
- common carp
- golden shiner
- banded killifish
- common shiner
- rainbow smelt
There are also occasional reports of channel catfish and white catfish. Onota Lake is stocked each spring and fall with trout.
Fishing
Onota Lake maintains a layer of cold oxygenated water throughout the warm summer months which enables trout to holdover for multiple seasons. Onota has long been known for its ability to produce trophy rainbow, brook, tiger, and particularly brown trout, with fish over 10 lbs being reported. Northern pike fishing is also very popular. Onota Lake does not produce many pike, but some large fish have been taken in recent years, including a 27 pounder. Anglers tend to concentrate on northern pike and trout but fishing for chain pickerel, bass, perch, and sunfish can also be very good. Common carp in the 10 to 20 pound range are also occasionally caught. Onota Lake has produced chain pickerel, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, common carp, black crappie, yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and tiger trout that meet minimum sizes for recognition by the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
More fishing resources:
Stop aquatic hitchhikers
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