June 2022
2022 fishing & hunting season dates
June 1: Family Fishing Clinic, Milton – This is a family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Turners Pond (get directions) from 5 – 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and pre-registration is required. Visit the Milton Recreation Department website or call (617) 898-4940 for more information.
June 2: Family Fishing Clinic, Shrewsbury – This is a family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Dean Park Pond in Shrewsbury (805 Main Street) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is offered in cooperation with the Shrewsbury Recreation Department. Open to the public, pre-registration is required; visit the Shrewsbury website or call (508) 841-8503 to register or for more information.
June 4–5: Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend – No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts from 12 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2022. Please note: All other fishing regulations, including catch limits, apply during Free Fishing Weekend. Other than Free Fishing Weekend, you need a license to fish in fresh water if you are 15 or older. If you're 15–17 or 70 and older, your license is free. Funds from fishing license sales support MassWildlife’s fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. Buy your fishing license here. For saltwater anglers, Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 18–19, 2022.
June 4: Great Falls Discovery Center Family Fishing Festival, Turners Falls – Join us for a free, family friendly, learn to fish event at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls (2 Avenue A) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment, or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. The event is offered in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Open to the public, no pre-registration is required, email jim.lagacy@mass.gov for more information.
June 4: Disabled American Veterans Fishing Festival, Hudson – This family friendly fishing event open is open to disabled veterans and their families. Join the fun from 10 a.m. –2 p.m. at the Riverside Gun Club, 16 Wilkins St (Rt. 62). This event offered in cooperation with the Riverside Gun Club and the Hudson AMVETS. Email jim.lagacy@mass.gov for more information.
June 5: Fish Ladder Open House, West Springfield – Join MassWildilfe and the Westfield River Watershed Association for an open house of the fish ladder at the West Springfield (Strathmore) Dam. Come see the viewing room used to count shad as they migrate through the fish ladder. Click here for details.
June 8: Family Fishing Clinic, Brewster – This is a family friendly, learn to fish clinic at Nickerson State Park (Cliff Pond) in Brewster. This event is offered in cooperation with Brewster Recreation Department. It is open to the public and pre-registration is required. Visit the Brewster Recreation Department website to register or for more information.
June 11: Spot Pond Family Fishing Festival, Stoneham – Join us for a free, non-competitive, family friendly, learn to fish event at Spot Pond in Stoneham (at the Straw Point area on the north end of Spot Pond off New South Street) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your fishing equipment or borrow ours; limited equipment and bait will be provided. The event is offered in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Stoneham Police. It’s open to the Public, no pre-registration is required, email jim.lagacy@mass.gov for more information.
June 12: Groton Greenway River Festival, Groton – Join MassWildlife and other partners for a celebration of the Nashua River. Bring the whole family for arts and crafts, live music, canoeing, boat rides, and more. This free event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking and shuttle bus available from Deluxe at 500 Main Street in Groton. Click here for more information on the River Festival.
June 16: Family Fishing Clinic, Wakefield – This is a family friendly, learn to fish program at Lake Quannapowitt (Spaulding Playground area off Church St.) from 4 p.m.– 6 p.m. This event is offered in cooperation with the Reading Recreation Department. It’s open to the public, pre-registration required, visit the Reading website to register or for more information.
June 21: Learn to Fish Clinic, Taunton – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Lake Rico in Taunton. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
June 22: Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough – The monthly business meeting, which is open to the public, will be held Wednesday, June 22 at 1 p.m., at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). Anyone wishing to be placed on the agenda to speak must notify the Board in writing 2 weeks prior to the meeting; for more detailed information, contact Susan Sacco at susan.sacco@mass.gov.
June 22: Public Hearing on Proposed Hunting Regulations, Westborough – A public hearing will be held on proposed regulatory amendments to 321 CMR 3.00 Hunting; specifically, regulations relating to hunting of pheasant, quail, and small game. The hearing will held at 3 p.m., at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters (1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough). The proposed regulatory amendments relative to 321 CMR 3.00 are posted at Mass.gov/MassWildlife-Public-Hearings, so that interested persons can review them and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the public hearing. Written public comments will also be accepted until Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 5 p.m.
June 23: Learn to Fish Clinic, New Bedford – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7p.m. at Buttonwood Pond in New Bedford. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
June 25: Family Fishing Clinic, Brockton – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 10 a.m.–1 pm. at D.W. Field Park Pond in Brockton. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
June 26: Learn to Fish Clinic, Chicopee – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 10a.m.–1p.m. at Chicopee State Park in Chicopee. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
June 28: Family Fishing Clinic, Chicopee – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 1–3 p.m. at the Medina Street Boar Launch in Chicopee. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
June 29: Family Fishing Clinic, Saugus – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5:50–7:30 p.m. at Camp Nihan in Saugus. Pre-registration is required; register on the Chelsea website. In cooperation with Chelsea Recreation and Cultural Affairs Dept.
June 30: Learn to Fish Clinic, Westfield – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 4:30–6:30p.m. at Hampton Ponds State Park in Westfield. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
July 2022
2022 fishing & hunting season dates
July 7: Learn to Fish Clinic, Bolton – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Bowers Spring Conservation Area in Bolton. Pre-registration required; register on the Bolton website. In cooperation with the Bolton Conservation Department.
July 11: Learn to Fish Clinic, Worcester – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Greenhill Park Pond in Worcester. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español. In cooperation with the City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks.
July 12: Learn to Fish Clinic, Worcester – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Morgan Park on Indian Lake in Worcester. Click here to register. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español. In cooperation with the City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks.
July 13: Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Learn to Fish Clinic, Leominster – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free and open to women age 15 and older. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7p.m. at Barrett Park in Leominster. Click here to register.
July 19: Learn to Fish Clinic, Brookline – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Brookline Reservoir in Brookline. Click here to register.
July 20: Family Fishing Clinic, Natick – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Lake Cochituate in Natick. Click here to register.
July 23: Learn to Fish Clinic, Boston – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Jamaica Pond in Boston. Click here to register. In cooperation with the Puerto Rican Festival. Instruction offered in English and Spanish / Instrucción ofrecida en inglés y español.
July 26: Family Fishing Clinic, Mashpee – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 6–8 p.m. at Johns Pond Park in Mashpee. Pre-registration required; register on Mashpee website or call (508) 539-1416. In cooperation with Mashpee Recreation Department.
July 28: Family Fishing Clinic, Stoughton – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Ames Long Pond in Stoughton. Pre-registration required; register on Stoughton website or call (781) 341-1300 x9244. In cooperation with Stoughton Recreation Dept.
August 2022
2022 fishing & hunting season dates
August 2: Family Fishing Clinic, Pittsfield – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Onota Lake in Pittsfield. Click here to register.
August 4: Family Fishing Clinic, Pittsfield – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 5–7 p.m. at Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield. Click here to register.
August 4: Family Fishing Clinic, North Adams – Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This event is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Join us 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Windsor Lake in North Adams. Click here to register.
Event accommodations
If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodations or will require translation services for an upcoming event, please contact Susan Sacco via email at susan.sacco@mass.gov.