Westfield River

River Map

About Westfield River

A federally designated Wild and Scenic River draining the Berkshire hills through some of Massachusetts's most rugged and scenic terrain before reaching the Connecticut River near Westfield. All three main branches support self-sustaining populations of wild brown, rainbow, and brook trout, and the catch-and-release corridor through Chesterfield Gorge on the East Branch is one of the most productive and scenic stretches of freestone trout water in New England. Below the Knightville Dam, holdover rainbows and browns in the 14–20" range are regularly encountered.

Regulations

East Branch C&R area: from Chesterfield Gorge parking lot downstream to the Corps of Engineers parking lot at Knightville — artificial lures only, all fish must be released, open year-round. Standard MA trout season (opens April 1) applies outside designated C&R areas. Wild and Scenic River designation applies.

Learn More

Guides to help you fish Westfield River with more confidence.

• Massachusetts Fishing Regulations for Fly Anglers

  Massachusetts fishing license (no separate trout stamp), the April 1 spring opener, year-round catch-and-release on the Swift fly-only stretch, the…

• Trout Species of Massachusetts

  MA's wild brown trout fishery — the Swift below Quabbin, the FirstLight-controlled Deerfield, the Westfield Wild and Scenic corridor — alongside…

• How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing (And How to Use It)

  That gorgeous bluebird day after a cold front? Worst fishing of the year. Here's the data behind why pressure changes matter more than the weather…