Westfield River Massachusetts River Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone/Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout (wild and stocked with
holdovers)
Rainbow (wild and stocked with
holdovers)
Brook Trout (native)
Size
Medium to Large
Location
Western Massachusetts
Nearest Towns
Huntington
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Westfield River Massachusetts
The three branches of the Westfield River are designated “Wild and Scenic” federally protected waters. That says a lot to start with. There are over 40 miles of trout fishing just in the branches. Two of the branches are freestone streams with dams prior to reaching the main part of the river. The other branch, the West Branch, is a freestone all the way to the main stem.
All three branches have wild, reproducing populations of brown and brook trout. They are clear and stay cool throughout the year. The main river is stocked but has plenty of big holdover trout.
The East Branch of the Westfield River is considered the best fly fishing branch although all three are very good ones. It’s larger than the others and contains a seven mile section of catch and release water. It starts at the Chestfield Gorge, a deep gorge or canyon, and ends at the Knightville Flood Control area. This branch’s trout in addition to the wild ones and has plenty of holdovers.
The tailwater below Knightville dam is also a good place to fish. There are over three miles of fishing in this section of the stream. Although the area above the dam in the catch and release section can get rather warm during the summer, the section below the dam stays cool and can be fished all year.
The Middle Branch has Littleville Reservoir which slows down some of its water flow. It’s more difficult t access and therefore receives far less pressure than the other branches. It has over twelve miles of Wild and Scenic water and is stocked by the state just as heavily as the other two branches. Its upper part looks more like a picture perfect trout stream with riffles, runs and pools and lots of pocket water.
The West Branch of the Westfield River flows free from Becker to Huntington with almost fourteen miles of Wild and Scenic water. It’s clear, cold and always clean. The water level falls in the Summer but the deep pools keep trout in good shape.
U. S. Highway 20 runs along part of the main stem in Westfield and follows the river upstream to Huntington.. The state owns property along the river to provide access for anglers. There’s eighteen miles of good fishing upstream from Westfield. Access is also available under the I-90 turnpike.
This entire section is a tailwater located below the Knightville Dam in Hunington. It’s stocked its entire length and has some very large holdover rainbow and brown trout. Fly fishing the Westfield River in this section can produce some large trophy size trout.
Obtaining the discharge times and rates of flow is important in planning your strategy for fly fishing the Westfield River. The best thing about this entire river system is the versatility. You can fish for native brook trout in its small stream headwaters, or big holdover brown and rainbow trout in the mainstream.