There are two catch-and-release areas on the Deerfield, with the upper section in Florida-Rowe from the Fife Brook Dam to the Hoosic Tunnel. The lower restricted area is in Charlemont, from Pelham Brook to the Mohawk Campground.

Access to the river is off Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail) and Zoar River Road.

There are several dams along the river, which means the water level can change drastically with very little notice. Many an angler has found himself stranded on a midstream boulder because of unscheduled releases — not a pleasant situation to be in!

The fishing, however, can be spectacular. Obviously the catch-and-release sections hold lots of fish, as they are heavily stocked and killing fish is not allowed. But the rest of the river is also a fantastic fishery, with heavy stocking and plenty of holdover trout.

Along Route 5 in Deerfield are several good spots for fishermen, including the Rainbow Pool, the Stillwater Bridge and the pocket water between the two. Access is easy, with several parking areas and a few places where a canoe can be launched.

The stretch of river below Shelburne Falls is not easy to get to because of the terrain, but it’s worth the effort. Flowing through a deep valley, this seldom-fished section has deep pools and trout over 5 pounds that reward the angler willing to put forth the effort to reach them. The portion of river around the Bardwells Ferry bridge in Conway is also a favorite, with deep, boulder-strewn water providing ideal habitat for large trout.

A smaller, more intimate stream is the Green River. You can find it by taking Route 2 to Colrain Road. From there, take River Road (which turns to dirt) to where the road parallels the river all the way through West Leyden up to the Vermont border.

Mostly pocket water and riffles, the Green River has occasional pools that hold surprisingly large trout. This is a productive, pretty river to fish and it’s well worth the hike it takes to reach it.

In the town of Barre, the Ware River is another overlooked trout fishery. Formed from two branches, the main river flows for more than 20 miles through Barre, Ware, Hardwick and Palmer to its confluence with the Quabog River. It offers a wide variety of trout water, from open meadows and gentle flows to wild, plunging rocky rapids. All along its length it is generously stocked with rainbows and browns, and holds large holdover trout as well. The best spring fishing is in the upper section.

To get there, take Route 32 to Barre Plains, and then take Nichols Road to Route 122, which follows the river upstream to Coldbrook Road and the Barre Falls flood control dam. One other section is noteworthy. Located in Palmer, the area below where the Swift River joins it is a delight to fish, although it is a short stretch. This stretch holds plenty of trout and is largely neglected. It can be reached by parking at the Water Department pump house near the Route 81 bridge and hiking down to the big pool opposite where the Swift River comes in.

The West Branch Swift offers great trout fishing mainly because of the terrain surrounding it. The area is notable for its wilderness ambience and the feeling of solitude that prevails while fishing there. The main tributary to the western arm of the Quabbin Reservoir, the Swift River holds stocked and holdover trout, wild brookies, and hosts a run of landlocked salmon from the Quabbin.

The West Branch is on U.S. Route 202 at the town line between Shutesbury and New Salem. The downstream section is on Quabbin Reservoir land where extra restrictions are in place. Anglers should be sure to study the latest regulations before fishing that stretch.

Upstream from the highway, the water is open year ’round. New Boston Road parallels the upper section of the river, and can be reached by going west on Cooleyville Road from 202, and taking the second right turn.

The East Branch Swift River comes out of the Popple Camp State Wildlife Management Area in Petersham and Phillipston. It terminates in the Pottapaug Pond portion of Quabbin Reservoir.