Hamilton Reservoir

Overview

Hamilton Reservoir backs up the Quinebaug River from Holland center all the way to I-84 in Connecticut, covering 423 acres. A culvert under Mashapaug Rd., too small for boats, splits it into two basins: the 248-acre north basin (8 ft average, 23 ft max) and the 175-acre south basin (7 ft average, 12 ft max). The water is slightly tea-colored with about 6 feet of visibility over mud. With a heavily built-up shore, it gets busy in summer.

Fishing

Generous trout stockings make Hamilton a spring and fall trout destination. Plentiful forage keeps largemouth bass and chain pickerel abundant, with some bigger fish mixed in. Carp over 10 pounds are common and draw their own following. Yellow and white perch are easy to catch from a boat or through the ice. Award fish include largemouth bass; northern pike; panfish such as black crappie, sunfish and yellow perch; and carp, and brown and rainbow trout.

Species

MassWildlife surveys list largemouth and smallmouth bass; chain pickerel; and common carp, yellow and panfish such as black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish and white perch, brown and yellow bullhead; and banded killifish, golden shiner, landlocked alewife and white sucker. Both basins get trout every spring and fall, and pike or tiger muskie when available.

Regulations

MassWildlife freshwater regulations apply: https://www.mass.gov/freshwater-fishing-regulations. Check local town or DCR rules for access fees and restrictions.

Licensing

A Massachusetts freshwater fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older.

Access

The public ramp is Holland's concrete launch on Leno Rd. at the north tip, with parking for 12 trailers and a fishing pier. The south basin's paved ramp is private (lake association and shorefront owners only), and there's no legal parking near it.

Water facts

423 acres in two basins (north 248 ac, south 175 ac); clarity about 6 ft; annual fall/winter drawdown.

Safety & advisories

The reservoir is drawn down each fall and winter, so depths change; navigate carefully then. Clean, drain and dry gear between waters (MassWildlife).

Nearby waters

• Holland Pond · 2.6 km (MA)
• Mashapaug Lake · 5 km (CT)
• Bigelow Pond · 7.3 km (CT)
• Little Alum Pond · 8.1 km (MA)
• Sherman Pond · 9.2 km (MA)
• Alum Pond · 9.8 km (MA)

More in Hampden

• Otis Reservoir (MA)
• Chicopee Reservoir (MA)
• Dean Pond (MA)
• Forest Lake (MA)
• Holland Pond (MA)
• Lake Lorraine (MA)