Massachusetts offers an impressive mix of freshwater and saltwater fly fishing. From quiet trout streams in the Berkshires to the windswept beaches of Cape Cod, anglers can chase everything from wild brook trout to powerful striped bass without ever leaving the state. Few places offer such a wide variety of fisheries packed into such a compact area.

For freshwater anglers, western Massachusetts is home to some of New England's best trout water. The Deerfield River is nationally known for its excellent brown and rainbow trout fishing, while countless ponds, lakes, and small streams provide opportunities for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pickerel, and native brook trout. Whether fishing a technical tailwater or a tiny mountain brook, there is no shortage of places to explore.

Ask most fly anglers what Massachusetts is famous for, however, and they'll point toward striped bass. Every spring and summer, the beaches, estuaries, and rocky coastlines come alive as migrating stripers push into shallow water to feed. Wading the surf at sunrise or sight-fishing cruising fish across the Cape's flats has become a rite of passage for many saltwater fly anglers, making Massachusetts one of the premier striped bass destinations in the country.