StrikeTracks

Massachusetts

Housatonic River near Great Barrington

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Location Snapshot

The Housatonic River near Great Barrington is a Berkshire mainstem fishery in western Massachusetts. Brown and rainbow trout lead the coldwater opportunity, with smallmouth bass adding a warmwater option.

Current River Rating

Fair · 89

Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Partial water evidence · Medium confidence

Should I Go?

Wait

Timing Outlook

This timing outlook is informational only; current river conditions remain Fair.

Why

  • Current conditions do not support a reliable fishing window.
  • Water temperature is unavailable.

Favorable Factors

  • Recent precipitation has been light.

Timing Evidence

Dawn low light is favorable.

Current Readings

Flow
274 CFS
Gage Height
2.21 ft
Water Temperature
Not available
Observation Time
Oct 22, 2026, 2:30 AM

Updated recently · USGS station 01197500 · Direct monitoring location

Readings from past 7 Days

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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.

Better Nearby Options

Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…

Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.

Changing Conditions Advisory

Short-term rainfall and flow-change signals

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Weather Near Gauge

Current Weather

Overcast

Temperature

45°F

Feels like

38°F

Wind

5 mph N

Wind gust

7 mph

Current precipitation

0.00 in

Updated

Oct 21, 2026, 10:15 PM

Recent Rainfall

Estimated precipitation near this gauge

Last 6 hours

0.00 in

Last 24 hours

0.00 in

Last 48 hours

0.00 in

Little recent rainfall near this river.

Next 24 Hours

  • Thu 12 AM

    Overcast

    Temp 43°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 6 mph

  • Thu 4 AM

    Clear

    Temp 40°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 6 mph

  • Thu 8 AM

    Clear

    Temp 39°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 6 mph

  • Thu 12 PM

    Clear

    Temp 58°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 12 mph

  • Thu 4 PM

    Clear

    Temp 60°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 14 mph

  • Thu 8 PM

    Clear

    Temp 49°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 11 mph

Four-Day Forecast

  • Wed, Oct 21

    Overcast

    High 63°F / Low 38°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 17 mph

  • Thu, Oct 22

    Overcast

    High 60°F / Low 38°F

    Chance 1%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 28 mph

  • Fri, Oct 23

    Overcast

    High 54°F / Low 33°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 20 mph

  • Sat, Oct 24

    Overcast

    High 55°F / Low 36°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 10 mph

Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.

Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.

Weather data: Open-Meteo

Historical Flow

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Fishing Overview

Brown trout are in the mixed fishery on the Housatonic River near Great Barrington, along with rainbow trout.

Fishery Profile

Documented species you may encounter at Housatonic River.

Medium confidenceLast verified: Jul 23, 2026

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations

Target species

  • Brown Trout

    Salmo trutta

    Expectation
    Primary
    Population
    Stocked
    Native status
    introduced
    Confidence
    High confidence
    Stocked · Spring, FallSpring, Fall

    Source: MassWildlife

  • Rainbow Trout

    Oncorhynchus mykiss

    Expectation
    Common
    Population
    Stocked
    Native status
    introduced
    Confidence
    High confidence
    Stocked · Spring, FallSpring, Fall

    Source: MassWildlife

  • Smallmouth Bass

    Micropterus dolomieu

    Expectation
    Present
    Population
    Established
    Native status
    introduced
    Confidence
    Medium confidence

    Source: MassWildlife

Fishery characteristics

Composition
Mixed wild and stocked
Great Lakes tributary
No
Flow regime
Natural flow

Best seasons

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall

Common techniques

  • Drift fishing
  • Fly fishing
  • Nymphing
  • Spinning
  • Streamers

Stocking information

  • Brown Trout

    Stocked · MassWildlife

    Stocked · Spring, Fall

  • Rainbow Trout

    Stocked · MassWildlife

    Stocked · Spring, Fall

Official sources

Hatch Match

Seasonal insect activity for the current evaluation period — not a live hatch observation

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Location and Access

USGS monitoring location

Massachusetts

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Get Directions to Map Location (opens in a new tab)View Official Access Information (opens in a new tab)

The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

River Details

Target Species

Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Access, Parking, and Regulations

Verified access notes and official resources for Housatonic River near Great Barrington. This is StrikeTracks guidance — always confirm with official sources.

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