Quabbin Reservoir Boat Launching Areas

Came here on a Sunday in June 2013. I called the visitor center (413) 323‑7221 the day before and asked what’s the best time to arrive to rent a motorboat. The person says that if I’m there between 6:30 and 7:15, I should get a boat. I arrived at «Gate 43» at 6:45, and they were already out of rental motorboats. They said the other 2 rental docks are also rented out of boats. The dock guy laughs and says I needed to be in line at 6am for a rental motorboats. Why didn’t I get this guy on the phone yesterday?
RENTAL BOAT take-​away: Get there at 6:00AM, or you will not get a motorboat rental!
Our alternative was to get a row boat for $ 20/​day. Assuming all visitors are not boat experts, it would have been nice for Quabbin staff to tell us to ensure the drain plug was plugged into the boat. I found out later from an expert fisherman that Installing the drain plug is usually #1 on any boating checklist. We didn’t know, so haha, we push off and there’s water flooding into the boat. I head to the boat house, ask the staff about it, they tell me to put in the drain plug. Thanks for the advance notice guys.
The row boats are essentially the aluminum motorboats without the motor. The boat has 3 metal rows to sit on. The oars are very old, and make the rowing a back-​breaking job. We saw some pickerel and other fish, but didn’t catch anything. The temp was very hot so that certainly played a factor. The views are gorgeous and breathtaking! Overall, try to avoid some of our mistakes. Based on our experience this weekend, some of the staff here are extremely unhelpful. Other than that, I’d come here again (only if I could get a motorboat.)

The Q is an amazing place. Yesterday at about 8am as I was fishing a black bear appeared out of nowhere feeding/​drinking just hanging out… then I looked around and saw some trash, mostly fishing containers. I picked them up. then I hear my 22 year old son Mike yell «I got one» as he reels in a small catfish. I had to laugh because he reminded me so much of myself at that age. Of course I had to take the fish off the hook. Great times, CHEAP CHEAP and I say CHEAP pricing-​Parking is 6 bucks. A small boat with like a 8 hp motor for 50 bucks all day. The fish you will catch are well worth it. If you like nature, any spot along the HUGE Quabbin Res will be breathtaking and UNFORGETTABLE. But come prepared… and bring a camera.
This place is a hideaway in western massachusetts. For the SERIOUS fishermen and women. I saw a nice 80 year old man getting off a boat with a lake trout that had to be 8 to 10 pounds as long as my arm.
Oh and did I mention the water is our main drinking supply. Crystal clear!!!

The first thing that we noticed when we arrived at the small check-​in shack was a sign, which read «Attendants Are Not Authorized To Give Refunds Under Any Circumstances.» We thought it very odd since the little shack didn’t do any transactions other than accepting parking, boat rental and fishing pass fees… who in their right mind would request a refund for any of those things? Oh, little did we know.
We bought two $ 5 day fishing passes, rented a motorboat for $ 40 for the whole day, and went out on our merry way, dreaming of a lovely freshwater fish ceviche dinner.
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LIFE ANYWHERE IN THAT WATER. We launched the boat at 8am and pulled in at 4pm, switching locations every so often; we did not even see a damn minnow ANYWHERE.
Maybe we’re just horrible anglers, or maybe we have terrible equipment, but boy, what a waste of time and money. Upon returning home (with no fish), I did some research on fishing forums. I’ve found many comments from anglers that the reservoir is completely fished out.
It seems so sketchy and deceptive that the DCR would keep promoting the reservoir as a fishing area; they’ve gone so far as publishing an extensive «fishing guide,» when the area is clearly fished out. Who knows. Either way, I would NEVER recommend Quabbin Reservoir to anyone for fishing.