Charles River

River fishing Massachusetts · 05:07 - 20:24

Charles River is a river in Massachusetts. Flowing water with species ranked by weather, temperature and season, see below.

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Conditions right now

Weather

Mainly clear

Water temp (est.)

70°F

Air temp

67°F

Wind

4 mph

Pressure

29.83 inHg ↓ falling

Clouds

25.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-06-17 14:53

Best times today

Dusk 19:09–21:09 Night 21:09–04:22

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

08:00

67°

09:00

72°

10:00

75°

11:00

76°

12:00

77°

13:00

77°

14:00

77°

15:00

77°

16:00

76°

17:00

76°

18:00

75°

19:00

74°

Likely catch now (15 species)

Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

17%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

17%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

17%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

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Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

10%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, bright sky slows things.

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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

6%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.

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Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.

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Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

4%

Slow during the night, peak season, bright sky slows things.

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Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

4%

Slow during the night, peak season, bright sky slows things.

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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, bright sky slows things.

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Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees.

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Bluegill

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

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Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

2%

Slow during the night, bright sky slows things.

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Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

2%

Slow during the night, bright sky slows things.

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White Bass

White Bass

Morone chrysops

2%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees.

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About the fishing here

Charles River is a river in Massachusetts.

Popular catches here include Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Channel Catfish fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for channel catfish, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for channel catfish at night. Fish hard now.

Lure Ledger bait for channel catfish: Stinkbait on the bottom.

Colour Clear water and good light: try natural scent bait, scent over colour for channel catfish.

Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

Take Me Fishing

About this water

The Charles River, sometimes called the River Charles or simply the Charles, is an 80-mile-long (129 km) river in eastern Massachusetts. It flows northeast from Hopkinton to Boston along a meandering route which doubles back on itself several times and travels through 23 cities and towns before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Charles River Massachusetts · 0.6 mi away Charles River Massachusetts · 1.2 mi away Muddy River Massachusetts · 1.3 mi away Union Boat Club Massachusetts · 2.1 mi away Chestnut Hill Reservoir Massachusetts · 2.7 mi away Jamaica Pond Massachusetts · 2.7 mi away Flints Pond Massachusetts · 11.6 mi away Sudbury Reservoir Massachusetts · 20.7 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Charles River?

Popular catches here include Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge and Brown Trout.

Do you need a fishing license at Charles River?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Charles River?

Channel Catfish fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Charles River right now?

Right now Channel Catfish is the most likely catch, at about 17%.