YOUR FISHING GUIDE FOR ALL SEASONS IN THE BERKSHIRES! MASSACHUSETTS' PREMIER SOURCE FOR GUIDED ICE FISHING!

YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR GUIDED ICE FISHING IN THE BERKSHIRES 

Congratulations Jonathan Meltzer from New Haven with a 25 7/8 inch and a 24 3/4 inch chain Pickerel, Two Bronze Pin fish, one afternoon in Monterey, First time ice fishing!! 2/15/09

Taft’s Tackle’s Owner, Paul K Tawczynski offer’s you and your family one of the Berkshire’s most unique and classic opportunities, Ice Fishing.  Ice fishing is an exciting and inexpensive way to take the whole family outdoors! Children under 15 can fish without a license on any Massachusetts body of water as long as they are accompanied by a licensed adult*. Choose from several packages to enjoy your time on the ice, from jigging for pan fish in a custom, modern Ice Shanty, to all antique equipment for a rustic ole-time experience. Many area lakes are available for ice fishing, Choose your destination, or allow Paul to choose the best possible location for your fishing day. Families are welcome and encouraged! Filet and freeze service is available also.

If you are looking for an ice fishing guide in Massachusetts, look no further! We offer services to most lakes in Berkshire County. Excellent fishing is located within a 1 hour drive from Bradley Airport, Albany International Airport, 2 hours from Logan airport, 3 hours from Laguardia Airport, and close to many major hotels and restaraunts. So whether you are planning a trip just to come fishing, or you are here visiting all the great local museums, famous homes, beautiful cultural towns, or just the scenic beauty of the Berkshires, Let me take you and your family or group out to enjoy the amazing fishing our unspoiled lakes can offer. We are just a few miles from The Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood, Arrowhead, Tanglewood, Barthalomew's Cobble, Monument Mountain, The Mahaiwe Theatre, Butternut Basin, Berkshire Museum, Red Lion Inn, and so much more!

RESERVATIONS  REQUIRED

FLAG!!! Sun Shining on a great day of Ice Fishing. When that flag goes up and you hear the scream of the reel, it could be anything! Is it a Perch, Is it a Bass, Is it a Trout, Is it a Pickeral, Is it a Pike?????

.....or Is it the first of many stories yet to be told!

I'll take the time to explain why the fish are where we are fishing, how to get them to bite, and how best to pull them up. Other guides will just take you to the fish and let you figure that out on your own, I want you to learn as well as have fun. Most of my clients love the sport so much they either come back again, or get their own equipment to go on their own!

Come and share the natural beauty of the Berkshire outdoors like few get the chance to!

SAMPLE PACKAGES

Panfish Package

#1 PACKAGE!

You will be taken to a local lake and shown the finer points of locating Panfish. Both Tip-Up style type, and full view Jigging Shanties will be used to ensure the highest quality harvest available. Fish are guaranteed with this package!!! Up to five lines per person can be in the water at once. High Tech equipment and fresh lively bait will deliver you memories that will last a lifetime, and a story to tell for generations. This ice fishing outing package is the best for large harvests for freezing and consumption. This package is recommended for those with children as the shanty can offer both entertainment and shelter.  Species may include, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Bluegill, Red Ear Sunfish, Crappie, Rockbass, and you never know what else!

First Bass ice fishing for Renee, and on a jig too! 2/28/09

Antique Package* **

You will be given possibly one of the most unique experiences Berkshire County has to offer. Actual antique “airplane” style type will be used in your pursuit of fish! Holes will be drilled by hand, and chiseled. This type of equipment has been used for as long as people have been fishing. They are however irreplaceable so no child under 12 will be allowed to handle the tip-ups. A maximum of 20 tip-ups will be used for this package at any time. This style of fishing is also weather dependant. At temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit they are rendered ineffective.  If this occurs, regular equipment will be used, at no additional fee. Species may include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Northern Pike, Brown or Rainbow Trout, and others.

Congratulations! Another Bronze Pin for a client! 6 below zero, but 30 fish including this 5 and a half pound beauty!

Package Details

Trout / Salmon Package

2011 season   5 salmon and 31 trout taken!

Berkshire County has incredible Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout opportunities, as well as many lakes now stocked with Atlantic Salmon. An ice fishing shanty will be used, as well as modern electronics to afford you the best opportunity to catch some of these elusive beauties.  Lake choices will be limited to only those containing Salmon.  Due to the elusive nature of these species, no guarantee is made that they will be caught. In the event that no fish are caught, a future charter will be given at a discounted rate at the discretion of guide. Because of this, I do not recommend this package for the novice angler or those with groups of children or large families.

Nolan and Mike with a great catch off Stockbridge Bowl. 4 Salmon in one day is a great catch for anywhere!

Have a corporate function, birthday party, or large group to entertain?

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties in the winter can be a challenge to organize. A guided ice fishing expedition can be fun for both girls and boys! Enjoy the outdoors together in a safe and encouraging way. The birthday boy or girl will be given special attention and the entire birthday group will have a memory for the rest of thier life. (adult supervision at the rate of 1 adult for every 3 children or more is required to guarantee safety and to ensure that proper attention can be paid to the birthday child). And after the party you can serve the catch as a birthday dinner that will be sure to please! We specialize in sharing the sport and fishing knowledge to children!

Corporate retreats and outings are a snap at Charter The Berkshires! What better way to promote unity and fellowship at your company than with a guided ice fishing trip. Being outdoors in the winter and experiencing ice fishing together and learning as a group. Amazing memories that will last a lifetime will bond employees and management alike! You will be shown how to handle the equipment and guided along the way, but allowed to use and set the equipment as a team to promote sharing and teamwork skills as a group. Your employees or managers will be talking for months about thier trip and experience!

There are many options to choose from. Ice Fishing is fun for all ages and large groups are no problem! We have accomodated groups as large as 24 adults and birthdays as large as 18 children! 

2012

Guide Service Pricing

Ice Fishing Experience available January-March (weather permitting)

Mid week Monday – Thursday, excluding holidays $400.00 for a six hour trip. $450 for an eight hour trip.

Weekends and Holidays $450.00 for a six hour trip. $500.00 for an eight hour trip. 

Prices shown are for any package for up to four people. Additional guests are welcome for $25.00 per person. All fishing licenses must be purchased and present before fishing begins.

Filet Service ( optional ) Please do not forget to tip the filetist.

*Antique package add $50.00 and a refundable $50.00 insurance deposit to above prices.

**Antique package NOT available for any PIKE TARGETED trip.

 All filets will be pressed, bagged, and frozen at no additional charge.

01/30/10 Richie and Steve Landed 30 fish (not counting the 4# Rainbow steve "let go"). Another Bronze pin, and a great day on the hard water! 

All and any state fishing licenses are required. Children under 15 are not required to obtain a fishing license as long as they are accompanied by an adult (charter Guide does not count in this manner).

First Ice Fishing trip for Dusty and Anna Marie. 4 below zero on goose pond, but 34 fish including two 3# bass and a very nice Rainbow Trout on a jig! Anna Marie showed the boys how to fish this day!  1/14/09

All these caught in a 6 hour "Panfish Package" charter! 7 species of fish in one day!