Onota Lake is a 617-acre freshwater gem located entirely within the City of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Berkshires. This mesotrophic lake is often described as two lakes in one due to the minimal water exchange between its north and south basins, which are separated by an old roadway that marked the north end of the original lake before the dam was built. The south basin reaches depths of up to 72 feet, while the north basin is significantly shallower. With an average depth of 21 feet and remarkable water transparency of about 17 feet, Onota Lake offers diverse fishing environments from weedy shallows to deep, cool waters. The lake's watershed encompasses approximately 6,345 acres, and its outlet, Onota Brook, flows southeast into the West Branch of the Housatonic River.