Sudbury Reservoir
About The Sudbury Reservoir
About Sudbury Reservoir, MA
Sudbury Reservoir is a 2.02-mile water body located 1.7 miles from Southborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It is 25 miles west of Boston and borders sections of Southborough, Marlborough, and Framingham. Along with Foss Reservoir, this water body is the emergency backup supply of the state’s primary source of water for over two million residents in Eastern Massachusetts. It has a maximum depth of 65 feet.
The reservoir watershed also serves as a limited-access recreational hotspot for locals and tourists that provide opportunities for picnicking, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and shoreline fishing. The area is also open for hunting but you would need a permit for it first. However, these all come with restrictions to preserve and protect the reservoir’s water quality. Littering is prohibited, as well as bringing pets, alcoholic beverages, all-terrain vehicles, smoking, and all other activities or supplies that could cause pollution in the water. The land surrounding the Sudbury Reservoir is managed by the Division of Water Supply Protection to protect and enhance the water body’s ecological integrity, as well as protect the natural resources that come within it.
Sudbury Reservoir Fishing Description
All About Fishing in Sudbury Reservoir, MA
Sudbury Reservoir is strictly a shoreline-only fishing area. Fishing here is only permitted in the northern part of Sudbury except for the parts closest to the dam and its prohibited areas. The “no access zone” of the reservoir is from Route 30 Causeway to Clemmons Street in Southborough. Its annual shoreline fishing season starts every first Saturday of April and stretches to November 30 and is only available from dawn to dusk. The available dates for fishing throughout the season may also vary depending on the ice conditions. With the reservoir being a strictly shoreline-only fishing area, there is also a decrease in the fishing pressure, leading to bigger species of fish to catch. Popular catches here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie, and yellow bullhead. You may also find an abundant population of pumpkinseed, bluegill, white perch, and redbreast sunfish. Brown bullhead and calico bass can also be spotted here. There have also been reports of spotted bass and rock bass caught here.
Popular fishing techniques used here are surfcasting, baitcasting, spinning, and fly-fishing. Boating is strictly prohibited in the area, so you have to go fishing on foot. Parking is free but limited. You may access the area through the Acre Bridge, Broad Meadow, and the Parameter Roads. The reservoir’s trail provides an easy hike so you would just need a little patience if you want to find the right spots for baiting. Try to find any changes along the shore, especially in thinned-out trees or contours along the shoreline. Note that a fishing license is needed, especially if you are 15 years of age or older.
Sudbury Reservoir Seasonal & Other Description
Fishing Seasonality
Generally, the best times to fish in Sudbury Reservoir would be around 3 AM to 5 AM, and 10 AM to 11 AM. Smallmouth bass tends to spawn in mid-April to early May so try to hang over deeper parts of the reservoir during those months. Largemouth bass spawns when the water becomes warmer, so try spotting them between May to July. Most of the fish species here are available all year round, but make sure to only fish within the months of April to November and be wary of the ice conditions before heading out into the reservoir.
Temperature and Optimal Seasons
Fishing Seasonality
Generally, the best times to fish in Sudbury Reservoir would be around 3 AM to 5 AM, and 10 AM to 11 AM. Smallmouth bass tends to spawn in mid-April to early May so try to hang over deeper parts of the reservoir during those months. Largemouth bass spawns when the water becomes warmer, so try spotting them between May to July. Most of the fish species here are available all year round, but make sure to only fish within the months of April to November and be wary of the ice conditions before heading out into the reservoir.
Sudbury Reservoir Fish Species
All About Fishing in Sudbury Reservoir, MA
Sudbury Reservoir is strictly a shoreline-only fishing area. Fishing here is only permitted in the northern part of Sudbury except for the parts closest to the dam and its prohibited areas. The “no access zone” of the reservoir is from Route 30 Causeway to Clemmons Street in Southborough. Its annual shoreline fishing season starts every first Saturday of April and stretches to November 30 and is only available from dawn to dusk. The available dates for fishing throughout the season may also vary depending on the ice conditions. With the reservoir being a strictly shoreline-only fishing area, there is also a decrease in the fishing pressure, leading to bigger species of fish to catch. Popular catches here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, black crappie, and yellow bullhead. You may also find an abundant population of pumpkinseed, bluegill, white perch, and redbreast sunfish. Brown bullhead and calico bass can also be spotted here. There have also been reports of spotted bass and rock bass caught here.
Popular fishing techniques used here are surfcasting, baitcasting, spinning, and fly-fishing. Boating is strictly prohibited in the area, so you have to go fishing on foot. Parking is free but limited. You may access the area through the Acre Bridge, Broad Meadow, and the Parameter Roads. The reservoir’s trail provides an easy hike so you would just need a little patience if you want to find the right spots for baiting. Try to find any changes along the shore, especially in thinned-out trees or contours along the shoreline. Note that a fishing license is needed, especially if you are 15 years of age or older.
