Briggs Reservoir Fishing near White Island Shores, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Briggs Reservoir is set in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. It measures about 34 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Some 6.2 miles away sits White Island Shores, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is New Bedford, 25 miles distant. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Briggs Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Reported across Plymouth County: tessellated darter, striped bass, bluegill and swamp darter. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Work Briggs Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 29°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Briggs Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years. Long dry spells drop the level and concentrate them.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The water borders Briggs Property, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Morey Hole at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Briggs Reservoir carry more weight than any list.