Upper Artichoke Reservoir Fishing in Essex County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Look for Upper Artichoke Reservoir in the Essex County part of Massachusetts. It sits 3.9 miles in from the sea. With some 115 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 2.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Few waters listed in Essex County are bigger. Newburyport lies 2.9 miles from the water. Beyond it, West Newbury at 3 miles and Amesbury at 4.1 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Upper Artichoke Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Essex County include alewife, bluegill, striped bass, pumpkinseed and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Upper Artichoke Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 25°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Upper Artichoke Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Withers Conservation Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Mill Pond sits 2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Upper Artichoke Reservoir locally before you travel.