Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir in Worcester County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Worcester County entry here is Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir, in Massachusetts. The shore lies 38 miles out. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. 2.5 miles away sits Sterling, the nearest town. For a city, Worcester is 14 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Worcester County include bluegill, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and yellow bullhead. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Fish Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 69°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about late December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. The water borders Wekepeke Wildlife Conservation Easement, so expect the reserve rules to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Fitch Basin, 0.4 miles away. Check the position on Upper Lynde Basin Reservoir before loading the car.