West Reservoir near Northwest Harwich: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  West Reservoir lies within the bounds of Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It sits 1.9 miles in from the sea. A shoreline of some 1.2 miles keeps the choices simple. It ranks high for size among our Barnstable County listings. The nearest place of any size is Northwest Harwich, 0.9 miles away. New Bedford sits 42 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on West Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Barnstable County records list striped bass, alewife, tessellated darter and blueback herring among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read West Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It sets the rhythm of the year at West Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Sand Pond, 0.4 miles away. For West Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.