Oak Swamp Reservoir near Johnston: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Oak Swamp Reservoir is one of the Providence County listings for Rhode Island. It sits 7.8 miles in from the sea. With some 107 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. On our Providence County list it sits near the top for size. Johnston is the closest town at 1.9 miles. The nearest city of size is Providence, 6.8 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Oak Swamp Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Providence County include bluegill, common carp, pumpkinseed and black crappie. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Oak Swamp Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 26°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Oak Swamp Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Kimball Reservoir, 1.2 miles away. Treat access at Oak Swamp Reservoir as something to verify.