Description
Lake Nippenicket, known locally as the Nip, is a 220-acre great pond which borders Hockomock Swamp and forms the headwaters of the Town River. Lake Nippenicket has an average depth of 6 feet, a maximum depth of 13 feet, and waters tea stained with limited transparency. The bottom is predominantly sand, and aquatic vegetation becomes abundant as the summer progresses, particularly in the north end. Large portions of the shoreline reside within the Hockomock Swamp WMA which largely limits shoreline development to the southern half of the 4.8 miles of shoreline.
Recreational access
The Town of Bridgewater manages a paved Office of Fishing and Boating Access boat ramp off Lakeside Drive on the southeastern corner of the pond (get directions). Parking for approximately 20 trailers is available at the ramp and shore fishing is permitted around the ramp on town owned land. Shore and cartop boat access is also possible through Hockomock Swamp WMA at the end of Chace Road (get directions). Please contact the town of Bridgewater or the Southeast District Offices of MassWildlife for additional information and/or restrictions pertaining to public access of Lake Nippenicket.
The paved boat ramp off Lakeside Dr. on the southeastern corner of the pond.
Parking for the paved boat ramp of Lake Nippenicket.
Fish populations
The following fish species were found during MassWildlife surveys:
- largemouth bass
- chain pickerel
- black crappie
- yellow perch
- white perch
- bluegill
- pumpkinseed
- brown bullhead
- golden shiner
- white sucker
Fishing
Lake Nippenicket offers good fishing for an assortment of warmwater species. Bass anglers will particularly enjoy the abundant structure in this lake which supports healthy and abundant populations. Panfishing should also be good, as the yellow perch and black crappie are large and fairly abundant. When ice conditions are safe, this lake produces good yellow perch catches and an occasional trophy pickerel. Lake Nippenicket has produced largemouth bass, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch, and bullhead that meet minimum sizes for recognition by the Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program.
More fishing resources:
Stop aquatic hitchhikers
Prevent the transport of nuisance species; clean all recreational equipment. Visit ProtectYourWaters.net to learn more.