Norton Reservoir Fishing in Bristol County, Massachusetts

• Overview

  Massachusetts holds Norton Reservoir, in Bristol County. The shore lies 14 miles out. At 475 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Size puts it in the front rank of our Bristol County list. Norton Center is the closest place, 1.2 miles off. It is 16 miles to Providence, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Norton Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Bristol County records list bluegill, tessellated darter, pumpkinseed and swamp darter among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Norton Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 27°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Norton Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Shore Drive runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Kingman Pond, 2.6 miles away. Nothing on Norton Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.