Rainbow Trout Stocked · 21 plants · last May 8, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Bear Creek Reservoir fishing
Bear Creek Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout on a reservoir. It is stocked about 5.1 times a year since 2017, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout.
- Last stocked
- November 4, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 53
- Species recorded
- 3
- Elevation
- 2,548 ft
Fish at Bear Creek Reservoir
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 21 plants · last May 8, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brook Trout Stocked · 6 plants · last April 10, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Tiger Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last April 10, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Bear Creek Reservoir, which is also known as Wise Reservoir, is a 26.3-acre lake that provides the water supply for the Town of Wise. It is also a good venue for kayaking and wildlife watching, although heavily used by anglers and picnickers. (explorenortonva.com, accessed September 22, 2026)(dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Bear Creek Reservoir is stocked
Bark Camp Lake (7 mi) and Little Stony Creek (9.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Bark Camp Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout and Little Stony Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 4, 2026 | – | – | – | report |
| May 8, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 10, 2026 | Tiger Trout | – | – | report |
| April 10, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 19, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 28, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 9, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 9, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 18, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 10, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 31, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 10, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 19, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 19, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 14, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 27, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 15, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 24, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 1, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 28, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 31, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 13, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 25, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 22, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 2, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 26, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 11, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| November 13, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| October 28, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| May 13, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| December 9, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| October 30, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| May 15, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 19, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 18, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| November 14, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| October 22, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 3, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 9, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| March 16, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| February 21, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| October 11, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| March 24, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| February 8, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Wise, VA
- Facilities
- restrooms
From Wise take Wise Mountain Road (Rt. 646) 4.6 miles, then Sportsman Drive (Rt. 829) and Browning Lane (Rt. 682) to the entrance and boat launch. Restrooms, trails; free.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before you go.
About Bear Creek Reservoir
Anglers should note that Northern watersnake are fairly common in these waters and can often be found basking along the banks. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Bear Creek Reservoir?
Fishing Bear Creek Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 21 of 28 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 8, 2026. Brook Trout was last stocked April 10, 2026. Tiger Trout was last stocked April 10, 2026.
When is Bear Creek Reservoir stocked?
Last stocked November 4, 2026. It is stocked about 5.1 times a year since 2017, most often in March and April.
How do you get on Bear Creek Reservoir?
The nearest town is Wise, VA. Facilities include restrooms. From Wise take Wise Mountain Road (Rt. 646) 4.6 miles, then Sportsman Drive (Rt. 829) and Browning Lane (Rt. 682) to the entrance and boat launch. Restrooms, trails; free.
Which lakes near Bear Creek Reservoir were stocked more recently?
Bark Camp Lake (7 mi) and Little Stony Creek (9.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Bark Camp Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout and Little Stony Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.