Upper Norton Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Upper Norton Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout, and Catfish. It is stocked about 7.5 times a year since 2016, 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

May 6, 2026

Plants on record

83

Species recorded

3

Elevation

3,307 ft

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Norton, VA
Shore access
Yes

The Upper Reservoir (9.8 acres) is one of two Norton city reservoirs about four miles from downtown. Fishing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and electric-motor boats are allowed; gasoline motors, swimming, and littering are not.

Sources: water_type , access.shore , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes

How Upper Norton Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of February. In 2026 it was February 19, 2026, about when it usually is.

Bark Camp Lake (6.4 mi), Bear Creek Reservoir (6.5 mi), and Little Stony Creek (10.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Bark Camp Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout, Bear Creek Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, and Little Stony Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.

Fish at Upper Norton Reservoir

Fishing Upper Norton Reservoir is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 36 of 43 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout and one more.

Rainbow Trout 36 plants
Plants
36 of 83
Last stocked
May 6, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Brook Trout 6 plants
Plants
6 of 83
Last stocked
April 10, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Brook Trout guide.

Tiger Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 83
Last stocked
April 10, 2026

Seasons and rigs are on the Tiger Trout guide.

Fishing Upper Norton Reservoir

Upper Norton Reservoir is a 9.8-acre state-stocked trout water where stocking occurs annually between October 1 and May 15. Trout and catfish are the only fish stocked in this reservoir. Fishing is permitted, and it is primarily a catch-and-release area, with the exception of trout and catfish. Anglers can also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, or electric motor boats.

Sources: nortonva.gov

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 83 plants Showing 83 plants

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 6, 2026 Rainbow Trout report
April 23, 2026 Rainbow Trout report
April 10, 2026 Tiger Trout report
April 10, 2026 Brook Trout report
March 19, 2026 Rainbow Trout report
March 5, 2026 Rainbow Trout report
February 19, 2026 Rainbow Trout report
December 4, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
October 22, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
May 6, 2025 Brook Trout report
April 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
April 3, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
March 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
March 5, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
February 7, 2025 Rainbow Trout report
December 10, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
October 31, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
May 23, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
April 19, 2024 Brook Trout report
April 19, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
April 8, 2024 Brook Trout report
April 8, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
March 19, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
March 4, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
February 27, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
February 9, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
January 12, 2024 Rainbow Trout report
May 15, 2023 Brook Trout report
April 24, 2023 Brook Trout report
April 10, 2023 Rainbow Trout report
March 23, 2023 Rainbow Trout report
March 13, 2023 Rainbow Trout report
February 27, 2023 Rainbow Trout report
February 15, 2023 Rainbow Trout report
October 25, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
May 13, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
April 25, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
April 7, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
March 22, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
March 10, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
February 24, 2022 Rainbow Trout report
November 10, 2021 Rainbow Trout report
October 19, 2021 Rainbow Trout report
May 5, 2021 report
April 27, 2021 report
April 6, 2021 report
March 29, 2021 report
March 8, 2021 report
February 24, 2021 report
December 17, 2020 report
October 22, 2020 report
May 13, 2020 report
April 23, 2020 report
April 10, 2020 report
March 26, 2020 report
March 11, 2020 report
January 21, 2020 report
November 8, 2019 report
October 15, 2019 report
May 15, 2019 report
April 19, 2019 report
April 2, 2019 report
March 18, 2019 report
March 8, 2019 report
February 12, 2019 report
December 19, 2018 report
October 9, 2018 report
May 15, 2018 report
April 18, 2018 report
April 2, 2018 report
March 20, 2018 report
March 7, 2018 report
February 16, 2018 report
November 16, 2017 report
October 27, 2017 report
May 4, 2017 report
April 26, 2017 report
April 12, 2017 report
March 20, 2017 report
March 10, 2017 report
February 24, 2017 report
December 2, 2016 report
October 17, 2016 report
Show 68 more plants Show less

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

  • Catfish : A stocked catfish fishery alongside the reservoir's trout program. (source)

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes