Fishing Norton Reservoir

AKA: Norton Lake

Popular Fish Species
Norton Reservoir Fishing Video
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Norton Reservoir, MA

Popular Fish Species Norton Reservoir, MA

Norton Reservoir Popular Fish - Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel Fishing

Chain pickerel prefer to weedy areas of lakes and rivers. They ambush baitfish and sunfish which requires cover for them to hide within. Submerged aquatic vegetation, brush, fallen tree limbs, or structures such as rock piles, bridge pilings, rip-rap, or debris. Norton Reservoir has a very healthy population of these toothy critters, many approaching 30 inches and exceeding 5 pounds. Unlike many freshwater fish species, chain pickerel do not school up. They tend to be loners. Once you catch one, find other, spots with similar cover and depth to fish. Flashy spoons, live minnows, and bait-imitating crankbaits all work well. For added excitement, try fishing topwater lures over vegetation areas. Topwater lures that mimic wounded baitfish are very tempting to these predators.

Norton Reservoir Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Norton Reservoir. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Norton Reservoir Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

A nice population of black crappie resides in Norton Reservoir. Crappie tend to run in schools, and once a school is located, there is a good chance for catching significant numbers. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Virtually any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Because crappie prefer cover and structure, locate brush and vegetation in appropriate water depths. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Norton Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, northern pike and tiger musky at Norton Reservoir in Massachusetts.

Norton Reservoir, located in Norton, Massachusetts, is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. This freshwater reservoir covers approximately 530 acres and offers anglers a variety of fish species to target.

One of the popular fish species found in Norton Reservoir is largemouth bass, as are white perch. Other fish species found here, include chain pickerel, yellow perch, and sunfish.

Fishing enthusiasts can peruse the 9 miles of shoreline and the deeper regions of the lake in search os bass, pike, perch, sunfish, crappie and musky.

Primary fish species residing in Norton Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Norton Reservoir Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: NO
RV Hookups: NO
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: NO
Restaurant: YES

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Norton Reservoir Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Juniper Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Norton Reservoir Launch
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off Mansfield Avenue, this is a one-lane, gravel ramp with limited parking.