Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeLake depth chart
Today's read
Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
558-acre reservoir in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The lake tops out around 9 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Norton Reservoir draws 558 acres inside 3.7 miles of shoreline. Nearly circular (index 1.1), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.4 mi with a 0.9-mi widest point. You'll find it in Bristol County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Winnecunnet Pond, 4 mi east of here.
These fish are listed in an exact-water agency record as forage or ecological context. They are not target-species profiles and do not affect DepthScout's Prime, Good, or Fair spot ratings.
Official MassWildlife pond record. The listing documents source-recorded presence, not present abundance or guaranteed catchability.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 9 ft. The depth story barely changes: 3 to 9 ft through summer, 3 to 9 ft in winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 1 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 9 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 9 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 9 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 2 to 9 ft before dropping to 3 to 9 ft for winter. Spring bluegill concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Come spring, look for yellow perch tight to the bank in 2 to 9 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 9 ft; the winter hold is 3 to 9 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 9 ft that scores prime in fall. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
When the water first warms, chain pickerel slide up into 2 to 9 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 9 ft, winter 3 to 9 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 1 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
In spring, white perch run shallow here, mostly 2 to 9 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 9 ft, and they winter in 3 to 9 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for summer white perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver) |
| Summer | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | dawn | Deep basin (9 ft) | Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | midday | Deep basin (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait |
| Winter | 3 to 9 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | dusk | Deep basin (9 ft) | Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes |
Norton Reservoir also holds pumpkinseed (2 to 9 ft in summer), brown bullhead (2 to 9 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 3 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 9 ft.
Access data: MassGIS / Massachusetts DFG public water access. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Massachusetts waters are set by the MassWildlife — and special regulations can apply to Norton Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Massachusetts fishing regulations →
Norton Reservoir is about 9 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, chain pickerel, white perch, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead on Norton Reservoir.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Norton Reservoir is regulated by the MassWildlife. Check the official Massachusetts regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Winnecunnet Pond 4 mi · Watson Pond 5 mi · Lake Sabbatia 6 mi · Falls Pond 7 mi · Whiting Pond 7 mi · Ames Long Pond 8 mi · Massapoag Lake 8 mi · Lake Nippenicket 8 mi · Johnson Pond 9 mi · Lake Pearl 9 mi · Canton Reservoir (Reservoir Pond) 13 mi · Olney Pond 14 mi, RI
See how Norton Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Massachusetts · best crappie lakes in Massachusetts · best bluegill lakes in Massachusetts · best yellow perch lakes in Massachusetts
More water nearby: Bristol County fishing maps (8 charts). Browse all Massachusetts fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.