Harwood’s Mill Reservoir Fishing
York County holds this reservoir, 265 acres.
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Newport News: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Harwood’s Mill Reservoir, sized up for Virginia anglers
York County is home to Harwood’s Mill Reservoir, a reservoir sized at 265 acres. Bethel Manor lies about 4 miles from the map point.
Scroll on for access points and what may go home.
Acres as stated on the Virginia DWR waterbody page, read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Census 2023 places.
What Virginia DWR writes about Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
This 265-acre impoundment is the terminal reservoir for the City of Newport News water supply system. Water is pumped into Harwood’s Mill from Chickahominy, Diascund and Little Creek reservoirs. Harwood’s Mill Reservoir provides a scenic fishing opportunity for anglers of the greater Newport News and Hampton area. The fishery receives a limited amount of fishing pressure. Copper sulfate is applied to the reservoir by the City Waterworks staff as needed to control nuisance algae.
How to reach Harwood’s Mill Reservoir, per DWR
The reservoir can be accessed from Route 620 off Denbigh Boulevard (Route 173) in Newport News.
The quoted text above belongs to Virginia DWR and is reproduced as its page prints it for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Facilities and boat motors on Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 1
DWR layers supply every row for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir; nothing is guessed.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
DWR-listed fish at Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
The fish shown for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir are the ones DWR names on its page, trout layers, stocking schedule or record list, not a catch report.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Launch sites around Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
Harwood’s Mill Reservoir lacks a DWR-mapped ramp; small craft may still launch where the owner allows.
Alternate DWR ramps when Harwood’s Mill Reservoir overflows
- Gloucester Point on York RiverYork River, 7 miles north
- Fox Hill boat ramp on Back RiverBack River, 11 miles east
- Lawnes Creek boat ramp on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 11 miles west
- Peterson Yatch Basin boat ramp on Hampton RoadsHampton Roads, 12 miles south
- Jones Creek boat rampJones Creek, 13 miles south
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Creel and length rules at Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
| Species as printed | Applies to | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Alabama, Spotted Bass | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | statewide | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Striped Bass | Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters | no length limit printed |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Walleye, Saugeye | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
| Sauger | statewide | 2 per day | No statewide length limits |
| White Bass | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Muskellunge | statewide | 1 per day | No muskellunge less than 40 inches |
| Bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass | statewide | 50 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black or white) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Rock Bass (redeye) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass | No statewide length limits |
| Roanoke Bass | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass | No statewide length limits |
| Perch (yellow and white) | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Trout | statewide | 6 per day | 7 inch minimum size |
| Channel, White, and Flathead | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Blue | statewide | 20 per day | No statewide length limits |
A water-specific line for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir would override the statewide row.
Rule lines DWR prints for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- Electric motors only
- Private boats need a permit that can be purchased at the Newport News Park when the concession buildings are not opened.
- Boat rental concession buildings are open on weekends and public holidays from May through October.
- Anglers should be off the water a half hour after sunset.
- All other fishing regulations are as those stated in the
- Virginia Freshwater Fishing Regulations
- booklet.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Commonwealth lakes sitting near Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
The largest neighbour of Harwood’s Mill Reservoir in this table is Sandy Bottom Park Pond, 465 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harwood’s Mill Reservoir | this water | 265 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Sandy Bottom Park Pond | 6 miles southeast | 465 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Hall Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 230 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Biggins | 9 miles south | 60 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Waller Mill Reservoir | 17 miles northwest | 360 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lone Star Lakes | 20 miles south | 50 acres | 1 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Within a tank of gas of Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond6 miles southeast
- Lee Hall Reservoir8 miles northwest
- Lake Biggins9 miles south
- Waller Mill Reservoir17 miles northwest
- Lone Star Lakes20 miles south
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- Grafton Fishing Supply & Fishingbait and tackle shop, Yorktown, 1 mile
- Litigator SportFishingbait and tackle shop, Yorktown, 3 miles
- Bishops Fishing Supplybait and tackle shop, Yorktown, 3 miles
- Legasea Marinemarina, Yorktown, 4 miles
- Line Anglebait and tackle shop, Yorktown, 4 miles
- Wilcox Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Newport News, 4 miles
Listed guide and charter outfits for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- laid back charterscharter, Yorktown, (804) 758-4778
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- Bethel Manor5 miles, York County
- Newport News6 miles, City of Newport News
- Gloucester Point8 miles, Gloucester County
- Poquoson10 miles, City of Poquoson
County and city guides tied to Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
- York Countycounty seat Yorktown
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
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Old Dominion water near Harwood’s Mill Reservoir, on camera
Photo: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
What a Virginia tackle counter hears about Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
Which Virginia town makes the nearest base for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
Its home locality is York County, about 4 miles from Bethel Manor.
Is Harwood’s Mill Reservoir a big lake by Virginia standards?
Call it 265 acres.
How many DWR ramps serve Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
Gloucester Point on York River, some 7 miles off, is the closest DWR site.
Which species does DWR list for Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
DWR sources name black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel, crappie, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and redear sunfish.
How many bass may I keep from Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Does a teenager need a DWR license at Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Youth under 16 are exempt.
Does DWR map a pier on Harwood’s Mill Reservoir?
No DWR pier is mapped; ramp areas are the usual bank spots.
Where do anglers fishing Harwood’s Mill Reservoir buy tackle?
Our list starts with Grafton Fishing Supply & Fishing (about 1 mile away).
Tow the johnboat over to Harwood’s Mill Reservoir
License prices and special rules are on the regulations page.