Martinsville Reservoir Fishing
Henry County holds this reservoir, 175 acres.
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Martinsville Reservoir, sized up for Virginia anglers
Henry County is home to Martinsville Reservoir, a reservoir sized at 175 acres. Collinsville lies about 3 miles from the map point.
An operator pool reading, via NWS, is dated further down.
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 Martinsville Reservoir
Martinsville Reservoir is a 175-acre impoundment located just north of the city of Martinsville, Virginia. The impoundment is owned and controlled by the city for water supply while the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources manages the fishery. The most popular sportfish species are largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish and yellow perch. Recent fish surveys showed that the fishery in Martinsville Reservoir was in good condition.
The quoted text above belongs to Virginia DWR and is reproduced as its page prints it for Martinsville Reservoir.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksfee, parking, accessible facilities, picnic tables, restrooms, hiking trails, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, electric motors only, paddle access
- DWR region numberDWR Region 2
DWR layers supply every row for Martinsville Reservoir; nothing is guessed.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
DWR-listed fish at Martinsville Reservoir
Which fish DWR rates at Martinsville Reservoir
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | present |
The fish shown for Martinsville 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.
Launch sites around Martinsville Reservoir
Martinsville Reservoir lacks a DWR-mapped ramp; small craft may still launch where the owner allows.
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Pool reading for Martinsville Reservoir
The Martinsville Reservoir reading is a snapshot from the NWS gauge page.
City of Martinsville pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge MTVV2, read November 6, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Creel and length rules at Martinsville 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 Martinsville Reservoir would override the statewide row.
Rule lines DWR prints for Martinsville Reservoir
- All species are managed under statewide regulations except largemouth bass, which are regulated under a 14-inch minimum size limit.
- Permits Required
- Any person desiring to place a boat upon the Reservoir, either for regular or temporary use, shall pay a fee and secure a permit from the Lake Warden.
- Permit Types, Terms, and Fees
- All permits shall be valid only during the calendar year of issuance and fees shall not be prorated.
- A – In-and-Out Permit – Annual: A permit may be issued to a boat to be placed on the Reservoir on a daily or “in-and-out” basis upon the payment of $15.00 per year.
- D – In-and-Out Permit – Daily: A permit may be issued to a boat to be placed on the Reservoir on a daily or “in-and-out” basis upon the payment of $3.00 per day.
- Prohibited Types of Boats
- Permits will be issued only to boats of a substantial type and structure. This shall expressly exclude hydroplanes and other racing craft, metal boats without adequate air chambers, rafts and any other floating devices determined by the Lake Warden to be unsafe. No gasoline or other petroleum powered boats may be used at the lake.
- Hours of Operation
- Fishing and boating activities shall be restricted to the period each day from sunrise until sunset.
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 Martinsville Reservoir
The largest neighbour of Martinsville Reservoir in this table is Smith Mountain Lake, 20,600 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsville Reservoir | this water | 175 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Philpott Lake | 12 miles northwest | 2,880 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Franklin County Park Pond | 13 miles north | 2 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 11 |
| Fairy Stone Lake | 13 miles west | 168 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Burton | 20 miles northeast | 76 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Smith Mountain Lake | 28 miles northeast | 20,600 acres | 6 | 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 Martinsville Reservoir
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Martinsville Reservoir
- Philpott Lake12 miles northwest
- Franklin County Park Pond13 miles north
- Fairy Stone Lake13 miles west
- Lake Burton20 miles northeast
- Smith Mountain Lake28 miles northeast
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Martinsville Reservoir
- Angler's Choicefly shop, Martinsville, 6 miles
- Franklin Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Rocky Mount, 18 miles
- Magnum Point Marinamarina, Union Hall, 20 miles
- Penhook Boat Dockmarina, Penhook, 23 miles
- Gills Creek Marina & Lodgebait and tackle shop, Wirtz, 24 miles
- Lumpkins Marinamarina, Penhook, 24 miles
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Martinsville Reservoir
- Collinsville3 miles, Henry County
- Martinsville5 miles, City of Martinsville
- Rocky Mount18 miles, Franklin County
- Stuart23 miles, Patrick County
County and city guides tied to Martinsville Reservoir
- Henry Countycounty seat Martinsville
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Martinsville Reservoir
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Old Dominion water near Martinsville Reservoir, on camera
Photo: DJ Patterson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
What a Virginia tackle counter hears about Martinsville Reservoir
Which Virginia town makes the nearest base for Martinsville Reservoir?
Its home locality is Henry County, about 3 miles from Collinsville.
Is Martinsville Reservoir a big lake by Virginia standards?
Call it 175 acres.
How many DWR ramps serve Martinsville Reservoir?
Nothing is mapped nearby, so check with the owner.
Which species does DWR list for Martinsville Reservoir?
DWR sources name black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, redear sunfish and white catfish.
How many bass may I keep from Martinsville 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 Martinsville 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 Martinsville Reservoir?
No DWR pier is mapped; ramp areas are the usual bank spots.
Where do anglers fishing Martinsville Reservoir buy tackle?
Our list starts with Angler's Choice (about 6 miles away).
Does a USGS or NWS gauge cover Martinsville Reservoir?
The last pool reading we collected was 695.26 feet at 2026-11-06 20:15:00 UTC, via the NWS gauge page; it is not live.
Tow the johnboat over to Martinsville Reservoir
License prices and special rules are on the regulations page.