Western Branch Reservoir Fishing
DWR-listed reservoir water in Isle of Wight County and the City of Suffolk, 1,265 acres.
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First notes on Western Branch Reservoir
Find Western Branch Reservoir, a reservoir of 1,265 acres, in Isle of Wight County and the City of Suffolk. DWR gives its deepest water as 35 feet. It sits about 7 miles from Windsor.
Ramps, fish and Virginia limits come next.
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.
DWR notes on fishing Western Branch Reservoir
This is one of six water supply reservoirs owned by the City of Norfolk that are open to fishing. Western Branch Reservoir and Lake Prince are located in Suffolk; Burnt Mills Reservoir is in Isle of Wight County; Lake Whitehurst is in Virginia Beach and Norfolk; and Lake Smith and Lake Lawson are in Virginia Beach. Boat permits are required to launch and fish in all lakes (for fishing and boating permit information, see the
For Western Branch Reservoir, the block above is copied from the DWR waterbody page.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Motors, parking and more at Western Branch Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)12 HP
- DWR region numberDWR Region 1
Each line repeats a field DWR keeps for Western Branch Reservoir; blank fields are left off.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish Virginia DWR names at Western Branch Reservoir
Every fish listed for Western Branch Reservoir has a DWR source behind it.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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DWR maps no boating access site on Western Branch Reservoir; the closest ones follow.
Neighbouring boat ramps around Western Branch Reservoir
- Western Branch boat ramp on Lake PrinceLake Prince, under a mile southwest
- Butler Lake boat ramp on Lone Star LakesLone Star Lakes, 4 miles northeast
- Jones Creek boat rampJones Creek, 11 miles north
- Blackwater Bridge boat rampBlackwater River, 14 miles west
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Keep rules for Western Branch 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 |
At Western Branch Reservoir, start from the statewide rows and then read any water line.
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.
Record weights landed at Western Branch Reservoir
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Catfish | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | 3-24-1992 | Western Branch Reservoir |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia lakes clustered near Western Branch Reservoir
On size, Lake Prince heads the lakes around Western Branch Reservoir with 946 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Branch Reservoir | this water | 1,265 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Prince | 3 miles west | 946 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Burnt Mills Reservoir | 4 miles northwest | 711 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lone Star Lakes | 4 miles north | 50 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Cohoon | 5 miles southwest | 510 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Meade | 5 miles south | 512 acres | 0 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Close to Western Branch Reservoir on the Commonwealth map
More Virginia lakes within reach of Western Branch Reservoir
- Lake Prince3 miles west
- Burnt Mills Reservoir4 miles northwest
- Lone Star Lakes4 miles north
- Lake Cohoon5 miles southwest
- Lake Meade5 miles south
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Western Branch Reservoir
- Harbor View Partners, 2602 Nansemond Pkwymarina, Suffolk, 4 miles
- G Daddy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Carrollton, 9 miles
- Harbor View Partners, 106 Sharpe Drmarina, Suffolk, 11 miles
- Brown's Marinamarina, Carrollton, 13 miles
- Gregs Bait Shackbait and tackle shop, Portsmouth, 14 miles
- Nautical Boatsmarina, Portsmouth, 14 miles
A bed and a breakfast counter near Western Branch Reservoir
- Windsor7 miles, Isle of Wight County
- Suffolk8 miles, City of Suffolk
- Carrollton10 miles, Isle of Wight County
- Smithfield11 miles, Isle of Wight County
Locality pages that take in Western Branch Reservoir
- City of Suffolkindependent city
- Isle of Wight Countycounty seat Isle of Wight
Piscifun tackle that suits Western Branch Reservoir
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Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Western Branch Reservoir
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Questions on Western Branch Reservoir before the truck is loaded
Where in the Commonwealth is Western Branch Reservoir?
Our records place it in Isle of Wight County and the City of Suffolk, about 7 miles from Windsor.
How big is Western Branch Reservoir?
It is listed at 1,265 acres; DWR lists 35 feet as its deepest water.
Does Western Branch Reservoir have a DWR launch?
No DWR ramp here; Western Branch boat ramp on Lake Prince lies under a mile off.
Which fish does Virginia DWR name at Western Branch Reservoir?
DWR names crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge, redear sunfish, striped bass, white perch and yellow perch.
Is there a length limit on bass at Western Branch Reservoir?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Can a visitor fish Western Branch Reservoir?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. DWR asks nothing of anglers under 16.
Is there a fishing pier on Western Branch Reservoir?
DWR records no fishing pier for it.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Western Branch Reservoir?
Nearest in our list: Harbor View Partners (about 4 miles away).
Is Western Branch Reservoir in the Virginia record book?
White Catfish, 7 lbs. 6 oz., 1992, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Rig up for Western Branch Reservoir before sunrise
Buy the Virginia license online before you go.