There’s no greater place to fish in North Carolina than Lake Norman. In fact, it’s such a great fishing spot that it has been featured on many major fishing tournaments. If you want to live near the lake and fish whenever you want, living at a luxury apartment community like the Apartments at Holly Crest is a fisherman or fisherwoman’s dream.
Crappie, bass (largemouth, smallmouth, white, spotted, and stripped), bream, walleye, catfish (channel, blue, and black bullhead) and other species are all excellent catches that can be found throughout Lake Norman’s waters. Read on to hook a few on your next fishing trip.
How to Get Started
After you’ve acquired your North Carolina fishing license, you’ll want to think about gear. If you’re gunning for a smaller catch like perch and crappie, you’ll want to gear up with a light rod and light action reel and a line rated for no more than 10 pounds.
If you’re aiming for a sizeable catch like carp or striped bass, gear up with a slightly larger reel and stronger line. Keep in mind that while catfish as big as 85 pounds have been found in Lake Norman, most are less than 10 pounds.
For lures, we’ve experimented with bucktail jigs, spoons, minnows, and soft plastics for the bass on the lake. The catfish are more apt to bite on sink baits, fresh cut baitfish, live bream, or chicken innards. Crappie and perch prefer live minnows, while carp can be caught with simple bait like bread dough.
Fishing Hot Spots
If you’re just looking to relax, the docks are a popular spot for kids and families casting worms or bread. If you’re on the hunt for bass, you’ll have luck dropping anchor at the channel markers. You’ll want to fish shady spots like laydowns and boathouses as the weather gets warmer. Crappie and a variety of bass can also be found swimming along bridge pilings.
Best Times to Cast the Line
Whenever dusk or dawn begins to creep in, your bait of choice should hit the water. Cloudy and rainy days tend to make for great fishing as well, just make sure to dress appropriately and stay out of the water during storms.
While not ideal, catfish and bream can be fished during the day in warmer weather, especially near the bed of the lake. You’ll see bream swimming near the shore even in hot weather. Ideally, you’ll be in a hot spot as the sun begins to rise or set. Happy fishing!
This Is NWR Living 