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Best flathead catfish lakes in North Carolina

12 North Carolina waters hold flathead catfish, 9 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Solitary giant that lairs in log jams and deep holes by day and prowls at night — live bait only.

1. Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
2. Cape Fear River — Reach 1 of 2 — 52 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
3. Great Pee Dee River — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish
4. Lake Chatuge — 144 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Roanoke River — 20 ft max · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
6. Cape Fear River — Reach 2 of 2 — 56 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
7. North Landing River — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
8. Southern Branch Elizabeth River — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
9. Elizabeth River — 67 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
10. North River — 29 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
11. Northeast Cape Fear River — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish
12. Shallotte River — 22 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass

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When to fish flathead catfish in North Carolina

• Spring 5–20 ft — Pre-spawn fish feed hard near wood cover and hole edges.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Day = log-jam lairs and deep holes. Night = shallow flats and bar edges with big live bait.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fish concentrate near wintering holes — the year's best big-fish window.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Stacked and sluggish in the deepest holes.

Also in North Carolina: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best striped bass lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best spotted bass lakes · best white perch lakes

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