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Best largemouth bass lakes in North Carolina

19 North Carolina waters hold largemouth bass, 1 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. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

1. Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
2. Currituck Sound — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Perch, Red Drum (Redfish)
3. Lake Norman — 130 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Lake Gaston — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
5. Fontana Lake — 440 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
6. Falls Lake — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
7. High Rock Lake — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish
8. Jordan Lake — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
9. Lake Wylie — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
10. Hiwassee Lake — 300 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
11. Lake Tillery — 80 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
12. Lake James — 120 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
13. Badin Lake — 190 ft max · Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
14. Harris Lake — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
15. Santeetlah Lake — 190 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
16. Lake Waccamaw — 11 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
17. Mountain Island Lake — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
18. W. Kerr Scott Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie
19. Nantahala Lake — 250 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye

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When to fish largemouth bass in North Carolina

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in North Carolina: 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 spotted bass lakes · best white perch lakes

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