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5,350-acre lake near Badin. A deep Yadkin/Uwharrie-chain lake (Narrows Reservoir) with clear water, rock and a quality spotted-bass fishery. The lake tops out around 190 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 5,517 acres wrapped in 74.5 miles of bank, with 14 islands in the mix. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 7.2) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 44% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 6.8 mi, about 6.1 mi across. Stanly County claims this one. If the bite dies, Lake Tillery is 11 mi to the south.
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring puts spotted bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 40 ft; cold water stacks them in 25 to 50 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 35 ft, rated prime for winter spotted bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (10 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (35 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 25 to 50 ft | midday | Sharp break (35 ft) | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, crappie slide up into 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Sharp break (13 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. Start at Reeves Spring Branch inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Reeves Spring Branch inflow (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Reeves Spring Branch inflow (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Sharp break (35 ft) |
Spring puts white bass in skinny water — 2 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 40 ft. Reeves Spring Branch inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring white bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Reeves Spring Branch inflow (8 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (162 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Come spring, look for bluegill tight to the bank in 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Sharp break (13 ft) | Tiny spoon |
17 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 162 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for North Carolina waters are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission — and special regulations can apply to Badin Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official North Carolina fishing regulations →
Badin Lake is about 190 ft (58 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target largemouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, white bass, bluegill on Badin Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Badin Lake is regulated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Check the official North Carolina regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Tillery 11 mi · High Rock Lake 18 mi · Mountain Island Lake 46 mi · Lake Norman 47 mi · Lake Wylie 57 mi, NC/SC · Jordan Lake 65 mi · Harris Lake 67 mi · Lake Robinson 70 mi, SC · W. Kerr Scott Reservoir 79 mi · Lake Wateree 82 mi, SC · Falls Lake 89 mi · Neal Shoals Reservoir 92 mi, SC
See how Badin Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in North Carolina · best crappie lakes in North Carolina · best bluegill lakes in North Carolina · best channel catfish lakes in North Carolina
Browse all North Carolina fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.