Fishing Report For Belews Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

January 28, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Belews Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing License
Map
Contact Info

Fishing Report Belews Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Belews Lake, NC

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Not a lot of bass fishermen know about Belews Lake, but those that do, report excellent fishing nearly year round. Thanks to warm water from the power plant the lake stays warmer in Winter than other lakes in the area. Fishing for largemouth bass here may take stealth tactics as the bass often hold deep - 50' or more. However, some locals report catching bass shallow year round, even on topwater baits and crankbaits in winter.

Spotted Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Belews Lake is also well known as an exceptional spotted bass fishery. So good in fact, that bass tournaments for spotted bass only are often held on the lake. Many tournament anglers report catching spots on tube baits, fished on light line. Stick worms are also working here fished wacky style or on a small jighead. I like to dead-stick these worms for 15 to 30 seconds, then twitch them.

Black Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Poor To Good
Outlook: Good

Crappie fishing can be hit or miss on Belews Lake. Locals report better fishing at night, than mid day. The first and last hour of daylight is always a good time to be on the water for crappie. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves to spawn. Docks, brush, wood and vegetation are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, white catfish, black crappie, bluegill, bream and white bass at Belews Lake in North Carolina.

Belews Lake is a 3,860-acre lake with nearly 90 miles of shoreline, heated year round by the power plant. As a result, the growing season is extended for all species. Bass and crappie are the primary targets here, but the lake also has healthy populations of white bass, catfish and sunfish.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

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Click here for marinas available at this lake.

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Fishing License

Click here for a North Carolina Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".