Fishing Report For Buckhorn Lake, NC

AKA: Buckhorn Reservoir

December 26, 2024

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

Fishing Buckhorn Lake, NC

This fertile, 2,300-acre lake offers fishing for bass, catfish, crappie, bream, trout and muskie. Anglers can explore nearly 15 miles of shoreline in search of their favorite species. There is ample areas for fishing from the bank, a fishing pier, and the Buckhorn Lake & Shelter Boat Ramp for boat access.

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Buckhorn Lake, NC

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Poor To Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Buckhorn Lake is a decent bass fishery. Bass tend to follow the baitfish here, so using electronics to locate schools can be a big help. Crankbaits, like the Rapala DT-series, are a good way to cover lots of water especially when bass are shallow. Once they move deep in summer and winter, light line, small baits and slow movement can trigger strikes. Local anglers report that drop shot rigs catch a lot of bass here.

Channel Catfish

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Channel cats are one of the easiest species to catch here at Buckhorn Lake. Fishing from the Mill Branch area to the Buckhorn Lake Dam, and the deeper sections of the Little Creek Arm, have produced pretty consistent action of late, as reported by locals. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker, or Carolina rig setup. C.J.'s Punch Bait is available at Bass Pro Shops.

Black Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

As soon as Spring arrives, schools of crappie move into the warmer shallows of Buckhorn Lake. Concentrate on 5' to 8' of water nearby drop offs into deeper water. Crappie fishing here is quite good when you locate a school of them, and it can be slim pickings if you don't. Numerous locals reported catching nice crappie in 2024, including some well over 2 pounds. Crappie always seek out cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around deeper cover. Minnows are always a good choice here, as are crappie jigs like the Bass Pro Shops Uncle Buck's jig.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, bream, white bass and muskie at Buckhorn Reservoir in North Carolina.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Buckhorn Lake & Shelter Boat Ramp
Located along the northeast shores of the lake, near the dam, this three-lane boat ramp has docks, paved parking and a bait shop.

Fishing License

Click here for a North Carolina Fishing License.

Buckhorn Reservoir NC 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".

Contact Information