Fishing Report For Fontana Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

May 16, 2025

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

Fishing Report Fontana Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Fontana Lake, NC

Spotted Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Fontana Lake is widely-known as an one of the better spotted bass fisheries in the state. They have taken over the lake and are crowding the smallmouth. These spots are voracious feeders, and attack lures with a vengeance, possibly due to competition for food. Lots of quality spots are being caught in the river end of the lake, on rocky points, and around any cover in the area. Tube baits and stick worms are popular baits with local anglers.

Smallmouth Bass

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

Throughout this Winter, quality smallmouth have been consistently caught, especially in February when trophy-size females begin their spawning ritual. Now that the spawn is over, crankbaits, jerkbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits continue to catch smallies on sloping rock banks, points and fairly shallow structure. Now that the water temperature is in the low 60's, topwater is getting some nice action. Smallmouth fishing is also good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days. Once Summer brings warmer water, Fish rocky points our to 35' or 40'. If they have moved off the bank, look for smallmouth to focus on schools of baitfish, and suspend 40' deep or deeper, over ever deeper structure. Jigs or spoons are a good option once schools are located.

Walleye

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good

The Spring spawning run is coming to an end, and by early June walleye will have moved out to flats, shoals and ledges off shore. Throughout Summer, early in the morning and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye, as they move shallow to feed. Fall is another good season season for catching walleye, as they will again move shallow and feed heavily in preparation for Winter. They primarily feed on threadfin shad, gizzard shad and other small fish, close to the bottom. Blade baits, jigs, swimbaits and spoons are popular lure choices. Local anglers have reported catching walleye using spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners while trolling.

Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, yellow perch, steelhead and muskie at Fontana Lake in North Carolina.

Fontana Lake is a 11,700-acre lake with over 230 miles of scenic shoreline. It offers a broad range of fish species. Healthy populations bass, catfish, crappie, perch, bluegill and walleye are popular, as are catfish, trout and muskie. There is limited shoreline access for fishing from the bank.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Click here for fishing boat rentals available at this lake.

Marinas

Click here for marinas available at this lake.

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

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".