Fishing Report For Hyco Lake, NC

AKA: Hyco Reservoir, Lake Hyco

By Rick Seaman

January 30, 2025

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

Fishing Report Hyco Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Hyco Lake, NC

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Very Good
Outlook: Very Good To Excellent

Thanks to size limits set by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the bass fishery at Hyco Lake is improving year after year. The average size is increasing and the numbers are improving as well. This year is expected to be another winner. The clear water makes ideal conditions for topwater fishing. Tournament anglers claim stick worms will entice bites when the bass get finicky, and often catch some of the top weights.

Black Crappie - White Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

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

Crappie fishing has been on the rise in Hyco Lake. Spring, during the pre-spawn and the spawn, is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves. 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. Locals report good results using electronics for locating schools of crappie. There are a half dozen major arms of the lake, each with multiple pockets and smaller creek off the main channel. Each of these pockets can hold crappie if there is cover. After the spawn, crappie move outside the mouth of these creeks to the nearest cover.

Hybrid Striped Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

Since 2019, hybrid striped bass, or bodie bass, have been stocked into Hyco Lake. These fish are growing at a fast rate thanks to fertile water and plenty of forage baitfish. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spoons all imitate baitfish and catch these schooling hybrids. Trolling is a preferred method for covering lots of water. Live bait and cut bait are also effective here for hybrid stripers.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, hybrid striped bass and white bass at Hyco Lake in North Carolina.

Hyco Lake is a 3,750-acre lake with 120 miles of shoreline, is primarily a bass and crappie fishery. Year-round warm water, heated by the generating station, lengthens the growing season, as well as appeals to anglers for winter-time fishing. There are good numbers of bass over 5 pounds and an occasional lunker over 8 pounds.

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.

Hyco Lake, 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".