Fishing Report For Lake Santeetlah, NC

By Rick Seaman

March 9, 2025

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Fishing Report Santeetlah Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Lake Santeetlah, NC

Largemouth Bass

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

Bass use the cover of brush and lay-down trees quite often when they are shallow here in Lake Santeetlah. Points, ledges and creek channels are where they hang out in deeper water. There is very little access to the shore for fishing from the bank, so a boat is the best way to get to the fish. Largemouth and smallmouth are being caught in 20 feet of water, or deeper on jigs, stick worms and drop shots, all worked very slowly. Come Spring as the water warms, the bass will move shallow and find their way into coves and pockets to spawn. Once they move shallow, a variety of lures are catching nice largemouth bass. Many tournament anglers report using vibrating jigs as a primary bait. During slow times, when the bass are finicky, a stick worm, rigged wacky style, often teases bass to strike.

Black Crappie - White Crappie

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Excellent

Locals report good success around brush, wood and vegetation using small crappie jigs or live minnows. Most crappie are deep this time of year, 20 feet or deeper, but will begin moving shallow as the water warms. Once they move up, they are being caught around 8' to 10', typically. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves to spawn. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Fish finders help locate schools of crappie when they are deep

Walleye

Current Report: Fair
Outlook: Fair To Good

Walleye have been stocked in Lake Santeetlah for over a decade now. They grow to decent size, but are not caught in great numbers. Preferring water 75 degrees or cooler, walleye here move deep as soon as Summer warms the shallows. Locals report jigs, especially if tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers, is the primary approach when casting. Spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are also catching walleye while trolling.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, bream and yellow perch at Lake Santeetlah in North Carolina.

Lake Santeetlah is a 2,880-acre gem with 76 miles of shoreline for fishing enthusiasts. There is good fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, trout and sunfish. There are places to fish from the bank for those willing to walk a bit, but the lake is best fished by boat.

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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Marinas

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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".