Fishing Report For Lake Tillery, NC

By Rick Seaman

February 26, 2025

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

Fishing Report Lake Tillery, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Lake Tillery, NC

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very Good

The grass and docks on Lake Tillery are loaded with bass, and locals report catching them on a wide variety of lures from Texas-style worms and jigs to reaction lures like crankbaits and jerkbaits. Many tournament anglers are throwing vibrating jigs as a primary bait these days to present something different. During slow times, when the bass are finicky, a stick worm, rigged wacky style, often teases wary bass to come out of hiding and attack the bait. Spring is the prime fishing time for shallow water.

Blue Catfish

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

The Pee Dee River feeds into Lake Tillery bringing fertile water for this terrific fishery. Blue catfish love the inflowing water and tend to feed heavily from the Highway 27 bridge area and up river. Fishing for blue catfish is often productive around any kind of structure, especially when water is flowing. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Locals report using live shad, and cut bait with a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. The lake has these big blues weighing upwards of 80 pounds, with double-digit fish caught quite regularly.

Black Crappie

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

Crappie fishing has been on the rise in Lake Tillery. Locals report the crappie are moving up shallow, from their deeper winter holding areas, into creeks and pockets. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move shallow to spawn. Docks, brush, wood and deep vegetation are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Most all the major creeks and pockets off the main lake are a good place to find crappie.

Lake Tillery Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

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

Lake Tillery, a 5,200-acre lake with over 100 miles of shoreline.The biggest draws to fishermen are the giant blue catfish. Fat crappie and plentiful sunfish make this a where everyone can enjoy the "catching"! Fishing from shore is popular, with easy access all around the lake.

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".