Fishing Report For Mayo Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

May 19, 2025

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

Fishing Report Mayo Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Mayo Lake, NC

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Limited fishing pressure keeps the quality of bass here running a bit heavier than other area lakes. Bass tournaments here are often won with a 3 to 4 pound average, for 5 fish. The lake is loaded with vegetation, which is a magnet for bass. Successful anglers are fishing the outside edge of the weed lines, especially ones on the edge of the creek channels. A wide variety of lures are catching nice fish here, but topwater, Texas-style worms, swim jigs and stick worms are catching most of the better bass.

Black Crappie

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

Crappie fishing has been very good on Mayo Lake through the late Winter and early Spring. They have been holding in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Soon these crappie will move into shallow coves to spawn. Brush, wood and deep vegetation are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Once the spawn is over, and the hot Summer sun warms the shallows, crappie retreat to depths of 15 feet or deeper. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal.

Chain Pickerel

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Chain pickerel favor areas with weeds, grass and vegetation, which is why Mayo Lake is an ideal habitat for these predators. The colder months are best for pickerel, and this winter was no exception. As the water warms, early morning anglers are having the best results. Spinners, jerkbaits, and noisy topwater are all good choices here, along with live and cut bait.

Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin and chain pickerel at Mayo Reservoir in North Carolina.

Mayo Lake is a 2,800-acre lake with 85 miles of shoreline, and lots of pockets, channels and docks to fish. Bass and crappie are the primary target of anglers here. Catfish, sunfish, pike and bowfin also call this their home. There is ample places around the lake to fish from the bank.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

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".