Fishing Report For Moss Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

April 19, 2025

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

Fishing Report Moss Lake, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Moss Lake, NC

Spotted Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Spotted bass are in the midst of the spawn cycle, spending time in shallow water, around nesting areas in the backs of coves. Once they spawn, females head to deep water to recover, while the males stay to guard the eggs and fry. Afterwards, they too move to deeper water, usually close by the spawning areas. Look for them on points and ledges near these areas. Daily movements find the bass moving shallow to feed, especially early and late in the day. Otherwise they spend most of their Summer on flats and ledges along river channels and drop-offs.

Largemouth Bass

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

Largemouth bass are also in the midst of their spawn cycle in shallow water, in most of the pockets and coves on the lake. Once they spawn, females head to deep water to recover, while the males stay to guard the eggs and fry. Afterwards, the males also move to deeper water, usually close by the spawning areas. After a week or so of rest these bass will begin feeding aggressively. Look for them on points and ledges near these spawning areas. Daily movements find the bass moving shallow to feed, especially early and late in the day, then back to deeper holding areas. Otherwise they spend most of their Summer on flats and ledges along river channels and drop-offs. A menagerie of lures are catching largemouth bass here, typically in the 2 to 3-pound range. Jerkbaits are always a deadly weapon in reasonably clear water. Jigs, deep-diving crankbaits and chatterbaits are catching fish in 10 to 20 feet deep water in early Summer. During slow times, when the bass are finicky, a stick worm, rigged wacky style, has proven to get good bites.

Hybrid Striped Bass

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Wipers are feeding heavily on threadfin shad and gizzard shad in the up-river sections of the lake. Soon they will migrate back to main lake areas and chase schools of shad around the lake. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spoons, live bait and cut bait are all working and catching hybrid stripers. Chicken livers are also catching wipers, and are an ideal bait for bank anglers. Successful anglers report using fish finders to locate schools of both bait and wipers.

Moss Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, white bass and hybrid striped bass at Moss Lake in North Carolina.

Moss Lake is a 1,500-acre lake with 57 miles of shoreline. Bass, hybrid stripers, catfish, white bass and crappie all are present in decent numbers. Fishing permits are required for anglers age six and older. Anglers sixteen and over also require a NC fishing license.

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".