Fishing Report For Nantahala Lake, NC

By Rick Seaman

February 1, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Nantahala Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing License
Map
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Fishing Report Nantahala Lake, NC

Popular Fish Species Nantahala Lake, NC

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

This lake is widely-known as a terrific smallmouth bass fishery. The lake has clean, clear water with plenty of forage which is ideal habitat for smallies. Locals report catching both quantity and quality on topwater baits early on summer mornings, and on cloudy days. A crawfish-colored crankbait is catching them when they won't come to the surface - look for shady spots. Mid day, once the sun is up, smallmouth move out of the shallows and hold on the first deeper cover or drop off, close to these shallow feeding areas. Tube jigs, fished on light line catches a lot of fish in these conditions.

Walleye

Current Report: Poor To Good
Outlook: Good

Walleye are very light sensitive and prefer to hang out and feed in low light conditions, especially here in the clear waters of Nantahala Lake. The first and last hour of the day, or on cloudy days is the best time to be on the water for walleye. When walleye are in 15' to 25' of water a blade bait or a swimbait is a good way to locate the fish. Fan cast and cover lots of water. Jighead weights vary from 1/4 oz to 3/4 oz depending on depth and wind conditions. Once you locate a school of walleye, a drop-shot rig with minnow-shaped plastics is a good way to work the school. Locals report spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are catching walleye while trolling.

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good

Tournament anglers report catching quality largemouth bass on vibrating jigs, with a variety of creature-bait trailers. When big bass sense the vibration, they get aggressive and attack out of instinct. Making long casts, counting down the lure, and a steady retrieve to maintain vibration, works well in this clear water. For finicky bass, not up to chasing lures, stick worms rigged wacky style can entice bites.

Nantahala Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill, yellow perch, kokanee salmon and striped bass at Nantahala Lake in North Carolina.

Nantahala Lake is a 1,600-acre lake, with around 30 miles of shoreline. It is the only lake in the South with a population of kokanee salmon. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, trout, catfish, crappie, stripers and sunfish also reside here. Smallmouth bass are the prized catch here at Nantahala 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".