Guide To Striper Fishing In North Carolina

Striped Bass & Hybrid Stripers

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams become the ideal spawning grounds for stripers. Landlocked stripers then populate the lakes.

Striper Lakes

North Carolina offers a substantial number waters for great striper fishing. The major lakes with striped bass include Apalachia Lake, Badin Lake, Blewett Falls Lake, Chatuge Lake, Falls Lake, Graham-Mebane Lake, High Rock Lake, Hiwassee Lake, Jordan Lake, Kerr Lake, Lake Cammack, Lake Gaston, Lake Hickory, Lake James, Lake Mackintosh, Lake Nantahala, Lake Norman, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Tillery, Lake Townsend, Lake Waccamaw, Mountain Island Lake, Moss Lake, Roanoke Rapids Lake and Salem Lake.

Click the images and links above for species details.

The state record striped bass was taken from Hiwassee Reservoir.

The state record hybrid striper was caught from Lake Chatuge.

Fishing for Stripers in North Carolina

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. Check North Carolina fishing reports for current striper information. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Striper Fishing Video

Learn the basics for catching striped bass.

Striped bass fishing information, by state.