Fishing Report For W Kerr Scott Reservoir, NC

By Rick Seaman

January 26, 2025

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Fishing Report Kerr Scott Reservoir, NC

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Kerr Scott Lake, NC

Black Crappie - White Crappie

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good

Crappie fishing in W Kerr Scott Reservoir is reported to be better in the last couple years, and shows signs of continuing this year. The major creek arms of Warrior Creek, Marley Ford Creek, Whites Creek and Smithey's Creek are areas that crappie like to hold. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves 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. Locals report good success using fish finders to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

Spotted Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

W Kerr Scott Reservoir Lake is widely-known as an exceptional spotted bass fishery. Largemouth and smallmouth also reside here, but the spots are the preponderance of bass to catch. Locals report that Fall is the best time to catch spotted bass here, as they prefer the cooler water and move a bit shallower. Tube jigs on light line is a good tactic on steeper banks, points and along ledge drop-offs.

Striped Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Good

Stripers tend to remain in the main body of the lake, around river channels and ledges dropping into deep water. The best reports tend to come between the W Kerr Scott Dam and the Lewis Fork area. Swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spoons, live bait and cut bait are all effective here. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders are a big help in locating roaming schools.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, white bass, striped bass and tiger muskie at W Kerr Scott Reservoir in North Carolina.

Kerr Scott Reservoir is a 1,475-acre lake, with over 50 miles of shoreline, is located in the north-central part of the state. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, striped bass, crappie, catfish and tiger muskie are the main fish species targeted by anglers here.

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".