Lake Norman
Lake Norman is North Carolina's largest man-made lake, on the Catawba River just north of Charlotte. It is known for spotted and largemouth bass, stocked striped bass and big blue catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Spotted Bass
Rocky banks and bluff ends. Jigs and finesse plastics.
Largemouth Bass
Fish docks, points and brush in the creek arms.
Striped Bass
Stripers roam open water chasing shad.
Blue Catfish
Blue cats over 80 pounds have come from this lake.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Striped Bass | ||||||||||||
| Blue Catfish |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Blythe Landing ParkPublicMecklenburg County park in Huntersville on the south end; ramp, canoe access, restroomsDirections ↗
- Ramsey Creek ParkFeeMecklenburg County park in Cornelius; launch fee about $3 to $8Directions ↗
- Beatty's Ford Access AreaFreePublic boat ramp on the west shore near DenverDirections ↗
- Pinnacle Access AreaFreePublic boat ramp on the east shore in Iredell CountyDirections ↗
- Lake Norman State ParkPublicNC State Parks ramp in Troutman at the north endDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee NC Wildlife or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie Black and white combined. Lake not listed as exception for largemouth or striped bass (statewide applies); catfish not in table | 8 in | 20 / day combined |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Lake Norman Bait and TackleNearby1178 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC(704) 658-1113Directions ↗
- Carolina Fishing TackleNearby736 Brawley School Rd, Mooresville, NC(704) 799-2912Directions ↗
- Midway Bait and TackleNearby8693 NC Highway 150 E, Terrell, NC(828) 478-9236Directions ↗
Local tips
- In spring, work marina docks and shallow coves while bass are spawning.
- In winter, stripers gather near warm water discharge areas.
- Look for brush piles and standing timber in the creek arms.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Norman.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.