Lake JamesWith over 150 miles of shoreline and 6,510 surface acres, Lake James offers excellent year-round fishing in a beautiful mountain lake setting. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Bream and Crappie are common. The lake's Largemouth Bass record is over 14 pounds, and the Smallmouth record is over 7 pounds. The state record Tiger Muskellunge, over 33 pounds, the state record White Catfish, at 13 pounds, and the state record Northern Pike, at almost 12 pounds, were all taken from Lake James.
Public access to the lake in McDowell County: Black Bear Access Area on the northern perimeter of the lake (Lake James Road), Canal Bridge via NC 126 at McDowell-Burke line, Hidden Cove Access Area near Lake James State Park off NC 126, and North Fork Access Area off Hankins Road. A few commercial landings and bait & tackle shops are available on the lake perimeter.
Public Trout Streams
Armstrong Creek
Curtis Creek
Little Buck Creek
Mill Creek
Newberry Creek
North Fork
Armstrong Hatchery via NC 226A, is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 828-756-4179
Marion Hatchery off Hankins Road in Marion, is open Oct-May. Group tours by appointment only. 828-652-7802 | Table Rock Fish Hatchery on Fish Hatchery Road, off NC 126, north of Morganton. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but fish are more visible Jan-May. Tours by appointment only.828-437-3977
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