There are some excellent fisheries that are within 2 hours of the Piedmont area. In this article we will highlight some the best fishing near Charlotte. The majority of clients that fish with us year after year are from Charlotte. The fisheries that we will highlight below are within 100 miles of the “Queen City”.
The Catawba Tailrace
The Catawba Tailrace is a brown trout fishery that is 82 miles from Charlotte. This is close striking distance for the Charlotte angler looking to make a day trip to fish. The Tailrace is often overlooked because when you think of the Catawba River you don’t necessarily think of trout. The cold water discharges from Bridgewater Dam in Morganton provides water cold enough to support a year round trout fishery. The hot summer months of August/ September can be tough on the fish, but the majority of brown trout that gets stocked by the NCWRC in the fall have high chances of surviving since their water temperature tolerance is higher than the rainbow and brook trout. The fish that survive year after year here can grow to substantial sizes. Not only can you catch brown trout here, but certain times of the year the Tailrace offers striper and walleye fishing. The best way to fish this stretch is to float it with a raft or drift boat, but anglers can wade the upper stretch of the Tailrace when they aren’t releasing water. If you are interested in this fishery and would like for someone to show you the ropes then we would be happy to guide you on this great tailwater. Below is a picture of a trophy brown trout that came out of the Tailrace.
The Catawba River
The Catawba River provides some of the best fishing near Charlotte. It’s one of the most diverse rivers in the state for number of fish species. The majority of anglers that fish it chase trout, bass, perch, and catfish. The Catawba River begins in the mountains and eventually makes its way through the Charlotte metropolitan area. You can’t have a list of the best fishing near Charlotte without mentioning the Catawba River. The Catawba is the river that I named our guide service after because it holds a special place in my heart. I grew up within walking distance from the river and have fished every mile of it from Old Fort to Charlotte. Without the Catawba River then the 7 great bass lakes that form the chain of lakes wouldn’t exist. The best trout fishing is from Old Fort to Morganton, NC. Heading east from Morganton there is good striper and largemouth fishing around Granite Falls. Downstream of Granite Falls you get into some good bass/perch/catfish fishing. We specialize in guiding on the Catawba River where it runs through Old Fort, Marion, Morganton, and Glen Alpine. If you want to experience some of the best fishing near Charlotte then check out the Catawba.
Linville Gorge
The Linville Gorge is 110 miles from Charlotte. This is one of the most rugged gorges on the east coast and it should be on every anglers list of places to fish if you live in Charlotte. If you’re looking for seclusion and good fishing then this is the place to go. It’s not for the faint of heart, but fishing in the Linville Gorge is so rewarding. It’s therapeutic. It’s a place that shows you how majestic our God truly is. Only God could create a place so rugged, vast, and beautiful all at the same time. The hike into the gorge will challenge you and the fish can be hard to get to, but the biggest brown trout I’ve ever caught in NC came out of the Linville Gorge. We have guided a few clients over the years here and I’ll say every single client loved it whether we caught fish or not because it’s all about the experience. The fish we have caught down in the gorge rivals some of the brown trout you see out west. If you are up for tackling the most challenging fishing trip you’ve ever been on then let us know. We chase trout in the spring months and smallmouth in the summer.
Wilson Creek Gorge
Wilson Creek flows through the heart of the Pisgah National Forest and is a great location for someone in Charlotte looking to make a day trip to chase trout. Wilson creek gets stocked with trout every fall and spring and offers many opportunities to catch some large trout. The tributaries that flow into it have healthy wild trout populations. There are so many wild trout streams in the Wilson Creek area that a man/woman couldn’t fish it all in a lifetime. This is a fly fishers paradise. We will guide here only on special requests. The Gragg Prong and the two forks of Harper Creek are worth checking out when visiting this area.
There are plenty of great fishing spots around the Charlotte area, but if you’re looking to get away from the city then look no further at the spots above. They are all worth checking out the next time you’re looking for a fishing adventure near Charlotte.