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Fishing in Winston-Salem, NC

North Carolina, United States

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Want trophy-size catches? These Winston-Salem spots deliver

Top fish species in Winston-Salem

Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Bluegill
Bluegill
Channel catfish
Channel catfish
Black crappie
Black crappie
Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout

Latest Winston-Salem fishing reports

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Yellow bullhead

Richland Lake (Jeanette Lake)

12 in · 1 lb 3 oz

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Brook trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Brook trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

Ararat River

length · weight

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Largemouth bass

length · weight

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Black crappie

Doug Young Lake Number Two

length · weight

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About Winston-Salem fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 8,296 catches for Largemouth bass, 1,633 catches for Bluegill, and 1,128 catches for Channel catfish.

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Fishing regulations in Winston-Salem

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in North Carolina can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of March 29th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Min size

14"

Measurement

Total Length

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations


Size and daily creel limit exceptions to state waters regulations:

Lake Santeetlah (Graham Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 5 large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

No daily creel limit for large- mouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches

Lake Cammack (Alamance Co.) and Lake Holt (Granville Co.)

No minimum size limit, and only 2 may be greater than 14 inches

10, including only 2 greater than 14 inches

New River (Alleghany Co. portion downstream of Fields Dam in Grayson Co., VA)

No minimum size, none between 14-22 inches may be possessed, and only 1 large- mouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass may be greater than 22 inches

5 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass in combination, including only 1 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or spotted bass greater than 22 inches

Lake Chatuge (Clay Co.)

12-inch minimum

10 largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass in combination

In the following waters and their tributaries:

  • Albemarle, Croatan, Currituck, and Roanoke Sounds
  • Alligator River (including the Alligator/Pungo Canal (Intra- coastal Waterway) east of the U.S. 264/N.C. 45 bridge)
  • Big Flatty Creek (Pasquotank Co.)
  • Chowan River (including the Meherrin River)
  • Little River (Pasquotank and Perquimans counties)
  • North River (Camden and Currituck counties)
  • Northwest River (Currituck Co.)
  • Pasquotank River
  • Perquimans River
  • Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
  • Scuppernong River
  • Yeopim River
  • All other associated tributaries and canals to the waters listed above

14-inch minimum; limit 5

New Lake (Hyde Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Pungo Lake (Hyde and Washington counties)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Raleigh (Wake Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Sutton Lake (New Hanover Co.)

14-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Hampton (Yadkin Co.) and Shearon Harris Reservoir (Chatham and Wake counties)

14-inch minimum, except 2 may be less than 14 inches and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed 5, including only 2 less than 14 inches

Lake Phelps

14-inch minimum and none between 16-20 inches may be possessed; limit 5

Buckhorn Reservoir (Nash and Wilson counties) and Cane Creek Lake (Union Co.)

16-inch minimum; limit 5

Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals (Hyde Co.)

16-inch minimum, and only 1 may be greater than 20 inches; limit 5, including only 1 greater than 20 inches

Lake Thom-A-Lex (Davidson Co.)

18-inch minimum; limit 5

Jean Guite Creek and assoicated canals within the Town of Southern Shores (Dare Co.) and Ponds associated with Martin Marietta Park (Craven Co.)

No largemouth bass may be possessed

For more information please see https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing/regulations

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

36°06′10.4″N 80°15′40″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ about Winston-Salem fishing

Anglers in Winston-Salem, NC recommend these top fishing spots: Belews Lake, Century Lake, Yadkin River, Salem Lake, and Kernersville Lake.
Most commonly caught species around Winston-Salem, NC:
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Other cities near Winston-Salem

Clemmons

8.5 miles away

Lewisville

8.7 miles away

Kernersville

9.9 miles away

High Point

16.8 miles away

Thomasville

18.3 miles away

Lexington

20.8 miles away

Summerfield

21.2 miles away

Archdale

21.8 miles away

Greensboro

24.2 miles away

Salisbury

32.8 miles away

Mount Airy

34.3 miles away

Reidsville

36.6 miles away

Asheboro

36.7 miles away

Eden

40.0 miles away

Statesville

40.6 miles away

Elon

42.0 miles away

Burlington

44.3 miles away

Martinsville

45.7 miles away

Mooresville

47.8 miles away

Kannapolis

48.2 miles away

Graham

48.8 miles away

North Wilkesboro

49.2 miles away

Albemarle

51.5 miles away

Davidson

53.1 miles away