Fishing in Catawba County, North Carolina
Seat: Newton. NCWRC District 8.
- 3lakes
- 5launches
- 1trout streams
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Conover: Brian Stansberry, CC BY-SA 4.0
Catawba County fishing, sized up
NCWRC places Catawba County in District 8, and Newton is the county seat. By the Census, Catawba County has 401 square miles on land and 14.7 on water.
Lake anglers have 3 waters here, Lake Norman first among them. Mapped launches number 5 launches: 5 inland and 0 coastal or joint. NCWRC designates 1 stream here as Public Mountain Trout Water.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lakes, ramps and piers in Catawba County
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Lake pages, Catawba County
- Lake Normanlake, 32,510 acres, 16 launches
- Lake Hickorylake, 4,110 acres, 12 launches
- Lookout Shoals Lakelake, 835 acres, 2 launches
Rivers and creeks in Catawba County
- Catawba Riverriver, Delayed Harvest, Hatchery Supported, Special Regulation and Wild Trout
How Catawba County rivers are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Fork Near Henry River, Nc | 55 cfs, 1.23 ft gage height | Nov 14 8:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 9:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Boating access in Catawba County
Reservoir and river ramps, Catawba County (5)
- Long IslandLake Norman, 2 lanes, 46 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- Lookout ShoalsLookout Shoals Lake, 2 lanes, 51 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- OxfordLake Hickory, 4 lanes, 156 trailer spaces, 2 docks
- Unnamed slipway (Catawba County), boat ramp
- Wildlife Woods Campground SlipwayLake Norman, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Where Catawba County anglers find stocked fish
| Lake | Distance from Newton | 2026 stocking |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout Shoals Lake | 10 miles | 6,500 1-2 in striped bass |
| Lake Hickory | 11 miles | 20,500 1-2 in striped bass |
| Lake Norman | 17 miles | 325,000 1-2 in bodie bass |
| Lake Rhodhiss | 19 miles | 17,000 1-2 in striped bass |
| Ellendale Pond | 19 miles | 1,800 8-12 in channel catfish |
| Gaston County Farm Lake | 24 miles | 2,300 8-12 in channel catfish |
NCWRC 2026 stocking lists.
Keeping fish in Catawba County
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | 20 a day | 8 in minimum | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations; rows chosen by the county seat position against I-95 and I-77.
Bait and charters in Catawba County
Tackle counters in Catawba County
- Buck's Baitsbait and tackle shop, Hickory
- Catawba Gold Baitbait and tackle shop, Newton
- Midway Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Terrell
- One on Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Vale
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Hickorysporting goods store, Hickory
- Boat Rack Waterfront Marinamarina,
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Hickorysporting goods store, Hickory
- Lake Norman Marina, 6965 E Nc 150 Hwymarina, Sherrills Ford
- Lake Norman Marina, 6965 East NC 150 Highwaymarina, Sherrills Ford
- Long Island Marina, 8400 Long Island Rdmarina, Catawba
- Long Island Marina, 8400 Long Island Roadmarina, Catawba
- Long Island Marina-Showroommarina, Terrell
- Midway Marinamarina,
- Mountain Creek Marinamarina, Sherrills Ford
- Sure Southern Outdoorssporting goods store, Hickory
For-hire boats in Catawba County
- Fishing with Gusfreshwater / lake guide, Sherrills Ford, (704) 617-6812
- Gone Fishinfreshwater / lake guide, Conover, (704) 325-3617
The area around Catawba County
Towns across Catawba County
- Hickorypop. 43,490
- Newtonpop. 13,148
- Lake Norman of Catawbapop. 8,658
- Conoverpop. 8,421
- Long Viewpop. 5,088
- Maidenpop. 3,736
- Claremontpop. 1,692
- Catawbapop. 702
- Brookfordpop. 442
Counties bordering Catawba County
- Lincoln County12 miles south
- Alexander County18 miles north
- Iredell County22 miles northeast
- Gaston County26 miles south
Species around Catawba County, pictured
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Quick facts for Catawba County
What launch count does Catawba County have?
5 launches, with 5 inland and 0 on tidal water.
Which lake in Catawba County spans the most acres?
Lake Norman, 32,510 acres.
Does Catawba County have fishing piers?
It has no shoreline.
Which state agency runs fishing in Catawba County?
NCWRC District 8.
Where do I get supplies in Catawba County?
15 listings, including Buck's Baits.
Are captains based in Catawba County?
2 guides and charters work from the county.
Does NCWRC stock fish in Catawba County?
Not this year.
Where are the Catawba County offices?
Newton is the seat.
Which fishing license does Catawba County call for?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Map out a trip in Catawba County
Each listed spot has a directions link.