Buckhorn Lake Fishing
Wilson County and Johnston County, NCWRC District 3.
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Photo of Neuse River: Bz3rk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing Buckhorn Lake, North Carolina
In Wilson County and Johnston County, Buckhorn Lake is a lake that falls in NCWRC District 3. About 5 miles separate the water from Bailey.
Species tied to it in NCWRC records: largemouth bass, black crappie and white crappie. Count 1 mapped launch around the shore, 0 in the Commission program.
Boating access on Buckhorn Lake
- Boat launch, Buckhorn Lakeboat ramp, public
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Fish of Buckhorn Lake
Species for Buckhorn Lake are those NCWRC stocks, regulates, profiles or holds a record for here. regulated: 3.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Creel and size limits on Buckhorn Lake
Rules written for Buckhorn Lake come first and override the statewide rows.
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 16-inch minimum | 5 |
| Crappie (Black And White) | None | 20 in combination |
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | no creel limit | no size limit | 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 |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | 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 splits some limits at I-95 and I-77; the rows shown match where Buckhorn Lake sits.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
Lakes near Buckhorn Lake, compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Lake | 1 | |||
| Toisnot Reservoir | 14 miles east | 0 | ||
| Tar River Reservoir | 18 miles northeast | 1,000 | 0 | |
| Lake Benson | 28 miles west | 463 | 0 | |
| Lake Raleigh | 30 miles west | 88.1 | 1 | |
| Shelley Lake | 31 miles west | 32 | 0 | yes |
The area around Buckhorn Lake
Other reservoirs by Buckhorn Lake
- Toisnot Reservoir14 miles east
- Tar River Reservoir18 miles northeast
- Lake Benson28 miles west
- Lake Raleigh30 miles west
- Shelley Lake31 miles west
Counters a drive from Buckhorn Lake
- Wggins Mill Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Wilson, 11 miles
- Springhill Outfitterssporting goods store, Selma, 12 miles
- Boat Launchmarina, Wake, 13 miles
- Uncle Toms Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Wilson, 13 miles
- Goodson Bamboo Fly Rodsfly shop, Fremont, 15 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Selmasporting goods store, Selma, 15 miles
Towns within a drive of Buckhorn Lake
- Bailey5 miles
- Sims6 miles
- Middlesex7 miles
Counties that hold Buckhorn Lake
- Wilson Countyseat: Wilson
- Johnston Countyseat: Smithfield
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Buckhorn Lake, the common questions
Which county is home to Buckhorn Lake?
Look in Wilson County and Johnston County, NCWRC District 3, about 5 miles from Bailey.
How many acres does Buckhorn Lake span?
There is no published surface figure.
What ramps reach Buckhorn Lake?
1 launch, with Boat launch, Buckhorn Lake listed first.
Which species are worth targeting at Buckhorn Lake?
Species on file: largemouth bass, black crappie and white crappie.
Are hatchery fish added to Buckhorn Lake?
It is not on the 2026 stocking lists.
Are there size limits at Buckhorn Lake?
Largemouth Bass: 16-inch minimum, 5; Crappie (Black And White): None, 20 in combination.
Which license works on Buckhorn Lake?
The $32 resident inland license, from age 16.
Where does the pool sit at Buckhorn Lake?
No USGS or USACE station is matched.
Which counter sits nearest Buckhorn Lake?
Drive 11 miles to reach Wggins Mill Bait Shop.
Spend time on Buckhorn Lake
The license page has every North Carolina limit.