Fontana Lake Fishing
Swain County and Graham County, NCWRC District 9, 10,290 acres.
- 8launches
- 10,290acres
- 37attractors
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0
Fontana Lake through an angler’s eyes
Fontana Lake is a lake in Swain County and Graham County, part of NCWRC fisheries District 9. NID records give it 10,290 acres of surface water. Fontana Dam Dam (1944) impounds the Little Tennessee River to form it. A drive of about 7 miles reaches Bryson City, the nearest town.
NCWRC sources name walleye here. Boaters can use 8 mapped launches; 4 belong to the NCWRC access program. NCWRC requested 100,000 1-2 in walleye for this water in 2026. Anglers can find 37 NCWRC fish attractors, 0 marked by buoys. US Forest Service owns the public access points.
Getting a boat onto Fontana Lake
- Cable Cove1 lane, 24 trailer spaces, US Forest Service
- Flat Branch1 lane, 25 trailer spaces, US Forest Service
- Lemmons Branch3 lanes, 52 trailer spaces, restrooms, 1 dock, US Forest Service
- Tsali1 lane, 45 trailer spaces, US Forest Service
- Boat launch, Fontana Lakeboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Fontana Lakeboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Fontana Lakeboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Fontana Lakeboat ramp, public
Public fishing areas by Fontana Lake
- Tsalibank access, owner US Forest Service, open
Nearest put-ins to Fontana Lake
- Finger Lakes Kayak Launchpaddle access, 3 miles south
- Old 288Tuckasegee River, 5 miles east
- Sawmill CreekLittle Tennessee River, 5 miles southeast
- Painter BranchLittle Tennessee River, 5 miles southeast
- TuckasegeeTuckasegee River, 6 miles east
- Brush CreekLittle Tennessee River, 6 miles southeast
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
What hits in Fontana Lake
The list for Fontana Lake is built from NCWRC stocking, rule tables, species profiles and the record book. stocked: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Hatchery fish for Fontana Lake
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 1-2" | 100,000 | MGT | Walleye should be stocked at Lemmons Branch BAA. |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
Harvest rules for Fontana Lake
Statewide inland rows cover Fontana Lake; no special rule is listed.
| 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 |
Interstate lines in the NCWRC rules pick some rows for Fontana Lake.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
Neighbor lakes of Fontana Lake
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fontana Lake | 10,290 | 8 | yes | |
| Queens Creek Lake | 10 miles southwest | 28.8 | 1 | yes |
| Lake Santeetlah | 17 miles west | 2,884 | 5 | |
| Nantahala Lake | 17 miles south | 1,605 | 3 | yes |
| Cheoah Reservoir | 20 miles west | 3 | yes | |
| Calderwood Lake | 22 miles west | 570 | 1 | yes |
In reach of Fontana Lake
Next reservoirs over from Fontana Lake
- Queens Creek Lake10 miles southwest
- Lake Santeetlah17 miles west
- Nantahala Lake17 miles south
- Cheoah Reservoir20 miles west
- Calderwood Lake22 miles west
Where to buy bait by Fontana Lake
- Alarka Marinamarina, Bryson City, 2 miles
- NOC Outfitter's Storesporting goods store, Bryson City, 6 miles
- Carolina Outfitterssporting goods store, Swain, 6 miles
- Mac Brown Fly Fishfly shop, Bryson City, 7 miles
- Fly Fishing the Smokiesfly shop, Bryson City, 10 miles
- Great Smokey Mountain Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Bryson City, 10 miles
Towns nearest Fontana Lake
- Bryson City7 miles
- Fontana Dam15 miles
- Robbinsville15 miles
Fontana Lake county links
- Swain Countyseat: Bryson City
- Graham Countyseat: Robbinsville
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Worth knowing about Fontana Lake
Which NCWRC district covers Fontana Lake?
Swain County and Graham County, in NCWRC District 9, about 7 miles from Bryson City.
Is Fontana Lake a big lake?
The dam record lists 10,290 acres.
Does a ramp reach Fontana Lake?
Access records list 8 launches; Lemmons Branch is one.
What species does Fontana Lake hold?
Expect walleye.
What does NCWRC put in Fontana Lake?
The 2026 warmwater list shows 100,000 1-2 in walleye.
Is Fontana Lake under special regulations?
Statewide limits, no special rule.
Can visitors fish Fontana Lake?
An NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16, $32 a year for residents.
Is there a live reading for Fontana Lake?
No live gauge covers it.
Which counter sells bait nearest Fontana Lake?
Closest on our list: Alarka Marina, 2 miles.
Block out a day for Fontana Lake
Read the limits, then pick a ramp above.