High Rock Lake Fishing
Davidson County and Rowan County, NCWRC District 6, 15,180 acres.
- 5launches
- 15,180acres
- 22attractors
Photo of Tuckertown Reservoir: James Willamor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing High Rock Lake, North Carolina
In Davidson County and Rowan County, High Rock Lake is a lake that falls in NCWRC District 6. Surface area on the federal dam record: 15,180 acres. Its dam, High Rock, blocks the Yadkin River and dates to 1927. About 6 miles separate the water from East Spencer.
Species tied to it in NCWRC records: bodie bass, striped bass and black crappie. Count 5 mapped launches around the shore, 1 in the Commission program. The 2026 warmwater list assigns 39,500 1-2 in striped bass and 39,500 1-2 in bodie bass here. There are 22 attractor sites on the NCWRC map, 22 with buoys. Public access areas here are owned by Alcoa-Yadkin Inc.
NCWRC biologists on High Rock Lake
“High Rock Lake is a popular destination for North Carolina anglers with several species of interest including Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Flathead Catfish, and Blue Catfish.”
“Although lack of adequate forage plays a role, slow growth at High Rock Lake is likely due primarily to an excessive amount of recruitment, which is the number of fish that survive to catchable size.”
“Poor growth, condition (plumpness), and size distribution led fisheries biologists to remove the 8-inch minimum length limit and 20-fish daily creel limit on crappies at High Rock Lake in 2015.”
“This is typical for High Rock Lake where White Crappies normally constitute 20–30% of the total population.”
Quoted from NCWRC fishing summary fact sheets for High Rock Lake (source). Checked October 2026.
Boating access on High Rock Lake
- Dutch Second2 lanes, 56 trailer spaces, 2 docks, Alcoa-Yadkin Inc
- York Hill Yadkin River Accessboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, High Rock Lakeboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, High Rock Lakeboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, High Rock Lakeboat ramp, public
Boating access near High Rock Lake
- Bringle FerryTuckertown Lake, 7 miles southeast
- Flat CreekTuckertown Lake, 10 miles southeast
- CrowtherSouth Yadkin River, 10 miles northwest
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Fish of High Rock Lake
Species for High Rock Lake are those NCWRC stocks, regulates, profiles or holds a record for here. stocked: 2; named in the NCWRC profile: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Stocking on High Rock Lake
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 1-2" | 39,500 | MGT | Dutch Second (WRC BAA) – Rowan Co., Bringles Ferry Road. 35.608767, -80.308487 AND Southmont Access Area (Davidson Co., |
| Bodie Bass | 1-2" | 39,500 | MGT | Dutch Second (WRC BAA) – Rowan Co., Bringles Ferry Road. 35.608767, -80.308487 AND Southmont Access Area (Davidson Co., |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
Creel and size limits on High Rock Lake
The statewide table below is the full limit set for High Rock Lake.
- High Rock Hydroelectric Station and damNCWRC other fishing regulations
- High Rock and Tuckertown Hydro Electric Stations — within 200 feet.NCWRC other fishing regulations
| 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 High Rock Lake sits.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
High Rock Lake event dates
Check the High Rock Lake tournament page for the next date.
Lakes near High Rock Lake, compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Rock Lake | 15,180 | 5 | yes | |
| Lake Murtis | 3 miles southwest | 0 | ||
| City Park Pond | 9 miles west | 0 | ||
| Tuckertown Reservoir | 11 miles southeast | 2,560 | 4 | yes |
| Salisbury Community Park Lake | 14 miles west | 6.2 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Thom-A-Lex | 17 miles northeast | 650 | 0 |
The area around High Rock Lake
Other reservoirs by High Rock Lake
- Lake Murtis3 miles southwest
- City Park Pond9 miles west
- Tuckertown Reservoir11 miles southeast
- Salisbury Community Park Lake14 miles west
- Lake Thom-A-Lex17 miles northeast
Counters a drive from High Rock Lake
- Hill Minnow Farm & Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Salisbury, 3 miles
- High Rock Lake Marinamarina, Lexington, 3 miles
- Mimi's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lexington, 4 miles
- Tamarac Marina & Restaurantmarina, Rowan, 4 miles
- Beck's Wholesale Baitbait and tackle shop, Lexington, 7 miles
- Michael's Grocery & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lexington, 7 miles
Towns within a drive of High Rock Lake
- Southmont2 miles
- East Spencer6 miles
- Spencer7 miles
Counties that hold High Rock Lake
- Davidson Countyseat: Lexington
- Rowan Countyseat: Salisbury
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
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High Rock Lake, the common questions
Which county is home to High Rock Lake?
Look in Davidson County and Rowan County, NCWRC District 6, about 6 miles from East Spencer.
How many acres does High Rock Lake span?
Federal dam data say 15,180 acres.
What ramps reach High Rock Lake?
5 launches, with Dutch Second listed first.
Which species are worth targeting at High Rock Lake?
Species on file: bodie bass, striped bass and black crappie.
Are hatchery fish added to High Rock Lake?
Yes; the 2026 list sets 39,500 1-2 in striped bass and 39,500 1-2 in bodie bass.
Are there size limits at High Rock Lake?
No special rule; statewide rows apply.
Which license works on High Rock Lake?
The $32 resident inland license, from age 16.
Where does the pool sit at High Rock Lake?
No USGS or USACE station is matched.
Which counter sits nearest High Rock Lake?
Drive 3 miles to reach Hill Minnow Farm & Sporting Goods.
Spend time on High Rock Lake
The license page has every North Carolina limit.