Lake Hickory Fishing
Alexander County plus 3 other counties, NCWRC District 7, 4,110 acres.
- 12launches
- 4,110acres
- 15attractors
Photo of Catawba River: Holden LeCroy, Public domain
An overview of Lake Hickory
Look for Lake Hickory in Alexander County plus 3 other counties; the lake sits inside NCWRC District 7. The dam inventory puts its surface near 4,110 acres. The Catawba was dammed at Oxford in 1928 to make it. The closest incorporated town is Hickory, about 4 miles from the lake point.
The NCWRC paper trail mentions striped bass and hickory shad. 12 mapped launches reach the water; 5 are NCWRC Boating Access Areas. Stocking requests for 2026 total 20,500 1-2 in striped bass. NCWRC tracks 15 fish attractor sites here, 15 marked with buoys. Access sites list Duke Energy Progress as owner.
Ramps on Lake Hickory
- Dusty Ridge1 lane, 38 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Gunpowder2 lanes, 65 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Lovelady2 lanes, 38 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Oxford4 lanes, 156 trailer spaces, 2 docks, Duke Energy Progress
- Wittenburg6 lanes, 159 trailer spaces, 3 docks, Duke Energy Progress
- Geitner Park Boat Ramp1 lane, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Hickoryboat ramp, public
Public fishing areas around Lake Hickory
- Wittenburg1 pier, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
- Gunpowder1 pier, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
Ramps by Lake Hickory
- Knox LandingGunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond), 4 miles west
- RhodhissRhodhiss Lake, 6 miles west
- Conley CreekRhodhiss Lake, 8 miles west
- Castle BridgeRhodhiss Lake, 10 miles west
- Valdese Lakeside ParkLake Rhodhiss, 11 miles west
- Lookout ShoalsLookout Shoals Lake, 14 miles east
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
What NCWRC lists at Lake Hickory
Each fish shown for Lake Hickory is tied to an NCWRC stocking row, rule, profile or record. stocked: 1; named in the NCWRC profile: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
NCWRC stocking at Lake Hickory
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 1-2" | 20,500 | MGT | NCWRC Access off NC 127 (Wittenburg Access) |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
What you may keep from Lake Hickory
NCWRC lists nothing extra for Lake Hickory.
| 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 |
Where Lake Hickory lies relative to I-95 and I-77 sets the crappie and sunfish rows here.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
How Lake Hickory compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Hickory | 4,110 | 12 | yes | |
| Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond) | 4 miles west | 1 | ||
| Ellendale Pond | 10 miles north | 0 | yes | |
| Lake Rhodhiss | 11 miles west | 3,515 | 5 | yes |
| Lookout Shoals Lake | 13 miles east | 835 | 2 | yes |
| Boone Fork Pond | 22 miles northwest | 0 | yes |
Out from Lake Hickory
Lakes within a drive of Lake Hickory
- Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond)4 miles west
- Ellendale Pond10 miles north
- Lake Rhodhiss11 miles west
- Lookout Shoals Lake13 miles east
- Boone Fork Pond22 miles northwest
Pick up bait near Lake Hickory
- River's Edge Marinamarina, Hickory, 1 mile
- Lakeside Marina Incmarina, Hickory, 2 miles
- Lake Hickory Marina, 6706 Limbaugh Lnmarina, Hickory, 3 miles
- Sure Southern Outdoorssporting goods store, Hickory, 4 miles
- Buck's Baitsbait and tackle shop, Hickory, 5 miles
- Rink Dam Boat Dockmarina, Taylorsville, 5 miles
Where to sleep near Lake Hickory
- Hickory4 miles
- Granite Falls5 miles
- Rhodhiss5 miles
Lake Hickory, county by county
- Alexander Countyseat: Taylorsville
- Catawba Countyseat: Newton
- Caldwell Countyseat: Lenoir
- Burke Countyseat: Morganton
Piscifun reels and a scale grip
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Species to expect near Lake Hickory
Photo: Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Chrisp, Public domain
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0
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Questions people send about Lake Hickory
Where in North Carolina is Lake Hickory?
Alexander County plus 3 other counties; the Commission files it under District 7, about 4 miles from Hickory.
How much surface does Lake Hickory span?
Roughly 4,110 surface acres.
Can a trailered boat use Lake Hickory?
There are 12 launches; Wittenburg is a good start.
What lives in Lake Hickory?
NCWRC records name striped bass and hickory shad.
Do stocking trucks visit Lake Hickory?
2026 plans: 20,500 1-2 in striped bass.
Does Lake Hickory have special limits?
Only the statewide inland limits.
What paperwork does Lake Hickory need?
Anglers 16 and up need the inland license ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Is Lake Hickory below full pool today?
No gauge on file.
Where do I stock up for Lake Hickory?
River's Edge Marina is closest at 1 mile.
Get to Lake Hickory this year
Check fees and limits before the drive.