Lake James Fishing
Burke County and McDowell County, NCWRC District 8, 6,510 acres.
- 6launches
- 6,510acres
- 21attractors
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An overview of Lake James
Look for Lake James in Burke County and McDowell County; the lake sits inside NCWRC District 8. The dam inventory puts its surface near 6,510 acres. The Paddy Creek was dammed at Paddy Creek Embankment in 1919 to make it. The closest incorporated town is Glen Alpine, about 4 miles from the lake point.
The NCWRC paper trail mentions walleye and white catfish. 6 mapped launches reach the water; 3 are NCWRC Boating Access Areas. NCWRC tracks 21 fish attractor sites here, 0 marked with buoys. Access sites list Duke Energy Progress as owner.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Ramps on Lake James
- Black Bear6 lanes, 159 trailer spaces, restrooms, 3 docks, Duke Energy Progress
- Bridgewaterpaddle access, 20 trailer spaces, Duke Energy Progress
- Linville River2 lanes, 42 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Canal Bridge Boat Rampboat ramp, public
- Hidden Cove Boat Rampboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Jamesboat ramp, public
Public fishing areas around Lake James
- Bridgewater1 pier, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
- Black Bear1 pier, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
Ramps by Lake James
- North Bend1 lane, 6 trailer spaces, 3 miles southeast
- Muddy Creekpaddle access, 3 miles south
- Corpening BridgeJohns River, 9 miles northeast
- Johns RiverJohns River, 10 miles east
- Broughton PondBroughton Pond, 10 miles southeast
- Huffman BridgeLake Rhodhiss, 13 miles east
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
What NCWRC lists at Lake James
Each fish shown for Lake James is tied to an NCWRC stocking row, rule, profile or record. regulated: 1; state record: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
What you may keep from Lake James
These water-specific NCWRC rules name Lake James.
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 15-inch minimum | 8 |
| 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 James 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.
Lake James record catches
| Species | Weight | Date | Bait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Muskellunge | 33 lbs, 8 oz | 04/03/1988 | Buzzbait |
| White Catfish | 13 lbs | 05/21/1990 | Night Crawler |
| Northern Pike | 11 lbs, 13 oz | 08/26/1978 | Storm Wiggle Wart |
NCWRC freshwater state records, angler names left out. All records.
How Lake James compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake James | 6,510 | 6 | ||
| Broughton Hospital Reservoir | 9 miles southeast | 13 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Rhodhiss | 17 miles east | 3,515 | 5 | yes |
| Boone Fork Pond | 22 miles northeast | 0 | yes | |
| Boyde Coffey Lake | 22 miles north | 0 | yes | |
| Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond) | 24 miles east | 1 |
Out from Lake James
Lakes within a drive of Lake James
- Broughton Hospital Reservoir9 miles southeast
- Lake Rhodhiss17 miles east
- Boone Fork Pond22 miles northeast
- Boyde Coffey Lake22 miles north
- Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond)24 miles east
Pick up bait near Lake James
- Mimosa Boat Landingmarina, Morganton, under a mile
- Lake James Marinamarina, Nebo, 3 miles
- Mountain Harbour Marinamarina, Nebo, 3 miles
- Black Bear Boat Rampmarina, Marion, 7 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Morgantonsporting goods store, Morganton, 8 miles
- Mega Bite Baitsbait and tackle shop, Valdese, 17 miles
Where to sleep near Lake James
- Glen Alpine4 miles
- Nebo5 miles
- Morganton8 miles
Lake James, county by county
- Burke Countyseat: Morganton
- McDowell Countyseat: Marion
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Species to expect near Lake James
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey from Reston, VA, USA, CC0 1.0
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Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Questions people send about Lake James
Where in North Carolina is Lake James?
Burke County and McDowell County; the Commission files it under District 8, about 4 miles from Glen Alpine.
How much surface does Lake James span?
Roughly 6,510 surface acres.
Can a trailered boat use Lake James?
There are 6 launches; Black Bear is a good start.
What lives in Lake James?
NCWRC records name walleye and white catfish.
Do stocking trucks visit Lake James?
No 2026 stocking is listed.
Does Lake James have special limits?
Walleye: 15-inch minimum, 8.
What paperwork does Lake James need?
Anglers 16 and up need the inland license ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Is Lake James below full pool today?
No gauge on file.
Where do I stock up for Lake James?
Mimosa Boat Landing is closest at under a mile.
Get to Lake James this year
Check fees and limits before the drive.