Lake Rhodhiss Fishing
Burke County and Caldwell County, NCWRC District 8, 3,515 acres.
- 5launches
- 3,515acres
- 13attractors
Photo of Catawba River: Holden LeCroy, Public domain
Lake Rhodhiss through an angler’s eyes
Lake Rhodhiss is a lake in Burke County and Caldwell County, part of NCWRC fisheries District 8. NID records give it 3,515 acres of surface water. Rhodhiss Dam (1925) impounds the Catawba to form it. A drive of about 2 miles reaches Rutherford College, the nearest town.
NCWRC sources name striped bass and black crappie here. Boaters can use 5 mapped launches; 3 belong to the NCWRC access program. NCWRC requested 17,000 1-2 in striped bass for this water in 2026. Anglers can find 13 NCWRC fish attractors, 0 marked by buoys. Duke Energy Progress and Town Of Valdese owns the public access points.
Getting a boat onto Lake Rhodhiss
- Castle Bridge6 lanes, 142 trailer spaces, 3 docks, Duke Energy Progress
- Conley Creek2 lanes, 70 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Rhodhiss2 lanes, 101 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Duke Energy Progress
- Huffman Bridgepaddle access, 24 trailer spaces, Duke Energy Progress
- Valdese Lakeside Parkpaddle access, restrooms, Town Of Valdese
Public fishing areas by Lake Rhodhiss
- Huffman Bridgebank access, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
- Conley Creek1 pier, owner Duke Energy Progress, open
- Valdese Lakeside Park1 pier, owner Town Of Valdese, open
Nearest put-ins to Lake Rhodhiss
- Knox LandingGunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond), 7 miles east
- Johns RiverJohns River, 8 miles west
- GunpowderLake Hickory, 9 miles east
- Geitner Park Boat Ramp1 lane, 9 miles east
- LoveladyLake Hickory, 10 miles east
- Corpening BridgeJohns River, 11 miles west
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
What hits in Lake Rhodhiss
The list for Lake Rhodhiss is built from NCWRC stocking, rule tables, species profiles and the record book. stocked: 1; named in the NCWRC profile: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
Hatchery fish for Lake Rhodhiss
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 1-2" | 17,000 | MGT | Castle Bridge Access Area and Dam Access Area |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
Harvest rules for Lake Rhodhiss
Statewide inland rows cover Lake Rhodhiss; 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 Lake Rhodhiss.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
Neighbor lakes of Lake Rhodhiss
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Rhodhiss | 3,515 | 5 | yes | |
| Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond) | 7 miles east | 1 | ||
| Lake Hickory | 11 miles east | 4,110 | 12 | yes |
| Broughton Hospital Reservoir | 16 miles southwest | 13 | 0 | yes |
| Boone Fork Pond | 17 miles north | 0 | yes | |
| Lake James | 17 miles west | 6,510 | 6 |
In reach of Lake Rhodhiss
Next reservoirs over from Lake Rhodhiss
- Gunpowder Creek (Old Mill Pond)7 miles east
- Lake Hickory11 miles east
- Broughton Hospital Reservoir16 miles southwest
- Boone Fork Pond17 miles north
- Lake James17 miles west
Where to buy bait by Lake Rhodhiss
- Not Just Fishinbait and tackle shop, Granite Falls, 1 mile
- Mega Bite Baitsbait and tackle shop, Valdese, 3 miles
- Foothills Hunting And Fishing, Inc.bait and tackle shop, Hudson, 6 miles
- Lake Hickory Marina, 6706 Limbaugh Lnmarina, Hickory, 9 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Morgantonsporting goods store, Morganton, 10 miles
- Sure Southern Outdoorssporting goods store, Hickory, 10 miles
Towns nearest Lake Rhodhiss
- Rutherford College2 miles
- Connelly Springs3 miles
- Valdese3 miles
Lake Rhodhiss county links
- Burke Countyseat: Morganton
- Caldwell Countyseat: Lenoir
Piscifun reels and a scale grip
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Worth knowing about Lake Rhodhiss
Which NCWRC district covers Lake Rhodhiss?
Burke County and Caldwell County, in NCWRC District 8, about 2 miles from Rutherford College.
Is Lake Rhodhiss a big lake?
The dam record lists 3,515 acres.
Does a ramp reach Lake Rhodhiss?
Access records list 5 launches; Rhodhiss is one.
What species does Lake Rhodhiss hold?
Expect striped bass and black crappie.
What does NCWRC put in Lake Rhodhiss?
The 2026 warmwater list shows 17,000 1-2 in striped bass.
Is Lake Rhodhiss under special regulations?
Statewide limits, no special rule.
Can visitors fish Lake Rhodhiss?
An NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16, $32 a year for residents.
Is there a live reading for Lake Rhodhiss?
No live gauge covers it.
Which counter sells bait nearest Lake Rhodhiss?
Closest on our list: Not Just Fishin, 1 mile.
Block out a day for Lake Rhodhiss
Read the limits, then pick a ramp above.