Lake Santeetlah Fishing
Graham County, NCWRC District 9, 2,884 acres.
- 5launches
- 2,884acres
- 5attractors
Photo: John Matzko, CC BY-SA 4.0
An overview of Lake Santeetlah
Look for Lake Santeetlah in Graham County; the lake sits inside NCWRC District 9. The dam inventory puts its surface near 2,884 acres. The Cheoah was dammed at Santeetlah in 1928 to make it. The closest incorporated town is Lake Santeetlah, about 1 mile from the lake point.
The NCWRC paper trail mentions largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. 5 mapped launches reach the water; 3 are NCWRC Boating Access Areas. NCWRC tracks 5 fish attractor sites here, 5 marked with buoys. Access sites list US Forest Service and Brookfield as owner.
Ramps on Lake Santeetlah
- Avey Creek1 lane, 15 trailer spaces, 1 dock, Brookfield
- Cheoah Point1 lane, 23 trailer spaces, 1 dock, US Forest Service
- Ranger Station2 lanes, 16 trailer spaces, restrooms, 1 dock, US Forest Service
- Boat launch, Lake Santeetlahboat ramp, public
- Boat launch, Lake Santeetlahboat ramp, public
Ramps by Lake Santeetlah
- Blue HoleCheoah River, 3 miles north
- 7th Inning Stretch Boating Siteboat ramp, fee, 7 miles northwest
- Lewellyn BranchCheoah Lake, 7 miles north
- Cable CoveFontana Lake, 9 miles northeast
- Nantahala River Launch Siteboat ramp, fee, 11 miles southeast
- Wishons Fishing HoleNantahala River, 11 miles southeast
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Lake Santeetlah level today
Brookfield Renewable (Smoky Mountain Hydropower), via safewaters.com, reading dated 2026-10-11. Agency page with the live chart.
What NCWRC lists at Lake Santeetlah
Each fish shown for Lake Santeetlah is tied to an NCWRC stocking row, rule, profile or record. regulated: 2.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
What you may keep from Lake Santeetlah
These water-specific NCWRC rules name Lake Santeetlah.
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches | No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches |
| Smallmouth Bass | No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches | No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches |
- Possess, transport or release live Alewife or Blueback Herring in the Little Tennessee River Basin in and upstream of Lake Santeetlah and Cedar Cliff Lake including all tributaries and impoundments.NCWRC other fishing regulations
| 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 Santeetlah 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 Santeetlah compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Santeetlah | 2,884 | 5 | ||
| Cheoah Reservoir | 9 miles northwest | 3 | yes | |
| Calderwood Lake | 11 miles northwest | 570 | 1 | yes |
| Queens Creek Lake | 12 miles east | 28.8 | 1 | yes |
| Nantahala Lake | 16 miles southeast | 1,605 | 3 | yes |
| Fontana Lake | 17 miles east | 10,290 | 8 | yes |
Out from Lake Santeetlah
Lakes within a drive of Lake Santeetlah
- Cheoah Reservoir9 miles northwest
- Calderwood Lake11 miles northwest
- Queens Creek Lake12 miles east
- Nantahala Lake16 miles southeast
- Fontana Lake17 miles east
Pick up bait near Lake Santeetlah
- Santeetlah Marinamarina, Lake Santeetlah, 1 mile
- Fontana Village Resort & Marinamarina, Fontana Dam, 6 miles
- Fontana Lake Marinamarina, Graham, 7 miles
- G & S Baitbait and tackle shop, Andrews, 10 miles
- Jerking Bass Fishing Servicebait and tackle shop, Marble, 14 miles
- NOC Outfitter's Storesporting goods store, Bryson City, 15 miles
Where to sleep near Lake Santeetlah
- Lake Santeetlah1 mile
- Robbinsville3 miles
- Fontana Dam6 miles
Lake Santeetlah, county by county
- Graham Countyseat: Robbinsville
Piscifun reels for this water
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Species to expect near Lake Santeetlah
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Questions people send about Lake Santeetlah
Where in North Carolina is Lake Santeetlah?
Graham County; the Commission files it under District 9, about 1 mile from Lake Santeetlah.
How much surface does Lake Santeetlah span?
Roughly 2,884 surface acres.
Can a trailered boat use Lake Santeetlah?
There are 5 launches; Ranger Station is a good start.
What lives in Lake Santeetlah?
NCWRC records name largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
Do stocking trucks visit Lake Santeetlah?
No 2026 stocking is listed.
Does Lake Santeetlah have special limits?
Largemouth Bass: No minimum size limit, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in combination may be greater than 14 inches, No daily creel limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, and only 5 largemouth bass and smallmouth bas.
What paperwork does Lake Santeetlah need?
Anglers 16 and up need the inland license ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Is Lake Santeetlah below full pool today?
The Brookfield Renewable gauge reading is shown above.
Where do I stock up for Lake Santeetlah?
Santeetlah Marina is closest at 1 mile.
Get to Lake Santeetlah this year
Check fees and limits before the drive.