Moss Lake Fishing
Cleveland County, NCWRC District 8, 1,329 acres.
- 0launches
- 1,329acres
- 5attractors
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Groundwork on Moss Lake
NCWRC manages Moss Lake, a lake in Cleveland County, out of District 8. At normal pool the dam record shows 1,329 acres. It formed when Moss Lake Dam Dam closed on the Buffalo Creek in 1973. Census places put Waco nearest, around 4 miles away.
Commission records point to bodie bass and striped bass. No ramp appears in the access records for it. Planned 2026 stocking: 28,000 1-2 in bodie bass. Fish attractors: 5 sites, 0 buoyed.
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Access areas around Moss Lake
- ShelbyFirst Broad River, 6 miles west
- Delight RoadFirst Broad River, 13 miles northwest
- NC Hwy 10First Broad River, 15 miles northwest
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
Species notes for Moss Lake
No NCWRC lake survey lists every fish in Moss Lake; these come from its stocking, rules, profiles and records. stocked: 1; regulated: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
What NCWRC stocks in Moss Lake
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodie Bass | 1-2" | 28,000 | MGT | Dam Access Area |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
Regulations on Moss Lake
NCWRC lists Moss Lake by name in these rules, which replace the statewide limits for those species.
| Species | Size limit | Daily creel |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid) | 16-inch minimum | 4 in combination |
| 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 |
Crappie and sunfish rows follow the map position of Moss Lake against I-95 and I-77, the lines NCWRC uses.
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations (eRegulations), checked October 2026. All North Carolina limits.
Moss Lake and its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moss Lake | 1,329 | 0 | yes | |
| Crowders Mountain Lake | 11 miles southeast | 0 | ||
| Gaston County Farm Lake | 14 miles east | 2.5 | 0 | yes |
| George Poston Park Lake | 20 miles east | 0 | yes | |
| Lake Wylie | 26 miles southeast | 12,177 | 7 | |
| Broughton Hospital Reservoir | 29 miles northwest | 13 | 0 | yes |
Short drives from Moss Lake
More lakes near Moss Lake
- Crowders Mountain Lake11 miles southeast
- Gaston County Farm Lake14 miles east
- George Poston Park Lake20 miles east
- Lake Wylie26 miles southeast
- Broughton Hospital Reservoir29 miles northwest
Tackle counters around Moss Lake
- Bass Shack Incbait and tackle shop, Shelby, 3 miles
- R & W Carp Juicebait and tackle shop, Vale, 18 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Gastoniasporting goods store, Gastonia, 18 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gastoniasporting goods store, Gastonia, 19 miles
- One on Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Vale, 21 miles
- Koyote Fish & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Gastonia, 22 miles
Home bases near Moss Lake
- Waco4 miles
- Shelby5 miles
- Patterson Springs6 miles
County pages tied to Moss Lake
- Cleveland Countyseat: Shelby
Spinning, baitcasting and a weigh grip
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Species around Moss Lake, pictured
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Quick facts on Moss Lake
How far is Moss Lake from a town?
It sits in Cleveland County (District 8), about 4 miles from Waco.
What acreage does the dam record give Moss Lake?
About 1,329 acres at normal pool.
Where do I launch on Moss Lake?
Carry-in or bank access only, per records.
Which species does NCWRC tie to Moss Lake?
The Commission lists bodie bass and striped bass.
When is Moss Lake stocked?
Planned: 28,000 1-2 in bodie bass.
What rules apply on Moss Lake?
Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid): 16-inch minimum, 4 in combination.
Must anglers on Moss Lake carry a license?
From 16, the inland license; residents pay $32.
How high is Moss Lake today?
There is no level feed for it.
Which tackle counter sits closest to Moss Lake?
Bass Shack Inc sits about 3 miles from the lake.
Make for Moss Lake
Buy the inland license online before you go.