Salem Lake Fishing
Forsyth County, NCWRC District 7, 297.5 acres.
- 1launches
- 297.5acres
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An overview of Salem Lake
Look for Salem Lake in Forsyth County; the lake sits inside NCWRC District 7. The dam inventory puts its surface near 297.5 acres. The Salem Creek was dammed at Salem Lake Dam in 2012 to make it. The closest incorporated town is Walkertown, about 3 miles from the lake point.
The NCWRC paper trail mentions bodie bass, channel catfish and striped bass. 1 mapped launch reach the water; 0 are NCWRC Boating Access Areas. Stocking requests for 2026 total 4,000 6-8 in channel catfish and 3,000 1-2 in bodie bass.
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- Boat launch, Salem Lakeboat ramp, public
Ramps by Salem Lake
- Kernersville LakeKernersville Lake, 5 miles northeast
- Oak Hollow LakeOak Hollow Lake, 11 miles southeast
- Piney BluffBelews Lake, 11 miles northeast
- High Point City Lake ParkHigh Point City Lake, 14 miles southeast
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE Wilmington District, USFS and OpenStreetMap, checked October 2026.
What NCWRC lists at Salem Lake
Each fish shown for Salem Lake is tied to an NCWRC stocking row, rule, profile or record. stocked: 2; regulated: 1.
NCWRC 2026 stocking list, warm-water regulations, species profiles and state records.
NCWRC stocking at Salem Lake
| Species | Size | Number | Program | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 6-8" | 4,000 | MGT | I-40 Bus. to Hwy. 311 S. to Reynolds Park Drive |
| Bodie Bass | 1-2" | 3,000 | MGT | I-40 Bus. to Hwy. 311 S. to Reynolds Park Drive |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater stocking list and the live trout stocking report. North Carolina stocking.
What you may keep from Salem Lake
These water-specific NCWRC rules name Salem Lake.
| 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 | no creel limit | no size limit | 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 |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | 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 Salem Lake 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 Salem Lake compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Stocked 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Lake | 297.5 | 1 | yes | |
| Winston Lake | 2 miles northwest | 16.5 | 0 | yes |
| Kernersville Lake | 5 miles northeast | 40 | 1 | yes |
| Oak Hollow Lake | 11 miles southeast | 690 | 1 | yes |
| C G Hill Pond | 12 miles west | 0 | yes | |
| Belews Lake | 13 miles northeast | 3,863 | 2 |
Out from Salem Lake
Lakes within a drive of Salem Lake
- Winston Lake2 miles northwest
- Kernersville Lake5 miles northeast
- Oak Hollow Lake11 miles southeast
- C G Hill Pond12 miles west
- Belews Lake13 miles northeast
Pick up bait near Salem Lake
- Forsyth Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Winston Salem, 4 miles
- Great Outdoor Provision CO, 402 S Stratford Rdsporting goods store, Winston Salem, 6 miles
- Rock Outdoors Winston Salemsporting goods store, Winston Salem, 7 miles
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Winston Salemsporting goods store, Winston Salem, 8 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Winston-Salemsporting goods store, Winston-Salem, 9 miles
- Oak Hollow Marinamarina, Guilford, 11 miles
Where to sleep near Salem Lake
- Walkertown3 miles
- Kernersville5 miles
- Winston-Salem5 miles
Salem Lake, county by county
- Forsyth Countyseat: Winston-Salem
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Species to expect near Salem Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Questions people send about Salem Lake
Where in North Carolina is Salem Lake?
Forsyth County; the Commission files it under District 7, about 3 miles from Walkertown.
How much surface does Salem Lake span?
Roughly 297.5 surface acres.
Can a trailered boat use Salem Lake?
There are 1 launch; Boat launch, Salem Lake is a good start.
What lives in Salem Lake?
NCWRC records name bodie bass, channel catfish and striped bass.
Do stocking trucks visit Salem Lake?
2026 plans: 4,000 6-8 in channel catfish and 3,000 1-2 in bodie bass.
Does Salem Lake have special limits?
Striped Bass And Bodie Bass (Striped Bass Hybrid): 16-inch minimum, 4 in combination.
What paperwork does Salem Lake need?
Anglers 16 and up need the inland license ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Is Salem Lake below full pool today?
No gauge on file.
Where do I stock up for Salem Lake?
Forsyth Bait & Tackle is closest at 4 miles.
Get to Salem Lake this year
Check fees and limits before the drive.