Smallmouth bass across North Carolina
smallmouth bass, North Carolina limits and records.
- 5 a daydaily creel
- 10 lbs, 2 ozrecord
Photo of the species, not of a North Carolina water: ASprigOfFig at English Wikipedia, Public domain
smallmouth bass, the state picture
The state counts Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) as a freshwater fish. For all public waters except listed waters, NCWRC lists 5 a day and 14 in minimum.
The North Carolina record weighed 10 lbs, 2 oz, from Hiwassee Reservoir (1951). 3 lakes and 1 stream here carry it in NCWRC records.
NCWRC on smallmouth bass
“The smallmouth bass is most often bronze to brownish green with dark vertical bars on its sides. Unlike the largemouth bass, the smallmouth bass has an upper jaw that extends only to the middle of its reddish eyes. Its dorsal fin is not deeply notched. Three distinct dark bars radiate from the eye. Smallmouth bass are native to the upper and middle Mississippi River drainage and have been introduced throughout North America.”
“Insects and small fish comprise the bulk of a diet for juvenile smallmouth bass while adults will eat a variety of food items. Smallmouth bass living in lakes feed on shad and crayfish while stream-dwelling smallmouths eat mainly minnows and crayfish.”
- Where to fishIn North Carolina, smallmouth bass often inhabit coolwater streams, lakes and reservoirs in the western part of the state. They are rarely found in small ponds or lakes less than 25 feet deep or in any water that is continuously murky or polluted.
- AbundanceCommon in many of the coolwater rivers and reservoirs in the mountain and foothill region of NC.
Quoted from the NCWRC species profile, checked October 2026.
Creel and size for smallmouth bass
| Agency | Where | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCWRC | All public waters except listed waters | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 digest and NCDMF proclamations. All North Carolina limits.
State record smallmouth bass
| Category | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line by weight | 10 lbs, 2 oz | Hiwassee Reservoir | 1951 |
NCWRC and NCDMF state records. Angler names left out.
Waters for smallmouth bass
Reservoirs for smallmouth bass
- Chatuge Lake6,700 acres
- Hiwassee Lake5,870 acres
- Lake Santeetlah2,884 acres
Creeks for smallmouth bass
- New River, Alleghany CountyAlleghany
NCWRC stocking lists, regulation tables, species profiles and records; largest waters first.
Kin to smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bassfresh
- Spotted bassfresh
- Alabama bassfresh
- Bartram's bassfresh
- Black crappiefresh
- White crappiefresh
- Bluegillfresh
- Redear sunfishfresh
- Redbreast sunfishfresh
- Pumpkinseedfresh
- Green sunfishfresh
- Warmouthfresh
- Flierfresh
- Rock bassfresh
Scenes from waters by Smallmouth bass
Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: User:Dincher, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Indy beetle, CC0 1.0
smallmouth bass in a few answers
What size rule covers smallmouth bass?
5 a day (All public waters except listed waters), size 14 in minimum.
What does the record smallmouth bass weigh?
10 lbs, 2 oz from Hiwassee Reservoir (1951).
Which habitats hold smallmouth bass?
4 waters on this site, including Chatuge Lake, Hiwassee Lake and Lake Santeetlah.
Will NCWRC stock smallmouth bass this year?
No 2026 stocking is listed.
How large can smallmouth bass grow?
Scientific name Micropterus dolomieu.
Are smallmouth bass open to harvest year-round?
No closed season
What license do smallmouth bass anglers carry?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Do charters target smallmouth bass?
No listing names it.
Chase smallmouth bass across North Carolina
Open a water above for ramps and limits.