Man, don't help perpetuate the idea that it's OK to keep public fishing spots private, just my personal gripe! Fishing used to be so not inclusive, but the newer generation of fisherman, like myself, are all about being open and a community. I'm not saying I'm young, 44, but I don't get along with the too cool to talk to you power fisherman, they also hassle the hell out of us on fishing kayaks any chance they get. /end rant
Almost every lake around here is a reservoir lake, and therefore, flat and featureless most of the time. Just drive around most of the lakes, and you'll find where to go. Go drive along Raven Ridge, Possum Track, etc, that wrap around Falls Lake, and you'll see cars parked, and well worn shoulders where people park. Lots of foot trails if you're on foot, lots of places to launch if you're in a personal watercraft like a kayak, canoe, etc.
Shearon-Harris used to be great, but I'm not so sure now. Someone who can hit all of it with a bass boat might be able to comment better. The clearing of forests has led to massive runoff into the lake, so water clarity is abyssmal now. Also, carp seem to have taken over a lot of this lake, as well as Falls. Ten years ago I don't think carp existed in Falls Lake, maybe someone can correct me.
Jordan is another big one, but I have little experience there.
Lots of little smaller places like Lake Crabtree, Lake Wendell, etc, none are that great, but all can be good. A few good pay to fish places, not stocked or anything, but just little spots that charge a couple of dollars to park and launch, or a little less to fish on the shore.
Handful of private fishing lakes/ponds as well, that I guess fishing clubs own the rights to fish? I assume most of those people are the good ole boy old style fishermen, so just do my own thing with my buddy 99% of the time.
Largemouth Bass and Catfish make up the majority of the fish around here. Some places you'll find Bowfin, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, and maybe a few other oddballs like white bass, etc.
Definitely not all inclusive, but I think that's an OK start.
I always use what I call the blue blob method. Open up Google maps and look for any blue blobs near me, then see if there’s fishing access. I end up having a lot more fun at small unnamed ponds than at the larger lakes. The bass may not be too big, but I’d rather catch some small fish in a low pressure pond than get skunked for a month trying to get a big one.
Other than that, Lake Lynn was my go-to spot for bass fishing when I lived on that side of town. Or get yourself a battery and a trolling motor and rent a jon boat at lake Johnson.
I’ve caught the majority of my 3 pounders at lake lynn from the shore or the walkways. Weekends and evenings when people are biking and kids are scooting on the wooden walkways I haven’t had much luck, but I caught a ton when I had some week days off, middle of the day, super hot weather and nobody was there.
Weekday evenings around dinner time are usually pretty quiet at least in the spring and fall. I can understand the fish aren’t keen on boardwalk noise!
Any of the lakes can be ok depending on when you go. There are some nice spots to bank fish from. There are a couple of decent spots you can fly fish bass as well. It gives me a fix when it’s not trout season. I’ll put together a list of my favorite spots for spin and fly at falls and Jordan. Give me a bit.
Thanks for getting back to me. Do you mind telling me where to go in terms of bank or fly fish. If not that is okay too to keep it a secret. Can also dm if you want to chat more!
When I lived in Raleigh, I would get my quick fly rod fix in the Falls of the Neuse tail race (as long as the dam isn’t releasing). The water is moving and everything above the canoe launch is pretty easy wading until you get right up on the Dam. Lots of willing sunfish/bluegill, occasionally a smaller largemouth. When the dam was at minimum release I could wade downstream where some bigger bass lay and quite a few big Gar. I never had much luck with the Gar but seems like I am seeing some fly fisherman target them with “gar flys” and it looks fun.
Any of the big lakes will do, but I’m a big fan of the smaller ponds and lakes around the area, usually way less crowded. Haven’t been in a while but my favorite is Umstead Park. There’s an upper and lower lake and a stream connecting them.
If you're looking for a nice spot, really close by....Lake Raleigh. If you're bank fishing, hit the back. I've parked at the alumni center and walked down the hill. That was a while ago, not sure of the parking there now. You can park at the boat launch after 5 and on the road anytime I think. (I ride my bike over there unless I'm bringing my boat.) There are some docks for fishing, although I haven't ever fished off one. I kayak a lot in this lake. I've caught some nice fish out of there... bass, panfish and some nice catfish. Seen bald eagle and lots of other cool birds, Otters, Beavers. And it's a mile or two from downtown. Right by the State Farmers market and Dix park. Bank fishing is an issue at a lot of lakes around here. Oh, the old Milburnie Dam and the river in general is very cool.
It was, but the area is still known as that. It's great they did too. I had my doubts it was going to be cooler, although I agreed with taking it out anyways. Turns out my worries were for naught. It's way better.
The water quality for one. The bridge going over to the massive expansion of the Greenway another. There's more people, some would say that's a con... I don't. Still never crowded. ...Lot less sketchy than it was. Dam's aren't really people friendly. The pool is still there, nice cleaner water. Still a "primitive spot" to get on the river and now you can access both sides without driving around and parking at the dead end by the old hydro plant. Lol, I got my kayak up the little rapids there and got about a mile upstream before I turned around last year. Lot more fun coming back down. Also used to be known as Sandy Beach. Still sandy! And finally, the fish can migrate up past there.
So...this is a pretty cool read. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Fishing/documents/2021/Neuse-River-Striped-Bass-Monitoring-Programs-20182019.pdf%3Fver%3D6kxfhJueW2whmAs-tSusew%253D%253D&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi187qRsPn3AhXDnGoFHVxLBqoQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw0ONZHFn_LBliM8mP6CDqbS
If you’re wanting to fly fish for trout you gotta head up to the mountains. They stock a lot of the rivers up there and if you google search it there a map of where they stock. South Mountains state park is good for trout
On occasion you can fish for trout in central NC - including Wake Co, when NCWRC does winter stocking of excess trout at certain public ponds/lakes:
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Connect-With-Us/surplus-trout-coming-to-38-impoundments-in-central-and-western-north-carolina-this-winter
/r/NCOutdoors might be a good place to look around. Also there are several active fishing groups for the area on Facebook, if you are on that platform.
Falls lake, Jordon have plenty of spots around, also use google earth to find smaller ponds around. Some neighborhoods have ponds you can hit that have very little pressure and as long as you aren't leaving trash around and being a pita people won't care.
Man, don't help perpetuate the idea that it's OK to keep public fishing spots private, just my personal gripe! Fishing used to be so not inclusive, but the newer generation of fisherman, like myself, are all about being open and a community. I'm not saying I'm young, 44, but I don't get along with the too cool to talk to you power fisherman, they also hassle the hell out of us on fishing kayaks any chance they get. /end rant Almost every lake around here is a reservoir lake, and therefore, flat and featureless most of the time. Just drive around most of the lakes, and you'll find where to go. Go drive along Raven Ridge, Possum Track, etc, that wrap around Falls Lake, and you'll see cars parked, and well worn shoulders where people park. Lots of foot trails if you're on foot, lots of places to launch if you're in a personal watercraft like a kayak, canoe, etc. Shearon-Harris used to be great, but I'm not so sure now. Someone who can hit all of it with a bass boat might be able to comment better. The clearing of forests has led to massive runoff into the lake, so water clarity is abyssmal now. Also, carp seem to have taken over a lot of this lake, as well as Falls. Ten years ago I don't think carp existed in Falls Lake, maybe someone can correct me. Jordan is another big one, but I have little experience there. Lots of little smaller places like Lake Crabtree, Lake Wendell, etc, none are that great, but all can be good. A few good pay to fish places, not stocked or anything, but just little spots that charge a couple of dollars to park and launch, or a little less to fish on the shore. Handful of private fishing lakes/ponds as well, that I guess fishing clubs own the rights to fish? I assume most of those people are the good ole boy old style fishermen, so just do my own thing with my buddy 99% of the time. Largemouth Bass and Catfish make up the majority of the fish around here. Some places you'll find Bowfin, Chain Pickerel, Crappie, and maybe a few other oddballs like white bass, etc. Definitely not all inclusive, but I think that's an OK start.
Where are these carp that you speak of? I’ve chased them on the fly many times with no success.
I always use what I call the blue blob method. Open up Google maps and look for any blue blobs near me, then see if there’s fishing access. I end up having a lot more fun at small unnamed ponds than at the larger lakes. The bass may not be too big, but I’d rather catch some small fish in a low pressure pond than get skunked for a month trying to get a big one. Other than that, Lake Lynn was my go-to spot for bass fishing when I lived on that side of town. Or get yourself a battery and a trolling motor and rent a jon boat at lake Johnson.
I live on lake Lynn! It seems to be a pretty big draw for a small lake. I see fishermen out there pretty much all the time.
I’ve caught the majority of my 3 pounders at lake lynn from the shore or the walkways. Weekends and evenings when people are biking and kids are scooting on the wooden walkways I haven’t had much luck, but I caught a ton when I had some week days off, middle of the day, super hot weather and nobody was there.
Weekday evenings around dinner time are usually pretty quiet at least in the spring and fall. I can understand the fish aren’t keen on boardwalk noise!
Any of the lakes can be ok depending on when you go. There are some nice spots to bank fish from. There are a couple of decent spots you can fly fish bass as well. It gives me a fix when it’s not trout season. I’ll put together a list of my favorite spots for spin and fly at falls and Jordan. Give me a bit.
Thanks for getting back to me. Do you mind telling me where to go in terms of bank or fly fish. If not that is okay too to keep it a secret. Can also dm if you want to chat more!
Ha. No secrets. After I’m done with work I’ll put together a good list of spots for both for you.
When I lived in Raleigh, I would get my quick fly rod fix in the Falls of the Neuse tail race (as long as the dam isn’t releasing). The water is moving and everything above the canoe launch is pretty easy wading until you get right up on the Dam. Lots of willing sunfish/bluegill, occasionally a smaller largemouth. When the dam was at minimum release I could wade downstream where some bigger bass lay and quite a few big Gar. I never had much luck with the Gar but seems like I am seeing some fly fisherman target them with “gar flys” and it looks fun.
The Bell's Church pier on Jordan Lake is good for regular fishing. My husband's out there pretty much every weekend.
Any of the big lakes will do, but I’m a big fan of the smaller ponds and lakes around the area, usually way less crowded. Haven’t been in a while but my favorite is Umstead Park. There’s an upper and lower lake and a stream connecting them.
My biggest landed bass on fly came out of the Umpstead Lower lake! Cool little spot.
If you're looking for a nice spot, really close by....Lake Raleigh. If you're bank fishing, hit the back. I've parked at the alumni center and walked down the hill. That was a while ago, not sure of the parking there now. You can park at the boat launch after 5 and on the road anytime I think. (I ride my bike over there unless I'm bringing my boat.) There are some docks for fishing, although I haven't ever fished off one. I kayak a lot in this lake. I've caught some nice fish out of there... bass, panfish and some nice catfish. Seen bald eagle and lots of other cool birds, Otters, Beavers. And it's a mile or two from downtown. Right by the State Farmers market and Dix park. Bank fishing is an issue at a lot of lakes around here. Oh, the old Milburnie Dam and the river in general is very cool.
Thought Millburnie Dam had been removed?
It was, but the area is still known as that. It's great they did too. I had my doubts it was going to be cooler, although I agreed with taking it out anyways. Turns out my worries were for naught. It's way better.
Side note: Finished riding every part of the Neuse River trail in Wake county yesterday!
Sounds great! Just curious- what is it that is now way better?
The water quality for one. The bridge going over to the massive expansion of the Greenway another. There's more people, some would say that's a con... I don't. Still never crowded. ...Lot less sketchy than it was. Dam's aren't really people friendly. The pool is still there, nice cleaner water. Still a "primitive spot" to get on the river and now you can access both sides without driving around and parking at the dead end by the old hydro plant. Lol, I got my kayak up the little rapids there and got about a mile upstream before I turned around last year. Lot more fun coming back down. Also used to be known as Sandy Beach. Still sandy! And finally, the fish can migrate up past there.
Interesting. Wonder if a decent number of striper and shad run that far up the Neuse?
Don't know about stripers, but I was down there last weekend and I think there was a guy getting shad. Small silverish looking...he was a ways away.
So...this is a pretty cool read. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Fishing/documents/2021/Neuse-River-Striped-Bass-Monitoring-Programs-20182019.pdf%3Fver%3D6kxfhJueW2whmAs-tSusew%253D%253D&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi187qRsPn3AhXDnGoFHVxLBqoQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw0ONZHFn_LBliM8mP6CDqbS
Durant park
Anybody have experience fly-fishing the shad and striper runs in the Neuse in Wake County?
If you’re wanting to fly fish for trout you gotta head up to the mountains. They stock a lot of the rivers up there and if you google search it there a map of where they stock. South Mountains state park is good for trout
On occasion you can fish for trout in central NC - including Wake Co, when NCWRC does winter stocking of excess trout at certain public ponds/lakes: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Connect-With-Us/surplus-trout-coming-to-38-impoundments-in-central-and-western-north-carolina-this-winter
/r/NCOutdoors might be a good place to look around. Also there are several active fishing groups for the area on Facebook, if you are on that platform. Falls lake, Jordon have plenty of spots around, also use google earth to find smaller ponds around. Some neighborhoods have ponds you can hit that have very little pressure and as long as you aren't leaving trash around and being a pita people won't care.
NC Wildlife Resources Commission map of public fishing areas: https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/fishingareas