McDowell County · reservoir · 5,965 acres
Lake James
Lake James is a reservoir in McDowell County, North Carolina. FishableWaters aggregates every stocking record for this water from North Carolina's fish & wildlife agency; the latest schedule and today's bite windows are above.
Best days this week
Days near a new or full moon tend to fish best.
Today's bite windows
Conditions, next 3 days
Today
Overcast
86°
61°
5 mph
0%
Sat
Drizzle
88°
67°
7 mph
68%
Sun
Storms
78°
71°
4 mph
81%
→ pressure steadyStable weather — expect a normal bite.
Stocking ledger
No published stocking records yet. This water stays in our books — the ledger begins the hour its state agency publishes a record.
Angler reports
What's biting
No reports yet — be the first
Best bite times
No reports yet
Field notes
No notes yet
Nearby waters
- Dales Creek1.4 mi
- Bear Creek1.4 mi
- Bailey Creek1.4 mi
- North Fork Catawba River1.8 mi
- Forsyth Creek2.0 mi
- Shehan Branch2.3 mi
- Big Branch2.8 mi
- McGegers Branch2.8 mi
Seasons, limits, and rules are the state's call — check the official NC regulations and buy your license before you go. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Lake James fishing — FAQ
Do I need a license to fish Lake James?+
Yes — North Carolina requires a fishing license. Buy one from the state and check current seasons and limits before you go; both are linked on this page.
Where is Lake James?+
Lake James is a reservoir in McDowell County, North Carolina. Driving directions and an interactive topo map are on this page.