Fishing Davis Pond in Dare County, North Carolina

• Overview

  This water sits in Dare County, North Carolina. Height above sea level is 3 feet. The water covers some 25 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Ground here is low by North Carolina standards. Nearest town is Manteo, 7.2 miles off. Further out sit Kill Devil Hills (9.3 miles) and Nags Head (9.8 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Davis Pond

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Time trips to the tide table rather than the clock here. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Dare County cover bluegill, American eel and pumpkinseed. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Davis Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 43°F in January and 79°F in July. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It holds true on Davis Pond more years than not. Conditions on the day matter more than the month on the calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. A jetty or pier is mapped about 140 yards from here. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The Frying Pan, 4.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Davis Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.