Durham Lake in Forsyth County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Durham Lake lies in Forsyth County, in North Carolina. Oak and grass runs right down to the water. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Lewisville sits 1.2 miles from the bank. Winston-Salem sits 11 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Durham Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name bluegill, redbreast sunfish, green sunfish and channel catfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Durham Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 37°F and July at about 77°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Durham Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Expect 0.9 miles away in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Conrad Lake, 0.9 miles away. Treat access at Durham Lake as something to verify.