Hawthorne Lake Fishing near Statesville, North Carolina

• Overview

  In North Carolina, Hawthorne Lake belongs to Iredell County. The surface lies 823 feet up. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For a base, Statesville sits 3.1 miles out. Winston-Salem sits 39 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hawthorne Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Species logged across Iredell County include bluegill, Carolina fantail darter, channel catfish and green sunfish. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Hawthorne Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 78°F and January near 38°F. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. The season on Hawthorne Lake follows the weather closely. A steady wind fishes better than a still, bright day.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Wilson Brothers Lake Number Two sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Hawthorne Lake are worth checking on the day.