Mathis Lake in Iredell County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In North Carolina, Mathis Lake belongs to Iredell County. The bank is 1,421 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Iredell County standards. For supplies, Moravian Falls is 12 miles out. For a city, Winston-Salem is 41 miles off. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Mathis Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Iredell County include bluegill, Carolina fantail darter, channel catfish and green sunfish. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Mathis Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 76°F, while January sits near 37°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. On Mathis Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Fox Mountain Lake at 3 miles is the sensible second choice. For Mathis Lake in particular, ask before you travel.