McFarland Lake in Transylvania County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Transylvania County end of North Carolina holds McFarland Lake. Country round the bank runs to oak and grass. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Most waters listed here for Transylvania County are larger. The closest town, Brevard, is 6.5 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Knoxville, 85 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on McFarland Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Transylvania County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and fantail darter. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of McFarland Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 72°F, while January sits near 36°F. Winter is a mild inconvenience here, nothing more. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On McFarland Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Ford Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. For McFarland Lake in particular, ask before you travel.