Fishing at Piedmont Lake, Transylvania County, North Carolina

• Overview

  Piedmont Lake lies in Transylvania County, in North Carolina. The surroundings are open valley. It sits higher than most water we list in North Carolina. The nearest place of any size is Brevard, 6.7 miles away. Further out sit Etowah (12 miles) and Slater-Marietta (13 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Piedmont Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Transylvania County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Piedmont Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 36°F to 71°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Piedmont Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Hemlock Lake, 0.9 miles away. For Piedmont Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.