Fishing

Lake Toxaway just might be a fisherman’s paradise! The lake is home to eight species of game fish and has no rough fish. Surrounded by picturesque scenery and with little boat traffic, Lake Toxaway is supplied with spring-fed waters from more than 100 streams. The lake’s surface water in the summer is normally 75 degrees, and 25 feet below the surface, the temperature is 55 degrees. Each spring, the fish in the lake are provided with 1,000 pounds of minnows to ensure their good health and normal growth, a program recommended by wildlife biologists that has been ongoing for more than 20 years.

The spring fishing gets really good once the surface temperature rises above 55 degrees, which usually occurs around the second week of April. Lake Toxaway’s best fishing is in the fall from September through November. Biologists who have studied the lake have said that Lake Toxaway is one of the finest reproducing Walleye lakes in the Southeast. There are probably Largemouth Bass and Walleye in the lake that would be state records should they be caught.

Local Fishing Guides

Davidson River Outfitters - Western North Carolina’s premiere fly shop and guide service is open year-round, with a fly fishing school designed by the Fly Fishing Master’s National Champion Kevin Howell and a world-renowned staff of 10 professional guides who specialize in wading for trophy mountain trout and drift boat fishing for trout and smallmouth bass.

Headwaters Outfitters- Just down the mountain from Lake Toxaway, Headwaters Outfitters offers guided fly fishing trips for trout, smallmouth bass, and muskie, as well as a “School of Trout” with 3-hour and all-day classes for beginners and special clinics for more advanced anglers.

Learn More

North Carolina Wildlife Commission - Find out everything you need to know about fishing in North Carolina, including where to fish, what to catch, seasons and limits, hatcheries and stocking, fishing records, laws and safety, how to obtain a license, and more.