LAKE NORMAN

Lake Norman stretches north of Charlotte across Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties, covering about 32,500 acres with roughly 520 miles of shoreline. It is North Carolina’s largest man-made lake and one of the region’s biggest centers for boating and lake life. Largemouth bass remain an important target for bass anglers, while Alabama bass have become a major part of the modern Lake Norman fishery. Bodie bass, crappie, blue catfish, channel and flathead catfish, and white perch add plenty of choices beyond traditional bass fishing. Norman changes noticeably from its more river-like upper reaches to the deeper lower lake, so where you launch matters. Off the water, the Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville and Huntersville areas make it easy to combine fishing with restaurants, lodging and a full lake weekend. Lake Norman State Park adds camping, trails, swimming and another way to experience this enormous Catawba River reservoir.