What is the deepest lake in North Carolina?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Fontana Lake is the deepest at about 440 ft.

Deepest lakes in North Carolina: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in North Carolina go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Fontana Lake at about 440 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Fontana Lake	about 440 ft	about 6,150 acres
2	Hiwassee Lake	about 250 ft	5,950 acres
3	Lake Tillery	about 200 ft	about 4,730 acres
4	Badin Lake	about 190 ft	5,350 acres
5	Chatuge Lake	about 144 ft	7,000 acres
6	Lake Glenville	about 130 ft	1,470 acres
7	Lake Norman	about 112 ft	32,500 acres
8	Lake Gaston	about 95 ft	20,000 acres
9	High Rock Lake	about 59 ft	15,200 acres
10	Jordan Lake	about 38 ft	13,900 acres

1. Fontana Lake

Fontana Lake covers about 6,150 acres. You will find it about 3.5 miles east of Bryson City. Fontana Dam holds it on the Little Tennessee River. The usual North Carolina mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 440 ft. North Carolina's deepest lake, held back by one of the tallest dams in the eastern United States.

Fontana Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Hiwassee Lake

Hiwassee Lake covers some 5,950 acres. You will find it right by Murphy. It is the Hiwassee River behind Hiwassee Dam. Expect smallmouth bass and striped bass. The deepest water is around 250 ft.

Hiwassee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Tillery

Lake Tillery is a reservoir of about 4,730 acres. The lake is about 1.1 miles south of Norwood. Tillery Dam holds it on the Pee Dee River. The usual North Carolina mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. It goes down to about 200 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Tillery today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Badin Lake

Badin Lake covers 5,350 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Concord (about 23 miles). Narrows Dam holds it on the Yadkin River. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and spotted bass. The deepest water is around 190 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Badin Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Chatuge Lake

At 7,000 acres, Chatuge Lake is a good-sized lake. It lies right by Hiawassee. Chatuge Dam holds it on the Hiwassee River. Expect trout, catfish, crappie and walleye. The deepest water is around 144 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Straddles the North Carolina-Georgia border at Georgia's highest major-lake elevation.

Chatuge Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Glenville

At some 1,470 acres, Lake Glenville is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it within an easy drive of Asheville (about 44 miles). Like most lakes its size in North Carolina, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. The deepest water is around 130 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. One of North Carolina's highest-elevation lakes, with steep underwater terrain.

Lake Glenville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Norman

Lake Norman covers 32,500 acres. The fish here are spotted bass, striped bass, catfish and crappie. The deepest water is around 112 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Lake Norman today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Gaston

Lake Gaston spreads over 20,000 acres. It holds largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. It goes down to about 95 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Gaston today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. High Rock Lake

High Rock Lake covers some 15,200 acres. You will find it about 18 miles southwest of Concord. It is the Yadkin River behind High Rock Dam. It holds catfish, crappie, bluegill and striped bass. It goes down to about 59 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Has hosted the Bassmaster Classic tournament multiple times.

High Rock Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake spreads over 13,900 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Chapel Hill (about 6 miles). It is the Haw River behind B. Everett Jordan Dam. The usual North Carolina mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. At about 38 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. A flood-control and water-supply reservoir on the Haw and New Hope rivers near Raleigh.

Jordan Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

The clearest of them

Lake Waccamaw is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.