List of Fish Species in Lake Gaston (Updated)

Stretching over 35 miles, Lake Gaston is a hydroelectric reservoir situated in North Carolina with parts extending into Virginia. Created in 1963 and owned by Dominion Energy, Lake Gaston contains an underwater dam that directs lake water into a power station, where it is converted into energy. When water passes through these stations, up to 224 watts of energy is produced. Because this lake plays an integral part in the local infrastructure, water levels are strictly regulated, only fluctuating 6 – 12 inches. These maintained water levels make Lake Gaston a popular recreational spot and allows for a variety of wildlife to be found here.

Recently, the headwaters of Lake Gaston have been low in oxygen, making fish populations dwindle. To mitigate this, the US Army Corps of Engineers vented turbines to provide oxygen to the headwater region of the lake. This should allow more fish to move upstream to increase populations and spawning.

Roughly 20,000 acres and an average depth of 40 feet, Lake Gaston includes a fishing pier, boat ramps, and swimming areas. The lake is stocked to support recreational fishing with species including the following species listed below.

Lake Gaston Fish Species 

1) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Abundant vegetation allows for excellent populations of largemouth bass in Lake Gaston. The shoreline structure with rock fields and spawning flats make Lake Gaston a perfect spawning habitat for largemouth bass. It is common for anglers to catch 4.5 – 5 lb fish if fishing in the correct season. Spawning occurs in early May, making May the best time to catch large females. Fishermen look for these fish underneath docks, taking shelter in the hydrilla, or in the clear flat channels.

Largemouth bass are easy to identify due to their mouths, having the largest mouths of all the black bass species. With an average size of 18 inches, this aggressive fish can eat just about anything. They have a preference for smaller fish, frogs, worms, and crayfish. It favors clear, quiet water, but will thrive in a variety of habitats. Juvenile fish travel in schools but adults remain solitary, hiding in protective cover in order to strike at prey.

2) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

This species is one of the most numerous of all catfish in US waters. Channel catfish are opportunistic feeders that will consume just about anything. They tend to favor crawfish and small fish, but will also consume insects, snails, plants, and algae. Their capacity to find food easily in murky water makes them hardy and abundant. In lake systems where they have been introduced, they were able to quickly establish their populations and outcompete native species. Because of their popularity with fishermen and in food dishes, they are a common aquaculture species. This popularity has a downside, however, as they are now considered an invasive species in a variety of countries.

Channel catfish spawn in late spring or early summer. This species is most abundant in large streams with a low or moderate current, and tend to prefer dark secluded areas and cavities. Because they are opportunistic, they can be caught on a wide variety of bait including worms, shrimp, chicken, and stink bait.

3) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

Black crappies are one of two crappie species, with P. nigromaculatus being the darker of the two and having 7 – 8 dorsal spines. While their native range isn’t exactly known, this species is currently found in all 48 contiguous states due to black crappie being a popular species to use when stocking lakes. They prefer clear water with an abundance of vegetation and muddy or sandy substrate. Crappies will consume a variety of aquatic insects, crustaceans, and smaller fish, and generally come out to feed from midnight to 2 am.

Crappies are highly-prized gamefish and are easy to catch during feeding time. Fishermen often have luck finding large groups of these fish, as they are motile schooling fish. They are caught using artificial lures and live bait, but must be taken when setting the hook when fishing for crappie, as they have thin mouth membranes that tear easily.

4) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)

White crappie are very similar to black crappie, with P. annularis being the lighter of the two species. White crappies have 5 – 6 dorsal spines compared to black crappies’ 7 – 8, and white crappies also lack blotches, instead having 5 – 10 vertical dark colored vertical bars on each side of their bodies.

While not native to North Carolina, white crappies have been established in the state by stocking. They prefer warmer and more turbid water and can be found near structures, logs, docks, and vegetation. Given that crappies are a species of sunfish, they are nest builders. Because of their high reproductive potential, there is a chance of overpopulation in small lakes.

Like black crappies, white crappies are prized gamefish. They are typically found in schools in the middle of lakes — live minnows are generally the preferred bait to catch them. Crappie being one of the most popular panfish makes both species highly sought after.

5) Walleye (Sander vitreus)

Also known as yellow pickerel, the walleye is a popular gamefish species. This fish gets its name from its species-specific eyes that allow them to see well in low-light conditions. Because of this, walleye avoid bright lights and prey upon fish in low-light and turbid conditions. This adaptation not only gives this fish an advantage when hunting, but it also allows them to populate deeper regions in lakes.

The walleye occurs in large numbers in Lake Gaston, as they prefer cool, deep, quiet waters. They are mostly nocturnal and can be found during the day under structures, near logs, and in vegetation. During the night, they will travel to shallow waters in order to hunt for food, with a substantial portion of their diet being small yellow perch.

Lake Gaston is a popular destination for walleye fishermen. The lake has cool, deep water that the walleye prefers, as well as substantial rocky areas that provide spawning habitats. Walleye fingerlings are periodically stocked in the lake, although natural reproduction has been recorded as well. Because of their popularity and in order to conserve the species, there is an 8-fish daily limit on walleye in Lake Gaston on the North Carolina side, and a 5-fish limit on the Virginia side.

6) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

Bluegill is a species of sunfish found abundantly in Lake Gaston. These fish are important as they are prey for other fish species including bass, walleye, and a variety of birds and turtles. This makes bluegill an essential part of the food chain in an ecosystem. Lake Gaston offers substantial habitat for these nest builders to spawn, allowing bluegill to play their crucial role.

Bluegill are an adaptable species and can be found in a variety of depths. They prefer to stay around structures and vegetation where they can find food easily. This fish is a popular panfish and is easily caught with live bait such as worms or crickets.

7) White bass (Morone chrysops)

White bass, also known as silver bass, are an important sport fish. They are widely distributed due to being popular with stocking in waters. These fish are visual hunters, and while they frighten easily, they are known to consume worms, minnows, and occasionally other fish. This species is found in schools in upstream waters.

Sometimes confused with striped bass, white bass are a popular gamefish for anglers in Lake Gaston. They are often found in large schools and are fun to catch because they put up a fight. They are known for chasing baitfish to the surface, called “jumps”, which provides for great fishing in large numbers.

8) Chain pickerel (Esox niger)

Chain pickerel, a species of pike, gets its name from the distinct chain-like pattern on the sides of its body. They inhabit shallow water, in slow-flowing sections with plenty of aquatic vegetation. Hiding in the vegetation allows for this fish to ambush prey, where they will consume other fish, frogs, and insects, as well as snakes. Chain pickerel are apex predators, and larger fish are an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, as it means the fish have plenty of prey in the area.

Chain pickerel are known as early spawners, spawning in wetlands and marshy areas just after the ice melts in the spring. This allows for the young to be able to be large enough to feed on other fish species that hatch later.

Popular with anglers, chain pickerel put up a good fight when hooked. Anglers have success with live minnows, spinnerbait, spoons, and topwater lures. While they are aggressive fish, they are generally easy to catch. Areas to look for include water less than 10 feet deep with plenty of vegetation.

9) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)

Striped bass, or more commonly known as stripers or rockfish, are a common fish found in Lake Gaston. These fish are native to the Atlantic coastline but have been widely introduced inland for recreational fishing and to keep gizzard shad populations under control. While spawning takes place in freshwater, these fish are historically anadromous and would migrate from salt water to freshwater. Many populations are now strictly landlocked due to the construction of dams.

Due to their popularity with fishermen, striped bass populations are monitored closely so as not to harm population numbers. Harvest limits are set to help keep females of reproductive ages in stock. In Lake Gaston from June 1st – September 30th, there is no minimum size limit, but there is a 4-fish creel. From October 1st – May 31st, the creel limit is the same but with a 20-inch minimum size limit. This keeps population numbers in balance and mitigates the unintended effect of catch-and-release striped bass from dying after release.

Striped bass will consume anything they can fit in their mouths and put up a good fight, making them fun for fishermen. Landlocked striped bass can get quite large, with the world record being 70.6 pounds in 2013!

10) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

The blue catfish is one of the largest species of freshwater fish in North America, weighing close to 150 pounds. With their native range originally being the Mississippi River drainage, these fish have been introduced into other reservoirs and rivers. They are a hardy and tolerant species with a long life span, even able to survive in brackish water, making them an invasive pest in certain areas.

They are opportunistic predators and will eat anything they can catch, including crawfish, mussels, frogs, plants, and other fish. The voracious appetite of blue catfish can be a positive aspect, as they have been recorded to consume hydrilla and Asian clams, which are invasive and can devastate an ecosystem. They are the only species known to consume Asian carp, helping keep the population of that invasive species under control.

Blue catfish are commonly misidentified as channel catfish. Blue catfish are heavy-bodied with a dorsal hump and 30 – 36 rays on the anal fin compared to the channel catfish’s 25 – 29 rays. Blue catfish also have barbels and a deeply forked tail. They can be found in hollowed-out logs or hiding under structures with deep currents and swift channels.