You can find the city of Gastonia in southwest North Carolina’s Gaston County. This ‘Great Place in the Making’ is an excellent place to plan your next fishing trip because of its many freshwater lakes that hold plenty of fish and are surrounded by natural and urban beauty.
Gastonia boasts not only outstanding outdoor recreation but also a rich history and culture embodied by its thriving business, historical, and arts districts. If you want to take a break from holding your rod and reel and explore the area, there are plenty of fun and interesting places to visit. You can visit many notable and historical sites if you want to learn more about the city’s history. The city is home to many parks, trails, and a natural history museum for those who want to stay on the cultural side.
You won’t have a hard time making your angling experience in Gastonia memorable, as it has plenty of water and attractions to offer.
With several lakes and creeks throughout the city, you’ll be able to catch any freshwater game you want in no time. You also get to fish in a mixture of natural and urban backdrops as you traverse the fishing holes Gastonia offers.
The most popular place to fish in Gastonia is undoubtedly Rankin Lake. You can find the lake in the city’s north. Following developments and expansions to the lake and Rankin Lake Park, more room for recreational activities has been made, including bank fishing. You can expect to find sport fish species such as largemouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, white perch, and black bullhead in its waters. If you’re going to fish onshore, you can do so at the fishing piers or the limited area for bank fishing available. If you want to fish by boat, you can rent a boat from the Rankin Lake Boathouse or launch your own canoes or kayaks. This is the lake to be for anglers who love bass fishing because it's where you’ll find plenty of big fish.
Another fantastic freshwater spot is Robinwood Lake in the city’s south. When you fish from its piers and docks or launch your boat into its waters, you may reel in largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white crappie, and black crappie.
If you prefer a more relaxed and contained setting, head to the Gaston Country Club Lake in the south. The lake water is known for its excellent bass and panfish fishery. You may target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, shoreline bass, white bass, rock bass, walleye, chain pickerel, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish, and blue catfish.
Crowders Mountain State Park offers you the chance to enjoy breathtaking city views from the county’s second-highest point. The park boasts a variety of views, from raptors soaring through the wind on sheer vertical cliffs to vegetation reaching the sky. The park also allows you to immerse further into nature through its miles of trails.
Gastonia is home to two local and three national historic districts where people can learn more about its rich history and heritage. The Downtown area is a great place to start because it is home to many historic buildings and a flourishing arts district. The Loray Mill Historic District is a terrific area for those who want to appreciate Colonial Revival, Gothic Revival, Bungalow, or American Craftsman architecture.