Book Your Fishing Charter in Wilson, NC

Wilson is a fast-growing residential city on the borders of the Piedmont and Coastal Plains regions in North Carolina. Easily accessible via Interstate 95 and Interstate 40, the city is an excellent destination for travelers seeking the comfort of a rural Southern town and the culture and convenience of a vibrant city.

Wilson is situated on the Piedmont and Coastal Plains borders, both regions known for their natural beauty. As a result, visitors can experience the characteristics of both places at once when in Wilson. And one such thing they can enjoy in the city is its access to productive freshwater fishing.

Wilson Fishing: Excellent Fishing in Lakes and Reservoirs

Wilson has a good lineup of lakes and reservoirs that offer a fantastic fishing experience. Like most Piedmont regions, it enjoys a favorable climate for fishing in most seasons, so its water bodies are bound to be productive no matter when you come by.

As the city’s namesake lake, Lake Wilson offers relaxing and fair fishing, especially if you’re keen to reel largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and bluegill. Its waters are stable all year round, making it perfect for beginners. The recreation area built around the lake provides plenty of boat ramps and shore-fishing access and facilities for other outdoor recreation activities like hiking.

Buckhorn Reservoir is popular among Wilson locals and other residents in the surrounding area - not just because of the lake's size but also because of its productivity. There are numerous ways to fish in a large reservoir. There are two fee-based boat ramps, 15 miles of shoreline, and a fishing pier where you can enjoy inshore and nearshore fishing. Anglers especially love this lake for its wide array of fish species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, crappie, rainbow trout, white bass, bluegill, and muskellunge.

Though not quite as big as Buckhorn Reservoir, Wiggins Mill Reservoir is still a beloved fishing spot for anglers in Wilson. It has several boat rentals, a bait shop, and good boat, dock, and bank fishing access. According to frequent visitors, the best time to fish the water body is from 2 pm to 4 pm.

If you don’t mind driving a few minutes outside Wilson, you will find a spectacular fishing hotspot in the nearby city of Rocky Mount. It’s the legendary Tar River Reservoir. It's well-known for its crappie fishing, but it's also a great place to catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and redear sunfish. The recreation area around the river reservoir has plenty of fishing access points - boat launches, fishing piers, and miles of shoreline from which you can fish. Other fish-rich areas include the boat ramp south of The Bend of the River Road bridge and the concrete ramp with a dock on the lake's western shore.

You’ll find the Upper Tar River, reportedly the best spot to fish in the summer, a few more miles away. It also has plenty of shallow water areas suitable for fly and light tackle fishing.

Immerse in History at Wilson

1. Shop for Antiques

Wilson is home to Boone’s Antiques, a shop dedicated to accessories and furniture from the 17th to the 19th centuries and arguably the largest of its kind in the United States. It’s a must experience for anyone interested in vintage ephemera and high-quality antiques worldwide.

2. Pay Homage to African American Art and History

Freeman Round House Museum was established in 2001, dedicated to preserving and promoting African American art, culture, and history. One of the museum’s most unique highlights is found outdoors. The namesake of the museum, Oliver Freeman, was a local craftsman known for his stonework that can be found in many structures across town. And his best works, many of which are personal, are on the museum grounds, including a 7-foot dinosaur.