Durham, NC Fishing: Excellent Freshwater Fishing in an Up-and-Coming City

Durham is one of the most populated cities in North Carolina, best known as the home of Duke University, one of the country’s foremost research universities. The city itself is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary area, more commonly referred to as the Research Triangle. In recent years, Durham has been experiencing a resurgence as the place to be — a compact city with lots of accessible green spaces, a youthful college atmosphere, and a thriving food and culture scene.

In the early years of its establishment, Durham grew around its tobacco industry and eventually gave birth to the American Tobacco Company. With the establishment of Duke University and North Carolina Central University, the city revitalized itself and soon became the medical, research, and educational center that it is now. Duke University is a national health research center, while North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university known for being a top-ranking liberal arts institution.

Aside from being a hip college city, Durham offers pockets of well-maintained greenery in its 68 parks and 1,800 acres of parkland. The town itself is situated at the heart of the larger Piedmont area, a plateau region between the Atlantic coastal plain and the Appalachians. The Eno River runs through its northern portion. All these things combined make Durham an ideal urban fishing destination. 

Durham Fishing

North Carolina has always been a beloved fishing destination and is well noted for its freshwater fishing. Durham is no different. Fishing may not be the most obvious choice of outdoor activity in this bustling city. Still, it does offer a range of fishing spots that provide scenic views, fantastic amenities, and productive waters.

The Eno River State Park is ideal for starting your Durham fishing journey. Accessible all over Durham and Orange Counties with five entryways, this lush and historic state park is covered with old forests, river bluffs, and shrubberies amid a historic mill and home sites dating back to the city’s early settlers. Running through the park are trails with a fast stream flowing alongside.  

The Eno River runs throughout its namesake park. At certain stretches, it is a slow-moving stream with deep pockets, and at some points, it has fast-moving ripples. The best way to fish the river is to keep on moving and fish the deep pockets, particularly in areas that offer plenty of cover or structure for fish. It’s a great fly fishing river, especially if you focus on quantity rather than catching a trophy. The river has over 60 fish species, but the most commonly caught are bull chub, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, bullhead chub, largemouth bass, and black crappie. The Eno River is likewise known as one of the few rivers with Roanoke bass, a sunfish species endemic only to Virginia and North Carolina.

There are several productive spots along the river. Close to the parking area, there’s Pleasant Green Access, which has several fishing access points along the banks. Fews Ford, Buckquarter Creek Trail, and Pea Creek Trail are also good bank fishing spots, with waters that can go as deep as six to eight feet in some parts. The deepest hole in the river is at Bobbitt Hole at the end of the trail. Anglers can access the hole by hiking the Cole Mill Trail toward the Bobbitt Hole Trail. 

The Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area can be accessed near the Eno River State Park and offers two more ponds open for fishing. It’s a great place to practice fishing, especially if you’re new. Some of the fish you can catch in this part of the park are sunfish, largemouth bass, and black crappie.

Little River Lake serves primarily as a water supply for Durham. However, it's also good, if somewhat limited, a fishing spot. The area is open only for bank fishing from mid-March to mid-November. If you’re lucky enough to get there, you’ll be guaranteed a great time fishing for trophy bass as the lake commonly yields 10 lb bass. Aside from bass, the lake contains crappie and catfish, which are best caught from a kayak near the bridge.

Lake Michie Recreation Area is minutes outside Durham, yet another excellent largemouth bass fishing area. The park is mainly known for its ADA-accessible amenities, including a boathouse, dock, and kayak launch. There’s also a boat rental within the park, but you can launch your own. Other fish in the productive lake are channel catfish, flathead catfish, mud catfish, blue catfish, bull catfish, chain pickerel, and longnose gar.

Still, on the outskirts of Durham, you will find another largemouth bass fishing spot worth visiting. Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a vast campground built around the undeveloped shoreline of Falls Lake. Apart from its healthy largemouth bass population, the lake is home to catfish, white bass, striped bass, white perch, crappie, bluegill, and chain pickerel. Many of the park's campsites are located around the lake, so if you want to camp and fish, this area should be included in your Durham itinerary.

Top 10 Fish Species in Durham, NC

The top 10 fish species in Durham are largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel, green sunfish, bull chub, and bullhead chub.

Seasonal Fishing

North Carolina offers year-round fishing with its mild climate, so the best months to fish in the area will depend on your choice of catch. If you’d like to increase your chances of bagging trophy largemouth bass, you can start fishing for them around March. Striped bass is best-targeted beginning May. The warm months from June to September are prime bass fishing months, with some crappie, white perch, and channel catfish going along for the ride. For trophy crappie, November is your best bet, with some of them still biting well into December and January. 

Discover the Vibrant Charms of Durham

Durham is a vibrant destination with everything you need in a bustling city — top-notch amenities, thriving industries, and outstanding art and culture scene. But because of its relatively smaller size, it retains a laid-back atmosphere one would expect from a tight-knit community. These characteristics make Durham a sought-after city that offers the best of both worlds.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Explore the fishing hotspots of Durham and the rest of the Research Triangle region with the guidance of a local expert who can help you maximize your fishing trip.

2. Go Museum-Hopping

Durham has some of the best museums in North Carolina and the rest of the United States. The Museum of Life + Science is an interactive natural science museum complex with many different exhibits. The most popular is the Aerospace exhibit which has many NASA artifacts loaned from the National Air and Space Museum. If you’re more into animals, you will love the Duke Lemur Center, the largest lemur sanctuary in the world. On the other hand, art-lovers will love the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, which houses more than 10,000 artworks from a wide range of eras, from antiquity to the present day. 

3. Learn More About Durham’s Local History

Durham is a place that holds its local history dear. Find its roots in its historic districts, including the American Tobacco Historic District and Stagville State Historic Site. The Tobacco Historic District is listed on the National Register and is home to structures dating back to the mid-1800s when Durham was a tobacco capital. Stagville State Historic Site is an eye-opening museum housed in one of the largest American South plantations in the late 18th century. The historical complex is dedicated to educating visitors about the lives of the plantation's enslaved people.