Kannapolis, NC Fishing: Ideal Gateway to Freshwater Fishing in the Charlotte District

Kannapolis is a Charlotte Metropolitan Area suburban city situated in the counties of Cabarrus and Rowan in North Carolina. Cannon Mills originally owned it during its founding in 1906, but it remained unincorporated until 1984. Even as it established itself as a city, its downtown remained in the ownership of Cannon Mills. However, as the textile industry waned, the mill and downtown area kept shifting ownership through the years. In 2004, the downtown and mill were bought by David Murdock, who originally bought Cannon Mills in 1984. He has since then sold the downtown to the city and demolished the mill to make way for the North Carolina Research Campus.

Aside from this fascinating history, Kannapolis is most well-known as the hometown of the legendary race car driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. and is considered a must-see city for any race car enthusiast. In recent years, the city has become the headquarters of the Haas F1 Team, the first and only F1 team in the United States.

Kannapolis has recently been revitalizing itself as an alternative North Carolina destination. Its beautiful downtown features a mix of contemporary and locally-owned attractions and preserved historical landmarks. It is home to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, where music fans can find tributes to John Coltrane, Roberta Flack, the Avett Brothers, and other music legends.

In addition to its sports and culture, Kannapolis has several public and easily accessible outdoor recreational areas. While not a fishing hotspot, its convenient location in the heart of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area makes it an ideal base to explore nearby fishing areas around the region.

Kannapolis Fishing

Kannapolis does not have its own fishing areas, but it is the most convenient gateway to enjoy various fishing experiences in the surrounding districts. 

Lake Norman is one of the waterbodies you can easily access from Kannapolis. It is the largest artificial lake in North Carolina at 32,000 acres, 34 miles long, and over 500 shoreline miles. Its depth goes as deep as over a hundred feet, but it is 33 feet deep on average. It is a great place to fish for various freshwater favorites in North Carolina, including black crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill, and yellow perch. 

There are plenty of ways to fish in the big lake. Jetton Road County Park and Ramsey Creek Access Area, both in the suburb of Cornelius, offer excellent amenities, including shore-fishing access and boat launches and docks. Ramsey Creek Park, in particular, has an ADA-compliant fishing pier. Lake Norman State Park in Troutman and Stump Creek in Mooresville have fishing docks jutting towards the lake. One of the most popular ways to fish the water body is on a canoe or kayak. 

Lake Fisher is a little on the smaller side at 534 acres. It is home to bluegill, black crappie, white bass, catfish, and common carp. It is solely a fishing lake, so there is no need to compete with swimming visitors even during summer. Bank fishing is not allowed, so anglers need to rent their boats in the area. Private boats, kayaks, and personal watercraft are not permitted in the lake because it is primarily a water supply reservoir. You can bring your own electric trolling and gas motors as long as they're ten horsepower or less. Lake Fisher keeps unique hours based on the weather, so check their schedule before taking a trip to the lake.

Frank Liske Park is Cabarrus County's largest park and is home to the 10-acre Frank Liske Pond. It is regularly stocked with trout in December and channel catfish monthly. The park offers great bank fishing access and trails. Anglers and their families can also use picnic shelters and sites available. The park is a great place to spend a day with the family with its many diverse outdoor amenities, including tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, soccer and softball complexes, walking trails, and even a golf course.

Rob Wallace Park Lake is another picturesque park with excellent fishing access. It is fairly new, so you can expect top-notch facilities, including universally accessible amenities, a fishing pier, great shoreline access, plus acres of trails for biking and walking. Its lake is home to bluegill, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass. The fishing here is strictly on a catch-and-release basis.

Camp T.N. Spencer Park is the perfect place to fish in Bear Lake, stocked with channel catfish and home to largemouth bass and sunfish. It has a fishing pier, shore fishing access, and a community fishing program to promote fishing to its locals. Apart from Bear Lake, the park has two more fishing ponds.

Top 10 Fish Species in Kannapolis, NC

The top 10 fish species in Kannapolis, NC, are channel catfish, blue catfish, largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass, common carp, redear sunfish, bluegill, and black crappie.

Seasonal Fishing

Like the rest of North Carolina, Kannapolis offers great fishing all year round, depending on your target fish. The fishing season in the state officially starts in the late spring and lasts until fall. You can catch bluegill no matter what time of the year in this part of the US, but spring and early summer are the best seasons to catch them in droves. Largemouth bass fishing is always excellent no matter where you are in North Carolina, and you can find them any month of the year. However, experts typically target them during spring and fall as those are the seasons they tend to be most active, especially in the evening. 

Discover the Legends of Kannapolis

Kannapolis is a hip and up-and-coming city with a unique history, a revived downtown, and many activities for the entire family to enjoy.

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Fishing in North Carolina or Kannapolis district for the first time? Book the services of a local expert so you can enjoy fishing for trout, catfish, and other species in a safer and guaranteed legal way. Some charters will even include gear in the rental fee, so you can just come as you are (bring your snacks and drinks when permitted, your state fishing license, and tips for your captain, too).

2. Go on the Dale Trail

Going on the self-guided Dale Trail is a must if you're a race car enthusiast. Get a free map from the Cabarrus County Visitor Center and visit more than 15 locations around Kannapolis and the county, giving you a picture of Dale Earnhardt's life and rise to fame as a NASCAR legend. Even if you're not a fan, visiting some spots on the trail, like the retro Punchy's Diner and Hendricks Motorsports, is still an excellent way to learn more about the city and its local pride.

3. Pay Homage to the Greats

The Curb Museum of Music and Motorsports is located in Kannapolis. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is here, as are exhibits on NASCAR, IndyCar, and modified race cars. It's a fantastic place to visit if you enjoy music and racing, like the museum's owner, Curb Records owner and founder Mike Curb.