Local Intel
Hyco Lake
Person/Caswell County, NC · 1 hr 10 min from Greensboro
Surface area
3,750 acres
Max depth
75 ft
Primary species
Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, Catfish
From Greensboro · NC
1 hr 10 min
Live conditions · Hyco Lake
Water level & flow gauges
Live pool elevation, discharge, and (where instrumented) water temperature from official operators. Opens in a new tab.
Structure & water
3,750-acre Duke Energy cooling reservoir on Hyco Creek north of Roxboro — clear-to-lightly-stained water with steep rocky points, deep main-lake bluffs, and three major creek arms (Cobbs, Cane, Hyco). The Roxboro Steam Plant discharge keeps a portion of the lake warm year-round, driving a famous winter and pre-spawn bite. Largemouth are healthy 3–5 lb average with 7+ lb fish in spring; strong striped bass population. Best winter largemouth fishery within easy reach of GSO.
Forage: Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, alewife, bluegill, crayfish
Forage profile
- Threadfin shad40%
- Gizzard shad25%
- Alewife18%
- Bluegill10%
- Crayfish7%
Structure mix
- Rock / Riprap43%
- Points29%
- Bridges14%
- Flats14%
Hot spots
Hot Hole (steam-plant discharge)
Warm-water current Dec–Feb pulls every shad in the lake and bass with them. Suspending jerkbait, Alabama rig, and underspin in the current seams — the lake's signature pattern.
Main-lake rocky points & bluffs
Spring and fall transition zones — jerkbait pre-spawn, jig in summer along 15–25 ft drops.
Cobbs Creek & Cane Creek arms
Spawning flats with rock-and-clay banks. Wacky Senko and chatterbait in April–May; topwater walking bait at dawn in fall.
Bridges & roadbeds (mid-lake)
Submerged Hwy 57 roadbed and bridge pilings hold suspended summer fish — drop shot and deep crank.
Top patterns
Winter
Megabass Vision 110 or Lucky Craft Pointer in pro-blue/clear with 8–15 second pauses on Hot Hole seams and rocky main-lake points when water is 48–58°F. Hyco's marquee bite Dec–Mar.
Winter
Umbrella rig with 4.8" swimbaits slow-rolled through the Hot Hole current; 3/8 oz underspin with paddle-tail for individual targeting.
Spring
5" green-pumpkin Senko skipped under docks and wacky-rigged on rock-and-clay spawning flats; 3/8 oz chatterbait along grass edges in pre-spawn.
Launches & marinas
- Marina
Hyco Lake Marina (Leasburg)
1100 Hyco Lake Marina Rd, Leasburg, NC 27291
Phone: (336) 364-7715
Fees: Daily launch fee; annual passes available
Concrete double rampCourtesy docksFuelBait & tackleBoat rentalsRestaurantWet slipsRestroomsPrimary full-service marina on the lake. Best access for the Hot Hole and main-lake bluffs. Only fuel dock on the lake.
- Public ramp
Hyco Lake Recreation Area Ramp (Person County)
1620 Recreation Rd, Roxboro, NC 27574
Phone: (336) 599-4343
Fees: Daily launch fee; annual Person County pass available
Concrete double rampCourtesy dockPaved parkingCampingSwim beachPicnic areaRestroomsSouth-side county park access. Best for the Cobbs Creek arm and main-lake spawning flats. Heaviest weekend usage.
- Public ramp
Cane Creek Boat Access (NCWRC)
off SR-1503, Caswell County, NC
Fees: Free (NCWRC Boating Access)
Paved single rampCourtesy dockGravel parkingVault toiletUpper Cane Creek arm access — quiet put-in for spring spawning water and lighter-pressured kayak fishing.
Regulations
NC license required. Largemouth: 14" minimum, 5/day (only 2 under 14"). Striped bass: 16" minimum, 4/day. Duke Energy / Hyco Lake property rules apply at marina access points. No motor restrictions.
Local tip
December through March is the time to make the Hyco drive. Park at the marina, idle to the Hot Hole, and watch your graph for shad pulling in to the warm current. A Megabass 110 worked with 10-second pauses on the current seams will out-produce anything else when the water is 48–55°F. Don't chase Hot Hole fish on calm bluebird days after a front — wait for stable cloudy weather and the bite turns on hard. Striper bycatch is common; bring at least one rod spooled with 17 lb fluoro.