Local Intel
Lake Townsend
Guilford County, North Carolina · 15 min from Greensboro
Surface area
1,542 acres
Max depth
30 ft
Primary species
Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass (Bodie), Crappie, Channel Catfish
From Greensboro · NC
15 min
Live conditions · Lake Townsend
Structure & water
Largest and deepest of the three Greensboro reservoirs (built 1969) and the terminus of the Higgins → Brandt → Townsend chain. More classic reservoir morphology — deeper, clearer green water near the dam grading to stained creek arms above the Yanceyville St and Church St bridges. Forested shoreline with a stretch bordering Bryan Park golf course.
Forage: Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, bluegill, crayfish
Forage profile
- Threadfin shad40%
- Gizzard shad25%
- Bluegill18%
- Crayfish10%
Structure mix
- Bridges27%
- Creek Channels27%
- Docks18%
- Points18%
- Flats9%
Hot spots
Upper creek above Church Street bridge
Low bridge — kayak / small jon only. Defined creek channel with 2-to-8-ft bends. Has produced 10 lb-class largemouth and trophy chain pickerel; almost no pressure.
Past Yanceyville Street bridge
Lake narrows; classic creek-channel structure for spring largemouth.
Main-lake deep points (dam end)
Summer largemouth and Bodie bass on points dropping from flats to the channel — deep crank or Carolina rig.
Marina & floating docks
Shad school under the docks year-round; crappie pile up on the floats and bass cruise the structure in the spawn.
Top patterns
Spring
Chartreuse/black Colorado blade in cove backs and along the golf-course bank during the spawn.
Fall
Topwater / Tail-Spinner
Bodie bass school on shad near the dam — watch for gulls and run to the bait.
Fall
1/2 oz jig worked through creek-channel timber in the upper arms — best big-bass pattern on the lake.
Launches & marinas
- Marina
Townsend Marina
6332 Townsend Rd, Browns Summit, NC 27214
Phone: (336) 375-2222
Fees: City of Greensboro lake permit required; daily launch fee
Large concrete bass-boat rampSeparate sailboat rampCourtesy dockFishing pierBoat & kayak rentalsBait & tackleRestroomsOff Hwy 29 N near Bryan Park. Best ramp in the Greensboro chain for full-size bass rigs. Closed Wednesdays; no night fishing.
Regulations
City of Greensboro lake permit required. NC license required. Largemouth: 14" minimum, 5/day. Striped & hybrid (Bodie) bass: 16" minimum, 4/day in combination. Bank fishing prohibited. Closed Wednesdays; no night fishing.
Local tip
The water above the Church Street bridge is the most under-fished trophy water in Guilford County. Most boats turn around at the bridge. Push a small boat or kayak through and slow-roll a Colorado-blade spinnerbait or drag a jig on the channel bends — that's where the lake's 8-to-10-pounders live.