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Local Intel

Tuckertown Reservoir

Davidson/Rowan/Montgomery County, NC · 1 hr 10 min from Greensboro

Best · SpringBest · Fall

Surface area

2,560 acres

Max depth

55 ft

Primary species

Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Catfish, Crappie

From Greensboro · NC

1 hr 10 min

Live conditions · Tuckertown Reservoir

Water level & flow gauges

Live pool elevation, discharge, and (where instrumented) water temperature from official operators. Opens in a new tab.

Structure & water

Cube Hydro run-of-river reservoir between High Rock and Badin on the Yadkin chain — 9 miles of narrow, riverine main lake with steep clay banks, rock bluffs, current breaks, and submerged stumps. Smaller and less pressured than its neighbors; water clarity usually cleaner than High Rock. Current from upstream generation is the dominant factor — fish position on current seams behind rock and laydowns.

Forage: Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, bluegill, crayfish, blueback herring

Forage profile

  • Threadfin shad40%
  • Gizzard shad25%
  • Bluegill18%
  • Crayfish10%
  • Blueback herring7%

Structure mix

  • Rock / Riprap78%
  • Wood / Timber11%
  • Flats11%

Hot spots

  • High Rock dam tailwater (upper end)

    Generation pulls baitfish through — stripers, white bass, and largemouth stack on current seams. Swimbaits and bucktails on the seam edges.

  • Newsom Road / mid-lake bluffs

    Steep rock bluffs with timber bases. Jig and shaky head walked down the rock; jerkbait in pre-spawn.

  • Flat Creek arm

    Only significant tributary — protected spawning water with stained pockets and laydowns. Chatterbait and squarebill in spring.

Top patterns

Year-round

Jig / Shaky Head on Bluffs

1/2 oz football jig or 3/16 oz shaky head with a finesse worm worked down the rock bluff faces in 10–25 ft. Best when current is running.

Pre-spawn

Jerkbait

Rogue or Vision 110 on rock-to-clay transitions in 45–55°F water. Long pauses; spots and largemouth both eat it.

Fall

Topwater / Schooling

Whopper Plopper 90 and walking baits on bait pushes near the dam and main-lake points when shad migrate.

Launches & marinas

  • Tuckertown Boat Access (NCWRC)

    Tuckertown Rd, Denton, NC 27239

    Public ramp

    Fees: Free (NCWRC Boating Access)

    Paved double rampCourtesy dockPaved parking ~40 rigsVault toilet

    Primary access on the east side, mid-lake. Closest launch to the bluff section.

  • Flat Creek Boat Access (NCWRC)

    Flat Creek Rd, Salisbury, NC

    Public ramp

    Fees: Free (NCWRC Boating Access)

    Paved single rampGravel parkingVault toilet

    Upper-end access into Flat Creek; best for spring spawn fishing.

Regulations

NC fishing license required. Largemouth/spotted bass: 14" minimum, 5/day aggregate. No HP restriction; idle in marked no-wake zones near ramps.

Last verified . Rules & fees change — confirm with the state agency before your trip.

Local tip

Tuckertown fishes small — if generation is off, the lake goes dead. Check Cube Hydro's generation schedule before you go (or watch for current at the dam) and time your trip to when water is moving. The bluff bite turns on within an hour of generation starting.

Log a catch hereTechnique details