Lake Tillery

Overview

Lake Tillery is a 5,261 acre reservoir on the Yadkin Pee Dee River chain in Stanly and Montgomery counties. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission calls it a popular destination with many species to target, including largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, white perch, black crappie, bluegill, flathead catfish and blue catfish. Tillery generally produces a quality striped bass fishery, and Commission staff survey the stripers every three years to keep track of it. Largemouth bass look good too: a 2022 Commission survey found fish in above average condition, with a good share of quality size bass. A state park in Stanly County, about 50 miles northeast of Charlotte, sits on the shores of Lake Tillery and has a boat ramp, seasonal boat rentals and a fishing pier, which makes it an easy starting point for anglers with or without a boat.

Regulations

Lake Tillery has a striped bass minimum length and creel limit, its own exception to the statewide largemouth bass length and creel rule, and a trophy rule that limits how many large blue catfish you may keep. See the current North Carolina inland fishing regulations: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/fishing/regulations

Nearby waters

• Badin Lake · 27.7 km (NC)

More in Montgomery

• Badin Lake (NC)