Holly Springs’ Bass Lake is Home to 32,000-plus New Occupants HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (Nov. 19, 2004)  Once a dry lakebed devoid of any aquatic creatures, Bass Lake now boasts more than 32,000 new occupants, thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Department and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Since July, personnel from the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries have stocked the 85-acre impoundment with a variety of gamefish fingerlings, including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. Stocking the young fish was one step in a multi-phased, long-term initiative to restore the lake’s fishery, which was destroyed in 1996 after floodwaters from Hurricane Fran blew out the dam. In 2002, the dam was rebuilt. While the fingerlings have jumpstarted the fishery, they won’t grow to keeper size for two or three years. For those anglers seeking immediate gratification, the Wildlife Commission augmented this initial stocking with 4,500, 8- to 12-inch channel catfish, through its Community Fishing Program (CFP), which Bass Lake joined in April. As a new CFP site, Bass Lake will receive monthly stockings of 1,500 catchable-sized catfish from April through September every year. In addition, Commission personnel recently installed three solar-powered fish feeders near popular fishing areas to congregate fish and provide a supplementary food source for the stocked fish, allowing them to grow bigger, faster. Bass Lake also joined the Commission’s Fishing Tackle Loaner Program (FTLP), which offers loaner rods and reels free of charge to individuals who would like to fish but don’t have the equipment. The rods and reels are available to anglers of all ages, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The FTLP loans rods and reels just as a library loans books. Anglers register at the recreation office to receive a tackle loaner ID card which allows them to check out a rod and reel for the day. While the program is geared toward children under 16, anyone interested in fishing may participate. Anglers under 16 years must have a parent or guardian complete the registration form. To provide anglers of all abilities with an opportunity to reel in an impressive creel, three handicapped-accessible areas  two piers and a deck  are within 150 feet of a paved parking lot. In addition to fishing opportunities, Bass Lake Park, located at 900 Bass Lake Road, offers nature trails and an educational center designed to educate visitors about the diverse plants and wildlife native to the area. For more information about Bass Lake Park, call (919) 557-2496. See more information on
Holly Springs’ Bass Lake is Home to 32,000-plus New Occupants
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (Nov. 19, 2004)  Once a dry lakebed devoid of any aquatic creatures, Bass Lake now boasts more than 32,000 new occupants, thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Department and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
Since July, personnel from the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries have stocked the 85-acre impoundment with a variety of gamefish fingerlings, including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. Stocking the young fish was one step in a multi-phased, long-term initiative to restore the lake’s fishery, which was destroyed in 1996 after floodwaters from Hurricane Fran blew out the dam. In 2002, the dam was rebuilt.
While the fingerlings have jumpstarted the fishery, they won’t grow to keeper size for two or three years. For those anglers seeking immediate gratification, the Wildlife Commission augmented this initial stocking with 4,500, 8- to 12-inch channel catfish, through its Community Fishing Program (CFP), which Bass Lake joined in April.
As a new CFP site, Bass Lake will receive monthly stockings of 1,500 catchable-sized catfish from April through September every year. In addition, Commission personnel recently installed three solar-powered fish feeders near popular fishing areas to congregate fish and provide a supplementary food source for the stocked fish, allowing them to grow bigger, faster.
Bass Lake also joined the Commission’s Fishing Tackle Loaner Program (FTLP), which offers loaner rods and reels free of charge to individuals who would like to fish but don’t have the equipment. The rods and reels are available to anglers of all ages, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The FTLP loans rods and reels just as a library loans books. Anglers register at the recreation office to receive a tackle loaner ID card which allows them to check out a rod and reel for the day. While the program is geared toward children under 16, anyone interested in fishing may participate. Anglers under 16 years must have a parent or guardian complete the registration form.
To provide anglers of all abilities with an opportunity to reel in an impressive creel, three handicapped-accessible areas  two piers and a deck  are within 150 feet of a paved parking lot.
In addition to fishing opportunities, Bass Lake Park, located at 900 Bass Lake Road, offers nature trails and an educational center designed to educate visitors about the diverse plants and wildlife native to the area. For more information about Bass Lake Park, call (919) 557-2496.
See more information on
Community Fishing Program and Fishing Tackle Loaner Program, or call the Division of Inland Fisheries (919) 733-3633.