Lake Gaston, Reservoir in North Carolina, United States

Lake Gaston is a reservoir in North Carolina that extends across the border into Virginia and is fed by the Roanoke River. The shoreline winds through wooded hills and forms many coves with shallow sandy beaches and rocky points.

Virginia Electric Power Company completed construction in 1963 to generate electrical power for the region. The project flooded farmland and small settlements along the river.

The reservoir takes its name from Gaston Dam, the 1,100-metre structure on the Roanoke River that created it. The Lake Gaston Association, a volunteer board of 25 directors drawn from the five surrounding counties, represents waterfront owners before federal and state agencies. Fishing is central to local life: striped bass are stocked by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and a valid licence from either state is honoured across the lake.

Boat ramps and marinas offer access to the water, where you can rent boats and refuel. The best time for fishing is early morning or late afternoon, when fish are more active.

Lake Gaston's level is not left to nature: a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licence sets operating bands, from a drought floor of 197 feet to flood control up to 203 feet, with 204 feet possible in a 100-year flood. Because of this, fixed docks and boathouses are normal here.