Lake Wylie is the oldest lake on the Catawba River, straddling the South Carolina and North Carolina line just southwest of Charlotte in York, Gaston, and Mecklenburg counties. First impounded in 1904 and enlarged when the dam was rebuilt in 1924, it covers about 13,400 acres and is owned and operated by Duke Energy as part of its Catawba-Wateree hydroelectric system. The lake generates hydropower and supplies cooling water and drinking water for nearby communities and power stations.

With roughly 325 miles of shoreline, Lake Wylie averages about 23 feet deep and reaches near 94 feet at its deepest point close to Wylie Dam. The reservoir stretches some 32 miles from Mountain Island Dam down to Wylie Dam, with wooded coves, creek arms fed by the South Fork Catawba River, open-water flats, and a defined main river channel that together create varied fish habitat and boating water.

Lake Wylie supports a popular warmwater fishery for largemouth and spotted bass, crappie, catfish, and bream, and it is one of the most heavily used recreational lakes in the Charlotte metro area. Fisheries are managed cooperatively by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Numerous public access areas, marinas, and lakeside parks serve both states.

Water levels on Lake Wylie are managed by Duke Energy as part of the Catawba-Wateree chain. Duke reports the lake against a relative gauge where 100.0 feet represents full pond (an actual elevation of about 569.4 feet above mean sea level), with a typical target near 97 feet and a minimum around 93 feet. Because Duke moves water down the chain through Lake Wateree and other reservoirs, levels stay fairly stable through the recreation season but shift with rainfall, drought, and generation, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access.

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