Lake Gaston, NC Fishing Report

Fishing has been great with the high water. We were catching alot of fish shallow around the shore grass. Now that the water has started to stablize the shallow bite has not been as good. The deep bite however has reallly turned on. Two different trips this past monday and tuesday produced good numbers of 2-3 pound bass. We caught them mostly on Carolina rigged plastics and deep diving crankbaits in 12-22 feet. When the current is running the bass have been very eager to chase and once you get the school fired up it is very consistent.

Fishing this year on Gaston is different than in past years. Almost the entire lake is muddy to heavily stained. The fish seem to still be in their early springtime patterns due to cold rains and snow that we have had. Many fish are being caught on football jigs and crank baits on channel swings and main lake points. Any day now the fish will have to begin to hit the banks if we ever get some stable weather. Just because the water is dirty it is turning alot of anglers towards the few sections of clearer water. I have been targeting both with success in both. Docks have not yet turned on yet. Most of the fish we are catching are relating to the nearest deep water where they can move back and forth as the weather changes. Try chartruese crankbaits and black and blue jigs.

Fish are entering their early winter patterns. Most fish are now in deeper water and are being caught on shad type baits. Rattle traps, cranck baits and jigging sponns. Best time to fish for these guys is in the afternoon when the water warms up a bit.

Typical Fall fishing with cooler nights bait are going to the shallows. Use rattle traps and flukes in the river section where grass is found.

There is a deep bite still going on on rock piles and ledges. Use jigs spoons and crank baits.

As water cools look for the fishing to get better.

Fishing has stayed about the same since mid-July. It all depends on water being released through the dams. Fish are still being caught on deep ledges with spoons, cranks, and carolina rigs. Some fish are still schooling on the lower end of the lake in the Sandy Trace area of the lake. It wont be long before fish start to follow bait fish towards the back of the creeks and you will see chatterbaits, square bill cranks, and topwaters really turn on.

Tight Lines

JT

The dog days of summer are here.Fishing is still tough as the temperatures still remain high. However when you find them they seem to be biting decent. We are catching most of our fish in 15-25 ft. using crankbaits, alabama rigs, and dropshots. The upper end of the lake is still seeming to be the most consistent area of the lake. Also, if you can schedule your trips around the dam generating water that will help the bite out tremedously. Late afternoon and early morning are definately the most productive fishing times right now.

JT

Fishing is still tought as the temperatures still remain high. However when you find them they seem to be biting pretty good. We are catching most of our fish in 15-25 ft. using crankbaits, alabama rigs, and dropshots. The upper end of the lake is still seeming to be the most consistent area of the lake. Also, if you can schedule your trips around the dam generating water that will help the bite out tremedously.

JT

With the hundred degree days and lack of rain recently fishing has been on the decline. However, fish are still being caught out deep on the ledges and deep rock piles in 16-25 ft of water. Our 5 hour trip yesterday produced 15 bass in the 1-4 pound range. We had a blast in the morning catching fish on top with Spooks  and also with a TNT Baits Claymore vibrating jigs in white color. Those fish were up on the flats in the river. They seem to be showing up better on the flats now that the hydrilla is starting to grow in a very few specific places. Have a happy fourth and please remember to thank a veteran or active duty member of our armed forces for their service in keeping our independence.

Tight Lines,

JT

Fishing on the lake right now is average. Most all of the fish are postpawn and the shad spawn just doesn't seem to be going good anymore. Most of the fish we have been catching are shallow on soft plastics rigged weightless. Most of the post-spawn fish are feeding on bream in the shallows. Schooling areas on the main lake and bridges are starting to turn on as the shad bite will continue to get better in the next few weeks. Once the majority of these fish get reccoperated then they will begin the early summer gourging of topwater and other shad type baits. Can't wait!

Happy Holidays Be Safe!!!

JT