NC lakes

[FishTax]

Just curious for the few NC guys on here what lake you think are the most productive? I went to Hyco this week and caught 25, mostly small guys though. That was a great day for me. I heard Micky in Durham is productive but haven't been yet. I fish mackintosh in Burlington a lot, don't get numbers but it has quality. I think it gets a lot of pressure for the size. I've struggled at Norman to catch much. I like Tuckerton/high rock for bigs. 

 

What lakes do you like in NC and why? 

[Woody B]

I'm 150 miles Southwest of you in Grover NC.  I fish Lake Wylie quite a bit.  Wylie is 2 lakes down the Catawba river from Lake Norman.  I'm not familiar with any of the lakes East of here.  I've been to Jordan once, but it was 40 years ago water skiing with my Sister.  

 

I've been to Norman a couple times this year and caught several both times.  I caught a 5 1/2 pound Largemouth there last year.  It's full of spots like most of the lake around here.  30+ years ago Largemouth fishing at Norman was good.   I sold my previous boat in 1992, bought the one I have now in Dec. 2021.   Sometime between then Norman turned into the dead sea.  People tell me the Largemouth fishing got bad there before the Spots took over.    My PB came from Norman decades ago.   Back then you'd hear about a DD from Norman every few weeks.  

 

Mountain Island is between Norman and Wylie.  I've been there once.  I caught some bass (all spots), but there was fresh broken glass at the landing from vehicles being broken into so I haven't been back.  

 

I caught 21 this Morning at Wylie.   One was tiny, the rest were between 14 and 18 inches.  All spots.   I caught a 6 pound Largemouth at Wylie back in Feb.   

 

I know you said NC, but I've got to get back to Monticello Reservoir in SC.  It's ~70 miles Southwest of me, so it's quite a ways from you.   I went once a while back and caught 10 nice bass.  3 Smallmouth and 7 Largemouth.   No spots in that lake, at least for now.  

 

Moss Lake (Shelby NC) is a 1500 acre lake in my county.  (I think there's another Moss lake somewhere in NC).   It's full of spots and gets a TON of fishing pressure for a lake it's size.   The last several times I've been all of the fish I caught had previous hook holes in their mouths.   

 

I know pretty much nothing about NC lakes except for Moss, and the Catawba river lakes.   

[FishTax]

@Woody B I have a friend who lives on Wylie but have only fished off his dock with my kid. He has a massive pontoon which I don't think I could fish from very well, but next time I'm down I may give it a shot. Great to know they're in there! 

[FishTax]

@LrgmouthShad  can you tell me more about Badin? I didn't want to hijack the other thread you mentioned it in. I've been to Tuckerton just above it but never Badin. They killed all the grass in T and there was so much snot grass I couldn't use half my presentations. 

[LSU Fan]

I know it is to late for fishing this year, but Randleman Lake has been a productive lake for me.  Thing is it closes after the 31 of Oct.  and reopens on March 1,2024.   Now the launch fee is $15.  For me living in the McLeansville area traveling to almost any other lake in the state I spend $15.00 in gas at least traveling to any of those lakes.

[FishTax]

9 hours ago, LSU Fan said:

I know it is to late for fishing this year, but Randleman Lake has been a productive lake for me.  Thing is it closes after the 31 of Oct.  and reopens on March 1,2024.   Now the launch fee is $15.  For me living in the McLeansville area traveling to almost any other lake in the state I spend $15.00 in gas at least traveling to any of those lakes.

I've been interested in visiting there for a while, maybe I'll make it in 2024. 

 

I hit High Rock yesterday on a frigid morning by NC standards. Never got a great bite going but did catch a few. I plan to go back in spring, the yadkin chain definitely has some bigs in it and I plan to get one in 24! 

[LSU Fan]

Fish Tax, just fished MacIntosh yesterday.  For the first 3 hours, 7:00am to around 10:00am "0"ed.  Then to an "Old fishing spot" and in 1 hour I guess I boated 15 pounds.  I guess best day on "The Mac" in don't know when!   

[FishTax]

On 11/6/2023 at 10:47 PM, LSU Fan said:

Fish Tax, just fished MacIntosh yesterday.  For the first 3 hours, 7:00am to around 10:00am "0"ed.  Then to an "Old fishing spot" and in 1 hour I guess I boated 15 pounds.  I guess best day on "The Mac" in don't know when!   

Awesome! What was the pattern when you were out? I feel like it changes daily this time of year. 

[LSU Fan]

Sorry takes so long to reply.  Start with I just started pitching and casting Jigs and honestly haven't been on Macintosh in maybe a year.  Now the pattern I was on when catching fish last trip was pitching the edges of rip rap in I guess 10 to 15 foot of water and moving the jig very slowly.   As far as the water temps were in the low 60*.  At first I got hung up several times but soon found that edge where The Big Girls set.  Temps this Sunday predicted 60*+ so I hope to return.