NC: What's Badin/Tillery/High Rock lake doing right now?

[Functional]

Going to visit my parents/sister this weekend and if it doesn't downpour all week I'll likely take the boat to hit Badin, Tillery or High Rock with my Father/BIL (Twitty if people start complaining about the drive). 

 

Any insight on what's been going on at any of these or the better one to hit? Never been to any of them and not sure how different conditions are compared to Gaston and some lakes east of Raleigh. 

 

I'd assume they are confused with all the cold fronts like they are over here but thought I'd ask anyway. 

[FishTax]

Don't rule out tuckertown. There are big fish in all of the listed lakes. I won't know what they're doing but would assume pretty similar to rest of the state. Trying to spawn, bouncing back and forth depending on weather. 

 

If they're spawning, look up the river off high Rock. Lakes are full and fish should be shallow with this week's warm weather and muddy water from rain.. I think?

[VolFan]

If you’re here already you know we’re getting periodic thunderstorms. The upper end of High Rock will probably be pretty muddy for the next couple days. I’d do Badin and go shallow and big over near the railroad tracks on the west side. 

Also - The Shadinator on FB fishes that chain. He’s a former NC wildlife officer and gives great info on an almost daily basis.

[spartyon8]

I am thinking of taking off work to fish Thursday/Friday at Badin. Coming from the winston salem area, what boat ramps do you recommend? I googled them and one up on the north end had reviews of it being extremely shallow (not the best for my boat, and one on the southwest that looks more like a park/swimming area. 

[Functional]

Appreciate it guys, never ended up going with the expected conditions but I will be hitting one of those on my next visit. 

[TnRiver46]

@LrgmouthShad

[LrgmouthShad]

Badin has four boat ramps that I am aware of. Circle drive on extreme North, Whip O Will also on the North, the main launch on the Southwest, and Cove Boat Ramp on the Southeast. I’ve launched from all of them in a kayak and done fine fishing from all of them. Circle Drive has the best amenities of the boat ramps. Cove Boat Ramp and Whip O Will have the worst. 
 

Everywhere is good but I would give the area around Cove Boat Ramp the nod this time of year. There are some belugas that like to come into pockets close by there for spawning season. If you have a large boat, Cove Boat Ramp may be a little more difficult to launch from. You are likely to meet some fellow rednecks at that ramp and the drive to it is a little rough. There are some characters I have met around there. Be careful with your valuable items. I don’t think anybody around there means badly. The main launch is a safer bet if you can run over to the area around Cove Boat Ramp. 

[spartyon8]

3 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Badin has four boat ramps that I am aware of. Circle drive on extreme North, Whip O Will also on the North, the main launch on the Southwest, and Cove Boat Ramp on the Southeast. I’ve launched from all of them in a kayak and done fine fishing from all of them. Circle Drive has the best amenities of the boat ramps. Cove Boat Ramp and Whip O Will have the worst. 
 

Everywhere is good but I would give the area around Cove Boat Ramp the nod this time of year. There are some belugas that like to come into pockets close by there for spawning season. If you have a large boat, Cove Boat Ramp may be a little more difficult to launch from. You are likely to meet some fellow rednecks at that ramp and the drive to it is a little rough. There are some characters I have met around there. Be careful with your valuable items. I don’t think anybody around there means badly. The main launch is a safer bet if you can run over to the area around Cove Boat Ramp. 

Thanks! Does it fish traditionally like High Rock?

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, spartyon8 said:

Thanks! Does it fish traditionally like High Rock?

I have no idea; I’ve never fished High Rock. Badin I like spinnerbaits and jigs in the spring but I toss those everywhere anyways. In the summer if you are fishing shallow a shaky head is hard to beat.
 

When I come to NC for the holidays or another time, I’m always fishing Badin these days. I don’t really care to fish anywhere else. 

[spartyon8]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I have no idea; I’ve never fished High Rock. Badin I like spinnerbaits and jigs in the spring but I toss those everywhere anyways. In the summer if you are fishing shallow a shaky head is hard to beat.
 

When I come to NC for the holidays or another time, I’m always fishing Badin these days. I don’t really care to fish anywhere else. 

Thanks! My old man lives in Concord and I invited him out. He brought up Mountain Island Lake so we shall see. I appreciate it!

[FishTax]

I think I'm hitting one of the yadkin lakes Wednesday. I'll let you know what it looks like if it happens. 

[FishTax]

On 4/12/2024 at 5:14 PM, VolFan said:

If you’re here already you know we’re getting periodic thunderstorms. The upper end of High Rock will probably be pretty muddy for the next couple days. I’d do Badin and go shallow and big over near the railroad tracks on the west side. 

Also - The Shadinator on FB fishes that chain. He’s a former NC wildlife officer and gives great info on an almost daily basis.

I can't find the shadinator, can you send a link or tell me it it's a page or group or something? I don't use FB much... 

[VolFan]

Try ‘The Shad-N-Ator’ on FB. That should get you there. 

[spartyon8]

Went to Mountain Island Lake today and got skunked. Saw a bunch of bluegill around docks, a few small bass roaming the shore but couldn't even get a sniff. Might hit up High Rock tomorrow on my way back to Winston. 

[VolFan]

@spartyon8 Where were you on Mtn Island? I was out there with my wife - the lake treated us similarly to you… no fish. 

[spartyon8]

Started at the Riverbend boat launch off of 16 and went up to Buzzard Rock area. This was my first time on the lake and I hit every creek/cove on the east side up to Buzzard Rock. I tried everything. The two roamers wouldn't even turn a head at my lure. Water temp was 67/68*. Left the lake at 2 as I was getting a bit warm. 

[VolFan]

Yeah we were there from 8-1. Went pretty far upriver to hit a few reliable spots…swing and a miss. It couldn’t decide if it wanted to be hit or windy today. Saw a bunch of shad and probably white perch at the main lake mouth of Gar Creek, just couldn’t get anything to do more than de-tail a few keitechs. 

[FishTax]

Y'all should hit Norman, it was on fire yesterday. Throw wacky rig or 1/8 shaky head with white or silver ish senko and they light you up in the shallows. 

[spartyon8]

I did well with a ned on Norman 3 weeks ago. 

[VolFan]

Yeah I was on Norman the two trips previous and did well, just didn’t want to drive that far today.

[spartyon8]

Fished High Rock from 9-3 today and got no bass. I gave up and went crappie fishing. Marked a bunch in 8-12' but no takers. Tossed my crappie jig a little too hard and it landed on a bank, the reel in netted the first crappie of the day and it was a keeper. That tipped me off to shallow water. Played that pattern for the next two hours and caught close to two dozen crappies with 6 keepers. I just finished filleting them bad boys and to my surprise, spawners. All filled with eggs. If anyone likes crappie, go get em this weekend!

[TnRiver46]

Bass aren’t biting here either, I’m guessing it’s because they are spawning