Spotted Bass Q's

[The Baron]

I'm panning a trip to NC for March break next year, with my son and a couple buddies.  We'll be after "bigger than here" LMB primarily, but might take a moment to try and catch our first ever spotted bass.

 

Are spotted bass likely to be caught while we're after largemouth, probably fishing shallow or cranking points?  Or are they more of a deeper water fish?  I don't feel a need to go after them specifically, but would be fun to say we caught some.  Or are spots special for some reason and maybe someone out there will say spots are their favourite to catch?

[Jig Man]

Here in Southwest Missouri our lakes have largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.  You are likely to catch all three in the same area.  Spotted bass often are present in schools so if you catch one you just might get several in the same place.

[WRB]

Spotted Bass are similar to Smallmouth Bass regarding prey, lure preference and location.

If Blueback herring are in the lake then Spots group up on the herring schools, watch for birds and use 4”-5” surface lure like Gun Fish 117 Herring.

Finesse living rubber jigs in brown/green with green trailer chartreuse tipped tail.

Soft plastics greens w/chartreuse tail and cinnamon brown w/ orange tipped tails work everywhere for Spots.

Tom

*Roboworm  mean green, desert craw.

[Logan S]

Not sure which lake you're going to, but in most the NC lakes that have spotted bass in them you'll more likely have to try not to catch them if you favor largemouth.  

[Alex from GA]

Especially in March they are staging for the spawn and you'll find them where the LM are.  Spots/Alabama Bass spawn somewhat deeper than LM.  You'll find when you think you have a really good fish on and it turns out to be a 12" Alabama Bass that they pull really hard.

[wonkyrig]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Spotted Bass are similar to Smallmouth Bass regarding prey, lure preference and location.

If Blueback herring are in the lake then Spots group up on the herring schools, watch for birds and use 4”-5” surface lure like Gun Fish 117 Herring.

Finesse living rubber jigs in brown/green with green trailer chartreuse tipped tail.

Soft plastics greens w/chartreuse tail and cinnamon brown w/ orange tipped tails work everywhere for Spots.

Tom

*Roboworm  mean green, desert craw.

 

Tom/WRB is on the money per usual. I'd add a shaky head, a fluke, and a rock crawler. Spots are maniacs, I love them.

[Bird]

They call spotted bass invasive around here but I'd say " invited " .

They fight extremely well and are voracious eaters, easy to catch.

 

[scaleface]

I dont get to fish for spots often. A couple of years back, I lucked into  them when they were bedding. Dark brown  tubes were getting a lot of results. 

[TnRiver46]

If only @Woody B was here to chime in…… actually you could probably just access his old reports. Seems like he caught some of each every trip out in NC 

 

I get maybe 1 spot to every 10-12 smallies but always just fishing, never done anything different to try to target them 

 

there are a few places where there are always a few ky spots on the rivers, not sure why but they are there no matter what. One is ultra fast water behind a bridge pillar 

[Functional]

Where in NC you plan on going? I catch both in similar areas. If you are going for LMB you are likely to fall into a Spot. I hit schools of them more off shore on submerged points or long tapering points that drop off on the sides. The bigger ones I'll hit where I get LMB. 

 

If you eat bass the spots in most lakes (if not all) have no limit on size or quantity to keep. They are "invasive". 

[The Baron]

55 minutes ago, Functional said:

Where in NC you plan on going?

I’m looking at a few lakes north/east of Charlotte, probably try High Rock, Baden, Lake Norman… maybe explore some smaller lakes.  Most likely catch and release, but good to know spots are considered invasive.  For sure we’ll be carefully reading all the regulations.

[Functional]

1 hour ago, The Baron said:

I’m looking at a few lakes north/east of Charlotte, probably try High Rock, Baden, Lake Norman… maybe explore some smaller lakes.  Most likely catch and release, but good to know spots are considered invasive.  For sure we’ll be carefully reading all the regulations.

Not that bigger LMB cant be caught on those lakes (certainly can) the more notable ones for the state are by Raleigh (jordan, falls, shearon harris). If you stay on the east side of Raleigh you can still stretch out to High Rock/Badin in about 1.5hrs. 

 

As for non fishing things to do there is plenty at either place.

 

@LrgmouthShad , @Pat Brown and maybe even @Choporoz might be able to help you with the lakes you listed. 

[Alex from GA]

BTW spotted/Alabama Bass taste better than LM IMO.

[Logan S]

21 hours ago, The Baron said:

I’m looking at a few lakes north/east of Charlotte, probably try High Rock, Baden, Lake Norman… maybe explore some smaller lakes.  Most likely catch and release, but good to know spots are considered invasive.  For sure we’ll be carefully reading all the regulations.

Not sure what route your taking...But if coming down 95/85 corridor you're going to pass a few good lakes on the way to Charlotte too....

 

Gaston and Kerr on the VA/NC line.  Gaston is primarily a spotted bass lake now but still has big LM that are more catchable in the spring.  Kerr is an amazing lake, primarily LM but last few year the spots have been showing up and right now it's the part of their invasion cycle where you actually catch big ones (I caught several 3 and 4 lbers last season).  If the water is high at Kerr its some of the most fun bass fishing you'll find (IMO), flooded brush, shallow fish, power techniques.  You could fish both of these lakes if you stay in the area, I'd stay in the Gaston area over the Kerr area, lots of rental houses on the water.

 

The Raleigh area lakes obviously are known for big fish, Jordan - Falls - Harris.  I can't offer any insight on these though. My understanding is that these lakes hold big fish but are tough to figure out.  

 

As to the lakes on your list, Norman is a spotted bass lake...High Rock is a LM lake and probably the best bet of what you listed at a big LM, though not the easiest to figure out (for me anyway , but obviously I'm not local to it so I only have a handful of days on it).  Don't know Badin, but have heard good things, also LM only I believe.  

 

Hope you enjoy your trip to the area, I'd say if you're going to be in the area you should try to catch a spot, they are super fun...Like smallmouth but angrier .  

[fishingram24]

They will hammer a spinner bait or trap as well as the soft plastics mentioned. I've caught 2 or 3 over 4 pounds and absolutely love to catch them but I'm not good enough to target just spots. They are my favorite bass to catch due to how they fight and willingness to bite at times.