Need some GASTON (VA/NC) info: March Fishing

[ball_coach_1]

Been a LONG time.  Still fishing, just been away from the site for a while.

Hoping to get some advice / hisotry / experiences on Gaston (sister to Buggs Island) VA.

A friend and I are doing the spring trip there this year, biggest reason being both been a lot of places, but not there.  Awaiting some feedback.

Thanks ahead of time.

[ball_coach_1]

"history" mispelled.

By the way, the trip will be the 3rd week of MARCH.

Useful, if not necessary, information. Sorry.

Thanks.

[Sam]

Suggestions for Gaston and Kerr trip.

1.  Check out motels in South Hill. Many of them, including the Days Inn, have a reduced rate if you are a fisherman. But you have to ask for it. The Days Inn motel also has electrical outlets to recharge your batteries. Days Inn, 434.447.3123.

2.  Kerr and Gaston are two different bodies of water.  They fish different and you can use different baits and techniques on each.

3.  Call 434.738.6371, extension 275 for the water level of Kerr.  303 to 304 means the water is covering the bushes and the fishing is great.  300 is the normal level for the lake.  If you can find bushes with 10 to 12 feet of water under them then you will be in bass heaven.

4.  Order your GMCO maps of Kerr Reservoir and Lake Gaston, 888.420.6277.  You will need to study the maps before you venture out.

5. Remember, these are two big bodies of water and if the wind is blowing you will have whitecaps on the lakes so be careful and watch the wind.

6.  Drive to Clarksville and visit Bobcat Lake Country Tackle. They know what the fish are hitting and they can give you some good advice.  It is on Route 15 south of Clarksville so follow the signs and try not to get lost.  

7. Try Eastland Creek.  Lots of coves and bushes to fish and the water can be calmer then out on the lake if the wind is blowing.  Also consider Powerline Cove and Rushing Creek.

8. Get a map of Virginia so you can follow the roads to your ramp and other places to visit.

Kerr

I like to throw spinnerbaits and wacky rigs (5 inch pumpkin worms with black flake) into the bushes. White 3/8 War Eagle spinnerbaits or your favorite spinnerbaits should produce strikes.

Worms in the color of red shad, green pumpkin, watermealon and grape have worked in the past.

Green Pumpkin and purple with green flake tubes fished bouncing off the bottom back to the boat can be fun.

Some fo the guys like the Rat-L-Trap, silver with a blue back; a Shad Rap Rapala #7 or #8; and the old staple, the Black and Blue Jig.

Add Gary Y. Kreature Baits thrown into the bushes

Zoom Red Shad Curley Tail worms fished over any brushpile you can find. And try to find any humps on the bottom and fish them.

Gaston

I like to throw shad color crankbaits along grass lines.

Lots of docks to fish and you can fish almost any type of rig you want.

Look for grass in the lake or creeks plus any tree stump fields.

Try a Junebug colored worm.

Rat-L-Traps both silver and blue and gold and orange have worked in the past.  So do Shaky Head rigs. Sweet Beaver in green pumpkin can be productive.

Carolina rigs work on Gaston, too.

Who knows what they will want to strike so be ready to throw different baits.

You will receive other information so consider it, too.

And watch your speed on I-85.  They are watching you in unmarked partol cars in NC and in cruisers in VA.

Good luck and let us know how you all did.

[Corky in VA]

Sam - I have to ask; how in the heck do you remember all of that detail?  Trust me, I made a copy of your response for the file and will let you know how it went when the time comes for my trip to Kerr.

Corky

[frogtog]

I will be on Gaston Saturday practising for all the tournaments in March. I will give you some feed back on Monday.

[ball_coach_1]

Sam and frogtog, thanks for the replies and info.

I will CERTAINLY be pm'ing you both soon.

A NEW body of water(s) and travel time constraint is keeping me from the annual trip to TX, FL, GA or AL.  My buddy and I have wanted to hit both, but a friend recommended Gaston (vs Kerr) due to the spring bite (quality) and the unpredictable weather/wind at Kerr due to the larger amount of open water.  I am certain if the weather cooperates we will venture to Kerr a day or two as well.

Plan to be fishing March 16 - March 20 (Sun-Thur).  Perhaps some more detailed info from the two of you for those specific times will be available in the next couple of weeks.  Feel free to message me, and hope you don't mind that I will be doing just that in the coming days or weeks.

Thanks again and ahead of time.

[ncstatered21]

Me and my friend went there at the end of march beginning of april and we fished two days and caught about 20-30 fish and two 4 pounders. we mainly threw medium to shallow running crankbaits around docks and while doing that we saw the occasional schooling shad on the water surface and got a couple out of those. i think i've caught everything there on crankbaits. most came on a bleeding strike king about 3-6 ft (estimate) diving crankbait. and the other on a rapala redish rat-l-trap. other wise pretty fun. not sure if we're goin again this year but we may.

[MattStrykul]

I'm headin down tomorrow as well. We won't be able to take our newer boat so I'll be fishin out of our coleman crawdad this weekend, should be an adventure~!

I love throwing jigs at Gaston, they always seem to work. Also, Gaston is basically notorious for crankbaits, it's a GREAT crankbait lake.

Blue fleck (junebug) works great too, love the powerbait worms. Crigs, shakeyheads, everything.

FrogTog, where abouts on the lake will you be fishing tomorrow??? If yousee a small boat with 2 young guys in it come say hello!

[Sam]

Ball Coach,

I keep records of all the bodies of water I fish and use the materials as reference data.

Records include what I caught, where and the baits used; what others caught; tips and suggestions from others; and magazine articles.

It is always interesting to read about what worked or failed to refresh your memory so you do not have to stock the boat with 200 pounds of plastics and 100 spinnerbiats, buzzbaits, Chatterbaits, topwaters, crankbaits, Banjo Minnow, etc.

OK, just kidding about the Banjo Minnow.

[frogtog]

Just got in from Gaston, had a pretty good day. Caught 13 keepers and 2 junk backs. Every thing came on a Bandit, cant remember what color it was so I'll post a pic. Water was 48 degrees and moved up to 53 in the afternoon. Well you can't see the color

in the pic. It's a new color that Bandit just put out. I will post later.

[preach4bass]

Frogtog,

It's been over two years since I've seen you and you are still wearing the same red hat. Is that your secret for winning all those tournaments? You and Tiger Woods must have a thing for red. ;D

[frogtog]

Yep don't leave home without it. Have you ever noticed that every tournament I win I'm wearing a red short sleave shirt also.

When you want to go?

[preach4bass]

I'm ready!  Well, I'll be ready as soon as I go get a red hat and shirt  

[frogtog]

I've got the hat covered. ;D