Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 109 of 293

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August 26, 2026

A young angler works a section of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County, one of North Carolina’s most-popular delayed-harvest trout streams.

Delayed harvest: Trout for everyone

Beginning May 15 in South Carolina and June 2 in North Carolina, anglers will be able to keep their catches in delayed-harvest trout waters, up to five trout per day in South Carolina and seven in North Carolina, with no bait or lure restrictions. […]

Catfish bite on Santee year-round, but in June, it can be extra special.

Santee in June: Catfish central

Terry Madewell

Catfish are typically on a strong bite year-round at Santee Cooper, but June offers opportunities to be highly productive in a number of different ways. With the warming water, it’s an excellent time to pursue all of the “big three”catfish species: blue, flathead and channel.

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Live minnows are extremely productive baits when crappie are in deeper water, and dying them brighter colors often draws even more strikes.

Bait dynamics for crappie

Jeff Burleson

Golden shiners are deadly baits for crappie, but sometimes the fish would rather eat a green minnow than a natural-colored one. So don’t be afraid to dye your minnows when searching for slabs. […]

Let LED’s light up your night

Terry Madewell

Not all lights for after-dark fishing are created equal, and variables such as style, color and brightness require choices. Rango Plemmons has been fishing for crappie at night since 1970 and has seen a thing or two about lights. […]

Minnow managment is key to after-dark crappie fishing success

Terry Madewell

Bait for nocturnal crappie fishing seems to be one area where fishermen actually agree — a rarity in the sport. The vast majority use and trust live minnows for the best results. […]

Deep brush will always hold crappie, even during the hottest months.

Brush up on summer slabs

Jeff Burleson

Just because the spring crappie spawn is over doesn’t mean you can’t catch plenty of slabs. They are congregating around deep brush piles, and more predictable now than at any other time of year. […]

Crappie fishing at night is a great option for Carolina anglers.

Night-time anglers are catching plenty of crappie

Terry Madewell

Nightstalking for crappie is a popular pasttime for many anglers across the Carolinas. […]

Delayed Harvest trout water open June 2 in North Carolina.

Delayed Harvest trout waters open June 2 in North Carolina

NCWRC Release

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open 34 trout streams and two lakes classified as Delayed Harvest to trout harvest on June 2 through Sept. 30. […]

Rainbow trout have a varied diet and will eat anything they can capture. They routinely eat the larval, pupal and adult forms of aquatic insects, plus terrestrials that fall into the water. They will eat fish eggs, shrimp, crawfish and small fish up to one-third of their length.

Four-of-a-kind basic trout flies for fly fishermen

Robert Satterwhite

Fly fishers need to know the four basic types of flies, including how to tie them and present them, before heading out in search of trout. […]

Lindsey Edge, 6-years-old, of Laurel Hill, NC, caught this 71-pound blue catfish on the Pee Dee River at the base of the Blewett Falls Dam.

6-year-old lands 71-pound catfish on Pee Dee River

Jeff Burleson

Six-year-old Lindsey Edge of Laurel Hill, N.C. caught a 71-pound blue catfish on May 10 at the base of the Blewett Falls Dam in the Pee Dee River at Norwood, N.C. Few anglers ever catch or even see a fish this big in person. But, it happened for Edge, who spends many hours with her father, Ira Edge on the water every year. […]