Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 112 of 290

May 5, 2026

Lake Monticello will produce plenty of healthy, chunky blue cats for anglers like guide William Attaway.

Float position can help trigger catfish bites on a drift

Guide William Attaway said a lot of fishermen prefer to drift-fish and typically will use a standard drift rig that typically works well. […]

A big chunk of white perch is one of a handful of great winter baits for Lake Monticello’s blue catfish.

Use different baits for big Monticello blues

Terry Madewell

Guide Justin Whiteside said he begins each day using a variety of different baits to determine what’s working best. […]

Pay special attention to your depth finder when fishing for crappie in February. Don’t spend much time in areas where you don’t mark slabs or bait, and notice the depth fish are holding and place your baits just above that level.

It’s the little things that matter

Phillip Gentry

Paying attention to details is never more important than when fishing for crappie in cold water, especially in February. If everything is done right, an angler is rewarded with a box full of fish, but missing the mark often means coming up blank. Here are some common tips that often mean the difference between catching a limit and going home empty-handed. […]

Todd Vick poses with a typical wintertime river crappie.

Tips for Haw River’s winter crappie

Brian Cope

It may seem a little early in the year for hot crappie fishing across the Carolinas. But it’s been on fire for those willing to test out the waters a little sooner than most, at least on some days. Whether it’s longline trolling or anchoring over brush piles, anglers are catching plenty of slabs. Especially when the weather and wind are just right. […]

The author (left) caught this nice Lake Murray striper fishing with guide Brad Taylor.

Lake Murray stripers begin to stir

Pat Robertson

With winter’s chill finally being to be replaced by warmer weather, March is a strong month for striped bass on Lake Murray, according to guide Brad Taylor. […]

Hickory shad — like this one the author caught — fill the Roanoke River and its tributaries this month.

Annual shad run sparkles in river

Dusty Wilson

For anglers in the know, fishing the March shad run offers one of the first opportunities since the deep freeze of winter to catch a pile of fish. The Roanoke River will be brimming with hickory shad, and guide Mitchell Blake of Chocowinity, N.C., will be there. […]

Regan Norris caught this beautiful rainbow trout in the waters of South Carolina’s Lower Saluda River.

Try Saluda for surprise rainbows

Brian Cope

The lower Saluda River, which begins just below Lake Murray Dam outside of Columbia, S.C., is stocked with rainbow trout, and because the water in the river comes off the lake’s bottom and stays cold, they don’t die during the summer. […]

Guide Wendell Wilson catches Lake Russell crappie shallow and deep in March, when fish are moving in and out at different stages of the spawn.

Lake Russell slabs on the move

Pat Robertson

If catching slabs is your thing, March is the best month to fish for crappie on South Carolina’s Lake Russell, according to guide Wendell Wilson of Elberton, Ga. […]

Guide Jot Owens caught this nice American Shad during the winter/spring run in the Cape Fear River upstream from Wilmington, N.C.

Salute shad, the kickoff fish

Brian Cope

It’s been cold, and many anglers have been waiting for the slightest break in weather. And while many are looking forward to next month, plenty of others know that February is really the time to break out the ultralight gear and head to a handful of rivers across the Carolinas for the shad run. […]

Carolina Sportsman columnist and Upstate Outdoors radio show host Phillip Gentry is one of the Crappie University instructors.

Crappie University set for Spartanburg debut

From News Reports

Crappie University, a classroom-style educational program dedicated to teaching anglers of all ages and skill levels how to catch the popular panfish year-round, is scheduled to begin next week in Spartanburg. […]