Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 117 of 292

July 8, 2026

Panthertown Valley is special for wild brook trout fishing

Panthertown Valley is unlike any other trout waters in western North Carolina. But it offers some of the best wild brook trout fishing in the region. […]

Stripers will still provide plenty of action this month on live bait and artificials, especially at the surface.

Cool weather=hot fishing

Terry Madewell

The cooler weather of December does little to slow the fishing activity on the Santee Cooper lakes. Catfish, crappie, stripers and largemouth bass will be biting. Successful patterns certainly change, but in some cases, the fish-catching perks up, especially if anglers retreat to deeper water. […]

When searching for catfish in the winter, make sure you find plenty of forage in an area before putting your baits down.

It’s all about the forage

Terry Madewell

A recurring theme among all the catfish guides is that winter catfishing are all about the forage; you fish close to forage or you don’t catch fish. […]

Guide Chris Nichols said High Rock is developing into a top-drawer lake for blue catfish.

Is High Rock the next catfish crown jewel?

Terry Madewell

Badin Lake on the Yadkin River chain in North Carolina has long been known as an excellent lake for blue catfish in the winter, but two reservoirs upstream, High Rock Lake seems poised to become the next winter hotspot. […]

Sampling by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has shown Shearon Harris Lake to have a very healthy population of black crappie.

Sampling points to healthy crappie population at Shearon Harris Lake

Tony Garitta

Kirk Rundle, a fisheries biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission, said Shearon Harris Lake is usually sampled every other fall for crappie, with the last sample taken in November 2014. […]

Joel Munday said stringers of crappie like this one aren’t unusual on Shearon Harris Lake, even in December.

Tie a double uni-knot

Tony Garitta

The advantages of the double uni-knot for connecting leaders to main lines are: […]

Albemarle Sound stripers provide plenty of action for anglers in December, especially if they’re schooling in open water.

Find Albemarle sound stripers

Dusty Wilson

Striped bass come alive in December, and one of the largest gatherings occurs in North Carolina’s Albemarle Sound as they huddle up for the coming winter. Guide Jeff Onley of Elizabeth City hopes for schooling fish, but he can also find action on structure with a variety of hard and soft baits. […]

Robbie Burr, who guided for catfish on Blewett Falls Lake before recently retiring, said the lake has several winter hot spots that are rarely unproductive.

Visit the catfish log jam

Tony Garitta

December is one of the better months for hooking a blue catfish weighing 30 pounds or more from North Carolina’s Blewett Falls Lake. Once the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, the bite is on, according to Robbie Burr, who has recently retired after a long career guiding fishermen. […]

Guide Chris Simpson said Lake Murray is liable to spit out some big blue catfish during the winter, beginning this month.

Get Murray blues

Pat Robertson

When the water temperature in Lake Murray drops below 65 degrees, it’s time for the winter blues, according to guide Chris Simpson of McCormick, S.C. […]

Drifting at Santee Cooper producing hot catfish action

Brian Cope

Drifting provides some hot catfish action on the Santee Cooper lakes throughout the cold months. […]