Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 118 of 293

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August 27, 2026

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

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. […]

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. […]

Hit the brush piles for Kerr Lake crappie

Tony Garitta

Keith Wray of Fish Doc Guide Service in Eden, N.C., spends about as much time planting brush piles in Kerr Lake as he does fishing for crappie. […]

Capt. David Hilton said anglers can sleep at little late and still catch plenty of Santee's crappie this time of year.

Top tips for cold weather crappie at Santee

Brian Cope

The crappie fishing is hot at Santee, and even during the coldest part of the day, anglers can catch plenty of slabs if they know what to look for and use the proper bait. […]

Don’t pass up the exciting winter action for crappie at Shearon Harris throughout December.

Have a slab-happy Harris holiday

Tony Garitta

When most fishermen recall the day when they first started crappie fishing, typically involve nostalgic boyhood tales of bobbing with minnows with family members at a local pond or lake. […]