Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 121 of 290

May 6, 2026

Popping bugs can catch a tremendous number of bluegills when they’re striking the surface, and pairing it with a spider or ant on a dropper will often get even more strikes from below.

A dropper makes a popping bug even hotter

In the fly-fishing world, rigging to present multiple flies offers a fish a better chance to make a mistake and get a hook in its jaw. […]

Planer boards push against the current, and by using line clips and swivels, they can carry trolled or drifted baits well away from a boat, allowing a tremendous amount of water to be covered by a spread of baits.

Planer board features, advantages are easy to learn

Terry Madewell

According to guide, Justin Whiteside, planer boards are primarily employed when an angler uses an electric motor to move a boat on a specific course at a specific speed. […]

It takes a big planer board to effectively pull an extremely large bait, but small baits in shallow, clear-water situations are best used behind a small planer board.

Match planer board size to bait size

Terry Madewell

Planer boards are made in a wide variety of sizes because of the varying needs of anglers for specific species and circumstances. Selecting the right one for the job at hand is crucial. […]

Zakk Royce fights a big Lake Gaston catfish hooked on a bait pulled along the bottom behind a planer board.

Catfish pros recognize planer board uses

Terry Madewell

Guide Zakk Royce took the principles of using planer boards in striper fishing that he learned from a buddy and applied it to catfishing, and it has significantly improved his success. […]

White perch have become established at Shearon Harris Lake, giving anglers another great option for summer fishing trips.

Color Harris white

Tony Garitta

For better or for worse, white perch have become established at North Carolina’s Shearon Harris Reservoir because of what were likely unauthorized stockings. […]

Gus Gustafson said a flathead like this 50-pound specimen from Lake Norman can put up quite a battle, even on heavy tackle.

Norman’s flatheads take control

Tony Garitta

Guide Gus Gustafson said July is a peak month for catching flathead catfish on North Carolina’s Lake Norman. […]

Wateree River slabs biting around current breaks

Brian Cope

The Wateree River has an undervalued population of slabs, but anglers who target them have plenty of success with these tips. […]

While fishing in Ashe County with his brother-in-law, Nich Krayniewski caught this big brown trout.

Youth angler catches 5-pound brown trout in Ashe County

Brian Cope

This time of year, it’s common to let our attention go to the beaches of the Carolinas for fishing offshore, nearshore, and inshore. The fishing is great for many different species along the coast, but we shouldn’t overlook the trout fishing that we have in the western part of both states. […]

Tony Alexander uses dip baits to catch Lake Murray catfish.

Number 1 tip for catching more catfish on stink bait

Brian Cope

Catfish are biting in all the lakes, rivers, and ponds across both Carolinas this time of year, and depending on which species of catfish you’re after, you might opt for any number of baits. […]

How to catch multiple white perch on a single cast

Brian Cope

White perch have become a nuisance on many of the lakes across both Carolinas, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun to catch. They’re also tasty table fare, and they make great catfish bait. […]