Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 125 of 290

May 6, 2026

Crappie on Kerr Lake are usually spawning in April, but this year’s crop may be finished when April arrives.

Catch Kerr crappie on their way out

Crappie fishing in April is usually a spawning deal, but according to Chris Bullock of Kerr Lake Crappie and Cats Guide Service, 2017 isn’t shaping up as the usual deal. […]

Jonathan Grady knocked off these two shad in the swift waters below Lock and Dam No. 1 in the Cape Fear River upstream from Wilmington.

Run, shad, run

Jerry Dilsaver

The Cape Fear River has a variety of fishing opportunities, and one of the spring highlights is shad, striper and catfish action in the tailwaters of Lock and Dam No. 1 about 20 miles upriver from Wilmington, N.C. […]

Guide Seth Owens likes to fish stinkbaits for Lake Hartwell channel cats in 20 to 30 feet of water in April.

Try Hartwell’s cats

Pat Robertson

April is when the last vestiges of winter become just memories, the days get longer and the water temperature rises into that magic range in the low 60s that puts the catfish in Lake Hartwell on the move. That’s when the fishing starts to get good, according to guide Seth Owens of Anderson, S.C. […]

Guide Richard Andrews of Bath targets Roanoke River’s striped bass this month with soft-plastic paddletail baits fished on leadhead jigs.

Roanoke stripers running

Craig Holt

If it’s April, dogwood blossoms in North Carolina must be “as big as a squirrel’s ear” and striped bass will migrate inland — or at least that’s what old-time Roanoke River anglers say. […]

The key to catching spawning crappie is to understand how they approach their spawning areas.

The key to catching more spring crappie

Dan Kibler

Crappie don’t enter their spawning grounds at an angle, and once anglers realize this, they will catch more slabs in the spring. […]

Even though many streams are closed for stocking in March, there’s plenty of trout water still open for anglers in both Carolinas.

March still offers options

Robert Satterwhite

Prime spring fishing is just around the corner, as mountain streams begin warming up, and brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout become active and hungry, eager to gobble up the abundant spring hatches. It’s a time when anglers enjoy some of the best trout fishing of the year. […]

You might have to hunt for them a little bit, but largemouth bass should be moving into the shallows at Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, preparing to spawn in March.

It’s Santee shallow time

Terry Madewell

February brought hope of better fishing. but March brings the coveted promise of exceptional fishing on the Santee Cooper lakes. Despite Mother Nature’s typical, short-lived, cold-front disruptions, bass and crappie are going to make their shallow water move in March. […]

Power Pole’s addition of drift paddles has given a shallow water anchoring system new life for deeper water fishing.

Power Pole attachment will keep the wind at bay for crappie trollers

Phillip Gentry

Crappie pro Matthew Outlaw said his favorite tactic in any season entails tight- lining combinations of jigs and minnows along channel breaks and over the tops and sides of submerged timber and brush. […]

A tiny stinger hook on a small leader can help you catch more catfish, especially when they are striking short on your bait.

Catch more catfish with this one tip

Brian Cope

Anglers will catch more catfish if they use a stinger hook, which is a small but stout treble hook that is tied behind the main hook. […]

American shad, which average 2 to 3 pounds, are much larger than hickory shad, which weigh in around a pound.

Shad run is kayak heaven

Phillip Gentry

Rivers along the coast of the Carolinas have always been great places to paddle. They offer scenic beauty, miles of water devoid of boat traffic more common to impoundments and areas around inlets, and most are home to some phenomenal kayak fishing. […]