Freshwater Fishing Archives - Page 150 of 292

July 10, 2026

Zakk Royce, the North Carolina blue catfish state record holder, will be giving a seminar tonight at 6 p.m. at the Cary Bass Pro Shops.

Record catfish holder to speak at Bass Pro Shops in Cary tonight

I met Zakk Royce about a month after he set the new North Carolina state record for blue catfish. After discussing my personal best, 76-pound catfish (which is almost 30-pounds lighter than his record fish), I joked that maybe soon I would catch a bigger one, and break his record. […]

The NCWRC is considering stocking redfish into Hyco Lake.

Red drum fishing – on Hyco Lake?

Brian Cope

The NCWRC is considering stocking red drum into Hyco Lake. It’s okay if you want to read that sentence again. Yes, THAT Hyco Lake. The freshwater one that’s 3-hours away from saltwater. […]

According to Richie Wimmer of Cross, finding baitfish congregated in deep water will often lead anglers to plenty of nice blue cats.

February is moving time – Most fish begin to head shallow or upriver

Terry Madewell

Ol’ Man Winter may still have his icy hand on the weather on occasion, but by February, some fish species on Santee Cooper are a bit too shallow-minded to care. […]

Crappie congregate in deep water in the winter, often around changes in the bottom contour.

Winter crappie fishing hotspots

Phillip Gentry

Crappie are well-established in their winter pattern during the month of January until mid-February, when they begin to move. Typically, this means they are oriented to structure in water depths ranging from 15 to 35 feet in many South Carolina reservoirs. […]

This time of year, anglers will find crappie near structures like dams, bridges, and riprapped banks.

Don’t neglect those dam crappie

Phillip Gentry

B’n’M Poles pro-staffer Kent Driscoll suggests crappie fishermen looking to warm up on some cold-water crappie need to head to the nearest dam or sizeable riprapped bank. […]

Bass fishing in February often improves later in the day after the sun has a chance to warm the water.

How timing plays into February bass at Santee Cooper

Terry Madewell

Guides Kevin Davis and Linwood Thornhill agree that the better bass fishing in February will be later in the day, but that’s not always when they start. […]

Work the edges of creeks and channels that cut through shallow flats to find February largemouths.

Think shallow in February for Santee Cooper bass

Terry Madewell

Linwood Thornhill said that in most years — 2015 being an exception because it was so cold — largemouth will make a move toward the shallows late in the month. […]

Shooting a jig back under a dock and letting it fall slowly to the bottom is a great winter technique for finding and catching slab crappie.

Shoot winter boat docks for South Carolina crappie

Phillip Gentry

As they do in spring and summer, boat docks provide structure, cover, food and a variety of water depths so crappie can find comfortable water temperatures during the winter. […]

While fishing with Capt. Robbie Burr of Pee Dee Fishing Adventures, Craig Bennett caught and released this 70-pound blue catfish at Blewett Falls Lake.

N. Wilkesboro angler catches 70-pound catfish at Blewett Falls

Dusty Wilson

When guide Robbie Burr of Wadesboro prepares for a catfish charter, he gives his clients the choice of filling their coolers with eating-size fish or spending the day chasing trophies, and that decision tells him where they’re fishing. […]

Kephart Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a challenge for any fly fisher when the water is at full stage.

A fisher’s primer on flies

Robert Satterwhite

Fishers have been fooling trout into taking artificial flies since the days of ancient Macedonia — and probably much longer — and that practice has changed very little in the intervening years. […]