Fishing Archives - Page 717 of 1072

July 9, 2026

Post-spawn bass often take up residence on structure along the edges of channels or ditches leading to and from their spawning coves.

Tune to right channel for post-spawn bass

So what’s a good strategy for finding post-spawn bass? […]

Fishermen who know how to use a depth finder can tune their unit to find the ‘thermocline’ around which most stripers will be holding and feeding.

Use the thermocline to your advantage

Guide Preston Hardin said that typically about the middle of the month, a thermocline will set up in the upper part of the lake, and the fish will literally just follow that thermocline as they migrate down the lake. […]

Productive post-spawn baits include (clockwise from bottom): Zara Spook, Pop-R, Rat-L-Trap, Fluke, trick or floating worm, centipede.

Best lures for the post-spawn

Craig Holt

Because bass leave spring spawning beds over a period of weeks, Joel Richardson knows these fish may be at different areas of an impoundment on a particular day, and that means fitting his tackle to the area(s) he chooses to fish. […]

Counting down the right depth is a key to successful livebait fishing for stripers or hybrids in June or any other month.

Countdown to success

Terry Madewell

Both Chip Hamilton and Preston Harden are specific in the presentation of the live herring to stripers and hybrids graphed under the boat. […]

Streamers and nymphs are commonly fished on the Trail’s streams to get down into deeper water where trout are often caught.

Tackle to match the Trail

Glenn Corley

Jason Cole, who owns and guides out of Hooker’s Fly Shop in Sylva, said the small to medium creeks on the Trail are perfect for a 7 ½- to 10-foot, 3- to 5-weight rod with weight-forward, floating line. […]

Small, out-of-the-way ponds are often some of the best for targeting bream or shellcrackers with a fly rod.

Locating isolated ponds

L. Woodrow Ross

Fishing on smaller Upstate lakes such as Bowen, Cunningham, Robinson and Cooley is always a good choice, but you will find more competition for the fishing than on remote ponds. […]

Will Ziglar, 7, with his father, Chris, and a nice Salem Lake crappie.

A Quick Guide to Triad Municipal Lakes

Walter Taylor

Oak Hollow Lake, 3431 North Centennial St., High Point. Oak Hollow Marina, 336-883-3494. 800 acres. The Oak Hollow complex offers a modern campground. […]

Sit-on-top or sit-inside kayaks are good choices for exploring small waters for bream.

Kayak selection

L. Woodrow Ross

Kayak selection is a matter of choice. A good choice for bush-whacking into remote ponds would be a fairly light kayak in the 10- to 11-foot range. […]

A huge blue marlin was hooked and released by an Oregon Inlet charterboat last week. It was estimated to weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

Oregon Inlet charterboat releases blue marlin estimated at more than 1,000 pounds

Jerry Dilsaver

A big catch on Sunday just a little north of the tournament boundary has competitors in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament salivating. Capt. Tom Krauss of the Hooker, an Oregon Inlet-based charterboat released a blue marlin estimated at 1,000 pounds or more. […]

A 465.3-pound blue marlin caught by a Hatteras-based boat leads the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament at its midway point.

Hatteras Fever II bursts into Big Rock lead with 465.3-pound billfish

North Carolina Sportsman

Hatteras Fever II, captained by Buddy Hooper of Buxton, took the lead at the midway point of the 55th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament when it showed up at the scales Wednesday with a 465.3-pound blue marlin reeled in by Taylor Miller of Raleigh. […]