Sidebars Archives - Page 16 of 194

86ee5538-bc4d-4b6b-84b8-3c4bf28a7020

August 26, 2026

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s decision to replace striped bass with hybrid bass in Lake Norman has paid off for guide Bob Curan.

Tagged hybrid program continues

Fishing for hybrid bass aka Bodie bass, at Lake Norman is not only rewarding in itself, but it could actually pay off in cash. […]

Spotted bass, white perch and hybrid bass often school together on Lake Norman during the winter and other, warmer months, because of their love of open, deeper water and current.

Norman’s striper fishery finally succumbed

Tony Garitta

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission put a great deal of effort into maintaining the put-and-take striped bass fishery in Lake Norman, but to no avail, finally giving up in 2012. […]

Packs of beagles have to work faster and cover more ground to flush rabbits living in cutovers and give hunters the chance for a shot.

As cutovers grow, slow packs fade

Craig Holt

Hunting with slow packs of beagles used to be the way to go for rabbit hunters, but thanks to changes in habitat, quicker packs of dogs are now preferred for chasing bunnies. […]

Rabbit numbers in the Carolinas rise and fall in cycles; predators aren’t a big factor; it’s habitat.

Rabbits by the numbers

Craig Holt

The most-recent small-game survey conducted by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (2015-16) revealed that the best rabbit hunting occurs in the Midlands (2.19 rabbits jumped per hour). […]

Hunting released quail on a preserve can offer hunters a chance to relive a time 50 years ago when bobwhite was king in the Southeast.

A guide’s recommendations

Phillip Gentry

A guide at Contentnea Creek Shooting Preserve in Snow Hill, N.C., Walter Claybrook has some advice for hunters visiting a shooting preserve for the first time. […]

Pay special attention to your depth finder when fishing for crappie in February. Don’t spend much time in areas where you don’t mark slabs or bait, and notice the depth fish are holding and place your baits just above that level.

It’s the little things that matter

Phillip Gentry

Paying attention to details is never more important than when fishing for crappie in cold water, especially in February. If everything is done right, an angler is rewarded with a box full of fish, but missing the mark often means coming up blank. Here are some common tips that often mean the difference between catching a limit and going home empty-handed. […]

Weather conditions in February can vary to extremes during a single fishing trip, so dress accordingly and carry the correct clothing.

Play the weather, but stay warm

Mike Marsh

While high winds and bitter cold in the weather forecast may make some faint-of-heart anglers stay at home, anglers who pay acute attention to weather reports and prepare for them can use these fast-moving cold fronts to their advantage. […]

As long as the water temperature is at 50 degrees or higher, redfish will remain very active through the winter.

Winter kayak fishing requires extra safety precautions

Jerry Dilsaver

Anglers must be more diligent when fishing from kayaks during winter. Things that might merely be unpleasant when the air and water are slightly warmer can become life-threatening when the temperature drops. […]

Monofilament and fluorocarbon lines each have their supporters, based on different tasks that the two lines perform better.

Fluoro vs. Mono. Who wins?

Tony Garitta

Fluorocarbon fishing line is relatively news. It was introduced in the 1970s compared to monofilament, which has been around since the 1930s. But which one is better? […]

Regulations for an extended season for snow and other light geese are intended to encourage a large harvest and cut goose numbers.

Extend gunning for light goose conservation season

Jeff Burleson

Waterfowl hunting ranks high among hunter preferences across North America, and for hunters ready to extend their gunning after the end of the 60-day duck season, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s light goose conservation season, beginning in mid-February, is in order. […]