Freshwater Fishing
How are white perch, herring changing Lake James’ fishery?
Guide Colt Bass said that Lake James is developing and changing as a freshwater fishery because of the presence of two species and the reappearance of another. […]
Sidebars
Inshore Fishing
Practice casting before the tailing redfish tides arrive
Every year, anglers check tide tables to see when they can target redfish tailing on skinny flats, and opportunities are limited, with only a few days per month when the tide rises above the 5.7 threshold when the sun is out. And shots at fish during the flood can be limited, making casting ability ever-so-important. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Warmouth: more mouth than anything
By late May, Northeast Cape Fear River anglers begin catching an abundance of warmouth sunfish. Some anglers call them “more-mouths” because they say they are more mouth than anything else. Another popular name is “goggle-eye.” […]
Inshore Fishing
Don’t clog up redfish on-ramps around tailing flats
The flood tides that affect the coastal region provide easy meals for redfish in the marsh. For anglers who have studied how reads move onto the flats, some of the best places catch a red during the tailing tides is in their staging locations in deeper water. But anglers targeting those areas can ruin their future tailing action. […]
Freshwater Fishing
Catch fish, then cut bait when targeting redfin pickerel
The traditional baits for catching redfin pickerel are the pelvic fin and the top or bottom half of its forked tail.
Freshwater Fishing
Don’t overlook tiny artificials for redbreasts
Bobby Izard carries an arsenal of artificial lures with him when fishing for redbreast sunfish. While some anglers have their favorite lures that they stick to religiously, Izard thinks that’s a mistake.
Freshwater Fishing
Catch redfin pickerel by the bucketful
The best way to keep and carry redfin pickerel is in a plastic pail with a tight-fitting lid.
Freshwater Fishing
Add a cricket to your Beetle for early season redbreast sunfish
The Johnson Beetle Spin is tough to beat when fishing for redbreast. Billy Garner of Ridgeville is a big fan of this lure, but he adds a little something to them this time of year: a live cricket.
Freshwater Fishing
Don’t carp about redfin size
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Angler Recognition Program awards outstanding catches with a suitable-for-framing certificate featuring the artwork of Duane River.
Freshwater Fishing
Lake Marion is perfect shellcracker habitat
Lake Marion anglers are fascinated by shellcrackers, aka redear sunfish, for a variety of reasons, size being one. For a species lumped in with a variety of sunfish collectively called “bream”, the shellcracker is a giant.