June is big-bass month on Catawba River

Adam Fillmore, who owns Lake Wylie’s Hunt-Fish-Paddle, fishes the Catawba River several times a week in June, and he said it’s one of his favorite times to fish there.

“It’s not especially known for numbers of bass, but it’s definitely known for big bass. Four-pounders won’t raise an eyebrow to anyone who fishes this river regularly, but catching more than a dozen bass in a day here will,” he said.

Fillmore agrees with kayak pro Drew Gregory that the water level is usually pretty stable in June, but he said even when it does fluctuate, he won’t shy away from fishing here.

“If it goes up or down from the norm, I still fish it. I just adjust to the conditions. I like it a little on the low side, just because it offers a little more for anglers. This lets you fish the shoals, the deep pockets, the eddies and the shorelines. Don’t overlook the shorelines, especially in areas with downed trees,” he said.

If the water is much lower than he expects, Fillmore will focus on deeper pockets. When it is especially high, he likes to fish along the banks in areas that aren’t normally flooded. In the current, Fillmore said Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are tough to beat, and he likes the chartreuse/white color combination. He said many anglers overlook the eddies and suggests using crawdad-colored crankbaits.

Along with those lures, Fillmore always has a rod with a Senko or Fluke tied on. He prefers a 4/0 Owner twist-lock hook and likes to fish it weightless. One thing he won’t use on this river is braided line.

“You’re moving with the current, and sometimes you are going to get your lure hung up. If you’ve got braided line on, you’re going to have to paddle all the way back to where you are hung, or you’ll have to cut your line,” he said. “The braid simply will not pop, and if you cut your line, you’re losing so much line that you’ll have to re-spool. With mono or fluorocarbon line, any time you get hung up, you can just pull hard and the lure will either come free or the line will pop at the knot, saving you all that line.”

Fillmore said even with the limited number of boat launches, he is surprised by how few anglers fish this river.

“It’s not really a place you can go and fish for 45 minutes. You have to dedicate some time to a fishing trip here, but it’s worth it. If you want to catch quality bass this month, the Catawba River is the place to do it,” he said.