Late October on cusp of great fall fishing

If Jordan Lake is any indication, piedmont North Carolina bass anglers are in store for some great fishing during the next two to three weeks.

“It’s like the pre- pre-spawn (in February) right now at Jordan Lake,” said Sanford-based bass pro and guide Jeff Thomas (Carolina Outdoors, 919.770.4654). “Fish are not in the real shallows yet, but they’re headed that way.

“It’s gonna be prime in a few days.”

With the arrival of Carolina’s fall, water temperatures have started to drop, and baitfish in Jordan Lake (mostly threadfin shad) are moving towards the backs of creeks to spawn. And that migration triggers largemouths to line up along ledges in coves and creeks, waiting to ambush schools of passing baitfish. These conditions also occur at Falls and Shearon Harris lakes, Triangle-area favorites of bass fishermen.

“We fished the (Haw) River last week and caught 13 or 14 bass each day,” Thomas said.

The bass were at or near the shore.

“It’s just beatin’ the banks with spinnerbaits or flippin’ jigs or using buzzbaits,” Thomas said. “It’s a bank-beater’s delight.”

Last Thursday (Oct. 13) morning Thomas and a couple of N.C. Wildlife Resources people caught more than a dozen largemouths while a photographer snapped photos for a magazine story.

“We could have caught more, but we were basically just goofin’ off,” he said.

Water temps now usually start out near 60 degrees and rose to 70 during sunny days, perfect conditions.

“The biggest we caught was 4 pounds; mostly we were catching 2- to 2 1/2-pounders,” Thomas said.

During a Piedmont Bass Classic tournament last Saturday, the winner caught a near 7-pound bass, he said.

Actually it weighed 6.67 pounds and was caught by the team of Scott Gatton and Chad Miller. Doug Stallings and Mike Riggs won the event with five bass totaling 20.92 pounds (a 4-pound average). Most of the bass hit spinnerbaits in 2 to 6 feet of water off rocky bottom points.

“Right now most of the bass won’t weigh as much as they will when they start feedin’ up good,” Thomas said. “It’ll get better.

“When they really get on the banks, that’s when you can catch a big one.”

A perfect day will start overcast with water temperature at 58 degrees.

“If you put your boat in with the water temp at 58 degrees to start the day, it’ll be on,” he said.

Jordan’s lake level is at 213 to 214 feet (above sea level) with an average daily water temperature of 72 degrees.

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