Summer is prime time for Jocassee trout

These young ladies were on a combination fishing/tour trip with Sam Jones when they caught these nice trout. (Picture by Sam Jones)

Lake Jocassee is a summer trout hotspot

What better way to escape the summer heat than to relax and enjoy beautiful mountain scenery on Lake Jocassee while catching some big brown and rainbow trout? The hot summer months are prime time for catching those big lake trout in Lake Jocassee’s clear waters, according to veteran guide Sam Jones.

Surface water temperatures can rise to sultry temperatures under the hot July and August sun. So the trout survive by going deep in the thermocline where the temperature is a more tolerable and comfortable 55 to 65 degrees.

“The best way to get them is trolling flutter spoons and stickbaits 1.2 to 1.8 mph, 80 to 120 feet deep using downriggers,” said Jones who operates Jocassee Charters (www.jocasseecharters.com) year-round on Lake Jocassee. “Drifting or trolling large shiners works well also.”

Jones said the most productive areas are the dam and the deep river channels of the Toxaway and Whitewater rivers.

“The time of day is not as important as other types of fishing. We have caught some of the biggest fish midday in the summer. The biggest one caught on my boat was an 11-pound brown trout. We caught it around noon in the middle of July, trolling 85 feet deep.”

In addition to half-day and longer fishing trips, Jocassee Charters offers 3-hour lake tours and combination fishing/tour packages. Check out the Jocassee Charters Facebook page for deals and fishing reports.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply