Western NC Archives - Page 33 of 73

David Bergman caught this huge musky during a canoe trip on the French Broad River in western North Carolina.

Hendersonville angler catches 56-inch long musky

David Bergman of Hendersonville, North Carolina has dreamed of catching a musky ever since his childhood days growing up in Tom’s Creek, New Jersey. […]

Smallmouth bass are losing ground in Fontana Lake to their spotted bass cousins, but they still provide anglers with plenty of enjoyment.

Fontana Lake is a bass buffet for anglers

Tony Garitta

Bass anglers on Fontana Lake have a lot to choose from this month. Spotted bass, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass are all active and hungry this month on the western N.C. lake. […]

Guide Andy Fox likes a variety of baits for prespawn bass on Lake Hickory, and jigs and soft-plastics when bass begin to spawn.

It’s big-bass time on Hickory

Tony Garitta

Andy Fox of Fishers of Men Guide Service changes tactics during April as largemouth bass transition from staging areas to their spawning grounds on North Carolina’s Lake Hickory. In either phase, Fox (828-312-8711) said plenty of bass from 4 to 7 pounds will be caught this month. […]

Even though many streams are closed for stocking in March, there’s plenty of trout water still open for anglers in both Carolinas.

March still offers options

Robert Satterwhite

Prime spring fishing is just around the corner, as mountain streams begin warming up, and brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout become active and hungry, eager to gobble up the abundant spring hatches. It’s a time when anglers enjoy some of the best trout fishing of the year. […]

Walleye make spawning runs every spring up the rivers that feed Fontana Lake, with March being the peak of the upstream move.

Run with Fontana’s walleye

Dan Kibler

In late February and early March, Fontana’s walleye are heading upriver to spawn. They can be caught with fairly simple tactics and lures. […]

Trout in high-elevation reservoirs in both Carolinas tend to grow faster and larger than their stream-bound cousins. This brook trout is a good example.

Don’t forget trout lakes

Robert Satterwhite

Western North Carolina and South Carolina’s Upstate have dozens of lakes with fair to excellent populations of trout. Some of these lakes, especially smaller ones, are classified as hatchery-supported waters and are regularly stocked with catchable-size fish in the spring and winter. […]