Western NC Archives - Page 34 of 74

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

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.

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. […]

Summer and fall drought conditions have left a lot of mountain streams at lower levels, but fishing hasn’t suffered.

Dry weather is a variable

Robert Satterwhite

Western North Carolina and South Carolina’s Upstate had the driest summer and fall on record, seasons marked by scores of wildfires, closures of state parks, burning bans and water restrictions. […]

Targeting main lake points in Lake James this month will help you catch your share of smallmouth bass.

James’ smallmouth bass will gang up on main-lake points through January

Dan Kibler

When it gets cold, serious fishermen don’t stay home; they find a fish to target that likes cold weather. At least that’s the tactic that guide Colt Bass of Colt Bass Fishing uses. […]

Bigger streams or lake tributaries are great places to find larger brown trout in winter.

Go to nymphs in winter

Robert Satterwhite

Although spring is undoubtedly the ideal season to fish for mountain trout, winter fishing also has its merits. What most discover is that they catch fewer, but larger, fish. […]

Spotted bass from Lake Norman like this nice fish caught by Carson Orellana are actually a species known as Alabama bass.

Are spotted bass really Crimson Tide fans?

Dan Kibler

When is a spotted bass not a spotted bass?

Apparently, when it lives in Lake Norman. […]

A big spotted bass and a big largemouth bass adds up to a nice Lake Norman catch for Carson Orellano of Mooresville, N.C.

A great spot to be in – Anglers flock to Lake Norman for North Carolina’s best spotted bass fishing

Dan Kibler

One morning last December, a bass tournament was blasting off out of the McCrary Creek boating ramp, aka Queens Landing, but Carson Orellana of Mooresville, N.C., was perfectly content to let the traffic clear before he backed his Nitro down the ramp and pushed off into Lake Norman. […]

A jerkbait fished along rocky banks that get plenty of sunshine is a great tool to catch bass at Lake Hickory in December.

Two-pronged approach to sample Lake Hickory’s December bass fishing

Dan Kibler

Guide Andy Fox of Claremont, N.C., has a two-pronged approach to catching bass on Lake Hickory in December, and both prongs can be awfully sharp. […]

The NCWRC will re-open the South Mountains Game Land at sunrise tomorrow morning, Nov. 30.

NCWRC to re-open South Mountains Game Land on Nov. 30

NCWRC Release

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will re-open South Mountains Game Land at sunrise on Nov. 30. […]

Productive fly patterns for late fall and early winter include (top, left to right) bead-head Prince, bead-head Pheastant Tail, bead-head Hare’s Ear, (bottom, left to right): brown Caddis, parachute Adams, parachute Blue-Winged Olive.

Cool weather is welcome

Robert Satterwhite

After a record dry and hot summer, fall has arrived in the mountains, bringing cooler weather and, hopefully, improved trout-fishing conditions. […]

RJ Seiler kills 222-pound Rockingham County buck

Deer

RJ Seiler killed a mainframe 10-point, 222-pound buck in Rockingham County using archery gear during September 2026. […]

Pee Dee hunters tag giant gator

Alligator

John Wayne Caulder, his son Kelly Caulder and friend Josh Bumgarner killed a giant alligator in South Carolina’s Pee Dee Region. […]

SITKA x Phorm Energy drink available at SITKA’s Charlotte store

Hunting

Starting Oct. 5, 2026 Charlotte hunters and anglers will be among the first in the country to get their hands on a new limited-edition SITKA x Phorm Energy drink, available at SITKA’s retail location in Charlotte. […]

First buck with a bow on public land

Bag a Buck

Hunter Sanford of Mountain Rest, SC killed a 9-point buck in Hampton County, SC on Sept. 17, 2026. […]

Ty’s first Bow Kill

Bag a Buck

Tyson Sheehan of Mooresville, NC killed an 11-point buck in Anson County, NC on Sept. 20, 2026. […]