Overview:
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Even with the cold weather coming in throughout the area, anglers should still be able to catch fish. Look for bass to become active on shallow banks dropping off into deeper water. This should happen in the afternoon when the sun has been warming the water on the shallow bank. Sand and gravel banks are best, with dropoffs into 10-15 feet of water. Small, wide wobbling crankbaits, retrieved very slowly, will take the fish. Bring in the bait just fast enough to create a vibration in the rod tip. When the tip stops vibrating, set the hook, as a fish has the bait in it’s mouth, swimming toward the rod tip. At the same time, toss out a dark colored plastic grub, impaled on a small jig head, and allow it to sit undisturbed on the bottom of the drop. Leave the bail open, as bass will pick this up and run with it.
Report:
Stripers, 10-13 pounds, are hitting sporadically around the mouth of Pea Hill Creek and in front of the Gaston Dam.
Largemouth bass, 4-10 pounds, are schooling with the stripers. Bucktails and live shad are the better baits.
Below the Gaston Dam, anglers are taking stripers on drifted shad.
