Fishing Report For Hickory Lake, NC

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Currently, largemouth bass are thriving in Hickory Lake. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 5 to 15 feet of water. Currently topwater, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 10 to 25 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 20 to 35 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Fishing for largemouth bass with crawfish-imitating lures has been very successful for the last few years. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, worms and jigs typically get bites just away from shore. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 4 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 4 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 5 to 15 feet of water. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap, and deep divers off-shore. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on gizzard shad, threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 12 to 25 feet deep.

Current Report: Good

FALL. In Fall, stripers return to shallower water. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. They follow schools of bait, which are hanging out in 10 to 30 feet of water. Look for shallow water nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Shad-imitating jerkbaits, swimbaits and Alabama rigs all work well here. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year. Tailwaters from the Rhodhiss Dam often hold healthy concentrations of fish.

WINTER. In Winter, stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 15 or 20 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad, herring and gizzard shad. The main lake basin, along deep channels is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. When water temperatures return to the mid 60's, it's ideal for the stripers to spawn. From March to May, stripers migrate upriver to spawn, so the area from Geitner Park to the Rhodhiss Dam is a good area to start. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake, and the backs of coves, where there is inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 5 to 25 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are moving toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points.

SUMMER. Summer months are the ideal time to chase striped bass here. These stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 25 to 50 feet deep, or deeper. Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. Morning often draws the stripers shallower, so look for them around the 20-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of baitfish. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Good

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. Nice crappie are being caught while feeding heavily, in preparation for the cold Winter. Anglers report that 5 to 15 feet of water is where most bites are coming. Minnows, hair jigs, crappie jigs and spinners, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 35 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. On warm sunny days, they often move a bit shallower.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 10 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 20 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 12 to 20 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 15 to 25 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.