Fishing Report For Jordan Lake, NC

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Now that Fall has arrived, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 3 to 10 feet of water. Most all the creek arms off the lake hold bass. Good reports come from locals fishing the timber at the mouth of Little Beaver Creek, the rip rap around the Ebenezer Church Bridge, the back part of Bush Creek. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, and vibrating jigs are catching some nice 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 slow-rolled spinnerbaits are good choices.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 10 to 25 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations often trigger the most bites.

SPRING. In late March to early April bass in Jordan Lake start moving to the shallows for the spawn. Most all the creek arms off the lake hold bass. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. The rip rap around the Highway 64 Causeway, throughout Robeson Creek and Oak Creek, and the weedy areas in the Haw River Arm. Spinnerbaits work well in all these areas, especially if the wind kicks up. At this time they are feeding aggressively, preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 5 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. 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 on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. 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 10 to 25 feet deep.

Current Report: Very Good

FALL. Nothing works better for catching crappie in Jordan Lake, than good ole minnows. Baitfish, which are moving into shallow flats, coves and bays, are drawing crappie into these areas. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, 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 are a good option during this transition, fished in 20 to 35 feet of water.

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. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 5 to 8 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and on 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 4 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 10 to 15 feet of water. Once they move even deeper, 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. Fishing typically remains good throughout Summer and Fall. Docks, brush, wood, vegetation are a good place to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Now that the spawn is over, and the hot Summer sun is warming the shallows, crappie have retreated to depths of 12 to 25 feet, or embedded in the shade of shallower, heavy vegetation. This is a good time to focus on brush piles. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging above deep structure and around creek channel edges.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Anglers at Jordan Lake are fortunate to have no limit on channel catfish, and report good fishing throughout the lake.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows, in search of food. Most are caught in 10 to 25 feet of water. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deeper holes in the main body of the lake. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. Use cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets from 15 to 35 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration up river, often feeding in tailwaters. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to keep the bait close to the bottom.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake draws catfish to feed, in mid depths. Now they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait or shrimp. Fishing from late in the day until midnight is producing some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.