Fishing Report For Lake Santeetlah, NC

Current Fishing Report: Fair To Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

Bass use the cover of brush and lay-down trees quite often when they are shallow here in Lake Santeetlah. Points, ledges and creek channels are where they hang out in deeper water. There is very little access to the shore for fishing from the bank, so a boat is the best way to get to the fish. Largemouth and smallmouth are being caught in 20 feet of water, or deeper on jigs, stick worms and drop shots, all worked very slowly. Come Spring as the water warms, the bass will move shallow and find their way into coves and pockets to spawn. Once they move shallow, a variety of lures are catching nice largemouth bass. Many tournament anglers report using vibrating jigs as a primary bait. During slow times, when the bass are finicky, a stick worm, rigged wacky style, often teases bass to strike.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Both black and white crappie are being caught using new technologies, reducing the amount of time it takes to locate schools. Forward-facing sonar is allowing anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate schools and focus fishing time on areas with good numbers of crappie. This is true for trolling or casting. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search the old fashion way, via test casting, until a school is located. Then, they are catching them just as anglers have for many decades.

Locals report good success around brush, wood and vegetation using small crappie jigs or live minnows. Most crappie are deep this time of year, 20 feet or deeper, but will begin moving shallow as the water warms. Once they move up, they are being caught around 8' to 10', typically. Spring is the premiere time to be on the water as crappie move into shallow coves to spawn. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Fish finders help locate schools of crappie when they are deep

Current Fishing Report: Fair

A lot of walleye are being caught using new technologies, cutting down on the time it takes to locate them. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is assisting anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate fish. Fishing is better as anglers can focus on areas with good numbers of walleye. This is true for either trolling or casting. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search the old fashion way, via test casting, until a school is located.

Walleye have been stocked in Lake Santeetlah for over a decade now. They grow to decent size, but are not caught in great numbers. Preferring water 75 degrees or cooler, walleye here move deep as soon as Summer warms the shallows. Locals report jigs, especially if tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers, is the primary approach when casting. Spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are also catching walleye while trolling.