Mayo Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very 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.

Limited fishing pressure keeps the quality of bass here running a bit heavier than other area lakes. Bass tournaments here are often won with a 3 to 4 pound average, for 5 fish. The lake is loaded with vegetation, which is a magnet for bass.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 40's, and bass can be found on the bottom, or suspending from 15 to 35 feet deep, occasionally shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught around deep points near Mayo Park and the Triple Springs Access Area boat launch. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. The back of creeks feeding into the main lake are prime areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 8 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, around 10 to 15 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 2 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 8 to 25 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing around vegetation next to deeper water.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 5 to 12 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. Good Summer reports come from submerged points off Mayo Park and the NC-49 bridge area. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 to 20 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Fishing Report: Very Good To Excellent

Black 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. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search via test casting, until a school is located. Then, they are catching them as anglers have for many decades, before the new electronics became available.

Crappie fishing has been very good on Mayo Lake, year round for several years. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 30's. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 30 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from standing timber and brush piles, in areas near the NC-49 bridge and drop-offs out from the Mayo Park boat ramp. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 12 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 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 1 to 5 feet of water. Vegetation, rip rap, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. Protected pockets near the Mayo Park shoreline are always good areas to explore during spawning season. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 6 to 12 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.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 12 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.

FALL. As Fall begins cooling the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 10 to 18 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 25 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around main-lake points, creek channels, and brush piles.

Current Fishing Report: Fair To Good

Chain pickerel favor areas with weeds, grass and vegetation, which is why Mayo Lake is an ideal habitat for these predators.

WINTER. The colder months can be some of the best time to catch pickerel, and the start to this winter is no exception. They are holding in 2 to 12 feet of water, and still feeding aggressively, often moving up shallow to feed. Shallow, protected coves and the backs of creek arms, where vegetation and wood are present, are great feeding grounds for pike. Johnson spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, jigging spoons, live bait and cut bait are all catching chain pickerel, shallow or deep.

SPRING. Now that the ice has melted, and water temperatures are in the mid 40's, chain pickerel are staging in about 2 to 8 feet of water. Later they migrate into bays and coves, 3 to 5 feet deep. Here they will feed heavily and spawn. Shallow coves and bays with weeds, lily pads, grass and vegetation are their preferred locations, which is why Mayo Lake is an ideal habitat for these predators. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Johnson spoons are ideal lures now, as these pickerel are feeding on small fishes.

SUMMER. During the early and late weeks of Summer, early morning anglers are having good results in 1 to 5 feet of water, for short periods of time. Spinners, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and noisy topwater are all good choices here, along with live and cut bait. Mid Summer drives chain pickerel into medium-depth cover where they can ambush small fish and frogs. Thick vegetation is ideal cover due to the shade it creates. Look for the most pickerel, especially the bigger fish, to hold around 8 to 15 feet deep drop-offs, just outside these weedy, shallow flats.

FALL. Cooling water moves these predators into shallower water to feed, in less than 5 feet of water. They spend other times of the day on points and flats, around creek mouths, along ledges from 8 to 12 feet deep. Main lake channel edges, points around secondary creek inlets, mid-lake humps, and flats around creek mouths, are all popular areas in Fall. Later in Fall, they often moving shallow for short periods of time, mostly in late afternoon when the shallows are the warmest.