Fishing Report For Moss Lake, NC

Current Report: Good To Very Good

WINTER. Winter is drawing spots, in large groups, around deeper structure, points and creek channels - anywhere there is baitfish. They can be found from 12 to 30 feet deep throughout Winter. Some of the bigger fish hold as much as 15 to 20 feet deeper. Here they hold, feeding less aggressively, waiting warmer water to return in Spring. The best results are coming from anglers fishing very slowly, with finesse worms on shaky heads, small jigs, and drop-shots.

SPRING. Early in Spring spotted bass hold in 10 to 25 feet of water, staging outside spawning areas. As Spring, progresses, spotted bass spend time in 3 to 12 feet of water, around nesting areas on protected flats and in the backs of coves. Good places to explore are secondary coves in the North arms. Once they spawn, females head to deep water to recover, while the males stay to guard the eggs and fry. Afterwards, they too move to deeper water, usually close by the spawning areas. Look for them on points and ledges near these areas. Daily movements find the bass moving shallow to feed, especially early and late in the day. Deep crankbaits, spinnerbaits, small jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are now catching plenty of spotted bass.

SUMMER. Spots are being caught on steep, rocky banks, ledges, humps, drop-offs and standing timber, in 8 to 20 feet of water, sometimes even deeper. At night they often venture shallower to feed around creek mouths, shaded pockets, docks and brush. They tend to gather in small schools and hold, preferring to move up and down the water column on steep banks looking for food and ideal water temperatures. They are occasionally feeding shallow, early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Drop-shots, Ned rigs, and wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass when they are deeper. They feed here on alewives, blueback herring, gizzard and threadfin shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points and ledges 18 to 25 feet deep. Spots will also hold in the shade of heavy, shallower vegetation.

FALL. Fall weather at night, cools the shallows more quickly than deeper sections of the lake. The cooler water invites baitfish and spotted bass into coves and bays, where crankbaits, swimbaits and spinnerbaits, are often very successful for catching spots. Early, and late, in the day, spots often school up and feed in 5 to 8 feet of water, around creek mouths, shaded pockets, docks and brush. They move into 10 to 20 feet of water, or more, as the day warms the shallows.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

WINTER. Winter isolates largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 12 to 25 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate from the group in 5 to 15 feet deeper water. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs or finesse worms are often the key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move a bit shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 8 to 20 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 3 to 10 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 20 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, 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 will be caught in 2 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. 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 10 to 25 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around submerged timber, channel edges and mid-lake humps.

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. Anglers typically have success in 5 to 20 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons are often the ideal bait. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves from the school, in 5 to 15 feet deeper water.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Wipers feed heavily on threadfin shad, gizzard shad, blueback herring and alewives. Along with baitfish-imitating lures and live bait, chicken livers are catching wipers, and are an ideal bait for bank anglers.

WINTER. In Winter, hybrid stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often 45 feet deep or deeper. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around 20 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of alewives, blueback herring, gizzard and threadfin shad. In Winter, it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes as deep as 40 feet, by making slower presentations.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. Big hybrid stripers chase baitfish all over the lake. They are being caught up lake toward the incoming current and they feed and prepare to spawn. Expect to find hybrids in 10 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, closer to 25 feet during mid day. Most schools gather around the mouths creek-channels, channel bends, humps and points. There are plenty of hybrids averaging 2 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 5-pound plus fish being caught. In Spring, work wind-blown points, creeks, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn. Vertical jigging, or trolling with deep crankbaits are popular.

SUMMER. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 8 to 30 feet of oxygenated water, as do schools of baitfish. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, so look for them around the 2 to 8-foot range as they feed on shallow on roaming schools of shad. Trolling with spoons, crankbaits, umbrella rigs or swimbaits produces a lot of nice catches in Summer. Cut bait can also be effective here. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is often a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools.

FALL. In early Fall, baitfish and hybrid stripers return to shallow water preferring areas 6 to 20 feet deep. Some of the bigger fish may be slightly deeper than the gathered schools. Expect to find schooling activity around creek mouths, flats, main channel points, and humps. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into 10 to 20 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.