There's always time to fish

This blog is my wife's idea so I can talk about fishing and all things related to my outdoor activities without boring her to tears. So here goes.

I fish a little bit more than a normal person should and need a place to talk about my misadventures. As we move forward I hope to relate not only a few funny stories but some solid fishing advice as well. I plan on talking about rods, reels and tackle.

We will be covering wading and kayak fishing. I will be providing some information about local lakes, rivers and streams and welcome your input about fishing in Western North Carolina.

Standing Indian Monster

"Huge" Rainbow Trout from Macon County, NC

A much anticipated trip to Standing Indian Creek in July is where we'll start. A week long camping trip at Standing Indian Campground got off to a great start with this monster Rainbow Trout that hit on the first cast.

Fisherman are a superstitious bunch and think that a big fish on the first cast spells doom for trip. I thought I was safe with this fish on the first cast of the trip. Boy was I wrong!

I spent five rain-soaked days and nights in Macon County staring at a creek that should be full of nice wild trout. As I sat there drinking hot coffee and watching more rain fall from the sky than was flowing down the creek I could only help but wonder if that trout from the first cast was really bad luck.

I actually got to fish a couple times on the trip, but a combination of rain and changing weather left the trout less than willing to bite well. I did manage to catch a dozen or so keeper fish just larger than seven inches.

The biggest fish of the trip was a ten-inch Brown Trout from the most fished area of the campground. Funny I walked at least a mile up down the creek, fishing some of the best looking water I have seen lately, and caught my best fish from the swimming hole under the bridge. Go figure.

For professional trout, steelhead and salmon fishing advice, photos and contest please checkout The Rocky River. For the best inline spinners made please visit Mepps.

 

I think its time to wake Crankenstein

 

As summer slowly changes to fall and lake levels begin to drop around western North Carolina it signals a change in the way I fish for bass.

Now I can unleash Dr. Crankenstein.

Dr. C takes over me like Hyde took over Jekyll and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Nor do I want to!

I know there may be better ways to catch fall bass in the mountains than on a crankbait, but for some reason I can't seem to put mine down.

Nice Wolf Lake Largemouth on a KVD 1.5 in Sexy Shad 

 This time of year the small amount of forage in WNC lakes begins to move toward the backs of creeks and where small branches flow into the lake. This draws the bass like a magnet. The bass take up station around any hard bottom structure near these areas. If there are stumps or large boulders that's even better. Of course you can use a jig, worm, even a spinnerbait will get you bit, but nothing puts bass in the boat like a crankbait deflecting off this cover. Once the first fish bites it can get crazy, fast. Doubles happen and fish on every cast is common.

Look for the first major depth changes near where the creek or branch enters the lake and begin there. Make long casts with a bait designed to reach just deeper than the depth you want to fish.



Stike King 6XD

My favorites are H2O Express, the DT series from Rapala and XD series from Strike King. The DT10 and 3XD are my all time favorite crankbaits and are perfect right out of the pack (more on that later).

I fish my baits on Shimano Sellus Cranking rods with Daiwa Exceler reels. The line you use is up to you as long as its fluorocarbon!

Fluorocarbon have significantly less stretch than monofilament and it sinks. The less stretch is important because that makes it vastly more sensitive so you can feel the bottom better. Also, sinking line helps get an extra foot or two out of your crankbaits and can mean the difference between bites and going home skunked. I find that 10 pound test is a good all around choice for crankin'. I use 8 pound for smaller crankbaits and will move up to 12 pound if I'm throwing a DT 16 or 6XD.  

This will get real crankers up in arms but I don't think you absolutely have to have a 5.4:1 ratio reel to effectively fish crankbaits. I use 6.3:1 reels and find I can fish them slowly enough to drive crankbaits deep, and have the added speed to catch up with fish who make fast surges toward the boat.

What you have to do is use a rod made for crankbaits. They have a much softer action from the tip down into the mid-section that allows the bait to deflect and the fish to really get the bait in its mouth. This keeps you from pulling the bait away from the fish on the strike and keeps it buttoned up during the fight.

Most cranking rods are a moderate action in a medium to medium-heavy power. They range from 6' 6" up to 7" 11". This allows you to match your rod to both the size of bait your using and the technique.

Smaller squarebills and diving baits call for a shorter rod as does target casting around laydowns, docks and brush piles. The deeper diving the bait your throwing the longer the rod you need. A 6XD that runs 18 feet deep casts farther and fishes easier on a 7' 6" or longer rod. A CULD ultralight, or KVD 1.0 works better on the shorter rods.

Remember to retie often! This really takes a toll on your line, and a broken line could have been a 10 pound bass.

Once you find the fish, make long casts from deeper to shallow and start cranking. You will catch a few fish without making contact with the bottom, but the magic happens when you hit bottom. Digging your crankbait into the bottom and bouncing it off rocks and stump is what really draws the bigger bites and incites the school.

Once you get that first bite remember to duplicate that cast for more fun. After you catch several fish and the action slows try changing the color of the bait. If this doesn't charge the school back up try changing to a silent or rattling crankbait depending on what your throwing. Once the bite slows again you can go to a jig or worm, but I often will run to another spot and let that area rest.

This pattern lasts from very late summer through early winter and can provide very consistent action. Cold fronts can hinder the bite but the fish will stay in the area and can be caught with slower tactics.   

If want to fish and need some advice or a guide then contact my good buddy Austin Neary. He is a serious stick on Glenville Lake and all WNC Mountain lakes. Austin fishes the BASS College Series, and after a third place finish at the Eastern Regional at Watts Bar, Tennessee he competed in the National Championship Tournament on Lake Chatuge. Reach him at Dream Catcher Guides



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