Launched at Wittenburg. Started trolling at mouth of access. Marked large fish chasing shad. I headed up lake, marked a lot of large schools of bait being chased. I trolled channel edges and shore line. I went up the Upper Little river and Gunpowder creek. I caught several nice Largemouth, one of which had to be the ugliest Bass I have ever seen, blind in one eye, other eye had milky appearance, scarred up, just plain ugly !
I was running six rods using planer boards. Used A-Rigs, shad cranks, curly tails and live large shiners. I trolled for around 8 hrs. I had one for sure Striper hooked, had another strike that I am sure was a Striper. That was it, feel like I should of done a lot better. I have caught a lot of Stripers in mostly saltwater. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Water temp was 67-68. I was trolling from 1.2 - 2.5 mph. Thats what I had always done and read about doing same in freshwater. I will for sure slow it down. I did not see much of any surface action. Tks bud
I was running 2 down rods and 4 on planers. There was large schools of bait, just off most points and on all the points off all the creeks and river. I did not try throwing my cast net. I had a couple dozen large shiners already left over from day before, that I thought would work as good as the shad. Guess I thought wrong !!! Really surprised that the ShadRaps and A-Rigs did not do a lot more. Cannot run A-Rigs slower than 1mph, Least I cant without getting hung up all the time.
I normally always pull all live bait or two umbrella rigs by them self. It's either or for me. Live bait seems to work the best most of the time. Learned along time ago that the natural bait In the lake was better then any store bought. See you one there some time. I'm about to gear up for trout tournaments at lake Jocassee in SC. They start Dec 14th and I'll pre fish a few weekends before.
Anyone been on hky lately? Looking to net some shad.
Has anyone ever had luck putting a light out and catching herring at night? Looking to try anything to catch good bait. No where near here to buy herring our trout.
Thanks for any advice given.
Made it out Friday around lunch. Ended up going to the mtns to get trout for bait. Fished around love lady with no bites. Good bait in the area though. Went on up to **** and made a pass down river from there. Caught one around 10lb on planner board. Always an exciting way to catch them.
Yea I'm not sure where they really arem just know there are always some up river like that. Had several get after trout and run them to the top. Some nice boils going on up there as well. Water was not moving.
This was before this last rain. Tuesday I think and it was leaves and pine needles. It rained 1 1/2 plus around Hickory, I have not put eyes on the lake today. If I go that way tomorrow I will let you know what it looks like.
Fished the lower end of the lake today water was clear from Rink Dam to Oxford Dam caught 4 largemouth and 1 striper. 8am to 3 pm water temp 53, pulled A/rigs in all depths Striper came from 45 ft. Water down near the Dam.
Good to hear someone else has at least had some luck on trolling an A-rig. Next decent temp day that I am not working, think I will try Hickory again. How big was the Striper bud ?
It was short, 21” or so, been really disappointed in Hickory this season. In past years I have always had decent luck with limits of 6-8 lb fish every 2 or 3 trips now it seems like they are every 6-8 trips.
Last season and this year so far, we just can’t seem to find the bigger class fish. I’m not a Johnny Come Lately fisherman we have put in the time since 2012. My son has even done some guiding with success on Hickory both Summer and Winter season. During the winter we fish out of a Blue 175 walkthrough Tracker Pro Guide with a Blue Enclosure if you see us on the Water stop by and shout out.
Or tune us in on VHF ch 69 Reelsmoke
Last year around this time I was catching stripers up in the creek arms easily from my kayak. Don't know what the heck is going on with those stripers on hickory this year. Next trip down i'm going to bring live trout and see if that makes a difference.
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