Welcome Want2fish (and the boys)!
Hyco is the only one of those that I've been to (and only twice). Its chock full of small, eager largemouth bass and the power plant heated water keeps them active year round. It also chock full of private boat docks. I really don't know anything about public shore access there.
If you can find a public fishing dock or somebody to let you fish from their private dock, I would think a couple kids would have a great day catching bass & crappie off the pilings this time of year with small minnows.
You can shore fish from under the bridges - may not be the most kid-friendly technique as the fish could be suspended pretty deep. Something like a slip-bobber rig fished 12 feet deep would be my suggestion, but that's a lot to manage for little guys.
The after bay below the Hyco dam sounds like a good place for panfish & catfish but I have no idea about access. I've been told that they don't let (much? any?) water through the dam when the lake is low, so there may not be much heated or moving water down there right now.
Wish I could tell you more, but I just don't have a lot of experience up there. Good luck in your search and please let us know what you find!
Hyco is the only one of those that I've been to (and only twice). Its chock full of small, eager largemouth bass and the power plant heated water keeps them active year round. It also chock full of private boat docks. I really don't know anything about public shore access there.
If you can find a public fishing dock or somebody to let you fish from their private dock, I would think a couple kids would have a great day catching bass & crappie off the pilings this time of year with small minnows.
You can shore fish from under the bridges - may not be the most kid-friendly technique as the fish could be suspended pretty deep. Something like a slip-bobber rig fished 12 feet deep would be my suggestion, but that's a lot to manage for little guys.
The after bay below the Hyco dam sounds like a good place for panfish & catfish but I have no idea about access. I've been told that they don't let (much? any?) water through the dam when the lake is low, so there may not be much heated or moving water down there right now.
Wish I could tell you more, but I just don't have a lot of experience up there. Good luck in your search and please let us know what you find!
