Lake Norman
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Lake Norman Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Norman. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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- Species
Spotted BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSummerStructureDocksA week of rain dropped the water temp 10 degrees and the fish were actively feeding. Found them on docks in the morning
Jack BBronze AmbassadorSpecies
CatfishTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureHumpsCasted out middle section of an average blue gill on a carolina rig and let it sit at the bottom.
- SpeciesCatfishTechniqueCarolina RigsSeasonSummerStructurePoints
Prevented my first skunk of the trip by heading out on the kayak. Alewife were balling up at the mouth of the creek. I freelined some shiners and landed a 5lb bluecat. Meanwhile at the dock, my brother managed a small but mighty channel cat as I was pulling in. The south wind has been persistent throughout our stay here. A marine cloud layer can be counted on to arrive late afternoons to early evenings. This cloud layer can signal the beginning of the cat excursion in to the shallows along dock lines. Though today has seen a cooled off bite, I should mention that all four of my night lines had evidence of overnight action. I just wasn’t around to set a hook.
- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Large)SeasonSummerStructureLedgesLook for steep drop ledges on the main lake in that 25’-40’ contours and scan with electronics looking for larger schools of bass. The smaller schools seem to just be the 1lb to 2lb fish but the larger schools showing 20+ fish will hold a few larger largemouth bass that ate mixed in with the bigger spotted bass. Parallel the ledge with a long cast and keep it in the strike zone by bouncing and slow rolling off the bottom just off the drop. With this depth they bite better and ate not as spooked. Once a few are hooked it often fires up the whole school and will bring up others to the surface as followers. I can’t stress enough of making a long cast and giving your bait a longer strike zone to get them agitated. This is a typical summer bite on most deep lakes and should produce bites until the lake temps start to drop.
- SpeciesCatfishTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSummerStructurePoints
Started out the day with 2 blue cats, each of which was north of 20 pounds. A small channel cat was on a third night line. I ended the trip out in the kayak with a zoom fluke. I chose to attack the depths off of rocky points and the action was nearly immediate. I did have a blue cat break off. I could tell because of the rolled up slime on the line. I came through a school of bass. Landed a small spot and had a nice largemouth shake loose. I then came across an aggressive bluegill, a gamely white perch and a feisty 5lb channel cat at the end of the cove. It was a nice way to end my most productive trip to Lake Norman yet. Looking forward to a return.
- SpeciesSpotted BassTechniqueCarolina RigsSeasonSummerStructureDocks
I said in yesterday’s report that I’d take a swipe at these bass today. I took one swipe and got her casting at the ballast rocks from the main dock. She hit in 8’ of water. I was suspending the worm as well as I could. The day also produced one blue cat, one channel cat and one flathead cat, all in the 3-5lb range. No fish photos I’m afraid. (My brother is no longer reaching for the camera for anything less than 30lbs). Lake Norman is a special place. Y’all should make the trip some time.
- SpeciesCatfishTechniqueCarolina RigsSeasonSummerStructureDocks
The air was still today and the bite cooled off. That said, I remained entertained by a singular channel cat in the 4lb range and 3 blues ranging from 10-20lb. 8am became interesting when a observed a school of nicely sized spotted bass in weapons envelope stalking bluegill along the ballast rocks. A 6lb class largemouth bass was cruising the shoreline as well. Perhaps tomorrow, I can take a swipe at those guys.
- SpeciesCatfishTechniqueCarolina RigsSeasonSummerStructureDocks
Dams, docks, bridges and rocks. At Lake Norman, those are the cardinal habitats for bass and catfish. 50lb super slick is holding up to the constant pressure of trophy catfish. The 20lb class blues are coming up to feed along the bank regularly, taking up large size shiners. The wind direction changed today. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a change in the action.
