Fishing Report – Lake Norman September October 2021

It’s late September and the weather is beginning to cool.

Traditionally when water temperatures drop, feeding activity picks up. And that’s exactly what will happen between now and the end of October. Recent reports speak of very good catches of spotted and largemouth bass. Hybrid striped are feeding more actively too. This trend should continue as surface temperatures fall into the seventies.
Spotted Bass are feeding early morning on shallow river points where they can be taken on topwater plugs (Whopper Plopper), rattle-traps and A-rigs.  Mid-day they move to deeper water where they are smashing jigging spoons, drop shot rigs and deep diving crank baits. Note: there is no size or creel limit on spotted bass in Lake Norman.

Catfish have returned to their traditional shallow water haunts. Cut baits (shad, bream and perch) are popular as are chunks of chicken breasts marinated in garlic powder.

White Perch can be found along the edges of creek and river channels as well as off points and the middle of deep-  coves. Most are schooling in water twenty to thirty feet deep. Jigging spoons and Sabiki rigs are preferred, but live crappie minnows will tempt them to. Note: there is no size or creel limit on white perch in Lake Norman.

Hybrid Striped Bass are busting bait on the surface at day light. Some days they disappear by sunrise, while on cloudy days the bite can last an hour or two. The rest of the day the hybrids suspend at depths from twenty to fifty feet where the can be taken on live bait, mussels,  jigging spoons, deep diving cranks  and a variety  of lures trolled on down riggers. Best bets are Mountain, Stumpy and Hicks Creeks. Note: The creel limit for hybrids is four in aggregate with striped bass, each of which must a minimum of sixteen inches long.

Before you hit the lake check to see if you’re fishing license is current. If not you go to: www.NCwildlife.org  to renew or purchase for the first time.

See you out there,

Capt. Gus