RichK LK Gaston VA/NC : Fishing Forum Posts

Last year I moved to VA very close to Lake Gaston which used to be known as an excellent Largemouth fishery. Fished at least 200 times in the last year catching 1000+ bass. Bad news - 80% Alabams spots, mostly small. Only 5 Largemouth over 4lbs, one 24" weighed only 5 1/2 lbs. This lake is in big trouble. Anyone else seeing it?

Jason,

While its true that we have another species to target, it is looking like soon they'll be the ONLY species to target.

Shad here are the predominant baitfish, and there appeaes to be a healthy base of them. The Alabama spots feed on them like a wolfpack. When they are schooled up, (and they school up a lot), the feeding frenzy can be spectacular. They'll hit ANYTHING you throw.

But rarely are there lsrgemouth mixed in, and the lack of relative weight on largemouth I am catching indicates to me that they are being out-competed for the shad. They also are appearing to be pushed off a lot of the traditional deeper water hangouts as the spot population increases.

I am also fearful that, between the elimination of aquatic vegetation from the Lake by treatments and carp, and this exploding spot population, the largemouth spawns will be forever doomed to being poor.

Gaston does not have a lot of cover to begin with, mostly docks, some blow downs, and diminishing stumps (at least east of I-85). You can find brushpiles planted by fisherman too, but thats mostly incidental.

Is this lake doomed as a largemouth fishery?

Recently I've been concentrating on trying to leverage the versatilty of the rubber legged jig. I've always believed jigs catch bigger fish than any other bait, and I've collected enough data to support that theory.

This summer I have spent 80% of my time on the water (Lake Gaston) fishing jigs of various designs, primarily skipping docks, swimming them in stumps, rip rap and Willow Grass, and flippin/pitching blow downs, brush, and grass.

With the many styles of jigs and trailers available these days, one can easily become overwhelmed by choices of jig, trailer, and technique. Do I need a different rod, reel, line for each style of jig? Casting jigs, flippin jigs, swim jigs, skippin jigs, all are only slightly different in design. Trailers are also a mind boggling choice. Swim bait style, craw style, D-bomb style, chunk style...on and on....

Lately, I am becoming more and more convinced that a very simple approach to this is better than having 4 to 6 rids all rigged with different variations og jig a d trailer is the way to go: 1 7 1/2 ft. MH rod, 8:1 ratio reel filled with 17-20 lb. flouro, a Stanley Swim Max 3/8 or 1/2 oz. swim jig, topped off with a Missile Baits D-Bomb.

Let me explain.

This setup can easily handle every scenario I've encountered except punching grass mats, which pretty much are non-existent on Lake Gaston.

While trying to cover the most ground as possible, I can skip docks easily with this setup, pitch or skip it into blowdowns, brush and grass, swim it in the Willow grass and on the edges, swim it through bream beds, cast it and work it on the bottom on stumps, ledges, humps, and deep bluffs.

The Stankey Swim Max swims very straight, gets anihilated when skipped in front of a hiding dock bass,
and bass WILL snatch it off the bottom. It seems to perform better than all other jigs I've used when asked to MULTI-TASK as a flippin, swimmin, skippin, casting jig.

Anyone out there thinking along these same lines?

Also, it seems to me I need a way to increase my hookup ratio when swimming jigs. I've watched or felt too many fish crush it and I don't seem to get them hooked. I do trim the weed guards down a bit on these jigs.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get more hookups on swim jigs? Is there a "trick" to this?

Thanks.

I used to catch a lot of white perch also on crankbaits and ned rigs when trying to fish schools of offshore fish. Often, I found spotted and largrmouth bass nearby, or under the perch.

To help get the perch off my line, I

A) stopped throwing crankbaits
B) stuck with the ned rigs but made sure I kept them on the bottom. The perch used to almost always hit it when it was off the bottom.

This does not always work, but it definitely helped. I have never found suspended bass at the same depth as white perch. The seem to always be below, or on the bottom.

Thats been my experience. And if you think about it, if you're a perch, why hang with bass that look at you as breakfast?

Thanks for your insights! I agee that the Swim Max jig is not ideal for fishing rocks, rip rap, etc., but even football jigs, while definitely better, still get hung. They are more salvageable though, so I agree they are a better choice.

The thing is, I'm weighing the trade-offs of having to constantly switch rods/rigs, against having the ability to cover as much water as possible with a variety of cover.

I do use Netbait Paca Craws as a trailer when I want better twin tail action, but the downside to those is that the "claws" often get bit off by smaller fish, a d while they skip well, they dont skip nearly as well as the bulkier D-Bomb.

Interesting observation of yours regarding the hook angle on the Swim Max. I agee that might be an issue. I think I'll start with trying to bend them to a better angle, but that is one strong hook, so I'm not sure it will be practical, or even doable.

I accept that this is a "compromise" setup. In a tournament I would probably opt to have at least 3 different rods rigged specifically for skipping, swimming and casting/pitching/flipping.

In search mode though, I'm looking for one setup that can work as a "Swiss Army Knife". All suggestions welcome.

Jason,
The only news here is that all limits on Spotted bas in Lake Gaston have been removed. You can now catch and keep/kill as many as you want of any size. Will it help? So far, no. They only seem more numerous, and generally smaller, but it's probably too early to see any effect. Spots over 3lbs. are becoming hard to find, whereas 2 years ago, I caught a number of them.

As a long time bass fanatic, I am conflicted on the issue of unlimited harvesting/killing of these fish, for several reasons:
1) I hate killing bass, period.
2) no guarantee it would help
3) I doubt that we could kill enough of them

These fish are EXTREMELY aggressive. I have caught the same fish on the same bait 2 days in a row 3 times in the past 18 months. I know this because they broke me off on 8lb. Mono and still had my ned rig in their mouth.
Half the time, they are spitting up multiple threadfin shad when being landed, and sometimes small bream.

Largemouths appear to have no chance of competing with them for shad, and I believe they have been relegated now primarily to the shallows to feed and crawfish and bream. It's been 2 years since I've caught a largemouth of at least 6 lbs. In that 2 year span, fishing the lake probably 200 times, Ive landed only 5 LM bass weighing 5+ lbs. And those fish were all between 21-24 inches, and appeared very under expected weight.

So the damage is already done as far as I can see. There are some excellent bass fisherman here that probably can know the lake so well they can find big LMs a lot better than me, but I am adjusting tactics and finding more 3-4 lbers. From post spawn through late fall I simply gave up trying to find LMs depper than 10 feet, concentrating on docks and shallow water and increased my LM catch ratio considerably.

The spotted bass seem to absolutely dominate the best offshore habitat.

I have run into some amazing feeding frenzies of spotted bass, and admit it is fun catching 20-40 bass in an hour. But they'll top out usually at the 2lb mark, with an occasional 2 1/2 or 3 lber.

But that 's not what we're after, is it guys? We're after those fat, giant fish and the thrill of seeing their huge profile for the first time when you get 'em close to the boat, or they tail-stand, shaking their head at us in defiance.

Thanks to rich property owners using chemicals and grass carp to eliminate nearly all aquatic vegetation, and a poor decision by someone to bring these ultra-agressive bass here, that thrill has become nearly extinct here.

When fishermen become as politically influential as property owners, this may stop happening. Anyone here see that happening? I don't. Even most environmentalists won't align with fishermen because we drive boats that burn fossil fuels. They want a world where all fishermen wear spandex and float in kayaks. Yeah. I lived in NJ where hunters and fishermen are pretty much despised. I guess we're just not enlightened enough.

Guys,

The only positive thing related to the introduction of Alabama spots in Lake Gaston may be this:

Over the past few years the VA/NC record for Blue Catfish has been broken on Lake Gaston at least 5 times, twice in as period if less thsn 24 hours. I suspect that it's no coincidence that it coincides with the explosion of Coosa River spots. After talking to several catfish guides who broke this records, they support that suspicion 100%.

FOR SPOTTED BASS: 1/8 oz. Berkely Half-Head jig in Green Pumpkin with a Green Pumpkin BPS Split Tail Stik-O. Fish on 8lb. Mono, Spinning Rod. (Flouro..too much line twist in cold weather...braid too hard too see..be a line watcher)

FOR LARGEMOUTHS: 3/8 or 5/16 Black or Black/Blue Stanley Jig (old school) with Netbait Paca Chunk in Black/Blue or Okeechobee Craw. Heavier jigs sink too fast. You want a slow fall, and fish it so slow that it's almost torture. Get it in their face and keep it there.

Power fishing has never worked well for me in water below 50 degrees. Do your map/sonar homework, pick a few spots, and fish them slowly and thoroughly. The above methods take time and patience, so may not be the best strategy for tournament fishing, but sometimes patience wins.

Lew's TLC4000. Priced right around $100 ($104 on Amazon).

The Lews Speed Spinn mentioned above are really a good value. These are a notch above.

https://www.amazon.com/Lews-Fishing-Custom-Speed-Spinning/dp/B07H15DV97/ref=asc_df_B07H15DV97/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312025993668&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6776288340722193390&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008621&hvtargid=pla-584992809801&psc=1

PB (by weight) 7 lb 2 oz. In 1983 on Black Bush Hog single blade spinnerbait at night on Greenwood Lake NJ.

PB (by length) 24 1/2 inches. 6 lbs 6 oz. on Black 3/8 oz. jig w/ Netbait Paca Chunk on Lake Gaston. Definite "under weight" bass. No gut. Atkins diet?

Totally with you on the Lew's Pete.

The SS1 LSF is an incredible value. Very easy to disl in, even for skippin.

I first started on Lew's BB1s back in early 80s, when choices were few. Now, with too many choices, these Lew's really stand out as true quality reels at an affordable price, even for those of us on a fixed income.

After trying 100% flouro, braid w/flouro leader, I have now returned using 100% Berkely Trilene XL mono on all spinning rods, exactly what I used 40 years ago.

Flourocarbon line is absolutely maddening to me. It is terrible with twist, brittle in cold water, (below 50 degrees) and ridiculously expensive. I have seen no advantage in it's alledged invisibility, fishing for LM and Spotted bass. I admit to not having used it in the deep clear Northern lakes for smallies though, so I limit my statement to Southern impoundments.

Braid is more castable, but very difficult too see for me, and being a line watcher, thats just a non-starter for me. And although it is supposed to be stronger, having to tie a flouro or mono leader to it creatss thr distinct possibilty that in practice, it might actually be WEAKER depending on the quality of the knot you tied with freezing hands while your boat is being rocked by Wake-Boarders. Also, trying to cast a knot through increasingly tiny rod guides is unacceptable to me, which forces me to use leaders shorter than I'm comfortable with.

Trilene XL is limber, casts very well, and twists less than any Flouro or mono line I've ever used, and visible enough so I don't strain my eyes. (Older guys will get this)

Does it stretch? Yup. But when finesse fishing with Shaky Heads, Ned Rigs, Drop Shots, Wacky/Neko rigs on light line, I'm not face-busting bass with hard hooksets anyway.

I use 4000/400/40 series spinning reels which some will think are too large or heavy, but the large spool size helps cut down on line twist.

Try mono. Cheaper, simpler, easier......better.

If line stretch or "toughness" is as issue for you, then you're probably not finesse fishing, and should be using bait casting equipment.

I always smile when I hear or see Pete mention colored blades on spinnerbaits.

In the 80's, nothing caught more bass for me than Fleck Weed Wader spinnerbaits, primarily with double painted Indiana blades. Remember those Pete?

Black with Chartreuse blades, Charteuse w/ Chartreuse, White w/ White absolutely were killer baits in all of the Northeastern Lakes I fished in those days on NJ, NY, PA, and VT.

I am surprised to find so few spinnerbait manufacturers offer these now. They still work, but I've found spinnerbaits in general seem to be significantly less effective down here in the south. Not sure if this is due to the waters I fish here, or whether fish have become "wary" of them.

Jason,

Good point on using neon colored braid. I don't see it on the shelves where I shop, so I guess I'll try to find it online. Any suggestion on brand?

One thing I forgot to mention regarding braid; Anyone else using braid on spinning gear notice this:
After landing a fish, on braid, your next cast goes about 8 feet and dies? It seems that braid "packs" on spinning reels from the tension of fighting a fish and it can take several casts before it casts normally again.
That was a real turn off for me, but it doesn't seem to be as bad on casting reels.

Mike,

If you drop shot a lot, I would suggest trying out VMC Spinshot hooks. Its a drop shot hook with a barrel swivel built into it. I've used these with success, and they don't appear to spook the fish, at least in the waters I fish, which range from clear to muddy. Not as clear though as the West Coast waters you are fishing though.
Anuway, they really help in reducing line twist with drop shot rigs. Try 'em.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Spinshot_Drop_Shot_Hooks/descpage-VMCSS.html?from=gshop&gclid=CjwKCAiAtouOBhA6EiwA2nLKH20jKgc4c8cL9sS3WLola96pLs8bsH4kX83jMNhMqo9sHLaPDaKClRoCcX0QAvD_BwE

What gloves are the Pros using/recommending for winter bass fishing when the temp start hitting 45 or below?