Carters Lake Fishing Report October 2013

Carters: Level: 1.1 feet above full pool. Temp: 78-80 degrees. Clarity: Clear; 4-foot visibility.

Bass: Good. Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “Topwater, jerkbaits and SpotSticker jig heads have been my best baits. The bite out there is good, but it’s easy to miss. We’ve boated anywhere from 11 to 30-plus fish. The key each day has been to cover water until you run across them, and then stay put, and throw different baits at them. When you find them, it’s on. We’ve caught some big spots lately and even a few doubles (two fish on the same bait). My choice baits for October are topwaters like Strike King Sexy Dawgs, jerkbaits like a Spro McStick and a SpotSticker jig head tipped with a Big Bite Shaking Squirrel. Fish the topwaters and jerkbaits to locate a group of fish, and then slow down with the SpotSticker, and fish thoroughly. Later in the month look for the Fish Head Spin and jig bites to start picking up in the 15- to 25-foot range.”

Linesides: Good. Guide Eric Crowley reports, “Carters has been off the charts for stripers and hybrids. The fish have been spread out, but the bigger schools of fish seem to be halfway back in the creeks early and then moving out as the sun comes up. Hybrids and stripers seem to be mixed together and will be caught side by side. Live bait in the 4- to 7-inch range has been the best producer. We are catching good numbers pulling lines with 1/8-oz. lead about 60 feet behind the boat and on downlines from 25 to 45 feet deep with long leaders. As of last week, we have had a great topwater bite early in the morning either pitching live bait or tossing Sassy Shads to these fish. Using 14- to 17-lb. fluorocarbon and a 2/0 circle hook will be my go-to rig this month. The area around the main beach, the Woodring boat ramp and Worley Creek have all been holding good numbers of fish as well as standing timber after the sun is up in the sky. The linesides look really healthy for this time of year. The low water temps and plentiful food supply has done wonders for all the fish.”