Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report September 2015

Blue Ridge: Level: 0.6 feet above full pool. Temp: 78-82 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “The bite has been steady. We’re still catching fish deep on a drop shot with a 4.5-inch Roboworm and a shaky head with a Zoom Trick Worm. There has been some fish breaking early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. I’ve been throwing a Zoom Fluke and a Sebile swimbait on breaking fish, but I also keep a Sammy and a Zara Spook tied on for those long casts. Fishing on the main lake should start picking up, due to the water level dropping and water temperature cooling. In September, I like to target the rocky banks and points up in Star Creek with tube baits and weighted flukes. As the water keeps dropping, it’s hard to beat a No. 5 Shad Rap. Make sure you’re watching your electronics. This time of year you will see lots of fish chasing bait balls. It’s like playing a video game. Find them, and drop down on them, and watch them eat.” Guide Eric Crowley reports, “The smallies are set up in a pretty typical hot weather pattern. You have three windows a day to really effectively target the elusive bronzeback. Early in the morning, there are some fish chasing small bait on the surface on the main lake. They are really only hitting the smaller profile artificial baits. I have been using a variety of lures on lightweight spinning gear. Small Rapalas, Smack Tackle Flitterbaits and a small Hex Jig with a cut fluke tail in a shad color have been working. Long casts are key, so the fish don’t know you’re there. This bite hasn’t been lasting long and ends all at once as the sunlight hits the water. After sun up, look in the 25- to 30-foot range on hard bottoms for small groups of bass on the sonar. Drop shots or live bait is the way to go here. The bait will have to get in their face, but when it does, they will eat it. We have caught several bass in the 4-lb. range in the last few weeks, and this pattern should hold true until the weather cools off. The last of the three target times for me has been in the middle of the day if it’s overcast. I have been catching fish trolling 5- to 6-inch Rapalas in black and gold and firetiger. The easiest way I have found to troll these is with a 3/4-oz. egg sinker with a 6-foot leader. Set your boat up to speed, and let out line until you start to tap the bottom. Areas this has been productive in are Star Creek, in front of the dam and Morganton point where there are some rocky, flat-bottom areas holding fish. Cover lots of water, and try to go over areas where you are marking fish multiple times.”