Carters Lake Fishing Report – October 2021

Carters: Level: 3.5 feet above 1,074. Temp: 74 degrees. Clarity: Some stain.

Stripers: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “October on most lakes is the end of summer and when the fish start to pull up from the deep holes of summer. Not here, unfortunately. We won’t see that movement for another month or so. Until then, we are still summertime fishing here. Stripers are still deep and feeding mainly early in the day on live baits. After sunrise, we are catching them on Captain Mack’s umbrella rigs, as well as deep-running crankbaits fishing the points around the mouths of the creeks. Fish are holding in the 50- to 70-foot range.”

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “The walleye are still deep on the timber tops. Spoons, jigs or live bait will work, but you have to hit them in the face with it. The best bite still has been at dawn and dusk. Best color this month has been chrome and black with all artificial offerings. Look a little deep than the stripers, about 75 feet.” 

Stripers: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “Late summertime is a good time to target the catfish in Carters. Channels and flatheads are pretty common along with the occasional blue cat. I like targeting them at night. Either after sunset or the hours before dawn are prime time. Live bait is king. Shad, alewives, bream, anything really because they will find it. Fish the channels around the Doll Mountain ramp. Flatheads are all over the rocks on the dam. Both like the Hydro Glow lights.”