Carters Lake Fishing Report April 2012

Carters: Level: Full pool. Temp: 64-67 degrees. Clarity: Clear; 4-8 feet visibility.

Bass: Good. Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “Spotsticker jig heads fished slowly with Big Bite finesse worms and Shaking Squirrel worms are working fished near spawning areas and flat banks. Flukes, jerkbaits and topwater baits like Pop-Rs and prop baits are all producing fish as well. Look for more schooling activity as we get later in the month and the spots are postspawn. Most of the spotted bass will spawn the first two weeks of April, and this will leave plenty of male fish guarding fry. They are easily picked off using small topwaters, flukes and Spotstickers. Cover water, and fish a variety of baits, and you’ll run across ’em in April. It’s a great month to fish everywhere.”

Linesides: Good. “Stripers have been feeding in the morning on the main-lake river channel,” said Eric Crowley. “Look for bait and fish on the sonar, and fish baits from just above the fish to the surface. We have caught many big fish recently pulling flatlines in 150 feet of water. Gizzard shad from 4 to 6 inches long have been getting the most attention from the bigger fish. The flatline bite has been shutting down around noon, so starting early is key. Later in the day, we have seen a lot of fish in the trees at Camp Branch and by the beach in 60 feet of water. When the water temps hit the 70s, look for the fish to start schooling and holding tight to structure. We have caught fish on live bait and a number of artificials. The morning topwater bite has been good around Stumpy Island. Best bites have come on the Smack Tackle Smack Jack and the Zara Spook both in a herring color. Working the baits slow has been key to drawing a strike.” Louie reports, “The white fish bite is good. Shallow-running jerkbaits in the morning and evening fished shallow around points and humps are producing a fish or two each day, and the live bait bite is as good as it gets at Carters. Look for schools of bait and fish suspended shallow near the creekmouths. Freelines and shallow downlines are all you need to catch these fish. The bite lasts approximately two hours in the morning, so get there early and be ready. Typically if you pull a good spread of baits around a mile per hour, you can cover plenty of water and find a good school of fish. Creek mouths like the Doll Mtn. area have had schools roaming the channels, and if you find a good school you can catch multiple fish out of it quick.”