Carters Lake Fishing Report – February 2007

Carters: Level: 2.4 feet above full pool. Temp: 48 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Buddy Callahan at Bart’s Bait & Tackle said the tournament weights have been pretty decent. Look for fish to head deep this month into brush that is 40 to 50 feet deep. “The shallow bite is fixing to come to a screeching halt,” said Buddy. “Spoons and drop-shots will be 80 percent of what you do. That’s not to say that you won’t find a sunny day with a little bit of wind and pick up a few shallow on a spinnerbait.”

Stripers: Great. Buddy has really been selling the trout. “We’re still picking up a few on flatlines and planer boards, but it’s an early deal,” said Buddy. “By the end of the day you’ll have to go to a downline.” The number of stripers caught has dropped some, but the quality is way up. “There’s been numerous 20-pounders caught this year,” said Buddy. “The problem in February is that fronts move through so fast and then another front comes right in; it puts the fish in a no-feed state.” Look on humps and points down the lake around the marina. “Look in about 40 feet, and you’ll need a good graph.” Guide Robert Eidson said if you want a 20-lb. striper, go to Carters right now. He recommends flatlines with big trout, and he mentioned Fisher and Worley creeks and the main-lake humps on the south end as good areas to fish.