Carters Lake Fishing Report February 2015

Carters: Level: 1.1 feet below full. Temp: 48 degrees. Clarity: About 5 feet visibility.

Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield reports, “Fishing remains consistent despite the dropping water temperatures and crazy weather. Recently our lake fluctuated from 3ft below pool, to 8ft over-full-pool, back to 5ft below pool, all in 4 days; crazy weather. Water temps are holding from 45-48 throughout the lake and river. February is not the greatest month to fish Carters Lake for Spotted Bass, however it is a fantastic month to catch a big fish. February is a month that usually fishes totally different from the first week to the last week of the month. Early February is possibly the toughest week or two of the year here at Carters. Fish are still deep, spread out, well-fed from all the massive schools weak bait fish piled up in every creek. This makes fishing very tough. But at the months end each year pre-spawn fish will start making their move shallow(er) as the month goes on, look for those warm sunny days at the end of February to move some big fish up. It’s always been my belief that some of those big pre-spawn females will sit up high in the water column and "sun" with their dark colored backs absorbing sunlight. Jerkbaits, Spotsticker Jigheads, Crankbaits, and Casting Jigs will be my go-to baits in February. Fish secondary points, flats in the river, and outside bends in major creeks, mid-day will typically be best in February so pick a bait and pick a creek, and pick apart any pre-spawn area you find. Watch the water temps, when they start to steadily increase late in the month, that’s the time to get on the water.”

Linesides: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “Stripers fishing has been good upriver, with the most action from Ridgeway up. We’re finding fish anywhere from 25 to 65 feet deep over a 60- to 90-foot bottom. Look for schools of stripers around large schools of bait held up in the bends of the river morning and evening bite has been best although some fish have been caught during midday. Small to medium trout fished on long leaders with circle hooks have had the best results. We’re not catching many fish up shallow, which is strange for this time of year. Other areas of interest include Worley Creek and Fisher Creek in the area around Woodring Branch boat ramp. Stripers up to 25 pounds have been caught in the last few weeks, but most fish averaging 16 to 17 pounds.”