Carters Lake Fishing Report – January 2025

Carters: Level: 0.2 feet below 1074. Temp: 53 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Louie Bartenfield, with Carters Lake Guide Service, says, “January is one of my favorite months of the year for both numbers and quality. Fishing is fantastic. The baitfish have wintered into their cold-weather areas. You will find spotted bass scattered 10 to 45 feet deep. Look in ditches and creek channels around bait. Use jerkbaits for the shallow fish and go to football jigs and drop shots for the deeper ones. The Oneten+1 jerkbaits will get a little deeper, and herring or shad colors will match the baitfish. Jigs in greens and browns with matching trailers are best in the cold water.” Guide Robbie Linginfelter, with Carters Lake Guide Service, reports, “We are in the full swing of wintertime fishing. These next three months are my absolute favorite time to be on the water. It’s a great time to catch a lot of fish and a potential giant. The fish are hot on the trail of the bait, and ditches are a great place to start looking. It’s never a bad idea to have a swimbait and jig in your hand this time of  year. The coming months will also produce some absolute monster spotted bass, so get out on the water and lock that bottom bait, swimbait or jerkbait in your hand.”

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Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Even in cold weather, fishing can be rewarding. Understanding fish behavior during the coldest times can be enjoyable. Vertical fishing is key for walleye—using spoons, jigs, minnows and soft plastics presented directly in front of the fish. Triggering a reaction strike requires subtle movements compared to the aggressive presentations of the fall season. To locate fish, focus on areas with bait and look just below for fish near the bottom, typically within the 50- to 60-foot range. Maneuver your boat for the best vertical presentation based on wind, and cover the area thoroughly. If you’re not getting bites, don’t linger too long. Keep moving and keep fishing. Sometimes you’ll catch fish that weren’t even marked on your graph because they’re too close to the bottom. Walleye behavior is influenced by light and weather conditions; cloudy, overcast or windy days tend to yield better catches. Adapt your bait colors to match the weather for successful fishing. We have seen plenty of 22- to 23-inch fish and occasionally larger 25- to 26-inch walleye.”

Stripers: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Stripers in January are found in the backs of creeks, up the river in the channel bends and by the boat ramps feeding on smaller baits before moving into deeper water as the sun rises. Follow the depth of bait balls for success. There’s been some nice schools of striped fish observed recently. Pull baits slowly, watching the graph, and watch for bird activity like loons or gulls. Thirty-five to 50 feet has been the consistent depth, but we have caught suspended fish 80 feet deep under feeding loons during daylight hours using artificial baits. Key areas are not specific, as similar bait scenarios exist in various creeks.”