Carters Lake Fishing Report – October 2024

Carters: Level: 0.3 feet below 1074. Temp: 72 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Robbie Linginfelter with Carters Lake Guide Service reports, “October can be a great month of the year. The fish are transitioning from their summer pattern to their fall pattern. The name of the game is bait. The fish will be following bait balls and eating to fatten up. Electronics can play a big role this time of year to find both the bait and the bass. Right now use small swimbaits, jerkbaits and drop shots. Find the bait and fish under and around it. We are also getting into the time of year when you can go drag a jig to catch a big spot or largemouth, too. Overall, the month of October can be really good to catch a lot of fish, and some big ones, too.”

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Fall is finally here. We have fish in the creeks, out deep, fish busting the surface, you name it, we got it this month. As the smaller, younger class of bait starts to move back off the main lake and into shallower, more stable water, the stripers, walleye and bass will follow. The walleye will set up on shorelines, humps or any structure in the 40- to 70-foot range, but the cooler water temp will eliminate most chasing, so the trolling bite can be tough. This is when we start vertical fishing for the bigger walleye. Big fish laying on the bottom or suspended in the timber is what I’m looking for this month. These fish want an easy meal without much effort, and a jig or spoon is just that meal. Hit ’em in the face with it until they eat it or get mad at it. If there’s no reaction, move on to the next mark. Don’t spend too much time on non-reactive fish. Natural colors will get bit during feeding times. Go with brighter colors for reaction strikes or if the bite slows. Chartreuse, purple, orange—all the fun walleye colors will get a reaction strikes this month.”

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Stripers: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The stripers for the most part are in the creeks or up in the river holding in the 30- to 50-foot depth range looking to feed up. Live alewives, threadfins or gizzards will get bit if presented on light line. The trolling bite has been steady pulling lures, jigs or umbrella rigs above the bait. Fish in the 2 to 3 mph range. There’s still a good bite over the HydroGlow lights around the ramps before sun-up, with a mix of stripers and hybrids cruising the lights. Live bait is the best bet here.”