Lake Hickory North Carolina

[Gill-T]

Like many other NYers, much of our family and friends have moved to NC. Always good to visit the state to feel the heat again and to gain perspective of life outside of NY while exploring outdoor pursuits. This trip was to spend time with my younger brother and check on a new to us fishery at Lake Hickory. Beater 1970’s StarCraft acquired for $1,000 a month before the trip. Transom was shot which left little time for my brother to slap a new one in with temps warm enough to do glass work. Work on the boat finished two days prior to my arrival.  We would be placing our trust in an old Johnson 25 hp outboard with a failing shift cable but hey …..we all need a little adventure in our dull lives. Lake Hickory is a river system comprised of many dams. Like all of NC, it is an explosion of growth and new builds. The houses that line the lake are outrageous. Our stay included a three night stay in a VBRO with a huge dock (a must). The goal was to catch Striped Bass and anything else that would bite. To prevent writing a novel I will summarize by saying we experienced quality over quantity. Stripers were caught trolling A-rigs with three inch paddle tails off planer boards, catfish caught on bluegills at night, bluegills caught on worms, bass caught on swimbaits and blade baits. Great trip but it really makes you appreciate the fisheries we have back home. Bass boats everywhere down there pounding the docks. You REALLY have to work for your fish. The trip finished on the Green River near my brother’s house. This poor river made headlines during Hurricane Helene which turned a blue ribbon trout stream into a deadly torrent of mud. The stream will take 100 years before all the sand is gone.

 

Edited March 31 by Gill-T

[Gill-T]

 

Edited March 31 by Gill-T

[Gill-T]

[Trouthunter]

Yeah you do not know how good New York fishing is til you move or visit some place else

[Reel Doc]

Looks like a great trip.  Bring some of that blue sky to New York!

[Gill-T]

Ya sorry that didn’t happen. When we flew around storms last night we were over Niagara County and all I could see was brown water everywhere in farm fields. I imagine the shoreline will be a little too muddy to troll for a little bit.