Fishing with Live Bait

“It’s easier to feed them, than it is to trick them,” sums up the reason why live baits are so popular with Piedmont lake anglers. Store-bought worms, crickets and minnows account for a large percentage of all fish caught on live bait. However, anything that crawls, flies or swims is considered live bait. Regardless of what type of live bait you fish with, it is important to practice a few time proven techniques. more>>

Fishing Cold Water Plastics,Remember Dead-Sticking

Most bass tournament anglers agree soft plastic lures like worms and grubs are so effective because of their life-like swimming, shaking, and shimmering actions, but veteran Yamaha Pro Luke Clausen reminds fishermen that worms also work when they’re dead, too.

“The term we use is dead-sticking,” laughs Clausen, winner of both the FLW® Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster® Classic, “and it’s a presentation that often works when fish are not biting very aggressively. more>>

Tournament Pro Clark Reehm Likes Floating Jerkbaits For Cold Water Bass

Of all the lures a bass fishermen can try when he’s fishing for cold water bass, floating jerkbaits don’t get a lot of attention. That’s fine, laughs Yamaha Pro Clark Reehm, who uses them all winter.

“Floating jerkbaits bring the best results when you use them around and over submerged vegetation, stumps, cypress trees, or brush in shallow water,” acknowledges Reehm, “so perhaps that’s why many anglers don’t use them. Fishermen normally move to deep water in winter, but remember, it’s the cover, and particularly vegetation, that keeps bass shallow on many lakes and rivers. more>>

Hot Hole Fishing 101

by Capt. Paul Rose

December right thru January can mean chilly water temps and even cold winter weather spells for fisherman in the Southeast. With the right strategy you can leave the duck blind or deer stand for a day of hot fishing. Warm water discharges resulting from electricity generation on lakes such as Wylie and Norman, amongst others; attract bait like ants to a lollipop. Bait can be shad, herring or white perch all of which are on the grocery list for hungry stripers, spotted and largemouth bass. Savvy anglers follow the bait to get in on the bite.

Despite the overwhelming concentration of bait and game fish, you still need to follow a few tips to keep the rod bent consistently. Captain Jonathan Taylor is on Lake Norman daily and has logbooks from years of data collection, which he uses to pinpoint day-to-day patterns to find the fish. Anglers need that raw data but have to relate it to contour lines, depths, current and wind patterns. It goes without saying that good electronics and charts are step 1. more>>

Cold Weather Fishing Tips

December thru February is a favorite time to fish Piedmont Lakes. The most important reason is that striped bass bite best when water temperatures are cool. But, largemouth, spotted bass, perch, cats and crappie must eat as well, so all are fair game. The following tips might help make your next cold weather fishing trip more enjoyable and productive. more>>

Piedmont Lakes
Fishing Guide

Bait & Tackle Shops

AK McCallum Co.
Tackle, Jon Boats
715 Ramsey St, Fayetteville NC 28302
910-483-6804 or 800-682-2628

Balls Creek Bait & Tackle
Open M-F 5am – 10pm; S-S 6am – 10pm
3152 Hwy 16 S, Newton NC 28658
828-464-0904

Bill’s Marina & Grill
7704 Hudson Chapel Rd, Catawba NC 28609
828-241-2337

Bob’s Bait
7150 Little Mountain Rd, Sherrill’s Ford NC 28673
704-483-1011 or 704-658-8542

Byrum’s General Store
8510 Steele Creek Rd, Charlotte NC 28273
704-588-0434

Caldwell Bait & Tackle
17523 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville NC
704-892-2700

Carolina Mountain Sports
101 E Broad St, Statesville NC 28677
704-871-1444

Carolina Sportsman
247 Hands Mill Rd/Hwy 274, Newport SC
803-366-3466

Catawba Tackle & Marine
2317 India Hook Rd, Rock Hill SC
803-366-7998

Chip’s Lake Stop
648 PeeDee Ave, Norwood NC
704-474-7154

Critterville Outlet
8759 Charlotte Hwy, Ft Mill SC
803-242-3880

Fish Tales Marina & Grille
700 Lake Forest Rd, New London NC 28127
336-461-2565
www.tishtalesmarina.com

Harbortowne Marina
220 Commodore Ct, Belmont NC 28012
704-825-5050

High Rock Marina & Campground
1013 Wafford Circle, Lexington NC
336-798-1196 or 800-382-3239

Highway 49 Sporting Goods
36488 NC 8/49 Hwy, New London NC 28127
704-463-7053

Hill’s Minnow Farm
7940 Bringle Ferry Rd, Salisbury NC 28146
704-663-7413

Jim’s Bait & Tackle
4354 S Tryon St, Charlotte NC 28217
704-525-4807

Kwik Stop
Open 5:30 am – 11:00 pm
790 Hwy 16 N, Denver NC
704-483-1781

Lakeside Marina
Hwy 127, 24 Marina Dr, Hickory NC 28601
828-495-8181

Lakeside Tackle
At High Rock Boat Dock Marina
339 N Shore Dr, Lexington NC 27292
336-859-3770

Madison River Outfitters
Orvis Fly Fishing Shop
20910 Torrence Chapel Rd #D5, Cornelius NC 28031
704-896-3676

Midway Bait & Tackle
8693 Hwy 150 E, Terrell NC
828-478-9236

Nichols Store
1980 Mt Holly Rd, Rock Hill SC 29730
803-328-9792

Norwood Express Mart
130 S Main St, Norwood NC 28128
704-474-4588

Norwood Food & Beverage
976 N Main St, Norwood NC 28128
704-474-3993

Pendleton’s Sporting Goods
5930 Charlotte Hwy, Clover SC 29710
803-631-5410

Perth Bait & Tackle
818 Perth Rd, Troutman, NC 28166
704-528-4826

R&N Marina
5803 Icard Ridge Rd, Hickory NC 28601
828-495-8833
www.randnmarina.com

Rink Dam Boat Dock
Lake Hickory
828-632-7937 or 828-632-5431

Riverstop Bait & Tackle
1940 W Hwy 160, Ft Mill SC
803-548-5926

River Stop Food Mart
Open Sun 10-8; M -- F 6-9; Sat 7-9
3900 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill SC 29732
803-329-0002

Robichaux Outfitters
1113 Brawley School Rd, Mooresville NC 28117
704-658-1975

Simonds Bait & Tackle Shop
On the Tuckaseigee River
1085 Main St, Bryson City NC 28713
828-488-6854

Stutts Bait & Tackle Shop
571 Stutts Rd, Mooresville NC
704-664-3106

Tamarac Marina
9120 Bringle Ferry Rd, Salisbury NC
704-636-1918

Taylorsville Beach Marina
420 Taylorsville Beach Ct, Taylorsville NC 28681
828-632-7649

Terrell Bait & Tackle
Hwy 150, Terrell NC
828-478-2024

The Rod Shop
4115 Rocky River Rd N, Monroe NC
704-289-4003

Wilgrove Express Bait & Tackle
Open 7 days a week
10102 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte NC 28227
704-545-1228

Fishing Guides

Carolina Bonefishing
Fly fishing trips & lessons
704-616-6662
www.carolinabonefishing.com

Catfish Guide Service
Lake Norman Guide
David Nicholson
704-592-5562

Chunkers Central Carolina Fishing Guide Service
Fishing the Southeast for over 40 years!
336-414-4648
buddyparks43@yahoo.com
www.chunkerscentralcarolinafishingguide.com

Down & Out Striped Bass Guide Service
Lakes Hickory, Lookout Shoals, Norman
287 Rumple Hill Dr, Statesville NC 28677
704-528-9013 or 704-902-7246

Fish On! Lake Norman Guide Service
Capt. Craig Price
Fishing LKN, Hickory, Mtn Island, Lookout Shoals, Rhodhiss
PO Box 1623, Denver NC 28037
704-996-0946
www.fishonlakenorman.com

Gold Hook Guide Service
Jason Quinn
810 Riverstone Ct, Lake Wylie SC 29745
803-327-7048 or 980-522-6618
www.jasonquinnbassbro.com

Gul-R-Boy Guide Service
Flounder, Red Drum, Tarpon & Trout
539 Harvestmoon Dr, Georgetown SC
843-546-3625 or 843-520-6339
www.gulrboy.com

Hill Guide Services
Santee-Cooper Lakes & Rivers
Capt. John Gary Hill
704-739-7838
www.hillguides.com

Ken’s Guide Service
Striper Fishing
828-325-9848 or 336-785-5935

Lake Norman Ventures
Striper Fishing
Capt. Gus Gustafson
7815 Lucy Ln, Sherrill’s Ford NC 28673
704-489-0763 or 704-617-6812
www.lakenormanstriperfishing.com

Lake Wylie Guide Service
Jimmy Drum
99 Old Mine Rd, Mt Holly NC 28120
704-827-3018

Morrow’s Guide Service
Striped Bass Only
704-491-8787

Madison River Outfitters
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide Service
20910 Torrence Chapel Rd #D5, Cornelius NC 28031
704-896-3676

Robichaux Outfitters
1113 Brawley School Rd, Mooresville NC 28117
704-658-1975

Tall Boy’s Catfish Guide
Norman & Surrounding Lakes
David Nicholson
704-592-5562

Ty Mathis Striper Fishing
Lakes Norman, Hickory, Mountain Island
Ty Mathis
828-308-7755

Yadkin Lakes Guide Service
High Rock, Badin & Tuckertown Lakes
Maynard Edwards
336-249-6782

Fishing Licenses

Purchase NC licenses on-line at www.wildlife.state.nc.us

Purchase SC licenses on-line at http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/
or purchase by phone at 1-888-434-7472.

Licenses also available at all Wal-Mart Stores.

Beatties Ford Rd Hardware
2731 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte NC 28216
704-393-2847

C’s BP
101 Wadesboro Blvd, Mt Gilead NC 27306
910-439-4243

Carolina Fishing
2925 N Center St, Hickory NC 28601
828-328-1431

Carolina Mountain Sports
101 E Broad St, Statesville NC 28677
704-871-1444

Chip’s Lake Stop
648 PeeDee Ave, Norwood NC
704-474-7154

Fish Tales Marina & Grille
700 Lake Forest Rd, New London NC 28127
336-461-2565
www.fishtalesmarina.com

Four Seasons Marine Supply
575 Hwy 16 N, Denver NC 28037
704-489-8242

General Store of Denver
6360 E Hwy 150, Sherrills Ford NC 28673
704-483-2686

Highway 49 Sporting Goods
36488 NC 8/49 Hwy, New London NC 28127
704-463-7053

Lake Norman Grocery
1208 River Hwy, Mooresville NC 28117
704-799-0032

Lakeside Marina
Hwy 127, 24 Marina Dr, Hickory NC 28601
828-495-8181

Nichols Store
1980 Mt Holly Rd, Rock Hill SC 29730
803-328-9792

North Lakes Dock & Shop
5623 Grace Chapel Rd, Hickory NC 28601
828-324-5506

Norwood Express Mart
130 S Main St, Norwood NC 28128
704-474-4588

Pendleton’s Sporting Goods
5930 Charlotte Hwy, Clover SC 29710
803-631-5410

R&N Marina
5803 Icard Ridge Rd, Hickory NC 28601
828-495-8833
www.randnmarina.com

River Stop Food Mart
Open Sun 10-8; M -- F 6-9; Sat 7-9
3900 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill SC 29732
803-329-0002

Sharon Supermarket
2174 Island Ford Rd, Statesville NC 28677
704-871-0505

Simonds Bait & Tackle Shop
On the Tuckaseigee River
1085 Main St, Bryson City NC 28713
828-488-6854

Tom’s Grocery & Tackle
Hwy 220 N, Star NC 27356
910-428-4141

WAS Greenfield Market
522 Alexander St, Statesville NC 28677
704-876-2613

Wilgrove Express Bait & Tackle
Open 7 days a week
10102 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte NC 28227
704-545-1228

Taxidermist, Fish Mounts

Fishing Creek Taxidermy
Cierra Ln, Lando SC 29724
803-789-6321

Game Trail Taxidermy
6280 County Line Rd, Mt Pleasant NC
704-782-4497

Kimsey Museum Studio
5548 Candlewick Tr, Gastonia NC
704-867-4616

Tommy’s Taxidermy
1313 Crowell Dairy Rd, Indian Trail NC
704-753-1470

Trail’s End Taxidermy
459 Little River Rd, Ft Mill SC 29715
803-547-5646

Fishing Organizations

Balls Creek Bassmasters
828-459-1119

Carolinas Catfish Club
251 Kelly Ln, Lexington NC 27295
704-664-4532
www.carolinascatfishclub.com

Charlotte Offshore Sportfishing Club
Monthly meetings, workshops
704-458-4669
www.cosfc.com

Lake Norman Stripers Club
Mooresville NC
www.lnssfishn.com

Norman Fishery Alliance
www.gonfa.com

Balls Creek Bassmasters
Newton NC
828-459-1119

Outcast Bassmasters
Newton NC
828-428-2806

Rod & Reel Repair

Fisherman’s Friend Too
1401 S. Ridge Ave, Kannapolis NC 28083
704-932-7335

Tackle Town
4705 Cousin Ln, Maiden NC 28650
704-483-1007
www.tackletown.com