Water Level: 199.45 | Water Temperature: 45.8˚
Weather: 48˚ | Partly Cloudy | Winds: 6 mph
1. Striped Bass: Active near the Gaston Dam and lower end of the lake, with fish in the 10-15 pound range. Live shad, bucktails, and deep-diving plugs are producing best results. Focus on drifted or trolled presentations just below the dam.
2. Largemouth Bass: Target 3-7 feet of water around ledges, points, and submerged brush using dark colored jig ‘n pig combinations or jerk baits. Silver Buddies near deep water are also effective on warmer days.
3. Crappie: Concentrate on brush piles and submerged structures in 10-12 feet of water. Live minnows remain the top bait for consistent catches, especially around bridge pilings.
Cold, partly cloudy weather with light winds is typical for early January, but water temperatures holding near 46 degrees provide decent activity for winter patterns. Patience and focus on deeper, structure-oriented spots will reward anglers this week. The striper bite near the dam should continue to improve as the month progresses, so plan to spend some time trolling or drifting live bait in those areas. Tight lines!
