Water Level: 199.65 | Water Temperature: 74.1˚
Weather: 67˚ | Slight Chance Rain Showers | Winds: 7 mph
1. Largemouth Bass: Target creek channels and main lake points with crankbaits in shad and silver colors, especially in 4-10 feet of water. Plastic worms rigged Carolina style and jig ‘n pig presentations around rocks and stumps remain effective. Early mornings and late evenings offer topwater bite opportunities using buzzbaits, Baby Chug Bugs, and soft plastic jerk baits near back coves with leaf cover.
2. Striped Bass: Focus trolling bucktails and Cordell Hot Spots in the main river channel with fish suspended between 16-20 feet. Live bait presentations work well near the Route 85 Bridge down to Gaston Dam.
3. Crappie: Excellent action persists around submerged brushpiles and solid structures, with minnows the bait of choice. Depths of 12-14 feet, especially in back creek areas like Mill Creek and Poplar Creek, are producing 1-2 pound class fish.
With water temperatures holding in the mid-70s and stable water levels, fish are actively staging in transitional areas as fall approaches. The slight chance of rain showers and moderate winds should keep water clarity good, encouraging bass and crappie to feed aggressively. Anglers are encouraged to vary presentations between deeper jigging and shallow topwater tactics to capitalize on shifting fish patterns throughout the day. Overall, conditions are favorable for productive outings across all popular species this week at Lake Gaston.
