Hiwassee Lake NC 10/4/2006

[fisherpal2k]

Well, with the day off from work I struggled to do it , but I finally got to go fishingemoLaugh Got with one of my friends and we went to Hiwasse Lake in NC. It was foggy and cool but man it was nice!emoThumbsup

We started out throwing top water but couldn't get a bite. Then I changed over to a jerk bait and caught 3 spots. My partner changed over to a crankbait and we picked up a few more. The sun broke thru the fog at around 9 and the fishing almost died out. The water is about 25 to 30 ft low already and it is clear as all get out. Went on up the lake and found a few fish right on the bank. Started throwing a tube and finesse worm right against the bank and picked up a few more. I caught this one large mouth and a smallie off the bank.
All together we had about 20 fish but only four that would be a keeper. Partner got two spots that was about 1 1/2# each and I got the LM at about 3#. Nice day and great fellowship. Water was anywhere from 67 degrees to 75 by the end of the day. Most of the fish was out on the main lake points and not back in the creeks. The blueback herring population showed itself late in the day. There was fish breaking everywhere. Just couldn't get them to hit a topwater or anything. The herring are real small and the shad are also. Looks like they have a big hatch this year. Just wish whoever has put the herring in the lake would have kept them out. It has destroyed the walleye and white bass fishery.

 

[Fat Albert]

Good report FP2K, that lake is such a pretty place to fish... Ain't fished it in a long time but sure have great memories when I did fish it.... If my memory serves me... I caught a 5# up there and boy, it sure was a strong fish... pulled like a truck.... good job. FAemoGeezer

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Nice fish dude!!! Looks like a great day to be on the lake too. Those are the best days .. when you can get away when you weren't expecting to.

TT

 

[carolf29]

Great looking fish FP2K!! Glad you spent your day off doing something you enjoy!

 

[DACHEEK]

Good lookin fish off the old quarry in Grape Creek! Looks like the first pic was taken up in Persimmon a lil ways. I've fished Hiwassee my entire life and consider it my home lake. Fishing there can be TOUGH to say the least. Derek.

 

[jon the fisherman]

great report F2k! I have wanted to fish that lake for a while, and I may have to make the trip soon.

 

[polo-dog]

Great report and nice fish. Deep clear lakes can be a booger to fish during the day, that's for sure. Is there any cover in the lake deep like stumpbeds or anything like that? I would expect to have to fish 25+ feet to get bites during the day from keeper fish. Was there much flow? Is there a topo map of the lake to refer to? That is strange looking shoreline behind you. What is the composition of the shore there behind you in the pic? What are the stripes going down the bank into the water?

 

[Guest]

Great report Britt. I've always wanted to fish those mountain lakes but just never took the time.
I'm curious about something, how do the blueback herring destroy walleye and white bass? I have never heard that before.

Cheez

 

[fisherpal2k]

Thanks for the replies folks. I will try to answer all I can.

Cheek, you are right! I was at grape creek and yes the earlier pic was just above the 2nd hump in Persimmon creek. It was just topping oput and you can see the bouy if you look close.

Polo, There are some stumps and stuff left even after all these years of the lake fluctuating. Sometimes you have to go deep but the other day they was on the bank. One of the guys I know from up there was flipping tubes right against the bank and doing well. The maps I use are the Atlantis maps. They are pretty close. The map I have is from several years ago and I have some structure that we have put in the lake marked. The fella that I used to fish with up there and I spent countless hours sinking brush and making pallet tee-pee's. If Cheeks has fished there when the water is down I know he has seen them before. Most of the composition is rock. The stripes that you see behind me in the pic is crosses from quartz and granite. The lake is mainly rock bottom with some clay points and humps out there. It looks weird but it will hold the fish.

Cheez, The North Carolina Dept. Of Natural Resources has done multiple studies on the blueback since it has been introduced. The oils in the bodies of the bluebacks causes the eggs in the female walleye and white bass to become sterile. They wil still lay the eggs and still have a run but the eggs are sterile. It has really desimated the walleye fishery here. If you do catch one it is usually abig one and the walleye are not reproducing like they once did. The white bass were in there thick a few years ago and now you can't hardly find them anywhere. I have caught white bass as large as 4 lbs. out of this lake.

Late in the evening when we started to leave the herring and shad was all over the place on top, but there wasn't any fish taking a lure. There is still some tournies out of Hanging dog ramp that has been 3 hr. evening tournies that has been taking close or better than 15# to win. I think most of the fish are being caught late in the day. Still waiting for the full draw down . Then I will be more at home up there. Just one word of caution to those who want to go but have never been. Make sure you have a good tow vehicle. The ramps are steep and you better be prepaired to back almost 100 yds. down a very steep hill to get to the water. We put in at Mickens Branch and it has a small pull of at the foot of the ramp during low water levels that you can park about 7 trucks at when the water is down. Just be sure and don't get close to the edge of the bank. I have seen what it can do to a truck when it caves off.

The lake was only down about 15 to 20 ft. when we was there. It usually gets down about 60 at full draw down.