November weather the past couple of years has been very mild compared to previous years. This has turned November into a great month for catching fish on the Yadkin River Lakes.
Spinnerbaits fished around docks and piers are a great way to catch lunker sized largemouth bass this month. Slow rolling a large lure (½ or ¾ oz.) works very well. I prefer a single large Colorado blade spinnerbait. Skirt and blade color depend on water color. In stained water a chartreuse skirt with a gold or copper blade seems to work well. In clear or slightly stained water try a white skirt with a chrome blade. Some largemouth will be schooled up chasing shad or other bait fish. A medium size crankbait that dives 2-8 feet is a good bait to catch these active fish. I like to use either a Rapala DT-6, DT-4 or a Strike King KVD 1.5 or 2.5 for catching schooling fish.
Crappie will be moving into shallow water as the temperature drops. Fishing downed trees or brush piles will often produce nice fish but they don’t always hold as tight on the structure as they do in the spring. Try fishing out from and to the side or in front of the structure. Trolling close to the bank near structure is another technique that will often work well this time of year.
Striped Bass are being caught on Badin Lake chasing shad. These schooling fish are often caught along with largemouth bass in the backs of coves where they are ambushing the schools of shad. These schooling fish have been in the 4-6 lb. size with the occasional 7-12 lb. fish. A top water lure or shallow running crankbait approximately the size of the shad they are feasting on will catch them. Look for surface activity as the shad try to flee.
Darin Brown, Hwy 49 Sports
Hwy 49 Sports
704-463-7053