By Shane Goebel
February? It’s hard to believe with these 60- and 70-degree days. Although one thing is for sure, these warm days have the stripers going crazy! It’s totally an optimal time to hit the water for some huge trophy stripers, especially with these warm winter days.
Fortunately for you, we can help you score that monster Western North Carolina or North Georgia striper. Hiwassee Lake is Western North Carolina’s hidden gem for catching some awesome stripers, and, as Murphy, N.C.’s only professional full-time guided striper service, we are here to help put you on some hard-fighting fish. Guaranteed! Check us out on Facebook and you’ll see!
Currently, water temperatures on Lake Hiwassee are in the low 50s, and water levels are around 39 feet below full pool. Water clarity is moderately clear and stained in the creeks and rivers due to all the recent rains.
Striper fishing has been excellent recently! We’ve been catching a lot of nice fish in the 20- to 40-pound range. These fish are shallow and pounding bait up on the banks and shallow flats in the backs of creeks. Pulling planer boards and free lines early in the morning has been working great. Huge gizzard shad and blueback herring are always the bait of choice this time of year. It’s so stinking awesome to see a huge 30-pounder explode on a bait behind a planer board. It will definitely have you hooked on striper fishing once you experience this thrill. Back on track now, occasionally we’ll also pull small trout as well. Our trophy striper season has been in full swing, and these techniques will continue for the next few months.
Smallmouth and spotted bass have been off the hook out here lately. This beautiful mountain lake never ceases to fail me (knock on wood). We’ve been catching some large quantities of smallmouth and spots. These fish have been schooled up on shallow flats and off rocky points around the lake. Downlining live bluebacks and ultra-light tackle have been the best techniques for loading the boat with these great Hiwassee smallmouths.
February is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers on this Western North Carolina lake. Book a trip with Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and let the area’s No. 1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime.
We are Murphy’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely, Chatuge and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, Ga.
And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out us out at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, Ga. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live blueback herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in The Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
Shane Goebel owns Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. See the website at www.bigolfish.com or call (828) 361-2021.