By Shane Goebel
Summer is finally officially here–the weather is beautiful, the water is warmer, and the striper bite is insane! We’ve been averaging 30 to 50 fish per morning out here. This is the perfect time to hit the lake and experience some extreme striper fishing, and what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 and only fulltime striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service.
Currently, Lake Hiwassee is at full pool. Water clarity is clear and slightly stained in the rivers, and water temps are in the mid to upper 80s.
Striper fishing has been excellent. We have been loading the boat with some big fish in good quantities, and I mean loading the boat. These Lake Hiwassee monsters are schooling up big time and are hammering baits. The early-morning and evening bites are your best times to see action. In the early-morning hours, we are still pulling some free lines with live blueback herring along with our downlines. Keep your free lines 100-150 feet behind the boat. As the sun comes up in the later morning hours, start to focus on deeper water and switch to all downlines. This is the time you’ll want to pay close attention to your electronics. While searching for schooling fish, target creek mouths and rocky points along the main channel. As the top-water bite has also been good, keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surface-busting fish.
Smallmouth and spotted bass fishing has been outstanding, too. The bass have really started to school up. Work shallow humps, creek mouths, and clay banks. Also, target brush piles throughout the lake. Downlining blueback herring has worked best for us, but we are also picking up some quality fish on jerkbaits, flukes, and spooks. Look for these bass to continue to school through the rest of next month.
July is a fantastic month for catching some big fish on this lake. From smallmouth bass to hard fighting stripers, there are many great opportunities to catch a number of fish species on Hiwassee Lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy fish. We are Murphy, NC’s only full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lake Nottely, Chatuge and Blue Ridge. And for all your live blueback herring and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!