March will hopefully bring some warmer and calmer weather to the Neuse.
With this we will be seeing great top water action on rock and active hungry trout in the creeks.
The rock will be back from their annual spawn up river and hungry. They will be found in stumpy areas along the river in the am and pm providing the best in Top-water Neuse River action. I like to hit it at first light until sun gets up high and last couple of hours in evening light. Storm Chug Bugs are my favorite but any off your choice such as Rapala Skitterwalk and Rattle Popper. I also love using a DOA Swim-bait rigged weedless and high sticked in stump fields will give you great explosions as well. You can also top water fish the bridges and reefs when not too windy. Legal season for keeping eaters is through April but be well advised to look up current regulations on size and limits in the area you intend to fish.
The trout will fire up as they do annually in the creeks as water warms and can also give some great top water action later in day as water warms in shallows. Using the same baits and techniques as rock will provide some great action and trout will knock the lures up in the air at times – amazing how they can do it without any trebles digging in! The normal jigs and twitch baits will be the major lures used though with my favorite being Rapala Twitchin Rap and DOA CAL baits twitched slowly in water column or jigged along the bottom.
Best season to get out for some great action – Call to book.
Water is still cold so be careful on the water.