Lake Nottely is starting to normalize a bit. With all the rain and cooler temperatures, we weren’t sure if we would ever see a thermocline. But it looks like it is starting to establish around the creek mouths. The thermocline may tend to stay a little deeper than normal with so much of our cold water being drawn out by the TVA, so expect it to be in the 25- to 35-foot range. Concentrate on fish in these areas by suspending your bait just above the thermocline. You will know if you are getting it too deep if your bait dies as soon as you put it down. Size is everything this time of year. Eight-pound-test fluorocarbon is the norm, use the smallest circle hooks you can stand, and even size down your weights if conditions allow. Another thing to try is hooking your herring through the back just behind his head. This causes the bait to swim down, getting it a little farther away from your terminal tackle.
The only other trick for September is to get on the water as early as possible. Most mornings the schoolies will be done biting by 8 a.m. After that, you can work umbrella rigs and try to find bigger fish holding to structure, but the majority of the feed is over.
Artificials are tough this time of year unless you trip over a school on top early in the morning or late in the evening. I still like the Recoil Rig rigged with a fluke when I find fish holding close to the bottom on a major points. This allows you to keep the bait in the strike zone for an unlimited amount of time, and the action is incredible. Power reeling can work too. Go heavy on the head and light on the body; that way it makes plenty of noise when it lands.
Give Darren a call at Hughes General Store in Blairsville for all your striper fishing needs or to book a trip with us and maybe land that fish of a lifetime.