As a tournament angler, I am guilty of focusing on large venues that require a big stable boat with a long range that is often necessary to be competitive. With a myriad of cutting edge baits, techniques, GPS waypoints and side imaging, it is easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of why we love to fish to begin with.
Luckily, the Cape Fear region has a wealth of small waters that can be accessed by land or with a simple jon-boat. The dock on Sutton Lake is a good place to sit back and watch the sunset while soaking some cut bait on the bottom for a catfish. Retention ponds and small farm ponds are great places to cast out a cricket for a slab-sized bream. Bridge crossings on small tributaries can provide access to some great redbreast fishing in August as they continue their spawning ritual during the hottest part of summer.
Being a bass fisherman at heart, accessing the upper reaches of tidal creeks and small lakes with good largemouth populations can produce some of the most memorable trips of the year. Keep your bait selection simple, your favorite topwater or buzzbait, a small spinner bait or crank bait and a Texas-rigged plastic worm will cover the water column and normally produce good catches. This type of fishing is not only rewarding because of the potential to land a lot of fish, but the solitude afforded is refreshing. Searching satellite imagery on your computer is a great way to find potential out-of-the-way fishing spots; just make sure that posted property is accessed with the owner’s permission.
So, the next time you want to save some gas money, avoid the crowded boat ramps and get back to the basics of fishing, try one of these suggestions and have fun!
Capt. Mike Lanier
Ranger Boats Pro Staff,
Yamaha, Pure Fishing, Collins,Inc.
SENC Pro Bass Guide Service
(910) 253-8115
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