Live/natural baits also work very well. “I think we’ve had two great spawning years at High Rock,” he said. Two tiny bass were grappling with the trebles of the lure. Got 6 on shacky..." Randleman City Lake Dam, "Blewett Falls Lake is shallow and absolutely filled with structure. The average size of fish from the three samplings has shown improvement, too. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Chartreuse-skirted spinnerbaits prevail in muddy water. Badin is home to a number of species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white perch, crappie, bream and even a few walleye. Favorite Lake or River. Badin is home to a number of species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white perch, crappie, bream and even a few walleye. The first attempt to dam the river to produce power ended in 1907 when the Whitney Development Company abandoned the nearly completed Whitney Dam and diversion canal. Despite fears that bass fishing would decline at these waters because of the drought, the Yadkin’s bounce-back bass still offer some of the best fishing in the state. Under high-water conditions, spawning fish linger beneath buttonwood bushes and at the base of trees where they’re taken by pitching jigs and plastic lizards or by swimming floating worms through the shrubbery. In dingy water, he opts for spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Live and living action from the Yadkin River Bassmasters last night. For pre-spawn fish, Badin anglers like cuts and pockets along the main lake where the fish are caught on spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and jerkbaits. Because High Rock’s generating efficiency depends upon Badin Lake being no more than 5 feet below full pool and because of operating license restrictions, APGI dropped Badin sparingly during the drought. |   Panfish can also be found in the river, fish for them with small popping bugs on fly gear or small spinnerbaits with ultralight tackle. Sight Savvy: Different styles of bow sights each have their strengths—and weaknesses. The history of the development of the Yadkin River and Badin Lake dates to the late 1800s. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. are biting. “Some of my best catches during the spawning season have come around piers once the water dropped,” Edwards said. Despite fears that bass fishing would decline at these waters because of the drought, the Yadkin’s bounce-back bass still offer some of the best fishing in the state. Several fish kills occurred, involving mostly baitfish and carp. Other fishermen agree, including tournament anglers, who view the little bass as a welcomed nuisance. Spotted bass are the most common species in the Yadkin River, but they don't grow the biggest. Check out our. The high water also gave the bass fry plenty of places to hide from predators. Wow! The Yadkin River provides the opportunity to catch bass (smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth), sunfish, catfish, and suckers. The largest bass fishing site on the Web! Badin Dam was completed and the lake impounded in 1917. The cause of the erratic movement became apparent once my bait came into view. Since Badin usually stays clear in the spring, especially the Beaverdam and Lake Forest sections, sight-fishing can be effective for bedding fish. “The flow most likely prevented them from being taken up by microscopic plants. Topwaters, soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits work the best for all three species. “Most of the nutrients that came into the (Yadkin) lakes probably passed right through if they came in during some of the more sustained rainfall events,” Dorsey said. Caught 8 total between my fishing partner and I. Noted spawning areas are Bucks Branch in Flat Swamp and the backwaters in Second Creek. Electrofishing samplings conducted in 1999, 2001 and 2003 by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission biologists reveal a healthy fishery before and after the drought. “Few tournaments are won by sight-fishing at High Rock,” he s, “There’s not enough clear water, and what clear water there is, gets worked over by too many fishermen.”. Edwards employs the same sweeping technique to aggravate bedding bass into striking, favoring a black jig, but he’d rather catch fish another way. Report post; Posted June 6, 2013. Access points are available at Crater Park in Elkin, the U.S. 601 bridge, Rockford, and at Shoals Road, north of East Bend (access points at U.S. 601 and Shoals Road are on the Yadkin County side of the river). In April at High Rock, anglers must determine whether the fish are in the pre-spawn or spawning mode. When the lake turns red, fishermen resort to big-bladed spinnerbaits, blue/black jigs or orange-colored lipless crankbaits. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. Given this situation, fishable water can be found between the bridges in Abbotts and Flat Swamp creeks and the backwaters in Second Creek. Scope Adjustment: 2-Shot Method to Scope Sighting. Catawba River System & Yadkin River Systems in NC. Your IP: 212.129.35.138 Here's what biologists and anglers have to say about the fishing. The canal remains and the dam is under water, a quarter-mile upstream from the Old Whitney ramp and below Tuckertown Dam, which was built in 1962. Once the fish begin spawning, they can be found in the backs and pockets of creeks. Under low-water conditions, the fish hold in the front of piers or near stumps where they’re susceptible to small crankbaits, jigs and Texas-rigged plastics. “However, during the shorter duration rainfall events, I would think nutrients were washed into the lakes and taken in by phytoplankton and passed up the food chain as normal. At the April 19 Anglers Advantage tournament (the trail is now defunct), 35 teams weighed in 473.78 pounds of bass with 23 teams catching their five-fish tournament limits. “We caught about 50 bass and hardly had a 14-inch keeper,” said Lexington’s Wayne Littleton following a High Rock Lake tournament. Prior to that, pre-spawn bass will stage in 2 to 6 feet of water on gravel points near creek mouths and on rocky corners within the creeks. Sunday is the poorest day because water seldom gets pulled on Sunday. “The mortality rate on bass had to be very low. HookandBullet.com, a Montlake Media brand. The drawdown revealed a bass fishery of surprising numbers. Edwards foresees a bass bonanza because of the spawns. High Rock’s never had any grass.”. All Rights Reserved. “Bass tournaments were switched from High Rock to Tuckertown or elsewhere. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. While the future looks bright for High Rock, the years following the drought haven’t been too shabby, either.