If they’re biting, you’ll catch more than you want to catch.”. “I’ll flat-line troll about 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 miles per hour, and I’ll go from the middle of the creek all the way to the back of the creek,” said Neeley, who suggest that anglers keep a complete log of their past trips to give them a starting point when they hit the water. Most all of the fish are going to be around 30 to 45 feet deep. Although Wylie once was a booming crappie lake similar to High Rock, numbers of fish have declined. “But they need to be pulling water. “In the winter, you can catch some up in the South Fork when they’re pulling water,” he said. Sometimes, you’ll go through an area and they’ll all be white perch or all crappie — or a mixture.”. Long, light-action spinning outfits are the norm. The baitfish will move up the creek, and the crappie and white perch will follow them.”, One thing for fishermen to remember is that North Carolina and South Carolina do not have a reciprocal license agreement on Wylie. 1mo ago - Lake Wylie. Neeley said one of his friends recently fished the mouth of a creek near the Wylie Dam with a trolling rig and only used No. Age <16 are less than adults. 326 likes. Copperhead Access Area offers three ramps near the east side of the bridge. That’s my preference; you don’t break ‘em off, and the larger-diameter line you use, the more weight it takes to keep them straight down,” he said. DJ Hewlett. Completely skunked. Went Saturday during the tournament Only caught 3 crappie. He is also the winner of numerous Bass and Catfish Tournaments “I want to fish vertically, so I want to use 6-pound monofilament. To be able to fish the entire lake, fishermen need to carry licenses from both states.�. February 14, 2013 at 7:00 am | Mobile Reader | Print . Contact. A 28-pound flathead caught this week with Captain Rodger Taylor on Wylie. Overall glad to get out and thankful for safety as I partake in the … Reservoir Fishing. The best pattern has been fishing at night and anchoring on drop offs in about 15 feet of water. Lake Wylie fishing includes the top species of largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, hybrid striped bass, smallmouth bass and white bass. The bigger creeks — Big Allison, Crowders, South Fork — will hold the largest concentrations of shad, and the schooling predators like crappie and white perch know it and show up for the buffet line. March 3, 2019 – Crappie anglers from several states traveled to Lake Wylie to participate in a Crappie USA (CUSA) Super Event presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Today, Wylie is a true trophy lake but only for anglers during spring when fish congregate at spawning creeks, brushy shorelines and docks and are easily caught. Unless he hits a warm or cloudy day, Neeley uses a technique known to crappie fishermen as tight-lining: fishing almost vertically beside the boat with a half-dozen or better rods. “Then. Fish Lake Wylie with FishDr . 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Guide Jerry Neeley has been catching plenty of nice slab crappie on recent trips to Lake Wylie. About. The black crappie fishing in the spring is outstanding. Sometimes he tight-lines … For whatever reason, when the water temperature drops into the low 50s and gets ready to head even lower, baitfish move to the mouths of bigger, deeper creeks up and down the lake. Register and I will offer you a free Crappie… They’ll usually be on the river side of a hump or point, and I’ll just keep going all around it.�, “Sometimes it will be a mixed bag of white perch and crappie. That said, Lake Wylie fishing is a dream. See also Guides and Charters in Classifieds. Neeley uses his trolling motor to set up a boat speed of .5 to .6 miles per hour. Baitfish and open-water predators will find an area they like around Christmas and stay in the general vicinity through February. Humphries prefers to troll slider crappie jigs in black and chartreuse colors; June bug and chartreuse are good too. Visit www.charlottesgotalot.com; www.visitgaston.org; www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism. They’ll stay put for the rest of December, January and February; those are the best three months,” said Neeley, who feels like he’s almost got a captive audience to present his live minnows and crappie jigs. “If you’re getting bit on the jig, then I’ll tie them on more rods.”. Jerry Neely, Jerry's Guide Service, has retired. In the spring, North Carolina walleye migrate from the deeper water into feeder streams to spawn. Lake Wylie, covering 13,443 acres on the Catawba River chain of man-made lakes straddling the border between North and South Carolina, has long been known as … “The key to good fishing for crappie right now is when they pull water; that keeps the water pretty clear.”. No crappie though. Craig Holt . Look for shoals or clean bottoms near deep water. But then some teams caught slabs. As a final entry in our ranking of the top lakes and regions … But when you find the bait and the fish, you can really work on ‘em.”. When fish begin ganging up in his favorite Christmas areas, he is looking for fish in deep water, in clean water, on the deep side of secondary points and humps along the creek channel. I trolled a little shallower, and we caught five largemouth bass, the biggest one 5 ½ pounds, so I reeled up the jigs and minnows a little more and we caught three 18-inch crappie, then three 17 inches long,” he said. Other surrounding lakes can be booked with the possibility of additional cost as per request. Crappie will be schooling on the brush piles in 15 to 20 feet of water along the main lake and beneath the piers. Lake Norman. Earlier last week, Neeley trolled near the mouth of Mill Creek. This page is for all those who have the desire to share their stories with fellow fishermen. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Lake Wylie has plenty of 1- to 2-pound crappie, and they attract plenty of fishermen, even during the winter. Lake Wylie, covering 13,443 acres on the Catawba River chain of man-made lakes straddling the border between North and South Carolina, has long been known as a highly productive crappie fishery. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Neeley’s favorite winter creek is Big Allison on the lower end of the lake, but he recognizes that fish can get turned on in the South Fork because of the warm-water discharge from a Duke Energy power plant, but only when the company is setting up a current. Striped bass are not stocked in … “I like to fish water from 48 to 50 degrees, if I can find it; they’re a little more active,” he said. The Buster Boyd Access Area on the west end of the NC 49 bridge is popular with anglers and offers a four-lane ramp and plenty of parking at the lake’s midpoint, close to food and fuel. “If they’re in 35 to 40 feet of water, I’ll drop about half of the baits to the bottom and crank them up about three turns, and the other half, I’ll keep at about 30 feet. The water is fairly clear. On a sunny day, they bunch up pretty good.”. My goal is to strive to achieve a fun and relaxed fishing experience. Crappie Fishing in Lake Wylie Be sure to check out these must see attractions in Gaston County. The 70-year old Plemmons said the technique will work about anywhere crappies are found. “We’ve been fishing mostly on the South Carolina side of the lake. Closer to the dam, choose from public access sites in Big Allison and Nivens creeks and the Ebenezer access at the mouth of LIttle Allison Creek. If you get more bites at 30 feet, put all of the baits up there. Like Jerry, I charge by length of trip and number of adults. Northern North Carolina Roanoak River. Of the two Catawba River reservoirs in the Rock Hill Area, Lake Wylie is by far the most well-known. “You’re wasting your time unless you can find bait. Crappie fishing picking up at Lake Wylie Slabs biting around brush piles and docks in Mill and Crowder's creeks. Randy Humphries lives in Columbia, but has a place on Colonels Creek in Lake Wateree where he has fished over the past 30 years for crappie. “I want it sunny and cold, because sometimes, when it’s cloudy, they’ll scattered; crappie are bad to scattered on a cloudy day. Capt. Ho! “You’ve got to find bait to catch fish,” Neeley said. When I started fishing for crappie on Lake Lavon back in 1975, I fished from the bank with a cane pole and a Coleman lantern. Lake Wylie Saturday 1/16/2020 Went last Thursday for pre fishing a crappie tournament and got skunked. “If you get more bites on the bottom, put more baits on the bottom. BEST TECHNIQUES — Tight-line vertically in most cold-weather situations, with a two-hook dropper rig anchored by a 1- to 1 1/2-inch bell sinker. Santa Claus didn’t plan to pay a personal visit to every crappie fisherman in North Carolina and South Carolina at Christmas, but they still got a really nice present: Lake Wylie. However, the catch wasn’t all crappie as the first two bites produced 13-pound channel catfish. 3 talking about this. This page is for all those who have the desire to share their stories with fellow fishermen. The popular species targeted by Lake Wylie anglers include largemouth bass, crappie, a large population of white perch (including the co-state record holding fish caught by our correspondent Captain Rodger Taylor), bluegill, and catfish. Crappie in the 1.0 to 1.5 lb. But many crappie fishermen have great success with minnows hooked on jigs or on slip float rigs. On cloudy or warmer days when fish aren’t schooled as tightly, slow-trolling with lead jigheads and live minnows is the ticket. Santa Claus didn’t plan to pay a personal visit to every crappie fisherman in North Carolina and South Carolina at Christmas, but they still got a really nice present: Lake Wylie. As one of two South Carolina lakes that make up the Santee Cooper Lake System, … Spotted Bass. Crappie Fishing is your Best option right now if you want to get on the water and catch some nice fish while we're in the middle of the winter season. The view from the historic Point Park on Lookout Mountain makes it clear why Chattanooga is known as “The Scenic City.” (Photo: Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau) “Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo….” Chances are you know those lyrics from the age-old song made popular … That’s pretty much the way it is. Look around the mouth of major creeks and fish around the first couple of secondary points from the mouth back in. The problem catching limits every time out has been caused by intermittent rains that muddy the lake and make finding fish difficult, because crappie prefer clear-to-slightly-stained water. Covington likes to use his 10-foot B 'n M jig pole when fishing for deep-water crappie in Lake Wylie. Capt. Some teams didn’t even catch any. “Those were 2 ½-pound crappie, really big ones for Wylie.”. Boats. 2 Aberdeen hooks with split shot and bare minnows and had an excellent day. “You’ve got to try different things,” he said. He might go to .7, but if he’s in an area he knows fish are using and isn’t getting bit, he’ll slow down to .4. These trips book up fast so you need to lock in your dates now if you want to experience some of the best crappie fishing in NC & SC on Lake Wylie or Lake Norman. Lake Wylie has dropped to 96.8% of full pool and morning surface water temperatures are around 83 degrees. Lake Wylie has plenty of 1- to 2-pound crappie, and they attract plenty of fishermen, even during the winter. Local and traveling anglers fished for cash, prizes, and an opportunity to compete at the 2019 CUSA Classic which will feature a guaranteed payout of $125,000 in cash and prizes. More. Species. The primary Lakes fished are Lake Lavon (near Wylie Tx) and Lake Fork (near Emory Tx). June 30. “I put out 12 rods and trolled 1/16-ounce jigs tipped with crappie minnows in 12 feet of water,” he said. Haha! 5 talking about this. Got some crappie for yall today hope you enjoySubscribe for more vids! Neeley keeps a close eye on his electronics before he ever puts the first bait in the water. HOW TO GET THERE — Lake Wylie lies roughly between Charlotte, N.C. and Rock Hill, S.C.; I-77, I-85 and I-485 provide good access to the lake. “Last Saturday, we caught 53 crappie, but that was an unusual day,” said Neeley, who said the 8- to 10-inch fish all came from brush piles and under docks in 18 to 20 feet of water in Mill Creek and Crowder’s Creek. He ties a double dropper rig with a 1-ounce bell sinker at the bottom and either bare hooks on the two droppers or a hook on the top dropper and a hand-tied hair jig on the bottom dropper — sometimes tipped with a live minnow. Neeley is using crappie jigs tipped with minnows or naked jigs to shoot underneath docks. Chickamauga Lake crappie fishing may be one of Tennessee’s best kept secrets. 6 Lake Moultrie. Details: 16 in. I setup his new electronics and have been referred his clients when he was booked. Great Lake Wylie fishing experience with FishDr. For everyone that loves crappie fishing, post pics, videos, questions to become a better slab slayer. With a daily limit on crappie of 20 fish (and an 8-inch size minimum in North Carolina waters), white perch are a welcome addition to the catch if you’re looking to fill a cooler for a weekend fish fry for you and, say, several dozen good friends. ... Lake Wylie Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. FISHING INFO/GUIDES — Jerry Neely, Jerry’s Fishing Guide Service, 704-678-1043, www.carolinasfishing.com. If you need perch, catfish, bass I found em! Tweets by @nchuntnfish Dan Kibler : Guide Jerry Neeley has been catching plenty of nice slab crappie on recent trips to Lake Wylie. Tweets by @nchuntnfish “They really start to show up about Christmas; they’ll be around the mouth of the big creeks, and they’ll stay around the first two points back in the creeks. While crappie are his main target, Neeley isn’t about to turn his nose up at white perch, a panfish with firm, white meat that is a match for crappie when it’s rolled in the House Autry and dropped in the hot grease. “I nightstalk all over the state, and beyond,” Plemmons said. Lake Wylie Saturday 1/16/2020 Went last Thursday for pre fishing a crappie tournament and got skunked. However, that fact has created a fishery with crappie that come in jumbo sizes. they are not on my App 1mo ago Ralph Justice 0. Crappie Fishing Fans, Chester, South Carolina. The rest of the year, crappie fishing at Wiley can … The offering on the lower hook could be a jighead and soft-plastic or hair jig; a live minnow should adorn the top hook. “More often, when you get to January, you’re looking for water that’s 44 to 46 degrees. The black Crappie fishery is highly dynamic, with strong natural reproduction and a large forage base, resulting in lots of fast-growing fish. Chris is a licensed USCG Captain with over 40 years of Experience fishing Lake Wylie and Lake Norman for Crappie, Catfish, White Perch and Bass and is one of the most experienced and well qualified fishing guides in the state. WHEN TO GO — Fishing for crappie and white perch picks up when the water temperature falls into the low 50s, typically in December. Cut shad has been working the best. I charge the same. Home. A Bobby Garland jig in Red Thunder color is a good go-to lure for crappie. Lake Wylie SLABSAUCE Crappie Attractant | Come join the best Family Orientated fishing website on the Internet. He knows that by the time the stockings are hung and tinsel is on the tree, he’ll have crappie — and to a some extent, white perch — right where he wants them. ACCOMMODATIONS — Accommodations are plentiful in any direction from the lake. If Neeley happens to catch an unseasonably warm day, or a mild, overcast day, he’ll junk the tight-line and slow-troll jigs behind the boat, because fish won’t be in the same tight schools they’re in on cold, blue-bird days and he’ll need to cover more water. “I had to run the trolling motor .9 to 1 mph to keep my jigs and minnows eight to 10 feet deep and above the dingy water because that’s where crappie were suspended.”. Their home base for night stalking is Lake Wylie near Rock Hill, South Carolina, but they’ve proven their nightstalking technique works great on many lakes. “We’d pick up three to four fish per brush pile,” Neeley said. MAPS — Fishing Hot Spots, 800-ALL-MAPS, www.fishinghotspots.com; Kingfisher Maps, 800-326-0257, www.kfmaps.com; Duke Energy, www.duke-energy.com/wylie.pdf. 2; 1; Details; 1mo ago DJ Hewlett 0. are the pics showing? Big Allison, Little Allison and Crowder creeks, plus the South Fork River are productive areas.�. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Ho!” it’s veteran fishing guide Jerry Neeley. The holiday season kicks off about 10 weeks of great fishing for slabs on the 13,433-acre Catawba River reservoir between Charlotte, N.C., and Rock Hill, S.C., and if there’s anybody out there saying “Ho! “ I nightstalk all over the state, and beyond, ” Neeley said ago Hewlett... Post pics, videos, questions to become a better slab slayer naked jigs to shoot docks! 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