Fishing with live bait in the North Carolina mountains!

The subject of this article is fishing with live bait in the mountains of western North Carolina. There are quite a few freshwater fishing opportunities in this area. Anglers can use live bait to catch bluegill, sunfish, perch, crappie, rock bass, catfish, trout, and bass in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

While I enjoy fishing with lures and fly fishing, there is no doubt that there are times when live bait will be more productive. This is especially true with panfish and catfish, but applies to bass as well. Smallmouth bass in particular can be fussy and sometimes it takes the real thing to get bit.

My name is Capt Jim Klopfer and I am a semi retired guide from Florida. I offer anglers guided fishing trips. I am certainly fine with using live bait in certain situations, especially kids and novice anglers.

Fishing with live bait in the North Carolina mountains

Fishing with live bait is fairly straightforward. However, there are nuances as with any other fishing technique. There are certain differences that apply to this area of the country.

Best tackle and rigs for fishing live bait

I like to use fairly light tackle. A 6′ or 6 1/2′ light rod with a fast action and a 1000 series reel is a good all round combo. Anglers can go ultra light for panfish. I prefer braided line when fishing with bait. The bite is easier to detect, resulting in fewer fish gut hooked. I do use a 3′ leader, 4 lb test for panfish and 6 lb or 8 lb for larger fish.

There are a wide variety of hooks. I use short shank baitholder hooks most of time. Size 8 for panfish, size #4 or #2 for larger fish. I do like long shank light wire hooks for fishing minnows, especially for crappie. Floats, split shot, and some light sinkers completes the list of required tackle.

I use a simple split shot rig most of the time. A hook with a split shot or two works very well in rivers and streams as well as shoreline cover in lakes. This allows the bait fall slowly through the water resulting in a very natural presentation. Adjust the shot for the current and depth.

Read this article for more on the best fishing rod and reel

Anglers can simply add a float the desired distance above the hook to suspend the bait at the desired depth. Slip floats use a bobber stop to allow anglers to fish a float in deeper water. This works very well for lakes in this area which have steep banks.

Anglers bottom fishing can use a couple different rigs, The drop shot rig is perfect and easy to use. A hook is tied to the line, 15″ or so above the weight. A second hook can be added. A Carolina rig has the line passing through an egg sinker, with a swivel, a piece of leader, and the hook completing the rig.

Top live baits for western North Carolina

There are a handful of live baits that produce fish in the mountains of North Carolina. These include worms and nightcrawlers, minnows, crayfish, helgremites, sunfish, blueback herring, crickets, and grubs. Some are universal while others are more targeted for a specific species or two.

Worms and nightcrawlers

Worms are the universal freshwater bait; they catch everything! Bluegill, sunfish, carp, bass, and trout gobble them up. Garden worms can be fished under a float or free lined with a split shot. Both worms and nightcrawlers are easily obtained and are available at Walmart, tackle shops, and even quite a few convenience stores. They are also easy to keep alive in the fridge or cooler.

When using garden worms I use a whole worm and usually hook them once near the front. Smaller fish may steal the bait, but I think it is a more natural presentation. With nightrcrawlers, I do the same when fishing for bass. When trout fishing, I pinch the bait in half. For panfish, I use a third or quarter of worm. Several bluegill and sunfish can be caught on one little piece. There are other goor bass baits, but as fair as the combination of availability and ease of use, nightcrawlers are really tough to beat. Nightcrawlers can be used with spinners trolling when trout fishing in lakes.

Minnows

Big fish eat little fish, simple as that. Minnows are a prime bait for larger species. Live minnows are the top bait for crappie, by far. They are usually fished under a float near structure. Bass love minnows as well. anglers can free line them, fish on a bottom rig, or under a float.

Minnows are not as readily available. Only full service tackle shops carry them and they are available more on lakes than in rivers. Most boats have wells and pumps to keep them alive. Otherwise, a battery operated pump and bucket will do. Anglers can catch their own in traps and nets, check local laws. In North Carolina, dip nets and traps can be used. However, the bait must be used in that lake and can’t be transported to another lake. Check current regulations here.

Bluegill and sunfish

Small bluegill and sunfish can be used for bait. They must be caught in a legal manner as they are game fish. They are used for bass and catfish for the most part. Sunfish can be fished under a float for bass or on the bottom live or as cut bait for catfish.

Blueback herring

Blueback herring have been introduced into several North Carolina mountain lakes. There is a debate as to whether this was a god thing, but they are there now. Anglers can use a cast net to catch them as well as on a string of tiny flies. Herring are difficult to keep alive but are very good baits for striped bass and other bass species.

Crayfish

Crayfish are a terrific live bait, particularly for smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass and catfish happily devour them. Very few shops keep them, anglers will need to catch their own. This can be done with small seines and dip nets. They also can not be transported to other waters. Again, check local regulations.

Grubs

Grubs are excellent baits for panfish and trout. They are readily available at big box stores as well as local shops. They stay alive a long time with little care. Grubs are very good for panfish when fished under a bobber. They are not used often for trout, but are quite productive. Anglers can tip a tiny jig and bounce it along the bottom for trout.

Crickets

Crickets are the bait of choice when I am targeting large bluegill and sunfish, particularly in the warmer months. They are usually available at Walmart and larger freshwater shops. Crickets are hooked in the collar behind their head. They are usually fished under a slip bobber, suspending them in 15′ to 20′ of water near fallen trees and other structure.

Helgremites

Helgremites are the larvae of the dobsonfly and are a terrific smallmouth bait. They cling to rocks in fast moving water. They are present in North Carolina, though generally not in large numbers. Watch the pincers, they bite very hard!

In conclusion, this article on fishing with live bait in the North Carolina mountains will help anglers catch more fish!