In years past, the headwaters of Lake Gaston have been low in oxygen and not had the habitat to hold fish. His aerated bait tank is in the front of his center-console boat, but when targeting catfish, he uses a bow-mounted trolling motor with a remote-control device resembling a wrist watch that controls his speed and direction, leaving him free to tend his rods. This lake is 18,987 acres in size. “If you’re after blue cats in June, the best place to fish for them are at the spoil areas near the railway trestle.”, HOW TO GET THERE — Lake Gaston, on the North Carolina-Virginia border northeast of Raleigh, is most-easily accessed from I-85 to US 158 around Manson, and from I-95 north to NC 46 west to Gasburg, Va. “There might be more monster blue cats at Buggs Island (Kerr Lake), but I’ve caught 60-plus pounders from this lake, and there’s been 80- and 84-pounders caught here. “You just downsize your tackle if you want to catch channel cats, which a lot of people do because they’re good to eat,” said Enderle, who said channel cats at Gaston average between five and 10 pounds. Fortunately for Virginia anglers, a VA fishing license is good throughout the lake. Species Regulations Lake Gaston is well-stocked with game fish, which include striped bass or rock fish, large mouth bass, crappie, sunfish and several varieties of catfish. Closed on Monday (except Holiday Mondays) Open Tuesday - Thursday 9am - 10pm Friday & Saturday 9am - 2am Sunday 9am - … His catfish trolling rods are medium-heavy, 6 1/2-foot Eagle Claw Granger Ocean II, mated with Ambassadeur 6500 reels spooled with 20-pound line, tied to a 30- to 50-pound leader and 7/0 to 9/0 circle hooks. The difference could be something as insignificant as putting a piece of split shot above your bait when you’re fishing a down line.”. Professional fishermen tell us what works on Lake Gaston and that is what we stock. “In fact, I prefer it shallow. Map, From Broadnax, Rt. Largemouth Bass. Enderle uses the slow-trolling approach to present his baits to catfish. “I don’t feel good unless I have at least 50 live shad swimming in my bait tank,” he said. Famous for its stump fields and docks that attract largemouth bass and anglers each spring, Gaston also has held blue, flathead, channel and bullhead catfishes for … LITTLETON, N.C. (June 21, 2016) — For the third time in six months, Lake Gaston has produced another blue catfish state record. Lake Gaston Fishing Map Popular Fishing Species List. Catfish were the second most popular species during a 2008 Lake Gaston creel survey, behind Largemouth Bass. But a normal Gaston trophy blue will weigh 30 to 50 pounds.”. 626, Left on Rt. At Gaston, where the water level cannot rise or drop more than 18 inches by law, Enderle does most of his fishing in tributary creeks or in the narrow, upper reaches of the river. So, what type of fish are in this lake? 58 West, Left on Rt. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake recently completed venting all the turbines in Kerr Dam to oxygenate the tailrace during summer months. Interstate 85 to Interstate 95 crossing EFB (Eaton Ferry Bridge), 44.3 miles 2. As with most bodies of water with catfish, most varieties of catfish reside in deep areas. The fishing opportunities of Lake Gaston are vast. From Gasburg East on Rt. It is a large lake of 20,300 acres. An engineer for a construction company who lives in Rocky Mount, he enjoys guiding on Kerr, Gaston and Roanoke Rapids lakes. Anglers fishing live shad baits are taking 8-14 pound stripers at the base of the dam, with some running to 20 pounds. The most notable fish species of the lake include blue catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegil. by Zakk Royce, published by the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer Springtime is one of my favorite tines of the year to fish for catfish. You can find Blue Catfish, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel on these waters. FISHING is fabulous all year long and Lake Gaston hosts several fishing tournaments each year. When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Walleye, White Crappie,. Other species of fish sometimes caught are walleye, yellow perch and chain pickerel. Download GPS Files Download over 310+ fishing spots in Lake Gaston, North Carolina, US.We have the best Lake Gaston fishing spots. I believe if you use enough (different depths of trolled baits), you can zero in on what they want, where they want it and how they want it presented. By Kellen Holtzman, Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer Updated Feb 10, 2021 VALENTINES - It’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day, which happens to fall on a Sunday this year, and the Valentines, Va. Post Office parking lot is roaring with activity on this Saturday morning. There's a good largemouth population with many double-digit hogs, nice Crappie, stripers and some decent Walleye. Guadalupe Bass. We release all catfish over 15 pounds to help preserve the sport for generations to come. It ain’t rocket science. Besides six rods in rod holders that pull traditional Santee rigs — with 1-ounce “string” weights or circular 1-ounce river sinkers and which he calls “down” lines — he likes a long leader with a bream cork tied to a 3-way swivel to keep his baits from hanging up on rocks and wood. “They eat all the time. A valid license for either Virginia or North Carolina permits fishing from a boat in either state. Lake Gaston is well stocked with game fish which include striped bass or rock fish, large mouth bass, crappie, sunfish and several varieties of catfish. “I fish in shallow water a lot,” he said. Famous for its stump fields and docks that attract largemouth bass and anglers each spring, Gaston also has held blue, flathead, channel and bullhead catfishes for years. Lake Gaston contains largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, and catfish. Here is a good resource we found for boating and fishing the lake: ... Also take a look at our custom maps with points of interest along East Lake Gaston and West Lake Gaston here: East Lake Gaston Map (toward the dam, Roanoke Rapids, & 95) West Lake Gaston Map (toward Bracey, VA & … Phone: (919) 586-6287, © 2021 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) annually stock walleyes, and the best fishing is usually in the upper end during February and March. Many anglers like to fish the aquatic vegetation for largemouth bass. Tired of fishing the same spots? Tweets by @nchuntnfish Over the years, Enderle has learned the easiest and quickest-to-reach baitfish spots at the lake, so finding bait often takes about 30 minutes, although it can take longer. Lake Gaston is 35 miles long and spreads across 20,000 surface water acres, but it’s almost a riverine system, with current flowing west to east. The water abounds with striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bream and many other varieties. Enderle’s family moved from New Orleans to Raleigh in 1963 when he was five. This 20,300-acre reservoir is 34 miles long and has 350 miles of shoreline. Lake Gaston also contains channel catfish, blue catfish, chain pickerel, and bluegill. “The best place for flatheads is up the river toward the I-85 bridge,” said Enderle, who knows several holes that contain blowdowns and rocks that are among the best spots on the lake to catch flatheads. 626. Catfish aren’t always in deep water; they’re usually just close to the bottom. More Information “Things like water conditions and the bite are always changing from one lake to another,” he said. Variant Names: Black Bass, Guadalupe Spotted Bass. Go on! Lake Gaston also contains channel catfish, blue catfish, chain pickerel, and bluegill. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including crappie, striped bass, rock bass, walleye, sunfish, largemouth bass, catfish, white perch and blue catfish … Even with that early displacement, fishing urges and abilities that were obviously in the family’s gene pool and settled in him at an early age. CATT NC – Lake Gaston View All Lake Gaston News Lake Gaston 2021 SPRING TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Lake Gaston DIVISION DIRECTOR Cory Byrum PHONE: 252-676-9231EMAIL: corybyrum@yahoo.com DIVISION NEWS & UPDATES USE PHANTOMCATT15 AT CHECKOUT TO RECEIVE 15% OFF YOUR PHANTOM OUTDOORS TOURNAMENT GRADE FISHING APPAREL … “I’ll pull half my baits on the upside of a ridge and half on the down side. He also ties slip knots on his free lines that stop a barrel-shaped cork from sliding up the line.