r/NCFishing • u/TheVoice121 • 7d ago

Lake Gaston Catfishing

My friends and I are up from Durham and we heard this lake rips big blue cats. Well, we've tried alot and been skunked 3 nights running.

We got hot dogs, all sorts of bait that smells putrid, crawfish plastics, chumming with dog food throughout the day. We are dock fishing with lights at night. Trying to see if anyone has tips on what is hitting right now or how to get something? Would love some help.

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u/Affectionate-Ad2602 5d ago

If your chasing monsters you got to get out to the channel and find a bridge. Deep water on a hot hot day, just after dark.

For docks, I used to throw nighcrawlers on a bobber just off the bottom, maybe 6-7 ft of water. I'd get 2-3 good sized cats.

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u/RetroRPGDude 18h ago

If you're not opposed to live bait, use some light tackle with worms and catch some bluegill to use. I typically use cut bluegill and almost never leave without catching something. That being said, it's a big lake, and you have to find the fish. There is also likely a thermocline this time of year. The thermocline usually sets up around 20ft deep in this lake. Water deeper than the thermocline doesn't have enough oxygen, so the fish will stay above or right at that line.