Last Day of the Year? Lets Go Fishing at Mountain Island Lake



The blue cats just would not bite today, but this fisherman managed a good sized channel cat on cut bait.




A few spotted bass were on patrol, caught on spoons.

 Air temps started at a chilly 39F and worked there way up to 50F by 2pm.  The water hovered around 49F.  All fishes were released to be caught again in 2014.  Happy New Year !

Hilton Head Island: winter trees and scenery...

Live Oaks and Spanish Moss...

Palmetto...

The 'Ring Root'...

Hilton Head Fishing on a chilly day.

Shelter Cove Marina

Big Pinfish are always biting, and are fun to catch,  at the 'Spill Pond'.

Sea Trout caught at the spillway will be lunch over the weekend.  Caught on Gulp Shrimp.

Rainy Day Monday at Mountain Island Lake

This spotted bass and another caught later were the only 2 fish caught today, and they were not the target fish.  We were trying to catch big catfish, but they were not at home.

Black Friday Bass and Boulders at Mountain Island Lake



Spotted bass are still biting.




Dock lines and treble hooks, not a good combo. but made for a nice photo.



A few of the big boulders on the banks of lake.

We had a choice between fishing and shopping, we chose fishing.  Duck hunters were just getting off water as we arrived, so you know they had a cold morning at 4am.  We arrived at a warm 9:30am, with plenty of sunshine.  Water temps were about 50f to 53F, air was 38F to 45F.  Both largemouth and spotted bass were caught and released, but the blue gills, as expected, have disappeared away from the banks to their winter haunts.

Foggy Morning on Mountain Island Lake

The fog finally disappeared at about 10am.

This Bald  Eagle stayed in our area for an hour or so...

Water temp approx. 59F and air ranged from 50F to 70F.  The drive to lake was super foggy.  We barely saw the dozen or so deer in front of us as we pulled into the access road.  Slow going in the boat, trying to stay on course.  And the fishing was a bit foggy also, with only a few bass caught.  Blue Gills are still biting and its mid-November!

Lake Hickory, North Carolina




The view down the lake.

 

Lake Hickory Marina...closed and very quiet...

Chilly November Morning Fishing at Mountain Island Lake

Another sunrise, each one glorious.



The sunfish bite is fading, winter is coming.



Spotted Bass

 Morning temp was 38F and got up to about 70F at lunchtime.  Water temps ranged from 58F to 60F.  Clear sunny day.  Bite was a bit slow, but several fish were caught.  A big bass never made it to the boat; it got hung up in a log.  And a big blue cat spit out the hook on its way to the boat also.  All fish were released.  We saw bald eagles, swimming whitetail deer, red tailed hawks, herons, ospreys, coots, chipmonks, and other critters.

Lake Rhodiss, Valdese, North Carolina

Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina




The view looking towards Route 278.



The view looking towards Pinckney.

 
 

Hilton Head Surf Fishing




This is pretty much the same rig I've been using since I was about 5 years old.  An old bicycle, a rod and reel, some water to fish in...

 

Beavers, Bovines, Bass

Cowen's Ford Dam at sunrise.

Spotted Bass (1 pounder)

Spotted Bass (4 pounder!! caught by Sean)




(this is why we call it...) Cow Beach

 A chilly mornin on Mountain Island Lake.  We saw Beavers up close,  deer on the island, and moo cows at Cow Beach.  The fishermen also caught some really nice bass throwing jigs.  All fish, as usual, were released.  Air 40F at sunrise to about 60F at lunchtime, water temp 65F.

Bass are Biting

Spotted Bass ~ the underside of the towel has some thumb blood on it from the fish's teeth...ouch.

Sunfish (Longear)

Mountain Island Lake ~ Air temp. 45F to 70F, water temp. 68F.

Slow bite but alright

Mountain Island Lake Spotted Bass

October Fishing at Mountain Island Lake

Another beautiful sunrise behind the PFD.  A Spotted Bass caught with a Channel Cat at same time on two rods by one person.  And a Spotted Bass with nice markings.  October lake fishing, with water at 72F and air ranging from 64F to 80F, still water, light wind, no current, and a tough morning bite.

Fish Lips

Mountain Island Lake ~

 Blue Catfish, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Vague Fish.

Water temp. about 73F, Air temp 56F to 80F.  Cloudy morning, sunny afternoon.

Windy Day Fishing

22-September-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake

The wind was whipping at 6:30am out on the water.  Spots, small Largemouths, a small Striper, and one nice Largemouth, rounded out the day, along with a lot of Bluegills.  All fish were released.                                                                                                                                                                            

Bigun's at large

15-September-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake

The constellation Orion was glowing at 5am outside.  The morning was beautiful.  The morning bite was a bit slow, even though fish were popping everywhere.  The fish missed were a few 'biguns'...  The photos above, a few of many fish,  include:  a channel cat caught on a spoon, a longear sunfish, and a fiesty spotted bass.  All fish were released, and many did not make the trip into the boat.  A fisherman once mentioned to a fishin' guide down at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, after a day of fishing, that "I missed a big one...", and the guide replied "Thats why we go fishing....".   hmmm..

Spooned Catfish

08-September-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake

Beautiful Sunrise and morning.  Spoons caught a little Striper and a few Blue Catfish, with the 15 pound big-belly shown above.   Spotted bass were on the prowl too.  All fish were released.

Critters: Snapper and Bella the Shih Tzu