Gaston

I posted this on the Virginia page as well so copying here in case someone here doesn't see and can help any:

I am headed out to Gaston this coming weekend and was wondering if anyone has any info or advice? I haven't been fishing this year so far but twice so am feeling "out of practice".


I did get the boat's annual maintenance done and had it out last weekend just to make sure everything actually still works but man I think she wanted to throw me out into the water she was so mad at me!


I will be staying on Pea Hill Creek and looking for just about anything that bites (as long as it is a fish that is!). I went in 2012 and didn't do too bad but I am hoping to put a meal together while out there. As usual, any advice or info is very welcomed and I wish you all tight lines!


Tight lines,
Brian

Very few on this site fish Gaston. Kerr is popular, but not Gaston.

I know, I would love to head to Kerr but the opportunity just doesn't present itself. This trip I had a two month window and couldn't find what I needed there. Not complaining, I really like Lake Gaston and look forward to learning more about the lake each time I go but I have been wanting to try Kerr also just to compare the two.

Tight lines,
Brian

I plan on being in Peahill Saturday. There are some nice fish on the docks and most of the fish I have caught lately have been good sized. Try minnows or pitch jigs to the piers and brush where you can find it.

Last time I went (Spring 2012) I caught my only crappie off of a dock. Now, keep in mind at the time I had just started crappie fishing and having been a fisherman my whole life I didn't yet understand what all the guys here "really" mean when they say watch your line. I was expecting something like when a bass hits and you just see the line move. Since then I have learned a lot and realized how subtle that "tick" really can be and how just 1/2 a foot of sinking can make the difference between a cooler full and only one or two fish.

I will definitely be trying some minnows and pitching jigs, maybe this time we will be having a crappie dinner one night...:fish

Good luck to you and maybe I will see you out there (visiting family too so I guess I can't stay out all day and night for 3 days :dono). I will be the guy in the bass tracker (Pro Team 170TX) and white UK hat and you never know what I will be fishing for, I love fishing; catfish, bass, crappie, bream just doesn't matter if I can be fishing I am pretty happy. I am even bringing my cast net hoping to find some shad to use as catfish bait. :fingerdance

Tight lines,
Brian

We used to crappie fish Gaston a lot when I was a kid. Always had the best luck fishing minnows by docks in deep water. Now we usually striper fish up there. If you can net yourself some shad you should be able to catch a few stripers or blue cats at the upper end of the lake.

Well, didn't spend nearly as much time fishing as I had hoped but I did get many hours out there on the water. I managed to catch one crappie off of a bridge early but that ended up being it. I thought about anchoring but it was early and I wanted to search the docks and when I came back to anchor there were other boats anchored in the spot taking all the fish I left. :( I managed to catch enough catfish to have a fresh fried catfish dinner though so not all was lost. Thanks for the replies and I hope everyone had a good and safe weekend out there.

Tight lines,
Brian

I saw a center console tied to the peahill creek bridge late Saturday and he did have crappie onboard. At least you had a good day on the water. I fished from 8p until 1am with a light and caught absolutely zero. I had a ton of baitfish around me but nothing was feeding. Better luck next time I guess.

Yea, they took my spot! :) Actually that is who I was speaking about, I went back after trying a few docks with no luck to see if I could locate the school and anchor off to the side (I was taught to be courteous and not block others paths) where I could cast into them and see if I could get enough for a meal but they were there by then. They moved further down to the 626 bridge later when the crappie quit biting. I had a decent time even though I didn't catch a bunch of anything. I have been to Gaston 3 times now and have managed to catch fish each time so you can't complain about that at all. Maybe one day I can find something reasonable on Kerr and see how that place fishes... :) I was looking in December for a something in May and all the state park cabins were booked solid and the only place I saw within that price point didn't answer two different emails. Oh well, my money probably isn't plastic like everyone elses. :)

Tight lines,
Brian