Spotted Bass

The last two times I have been fishing the hill the spotted bass have been terrible. They have been taking over all the brush piles and making crappie fishing very difficult. Has anyone else had this problem? On active target when I’m scanning open water flats I’m finding a lot of schools of 6”-8” spotted bass. I know friends of mine who bass fish tournaments said they are a big problem for them and the numbers of large mouth bass have decreased. Thought about calling DNR but don’t think they would care.
Just trying to get some input from out fisherman.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

When I catch them trespassing on my brush I eat em!! They are excellent table fare.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

That is one way to do it

That’s definitely the tastiest way to deal with them….lol

They make a tasty meal. I would keep all I could.

The way I understand it is the bass fishermen were the guys that started the spotted bass in our lakes. No? Now we just gotta deal with them. Spots are as good to eat as largemouths if you fillet them.;)

Alabama and Spotted Bass are listed as invasive in NC. No creel or size limit.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Attachment 474607


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Yep, like death and taxes, they are here to stay. I have definitely seen the same trend on certain parts of the Hill. Seem to be more prevalent on the mid and lower lake based on my observations. Spotted bass filets fry up nicely so that helps temper my negative attitude toward them. Once we get into the trolling season, they won't be a big deal, but they will wear a live minnow out!

When trolling they certainly aint no fun for sure.

They get needlenose whack across the top of the skull and tossed back and usually an osprey has them within 10min

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TreednNC

They get needlenose whack across the top of the skull and tossed back and usually an osprey has them within 10min

---

Think that’s might be what I do. Keep the big ones to eat and “throw” the small ones back with a headache


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

On Saturday we caught 25 crappie on brush as well as 5 spots . As others have said, they’re tasty!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NCkenner

On Saturday we caught 25 crappie on brush as well as 5 spots . As others have said, they’re tasty!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

---

gut em all

No size limit, 10 creel limit on Clark Hill Lake.

I guess what upset me the most was the spotted bass I was catching were only 6” or so. I could keep them but there’s nothing I can do with them. From now on I’m going to start keeping the eating size.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com