Thread: where and how to catch blueback herring close to Charlotte?

That was my thoughts. I don't see how those lakes wouldn't have herring. They multiply really fast.

So, it's just too cold now, they are plenty and easy to catch in March/April, right? cast net or sabiki?

Originally Posted by 32RACER

Mt Island Lake. All the lakes on the Catawba from Norman south are full of Herring

I can catch them very early in the morning. it is possible. just have to have a heavy net.

When i do start live baiting in the spring, i routinely use a 12 ft heavy net. ill catch them deep, and sometimes ive caught them in less than 4ft of water.

here is a pic i dug up of a netfull of herring i got on LAKE WYLIE about 5 or so years ago.....I dont care what the biologist say, yes their are herring on wylie and i regularly catch them every spring.

Herring have been in Santee since the 40's and Murray since it was built. I'm with Pete. Herring have got to be in every lake in the Carolinas.

i would love to see a picture of a herring from Wylie, I have spent many many hours chunking cast nets and haven't ever seen any. Im betting they are large threadfin, just like the ones that stack up behind wateree lugoff dam. all you need is a dip net behind the dam and can scoop hundreds without ever getting on a boat. it is a bit of a long walk to back to the truck to keep them alive, but they are the best bait in my opinion.
I have however caught talipia and a pacu in wylie in a cast net so anything is possible I guess.

My money is on Pete knowing the difference between a thread fin and a herring. Ben knowing him for a long time.

I've had state biologist tell me the same on numerous lakes in the southeast. Even when I showed them the herring swimming in my tank I was told I couldn't use them on that body of water. Greenwood doesn't have any either. Right? Their in greenwood too. I a also had DNR guys ask me what was in my tank. They didn't know what a gizzard shad was.

It could be hard to catch blueback herring with a cast net except during spawn. I read that they are usually deep.

Originally Posted by bioguy

i would love to see a picture of a herring from Wylie, I have spent many many hours chunking cast nets and haven't ever seen any. Im betting they are large threadfin, just like the ones that stack up behind wateree lugoff dam. all you need is a dip net behind the dam and can scoop hundreds without ever getting on a boat. it is a bit of a long walk to back to the truck to keep them alive, but they are the best bait in my opinion.
I have however caught talipia and a pacu in wylie in a cast net so anything is possible I guess.