Today I talk about the inevitable reality of the smallmouth population in Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and North Georgia. They will eventually become extinct mostly due to spotted bass populations but there are some other factors. If you want to book a smallmouth fishing guided trip call us at 828-354-0250 or visit DreamCatcherGuides.com
Send an email
As you said, spotted Bass have taken over Chatuge, and decimated the Smallmouth population. SM are gone and never coming back. So sad. Caught SM on Chatuge back in 2002 ish, but none of late.
There is plenty of spotted bass to eat. If you want to eat, eat a spotted bass taste, like smallmouth to me throw all your smallmouth back throw all your largemouth back.!! do you know crappy pretty good to
Austin, what is your thought about blueback herring? Do you think it’s better have bluebacks in NC mountain lakes or not?
Let me say I am very happy to see you highlighting this issue! And while they definitely completely eliminate Smallmouth from places where they are moved, they also really knock the Largemouth back too. Eventually you have to run way up the rivers or to the backs of creeks to find Largemouth after about 10 years, for the most part. These Alabama Bass are the worst thing happening to bass populations right now. Who in their right mind wants to keep moving these things around!???
Interesting. I'm sorry to hear this. Hope spots don't make their way to Eastern Washington. Had no idea spots could fight harder than smallies, that's really something. I don't think I could live without smallmouth. Plenty of walleye here too. Come on over!
Bring Big Alabama Spotted bass and blueback herring instead.
I’m on Wilson Lake and they are taking over. The quality of Largemouth has plummeted. Used to be common to catch 4-8 lb largemouth. Now rarely over 3 lbs. The dominant species caught now are definitely spots.
I primarily catch smallmouth in the rivers in western NC and eastern TN, and I can say they’re very prevalent. Even more so now than a year or two ago. Bad news about the lakes, but I can safely say they aren’t totally leaving the area any time soon.
Blame the Amish
I live in ky and my home lake your allowed to keep 6 smallmouth and idk why because I don't know a single person thats ever caught a smallmouth ever in that lake ive never got one either and I fish there everyday
Not my fishing partner being the thumbnail😂
Thanks for spreading the word!!!
Hopefully North & South Carolina, Georgia wildlife help with this issue. They should work together on these border lakes/rivers. Need keep largemouth & small mouth populations strong, Fuck the spots!!! Also love walleye fishing, used to do that all time before I moved down south. I wasn't aware there were any good walleye fisheries down here?
Breaks my heart. I have never caught a smallie.
By way caught my new PB largemouth this morning an 11.4!!!
I'm originally from southwest Ohio, we just had largmouth & small mouth. I didn't know what a spotted bass was till I caught one in Clarks Hill for first time after we moved down to SC 2 years ago. I'm not fan of spots. I would rather catch largmouth & small mouth!! Why would guys move/ stock that many spots to all these lakes? Lake Russell, the lake just north of Clarks Hill on the Savannah river chain is overrun with spots! I rarely catch largemouth at all. I just end up fishing for striper if I go there because I don't care for all the little spots. 99% of spots I've seen are small. Do you think Georgia wildlife stocked them in some of those lakes, or just random dumb asses?? I don't keep bass to eat. I release them all. I just love fishing in my kayak!
Spots are tasty, I live on the Coosa and know exactly how they can dominate, but Pickwick Wilson and wheeler all have spots but you'll catch more smallmouth than spots. I don't know
Hopefully SCDNR and NCWRC can maintain some level of genetically pure smallies in our waters.
Seems to me the ALB and SMB spawn in slightly different areas in rivers and the hybridization doesn’t seem quite as extreme in the rivers.
I’m holding out hope I’m a smallie fanatic.
Going to lake James this weekend and I plan to cull and cook any spots i catch. This is a great channel as a fellow NC angler. If you ever wanna hit some gems in central NC, I'd love to be your guide. 😎🎣
Think mean mouths have a set of teeth on their tongues!