Tips fishing Belew's Creek/Lake?

Beef15

Beef15

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I imagine some members have fished Belew's, what's the hot baits and techniques?

I fished it Sunday for the first time from the kayak, stayed near the Piney Bluff landing, I'll probably make a few more trips before the pleasure boats get thick. Was there about 4 hours, had a few bites, only landed one fish (13" largemouth) no pics, fingers were too cold. Saw a half dozen or so boats try in the immediate area, saw no fish caught.
Conditions: 30 rising to 40 degree air, sunny, clear (20' visibility) 55 degree water, huge school of shad holding nearby, finder showed lots of good sized fish mostly on the bottom @ 25-30', a few busting on the surface.
 
The only tip I have is DON"T EAT any fish from there. Dad and I used to sail around there and the word was the lake had high selenium (maybe something else) levels due to the power plant there and the fish weren't good for you to eat. Have heard of some large fish from there though.
 
Green Giant said:
The only tip I have is DON"T EAT any fish from there. Dad and I used to sail around there and the word was the lake had high selenium (maybe something else) levels due to the power plant there and the fish weren't good for you to eat. Have heard of some large fish from there though.
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Read that. Think they're supposed to be safe now in moderation, seems to be the story for most NC freshwater, but I'm not fishing for meals.
 
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My favorite home lake.

Back in the early 90’s, everyone would say Belew’s had a fish kill off from the selenium Duke Energy pumped into it.

😜 I passed that info to everyone that would listen, meanwhile catching limits and 5 to 7 pounders on a regular basis.

Been a few years since I’ve pounded that lake but it has to still be good.

They also say that people were loading it with spotted bass and it has a good population of them now.

Super clear water but don’t let that scare ya.

Spots - deep on light line and 3” creature baits.
 
Tailhunter said:
My favorite home lake.

Back in the early 90’s, everyone would say Belew’s had a fish kill off from the selenium Duke Energy pumped into it.

😜 I passed that info to everyone that would listen, meanwhile catching limits and 5 to 7 pounders on a regular basis.

Been a few years since I’ve pounded that lake but it has to still be good.

They also say that people were loading it with spotted bass and it has a good population of them now.

Super clear water but don’t let that scare ya.

Spots - deep on light line and 3” creature baits.
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Where on Belews creek is the water at all clear??? I was down on the dam side and it was so warm and algae filled, you couldn't see your fingers if you stuck your arm in up to the elbow!! 😝 Brushing that crap off the bottom of my Dad's boat in the water would turn it from 3' visibility to ZERO with a quickness!
 
Green Giant said:
Where on Belews creek is the water at all clear??? I was down on the dam side and it was so warm and algae filled, you couldn't see your fingers if you stuck your arm in up to the elbow!! 😝 Brushing that crap off the bottom of my Dad's boat in the water would turn it from 3' visibility to ZERO with a quickness!
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Wow. Has it changed that much?
 
GreatGazoo said:
You can trust @Tailhunter. He speaks the Truth! ;)

View attachment 441607
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Hey it was the official Duke Energy narrative. I thought the same thing until I saw different. You could fish most of the fall and winter and never see another fishing boat. When they started fishing tournaments on the lake the evidence was in plain sight. 😢
 
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Would be a great place to magnet fish though.
 
Green Giant said:
Where on Belews creek is the water at all clear??? I was down on the dam side and it was so warm and algae filled, you couldn't see your fingers if you stuck your arm in up to the elbow!! 😝 Brushing that crap off the bottom of my Dad's boat in the water would turn it from 3' visibility to ZERO with a quickness!
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Had 13+ ft visibility last Sunday just past the bridge at Piney Bluff. Was watching spots just off the bottom tear up the huge school of shad that seems resident there at the mudline. It was clearer two weeks ago.
 
Beef15 said:
Had 13+ ft visibility last Sunday just past the bridge at Piney Bluff. Was watching spots just off the bottom tear up the huge school of shad that seems resident there at the mudline. It was clearer two weeks ago.
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Now thats what I remember.

Just hearing this makes me want to jack a few jaws.
 
Tailhunter said:
Wow. Has it changed that much?
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Last time I was on the lake was probably in the early 90's (before 93 maybe?). The dam side (outlet side of the power plant) was VERY warm all year and GREEN! The input side was likely very different as the temperature would be lower.
 
Green Giant said:
Last time I was on the lake was probably in the early 90's (before 93 maybe?). The dam side (outlet side of the power plant) was VERY warm all year and GREEN! The input side was likely very different as the temperature would be lower.
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You sure we are talking about the same lake?
 
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Dad had a boat at the Carolina Marina there. Water was always very warm, even in winter. It would fog up something terrible when it was cool out due to the heat coming off of the lake. The warmth made for lots of algae / plankton / something GREEN in the water to the point it was not even remotely clear. We never went on the other side of the power lines 'cause sailboats and power lines don't go well together! :eek:
 
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