Lake Gaston Fishing Report

BRACEY CATS — RIGHT NOW

Fish the outside bend of the main channel in the narrow western arm just upstream of the Rt. 903 bridge — that sharp river bend with heavy wood cover and a hard bottom is your best shot for channel cats and flatheads this afternoon and tonight.

WHY IT'S THE SPOT

• Current and structure: Satellite imagery (June 25) shows a sharp, curving shoreline in the upper section where the channel swings tight to the bank. That outside bend scours a deeper trough, creates current seams, and has wood cover right at the waterline — three things catfish stack on in summer.
• Water temp and activity: 78°F is prime for channel catfish (optimal 65-85°F). The recent rising trend (+6.6°) has fish feeding actively, especially before a weather change.
• Timing: Today's pressure is steady (1014 mb) but thunderstorms are forecast with 9 mph wind. Catfish will feed aggressively in the afternoon and evening leading into that front. Solunar minor period runs 7:31 PM – 9:01 PM — ideal evening window.

WHERE EXACTLY IN BRACEY

• Launch or run to the upper western arm where the lake narrows to a river-like channel — that's the stretch between the Rt. 903 bridge and the old railroad trestle.
• Find the first major outside bend where the current pushes against a steep bank with standing timber and laydowns. You'll see dark green vegetation/trees right to the water's edge. The deeper water will be tight to that outside bank.
• If you have a depth finder, target 12–20 feet along the bend, especially where the bottom transitions from hard clay to chunk rock.

THROW THIS

• Primary: 3/4-oz Carolina rig with a #4 circle hook and a 2-foot fluorocarbon leader. Bait with cut shad, chicken liver, or commercial stink bait (Catfish Charlie or similar). Cast to the inside edge of the current seam and let it settle into the deeper water. Keep the rod in a holder with the reel in free spool (clicker on).
• Backup: 1/2-oz slip sinker rig with a nightcrawler harness or live bluegill (where legal). Work it slowly along the bottom of the bend. If the current is light, switch to a 3-way rig with a smaller sinker and a 12-inch leader.

BEST WINDOW

• 5:00 PM to dark — the minor solunar window starts at 7:31 PM, but the pre-storm feeding often kicks in 2-3 hours earlier. Get set up by 4:30 PM.
• If storms roll through, fish the first 2 hours after the rain stops — that's when fresh runoff pulls cats into the same bends.

NEXT MOVE IF THE BEND DIES

• If the outside bend doesn't produce in 45 minutes, slide 50-100 yards downstream to the first deep hole on the inside of the next bend — flats adjacent to the channel bend often hold flatheads waiting to ambush.
• If still dead, move to the mouth of the next major creek entering the main channel — any inflow carrying fresh water and scent will pull cats in, especially if it's stained from the storm. Use the same bait rig but fish it right at the edge of the stain line.