Driving Map to Lake Gaston - Click to Enlarge
Lake Gaston Overview
Located just below Buggs Island Lake (aka Kerr Reservoir) is Lake Gaston.
Although it is primarily in North Carolina, a portion of Gaston lies in Brunswick
County, Virginia. Fortunately for Virginia anglers, a VA fishing license is good
throughout the lake. Gaston covers over 20,000 acres and includes 350 miles of
shoreline. It offers excellent fishing, wildlife viewing, and recreational boating
opportunities. Lake Gaston is heavily developed, with over 150,000 residents, and
it can get crowded on weekend afternoons. However, anglers can usually find
some peaceful fishing for a few hours in the mornings even on busy weekends.
Unlike some large reservoirs devoid of visible structure, plentiful boat docks and
aquatic vegetation (including hydrilla) allow newcomers to Gaston to start fishing
right away without spending hours or even days looking for submerged
fish-holding structure. Fish species include largemouth bass, striped bass,
crappie, walleye, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill, and chain pickerel.
Although it is primarily in North Carolina, a portion of Gaston lies in Brunswick
County, Virginia. Fortunately for Virginia anglers, a VA fishing license is good
throughout the lake. Gaston covers over 20,000 acres and includes 350 miles of
shoreline. It offers excellent fishing, wildlife viewing, and recreational boating
opportunities. Lake Gaston is heavily developed, with over 150,000 residents, and
it can get crowded on weekend afternoons. However, anglers can usually find
some peaceful fishing for a few hours in the mornings even on busy weekends.
Unlike some large reservoirs devoid of visible structure, plentiful boat docks and
aquatic vegetation (including hydrilla) allow newcomers to Gaston to start fishing
right away without spending hours or even days looking for submerged
fish-holding structure. Fish species include largemouth bass, striped bass,
crappie, walleye, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill, and chain pickerel.
May 25, 2010: Eddie Griggs of Virginia Elite Outdoors Guide Service provided the
following Fishing Report. Visit Eddie at www.vaeliteoutdoors.com.
A mixed bag of spawning activity here as well. Down lake, there are a few left on
the beds, but most are done and either guarding fry or slid out just a little deeper.
Up lake we are still seeing some on the beds and some that have yet to spawn.
July 14, 2010: Holly Grove Marina (434) 636-3455. Craig Karpinski reports that
bass fishing is only so-so, with topwaters around the grass beds being a good
choice. Crappie can be found around deep drop offs and will go for a small
minnow. Cat action has been good, try chicken livers, cut bait and clam snouts. A
few perch have been landed with small spinners or worms. The water is slightly
stained and in the 70s in the main lake and 80s in the creeks and coves.
following Fishing Report. Visit Eddie at www.vaeliteoutdoors.com.
A mixed bag of spawning activity here as well. Down lake, there are a few left on
the beds, but most are done and either guarding fry or slid out just a little deeper.
Up lake we are still seeing some on the beds and some that have yet to spawn.
July 14, 2010: Holly Grove Marina (434) 636-3455. Craig Karpinski reports that
bass fishing is only so-so, with topwaters around the grass beds being a good
choice. Crappie can be found around deep drop offs and will go for a small
minnow. Cat action has been good, try chicken livers, cut bait and clam snouts. A
few perch have been landed with small spinners or worms. The water is slightly
stained and in the 70s in the main lake and 80s in the creeks and coves.
Virginia Outdoors - A Resource for Virginia Anglers and Hunters
Virginia Outdoors - Lake Gaston
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Fishing Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston Fishing Guides
Largemouth Bass: Lake Gaston is a power fisherman's dream. Especially in the
springtime, flipping and pitching heavy, dark-colored jigs and creature baits in the
to mid-May when pre-spawn females over 7 pounds are possible. Flipping,
pitching, and skipping a variety of soft plastics in natural colors around boat docks
is also reliable this time of year. As aforementioned, the availability of visible
fish-holding structure is a great benefit to newcomers. Backing off the visible
structure and slow rolling big spinnerbaits and/or pulling crankbaits across points
where pre- and post-spawn bass stage is also a productive pattern that lasts from
late February well into June.
Striped Bass: The most reliable striped bass fishing occurs every spring in the the
dam is action-packed. Soft plastic swimbaits, large flukes, and bucktails will do
the trick. Other times of the year require familiar landlocked freshwater striper
fishing tactics. Live bait spreads on downlines and planer boards are the most
efficient way to catch a limit, but this method requires catching live bait and keeping
it alive. Large jigging spoons fished over summer schools are effective. At dawn,
dusk, and on cloudy days feeding fish will surface and can be caught using a
variety of topwater lures and swimbaits.
Crappie: Crappie are plentiful though the size structure is a notch below what is
generally found on Kerr Reservoir. Trolling with spider rigs is an excellent way to
cover open water and find pre- and post-spawn crappie. During the spring and fall,
fishing small jigs and tube baits around boat docks is highly effective. Keep an
eye on the fishfinder and identify sunken fish attractors placed by dock owners for a
chance at less-pressured fish. A cooler full of crappie can usually be had by
anglers will to put in a full day of fishing.
springtime, flipping and pitching heavy, dark-colored jigs and creature baits in the
to mid-May when pre-spawn females over 7 pounds are possible. Flipping,
pitching, and skipping a variety of soft plastics in natural colors around boat docks
is also reliable this time of year. As aforementioned, the availability of visible
fish-holding structure is a great benefit to newcomers. Backing off the visible
structure and slow rolling big spinnerbaits and/or pulling crankbaits across points
where pre- and post-spawn bass stage is also a productive pattern that lasts from
late February well into June.
Striped Bass: The most reliable striped bass fishing occurs every spring in the the
dam is action-packed. Soft plastic swimbaits, large flukes, and bucktails will do
the trick. Other times of the year require familiar landlocked freshwater striper
fishing tactics. Live bait spreads on downlines and planer boards are the most
efficient way to catch a limit, but this method requires catching live bait and keeping
it alive. Large jigging spoons fished over summer schools are effective. At dawn,
dusk, and on cloudy days feeding fish will surface and can be caught using a
variety of topwater lures and swimbaits.
Crappie: Crappie are plentiful though the size structure is a notch below what is
generally found on Kerr Reservoir. Trolling with spider rigs is an excellent way to
cover open water and find pre- and post-spawn crappie. During the spring and fall,
fishing small jigs and tube baits around boat docks is highly effective. Keep an
eye on the fishfinder and identify sunken fish attractors placed by dock owners for a
chance at less-pressured fish. A cooler full of crappie can usually be had by
anglers will to put in a full day of fishing.
Lake Gaston Fishing Report
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| Copyright © 2009 Virginia Outdoors, LLC Ruckersville, VA |
Other Useful Info and Links
Marinas and Boat Ramps:
Eaton Ferry at Lake Gaston: (252) 586-4661
Poplar Creek Marina at Lake Gaston: (434) 636-2175
Americamps near Poplar Creek at Lake Gaston: (434) 636-2668
Lake Gaston Resort: (804) 577-2935
Outdoor World at Lake Gaston: (252) 586-4121
Washburn's Marina at Lake Gaston: (252) 537-1335
Public Boat Landings at Lake Gaston (VDGIF):
Pea Hill
Poplar Creek
Steel Bridge
Eaton Ferry at Lake Gaston: (252) 586-4661
Poplar Creek Marina at Lake Gaston: (434) 636-2175
Americamps near Poplar Creek at Lake Gaston: (434) 636-2668
Lake Gaston Resort: (804) 577-2935
Outdoor World at Lake Gaston: (252) 586-4121
Washburn's Marina at Lake Gaston: (252) 537-1335
Public Boat Landings at Lake Gaston (VDGIF):
Pea Hill
Poplar Creek
Steel Bridge
| Featured Article: Where to Catch Virginia's Trophy Largemouth Bass |
