Shane Goebel Fishing Lake Hiwassee Trophy Stripers SPRINGTIME STRIPER FISHING IN MURPHY, NC

It’s that time of year! Monster trophy stripers on Lake Hiwassee are firing up and it don’t get better than this!. Yup, it’s May….our favorite time of year for the big-uns. I’m talking about those reel screaming, explosive hits that will make you wanna smack your granny it’s so awesome. No offense to granny, but this is most definitely the best time of year for trophy fish.

May’s warmer weather and longer days get these stripers in the mood for some heavy post/pre spawn feeding. We’ll also start catching numbers as well. And let me tell you about catching these beasts on some ultra-lite tackle too. Shew-wee, talk about fun! There’s nothing more exhilarating then catching a striper on a crappie rod with lite line lol.

So, if you’re looking for something to do or are an avid fisherman looking for that record fish, give us holler and get your fish on with the area’s #1 guide service. We specialize in striper and hybrid fishing. Check out our Facebook and Instagram page, Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and give us a like.

Currently Lake Hiwassee is around 15 feet below full pool. Clarity is mostly clear and slightly stained in the rivers. Water temps have been in the low 60’s. The striper bite has been wicked insane lately! We are starting to catch some good numbers. It’s not uncommon for us to catch 15 to 30 stripers a morning. The majority of our stripers have been in the 15 to 30 pound range.

In the early part of the month, you’ll still find a lot of these fish in their spring spawning areas in the backs of creeks and in the river. As the month progresses, they’ll start working their way back to deeper water in the mouths of creeks and around shallow humps all over the lake. The early morning and late afternoon bite has been the best for catching these beasts.

Pulling planer boards and free lines with live herring will be your best technique. As the sun comes up, it never hurts to throw out a couple of down lines. Try to pay attention to areas that are holding a lot of baitfish—the stripers will be close by. Also, watch for an awesome top-water bite to fire up. I always like to keep a Red Fin or a spook at the ready to work the banks as we troll around. Just keep an eye out for busting fish.

May is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers on this Western North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and Blairsville, Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass.

We also serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake Appalachia for smallmouth and trout. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Service and is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. See the website at www. bigolfish.com or call (828) 361-2021

By Ronnie Parris

He was born April 15th, 1940. He grew up in Robbinsville in Graham County, North Carolina. The biggest part of his life he worked for the North Carolina DOT. He married Gayle, the love of his life, whom he cherished for 60 years, til the lord called him home on March 1st of 2023 after a long illness.

I was just one of many that was blessed to know and love Bill. He was just one of those people that had only love and kindness to give to anyone who he came in contact with. It’s easy to see why he and Gayle got along so well as they are cut from the same cloth. I can’t say enough for the kind of people they are. I could write for days about how Bill helped this person or that person. Any kid wanting to get into hunting only had to ask and Bill would be the first to see they had what they needed.

We used to camp opening week of bear season on Santeetlah and bear hunt with the hounds. There was always a bunch of us Bill had taken under his wing, helping us with whatever we needed so we could spend as much time in the woods as possible. When my kids started competing on the shooting team and needed different sights for their rifle, Bill was right there helping them and wouldn’t let them pay for them. He said all you owe is to do good and stay in school and keep out of trouble.

I would like to say Bill was a friend, but he was so much more than that. He was more like family. As far as a true mountain man, hunter and fishermen, there was none better. He loved bear hunting and following the hounds and killed a good many bears in his life, but the thrill for Bill was listening to the hounds. Which, if a dog was lucky enough to get bought

Continued, see MOUNTAIN LEGEND Page 10

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