My friend just bought a Triumph boat and wants to go to lake norman in north carolina and go striper fishin. i have been a few times, but i have had a guide each time. i was wondering if ya'll knew the best time they bite, what they are hittin in the fall, if the fall is even a good time, the whole nine yards. i want the best trip we can have and catch as many fish as we can. so if any one knows and information on reeling in a lot of stripper in the fall, let me know.

Thanks!

ALL THE GUYS I KNOW USED BLUEBACK HERRING TO GET STRIPERS. I'VE SEEN SOME FISHING SHOWS WHERE THEY WERE USING TOPWATER BAITS BUT NOT SURE WHICH ONES THEY WERE USING.

Depends on what size stripers you want to catch. My favorite bait for schoolies is a jerkbait or plug followed by a jigging spoon. For big stripers livebait is probably the way to go. Unfortunately I'm not a freshwater striper fisherman so I can't say I'm too familiar with their lake patterns. I would however stick to reasonably deep water with current if possible if I was trying to catch big girls. I'd look for bottom structure and drift it with live bait. Bridge pylings might work. I've never actually done it in freshwater but I don't see why it would be too different than saltwater.

well i actually cought a 8 pound striper yesterday...boy what a fight...took my line out abot 100-150 yards...i was runnin out of line, but it was fun.. i cought in on my first cast with a crank bait that looks exactly like this one http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=51819&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults .....i made a post about my fish..but it looks like it got deleted... :'(

I fish Lake Norman but I haven't gone for Striper.

Here are a couple websites that might help you.

http://www.lakenormanstriperfishing.com/

http://www.fishin.com/reports/nc/lakenorman.htm

http://www.lakenormanstriperfishing.com/cpMagazine1.htm

http://www.ncstriper.us/

http://www.stripers247.com/lakenorman.htm

I hope these help.

I am from NC too and have fished those waters!  I have never caught one there but was in the boat with others who have.  So, they are there.  There is a 26 lb. striper mounted on my ex-girlfriend's wall that her pops caught.

Live bait is best.  Try to catch blue gills/large shade and hook them on.  The hooks I use are gammy octopus circle hooks in size 1.  We use tennis balls for a float but you could go without.  It's awesome when you see a big one take the tennis ball down.

For artificials, my friend just caught an 8 lb. this Monday using a blue bass popper.  I've seen them caught on Storm wild eye shad swimbaits (though I have no luck with them) the salt water size.  Huge. Also, the jointed Cotten Cordell crippled shade lures work good in CALM water.  These have been my most productive artificials.  Only one place I've seen carrys the jointed version.  I can't find the jointed versions at BPS or Gander Mtn.  

If you go up 16 towards Taylorsville, there is a small tackle/hunting place on your left.  I forget the name but if you see a Dollar General, then you're way too far.  Trust me, you won't regret getting this lure.  I've seen two buddies pull out two 13+ each with this lure.  It would have been three but they both missed one.

Also, Bass Pro carrys these lures with a white body and red head.  For some reason, those work real well too.  I've got them in jointed, solid body version, and "wobble head" version.  

I've had all of my luck closer to dams and running water but good luck on Lake Norman with all the water skiers and pontoons.