RALEIGH, N.C. – During the inaugural season of the Bass Pro Tour in 2019, Jordan, Falls and Shearon Harris Reservoir pumped out lots of big bass, opening the world’s eyes to the big bass in the area. These three lakes outside of Raleigh are poised to do that again this week at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops.
One of the quickest ways to get a feel for what’s working on local lakes is to stop by a tackle shop for some local knowledge. Outhouse Tackle in Raleigh is a must-stop for bass anglers in the area – the shop carries a full array of popular tackle brands, as well as lots of regional favorites.
The shop has an old-school bait shop feel, with mounted bass on the walls and the sound and aroma from the minnow tanks running. Owner Jerry Lucas keeps a close eye on what’s catching fish on area lakes, based on what his customers are buying.
ChatterBaits Are Hot Sellers
The Evergreen Z-Man Jack Hammer ChatterBait is likely the hottest bait anywhere in the country, and the Raleigh area is no different.
“We haven’t been able to keep them in stock ever since you guys were here in 2019,” Lucas said. “The Fire Craw color has sold out the fastest the last two times we got them in. With our water color around here, that has been a really good one – also, any other dark colors or those with some orange or chartreuse in them are working great.”
Plastic Bite Turning Hot
Lucas said that many male bass are up shallow and preparing to spawn, just waiting for the big females to arrive. As a result, the soft plastic bite has been getting better and better by the day.
“We’re starting to see that transition to more soft plastic baits,” Lucas confirmed. “The Zoom Baby Brush Hog has been selling well. The other one is the Zoom Trick Worm, it’s been excellent lately.”
Cranks, Jigs and Spinnerbaits
Outhouse Tackle makes their own jigs and spinnerbaits as custom orders, and although the spinnerbait bite has slowed down, it may still be a player this week.
“Typically, they’ll eat a spinnerbait until June,” Lucas advised. “It’s slowed down some, but they’re still catching fish.”
Squarebill crankbaits, as well as mid-range divers, are also producing fish at the area lakes.
“Guys are buying SPRO and Lucky Craft squarebills,” Lucas reported. “The SPRO Mike McClelland RkCrawler in any of the red colors has been a really, really good bait.”
Three Different Lakes
According to Lucas, with three lakes in the mix, several different lures and techniques could come into play at each of them.
“Both Falls and Jordan are fishing pretty good right now,” Lucas said. “Typically, we say ‘When one is hot, the other is not,’ but they’re both producing fish. You can pretty much call your shot now on Falls, and Jordan had a really good deep bite earlier this spring. There have been some nice fish caught recently, including one that was a little over 10 pounds.”
Harris may look a little different at Heavy Hitters than it did in 2019, according to Lucas.
“It’s a lot different than the last time you guys were here because all of the grass is gone,” he said. “We also had a big fish kill over the winter, but there are still some really big fish in there. It has been tough for us locals, and we’re all eager to see how the Major League Fishing pros figure it out and to see how they catch them.”