New Forage in Lake Junaluska!

There is exciting news for anglers in and around Western North Carolina! As of the month of April this year, thousands of gizzard shad have been released into Lake Junaluska, making the lure options expand tremendously.

While fishing the lake one sunny afternoon in May, I noticed that there were MASSIVE dark clouds in the water. They were spread out as far as I could see and seemed to be...moving? "What are these things?" I said to myself. I have fished Lake Junaluska hundreds of times throughout my life and not once had I seen something like this. I knew that Lake J had a considerable bream, sunfish, and perch population but not once had I ever heard, let alone seen any evidence of shad living in the lake. My curiosity got the best of me as I picked up my ultralite rod I normally use to jig for crappie, I tossed a hair jig out into one of the massive dark clouds and jerked the jig hard twice. Sure enough, i hooked snagged a fish almost immediately, reeling in, you guessed it, a large gizzard shad.

This discovery is something of great importance for those who fish  Lake Junaluska for many different reasons. One being that with the huge population of shad now released into the lake, bass will not only start to grow in size, but also in number as their food source has broadened significantly. Recently Lake Junaluska has been struggling a bit with the bass population due to extreme pressure (being such a small lake) and multiple fish kills in the past. The introduction to a whole new forage for the bass to feed on will help restore the population.

The second awesome effect these shad will have is a the opportunity to use a plethora of new baits. BIG swimbaits, glidebaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and any lure that relatively resembles a shad will now be super effective in this lake. Below are some great lures to use that perfectly imitate a gizzard shad!


LIVETARGET Gizzard Shad Swimbait







Strike King Red Eye Shad





Strike King KVD 1.5 Squarebill


Luckycraft Sammy


These are just a few of hundreds of shad style baits to choose from. If all of the sudden you need to stock up on shad patterned baits, Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply has got you covered.

We're excited about this new amazing fishing oppurtunity that has come to WNC and hope many people use this strengthen their bass fishing skills and knowledge.

Tight Lines!







Come visit us at Dream Catcher's Fishing! At 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779!

The Power of The Senko

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." However, in bass fishing, when the going does get tough, sometimes it's time to go back to the basics! Maybe its time to put away that $50 dollar swimbait or crazy topwater oddity and pick up the good old stick bait. Commonly known as the senko, the stickbait has been one of the most successful lures to ever be introduced into the fishing world. Incredibly simple to use, the senko offers a lifelike worm presentation to hungry bass, showing a unique wiggling motion on the fall.
Senkos can be fished in any bodies of  fresh water ranging from small ponds all the way to large lakes around dock pilings and water outflows. The popularity of this bait has flourished in the past years due to it's incredible simplicity and versatility. The three best ways to fish a senko is to A. wacky rig them by hooking the bait right in the middle, allowing both sides to hang freely from the hook. B. texas rig them, and C. just rig it weightless. Hooking the senko weightless helps it's  natural wiggle action come alive on the fall.
So when all else fails, try going back to the basics. You might come to find that those "hard to catch" bass are suckers when it comes to worms. Here at Dream Catchers, We have a wide variety of stick baits from a number of different companies. Come check some out and get some for yourself so you'll be prepared when the going gets tough.








Come visit us at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779

The Gateway into Pro Bass Fishing

For many young anglers, the dream is to one day become a professional bass fisherman and compete in high end tournaments all across the US. Many dream of becoming the next KVD, being able to hoist the trophy onstage of the Bassmaster Classic. However, this dream for many, seems more like a fantasy than an actual aspiration. Today, the aura that surrounds  pro bass fishing has seemed to evolve into what seems to be an impenetrable field where only the most skilled anglers with the most money have a shot at becoming one of the greats. There is however, a much easier way to begin making your way up in the fishing world without starting from scratch.

One of the biggest jumpstarts for competitive bass fishing is being on a college bass team. College bass fishing gives young aspiring anglers a taste of what the pro life is like, without the major investments. Sponsors look for skilled fisherman in college fishing to rep their gear out on the water, and tournaments are dirt cheap compared to actual professional tournaments. Essentially, joining a local college bass fishing team/club is one of the best moves a young eager bass fisherman can make. At the end of ones college fishing career, depending on stats and sponsorships, an angler very well may have a very good chance at successfully transitioning into the "pro" status.

Austin Neary, founder of Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply was also the founder of Western Carolina University's very own WCU BassCats fishing club, making it  possible for younger anglers to already get a step ahead in competitive fishing. Anglers from all over western North Carolina now have a place to come and a team to join if they are interested in seriously becoming a well known fisherman

We recommend anyone looking to become a high ranking bass fisherman to join a local club/team. You will no doubt learn much more about the sport itself, and make some amazing lifelong friendships along the way.

Tight Lines!




Come visit us at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva NC 28779

Fishing report for Lake Junaluska

LAKE JUNALUSKA FISHING REPORT

With the current rainy conditions brought in by Hurricane Harvey, local water levels are rising making the water murkier. However, due to the constant rain, bass have been seen frequently blowing up on the surface. Spinnerbaits or topwater are recommended in these conditions as bass are near the surface looking to feed on any readily available forage. Lake Junaluska has especially seen heavy topwater activity in the past week. A small popper or prop bait would be ideal for the current conditions. Here at Dream Catcher's fishing we recommend the spybait or the Yo Zuri 3DS popper for higher hookup ratios. However, if the water is too choppy for a solid topwater bite, try switching up to a black/blue spinnerbait in murky or dark water, or more natural colors such as white or pearl in clear water conditions.
We are excited for this short opportunity for an outstanding topwater bite in Western North Carolina and look forward to seeing you in our shop and hearing your stories of success!

Tight Lines!











Come visit us at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva NC 28779