Full Day Lake Hickory & Rhodhiss Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Full-day guided fishing on Lake Hickory and Lake RhodhissTarget Hybrid Bass, Blue Catfish, Crappie, and Spotted BassIncludes professional gear, bait, and fish cleaning services
When you want to experience some of the best freshwater fishing North Carolina has to offer, Captain Dexter McCaslin's full-day charter on Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for. This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're just getting warmed up when it's time to head back. With eight solid hours on the water, you'll have the chance to work multiple productive spots across two fantastic lake systems, all while targeting some of the region's most sought-after species. Located in the Denver, NC area, these interconnected waters offer the perfect mix of structure, current, and forage that keeps fish active year-round.
This charter puts you in prime position to experience two distinct but connected fisheries that each bring their own personality to your day. Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss are river-fed systems that maintain excellent water quality and support healthy populations of multiple species. Captain Dexter knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's built his reputation by consistently putting clients on fish regardless of skill level. Whether you're a weekend warrior looking to improve your technique or a seasoned angler wanting to explore new water, this trip adapts to your experience. The personalized approach means you'll get one-on-one instruction and plenty of hands-on time with different presentations. All your bait, tackle, and rods are provided, so you can focus entirely on fishing rather than gear prep. At the end of your day, fish cleaning services ensure you'll head home with table-ready fillets instead of a messy cooler.
The beauty of fishing these two lake systems lies in the variety of approaches that produce results throughout the day. Bottom fishing proves deadly effective for targeting blue catfish in the deeper channels and creek bends where these bruisers like to hold. You'll learn to read structure and current breaks that concentrate baitfish and attract predators. Trolling opens up opportunities to cover water efficiently while targeting striped bass and hybrids that roam open water following schools of shad. The captain adjusts techniques based on seasonal patterns, weather conditions, and what the fish are telling you on any given day. Professional-grade equipment means you're fishing with rods and reels that can handle whatever you hook into, from finicky crappie to hard-fighting stripers. The tackle selection includes everything from live bait presentations to artificial lures that match local forage. Captain Dexter shares insights about reading electronics, understanding seasonal movements, and recognizing productive water that you can apply to your own future fishing adventures.
Largemouth bass remain the crown jewel of these lake systems, with fish regularly pushing the 4-6 pound range and occasional giants topping 8 pounds. These bass relate heavily to submerged timber, rock piles, and creek channel edges where they ambush unsuspecting prey. Spring and fall provide the most consistent action as fish move shallow to feed aggressively, but summer and winter patterns keep things interesting year-round. The largemouths here fight with typical lake-strain intensity, making powerful runs and testing your drag settings. Spotted bass add a different dimension to the bass fishing, typically running smaller but making up for size with pure attitude. These scrappy fighters love current areas and rocky structure, often schooling in groups that can provide fast action once you locate them. Spots hit hard and fight dirty, making multiple jumps and giving you every ounce of energy they possess. Crappie fishing reaches legendary status on these waters during spring spawning periods when fish stack up in shallow cover. These slab-sided fighters provide excellent table fare and technical fishing that rewards finesse and patience. Even outside the spawn, crappie relate to brush piles and deeper structure where patient presentations can fill your cooler. Striped bass bring the power game to these waters, with fish commonly reaching 15-20 pounds and providing tackle-testing battles in open water. These silver bullets make blistering runs and sustained fights that will have you questioning your equipment choices. Blue catfish represent the heavyweight division, with mature fish exceeding 30 pounds lurking in the deeper holes and channel structures. These bottom dwellers provide arm-burning fights and reward anglers willing to fish heavy tackle and fresh baits.
Captain Dexter McCaslin's full-day charter represents exceptional value for anglers serious about experiencing world-class freshwater fishing in North Carolina. The combination of two productive lake systems, extended time on the water, professional equipment, and expert guidance creates the perfect recipe for a memorable day. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, target specific species, or simply enjoy a day of quality fishing away from crowded public access points, this charter delivers on all fronts. The personalized attention you'll receive with single-angler capacity means every moment is tailored to your interests and skill level. Book your date now and discover why Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss continue to build reputations as must-fish destinations for serious freshwater anglers throughout the Southeast.
Our 22-foot Sea Pro center console delivers serious fishing performance on Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss. This 2007 boat packs a 200HP Mercury engine that'll get you to the hot spots fast, hitting 39 knots when we need to cover water quickly. The center console design gives you 360-degree fishing access and plenty of room to work your catch. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when we're stalking those finicky crappie and spotted bass in shallow cover. Our GPS and fish finder combo helps locate structure and schools, especially when we're hunting hybrid bass in deeper water. The onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and bait fresh during those long summer days chasing blue catfish. Built for stability and comfort, this Sea Pro handles the wind chop that can kick up on these river-fed lakes. Whether we're bottom fishing for cats or trolling for hybrids, the boat's layout gives everyone space to fish without tangling lines. Captain Dexter knows these waters inside and out, and this boat gets him to his favorite producing spots across both lakes efficiently.
Ictalurus FurcatusBlue catfish are the giants of our lakes, averaging 2-10 pounds but capable of reaching 20+ pounds. They have that slate-blue coloring and deeply forked tail, with 30-36 anal fin rays if you're trying to tell them apart from channels. These opportunistic feeders hang in deep holes, creek channels, and around structure in 15-40 feet of water. They're active year-round but really turn on during warmer months when they move shallow to feed. What draws folks to blue cats is the potential for a true trophy - they're the largest catfish species we have. They fight hard with powerful runs and make excellent eating with firm, mild meat. The key here is fresh cut bait - herring, shad, or even chicken liver. Let it sit on the bottom in a deep channel and be patient. Blue cats will find it with those sensitive barbels, and when they do, you'll know it.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are the perfect family fish - both black and white varieties running 8-12 inches and averaging half a pound to a pound. Black crappie prefer the clearer water while whites handle murkier areas just fine. Look for them around submerged timber, brush piles, and creek channels in 8-20 feet. They school up tight and stay near cover during the day, becoming more active at dawn and dusk. Spring spawning season is prime time when water hits 62-68 degrees. What makes crappie special is they're easy to catch once you locate a school, making them great for kids and beginners. Plus, they're hands down the best eating fish we target - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. My go-to trick here is using a small jig under a bobber around fallen trees. When crappie are biting, you can often catch a cooler full from one good brush pile.
Micropterus SalmoidesLargemouth bass are the main attraction on these lakes, running 12-24 inches and averaging 1-4 pounds. You'll find them around submerged structure, fallen trees, and weed lines in 5-15 feet of water. They love those olive-green bodies with dark horizontal stripes and that massive mouth that extends past their eyes. Spring through fall are prime times, especially early morning and late evening when they're actively feeding. What makes them special is that explosive strike and the aerial show they put on when hooked - they'll jump and shake trying to throw your lure. The meat's decent eating too, with firm white fillets. On these river-fed lakes, I always tell folks to throw something with red in it - could be a red crankbait or plastic worm with red flakes. For some reason, bass here can't resist that red accent.
Micropterus PunctulatusSpotted bass are the scrappy cousins of largemouth, typically running 12-18 inches and up to 3 pounds. Unlike largemouth, these guys have rows of dark spots along their bellies and smaller mouths that don't extend past their eyes. They love rocky bottoms and clear water with good current flow - perfect for our river-fed lakes. You'll find them schooling around structure in 10-25 feet, especially near points and drop-offs. They're active spring through fall, with cooler water bringing better action. What guests love is the fight - they dive deep and pull hard like a smallmouth rather than jumping. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Here's a local trick: when you find one spotted bass, keep fishing that exact spot. They school tight, and where there's one, there's usually a dozen more waiting.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass in our lakes are typically landlocked fish running 15-25 inches and 3-8 pounds, with those distinctive dark horizontal stripes. They're open water cruisers that follow schools of shad, so we often find them suspended over deeper channels or chasing bait to the surface. They prefer cooler water and stay deeper during summer heat, making early morning and evening the best times. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action when water temps are in that 55-68 degree sweet spot. Guests love the strong, steady fight they put up - no jumping, just pure muscle pulling drag. They're also excellent eating with firm, white meat similar to their saltwater cousins. Here on these lakes, I watch for birds working the surface - that usually means stripers are pushing shad up from below. When you see that commotion, get a spoon or swimbait in there fast.
Denver, NC