Jig (Casting & Pitching) Fishing on Jordan Lake
Jordan Lake · North Carolina · Southeast
Jordan Lake sits in the piedmont of central North Carolina near Apex and Chapel Hill, impounded on the Haw and New Hope rivers in the late 1970s. The reservoir is characterized by submerged timber, shallow flats, and a network of flooded creek channels that create defined depth transitions between 5 and 30 feet. Water clarity runs stained to moderately clear depending on rainfall and season, and largemouth bass dominate the warmwater fishery alongside a notable striped bass population sustained by stocking programs.
A lead or tungsten head with a weed guard, skirt, and soft plastic trailer. Fished on the bottom by pitching, casting, or slow-rolling. The jig imitates crawfish and bottom-dwelling forage. More big bass have been caught on jigs than any other lure category — it's the lure that separates serious anglers.
Jig (Casting & Pitching) Setup for Jordan Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon (cover) or 50 lb braid (heavy grass) |
| Weight | 3/8 oz standard; 1/2–3/4 oz in wind or deep; 1/4 oz finesse |
| Hook | Built-in, typically 4/0–5/0 |
Seasonal Tactics on Jordan Lake
Lake: Largemouth push shallow in March and April, staging on main-lake points and flooded timber in the 4–8 ft range before moving to back-creek flats for the spawn. Squarebill crankbaits and Texas-rigged creature baits over submerged wood produce consistently as water temps climb through the 58–68°F window.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Pre-spawn is prime season — pitch brown/green pumpkin jig to 45° bank transitions and rocky points.
Lake: Fish retreat to creek channel ledges and deeper timber in the 18–25 ft zone once surface temps breach 80°F. Topwater action on schooling fish is reliable at first light near major creek mouths, particularly where stripers and largemouth push shad to the surface.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Football jig on offshore ledges 15–30 feet. Swimming jig around grass edges at dawn.
Lake: Shad migrations pull largemouth back shallow into the upper creek arms through October and into November. A swimbait or lipless crankbait worked parallel to timber lines in 6–12 ft is the most consistent pattern, with fish feeding aggressively ahead of the first hard cold fronts.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Swim a jig around baitfish schools near points and flats. Shad trailer colors in fall.
Lake: Bass concentrate on the main-lake points and deeper timber edges from December through February. Slow-rolling a blade bait or dragging a football jig through 20–28 ft of water over submerged wood produces when water temps dip into the 45–52°F range.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Slowest presentation — drag a 3/8 oz football jig on deep hard bottom. Barely move it.
Best Conditions
All seasons, all depths, all cover types; most effective in 50–70°F water; excellent in pre-spawn and when fish are on hard bottom
Match trailer to conditions: craw trailer in cold water (slower fall, bigger profile), swimbait trailer when swimming, chunk trailer for flipping.
More Techniques for Jordan Lake
Ready to fish Jordan Lake?
Ask Hank about current conditions, water temp, and exactly what to throw today.
Ask Hank →