Lake Lure Fishery Update - One Year Post Hurricane Helene

HELENE came as a thief in the night with no regard for life or property. Those of you that have lived in this Western North Carolina paradise still cannot believe the raw destruction.

Our fishery has suffered recoverable damage especially to habitat and general fish health. However, because the town has a high level of concern for the fishery, and lake health, recovery will be a priority.

Town supported fishery studies began in 2007, another in 2011, and 2018, with the last in 2023. The base study completed in 2007 created a strategy of building our Black Bass population for long term benefits.

Two goals were created, create new habitat and add Threadfin Shad. The best habitat consists of "woody material" such as Christmas trees. Pine and cedar trees are deposited in ten to twelve feet of water away from traffic areas. Good habitat affords growth zones for plankton and other organisms for fodder and protection for fry. Next, Threadfin Shad have been added to support additional food supply. Threadfin do very well in the lake and reproduce several times per year. 

What is the condition of our current Black Bass population? Black Bass caught in July of this year lacked good color and some appeared needing a good meal. 

Once the lake begins to fill and approach "full pond" we will add Threadfin and start adding habitat.

Christmas trees this year are more important than ever. Please save your "real trees" for the fishery. Donation sites will be detailed on the Town's Web page soon.

Gary Hasenfus

Lake Advisory Board