The Marshall Steam Station fishing area at Lake Norman is popular with local anglers due to its easy shore access and the fish that roam the hothole channel waters created by the power plant. Striped bass, largemouth and spotted bass, and many species of catfish frequent the canal fishing area, which is inaccessible by boat.
The fishing area is located off Highway 150 at the Marshall Steam Station power plant and maintained by Duke Power. It is free to the public and has a large parking lot with a porta-john, graveled walkways, and lighting at night. Unlike the other popular Lake Norman shore fishing access hothole at the McGuire Nuclear Plant, the Marshall area stays open all night.
North Carolina fishing regulations are in effect at all of the Lake Norman shore fishing areas, as well as some specific lake rules. One rule specific to Lake Norman is the size and creel limit for striped bass, which is currently 4 striped bass per day with a 16-inch size limit during winter and spring months.
Striped bass are a very popular fish at the Lake Norman shore fishing areas. The stripers are stocked into the lake by the state. Anglers fish on the bottom for stripers using cut bait, live minnows or bream, earthworms or bloodworms.
Bloodworms are very a very popular bait but are costly, as local tackle shops sell them for between $10 and $13. Some anglers have success using use Fishbites artificial bloodworms.
Marshall Steam Station anglers also use a wide variety of lures to catch striped bass. When striper fishing from shore many fisherman like to toss fluke-style grubs on lead jig heads. Pearl white is a popular color.
Many shore fishermen trying to catch striped bass toss top water plugs, as well as twitchbaits, crankbaits and buzzbaits. Bucktail lures and spoons are also popular. Casters can reach the opposite shore of the canal area at certain spot along the hothole.
Cut bait and live bream on the bottom are great for catfish, especially at night. Lake Norman has many channel and flathead catfish, but the most popular targets are often the big blue catfish which can be very active during the winter at the Marshall hothole. In addition to cut or live fish catfish anglers use scent baits as well as chicken parts, mussels, shrimp, and worms.
Largemouth and spotted bass are also active around the hothole area. Spotted bass are aggressive and a shore fishing favorite. Crappie can be caught on little jigs and live minnows, and there are white perch and bream that hit any small lure or natural bait.
There are large carp that frequent the canal and often make huge splashes when jumping out the water. Anglers occasionally catch the carp, which can be very large. There are also plenty of gar in the water though they are rarely landed.
At some times of the year there are many shad in the Marshall hothole and they are occasionally brought to shore by cast net or snagging. They often jump out of the water alerting anglers to their presence. Cut shad is a terrific bait for big stripers and catfish.
A wide variety of fishing gear and tackle is seen at the Marshall Steam Station hothole, but anglers wanting to fish the bottom should be aware that the water level rises and falls significantly and the strong current often requires sinkers of 2 or 3 ounces to hold bottom.
For more Carolina fishing info see my blog A Dash of Salty
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