Falls of the Neuse, not to be confused with Blewett Falls Lake on the lower Pee Dee River in Anson County, was completed in 1983.

Jordan and Falls experienced similar boom periods as big-bass fisheries, yielding numerous double-digit bass throughout the '80s before the fishing leveled off in the mid-'90s -- as is typical with reservoirs as they mature with age.

Cable and Olive fished both waters since they were created, while Dinterman, formerly of Pittsboro, wasn't far behind with over 14 years of experience as a guide at Falls and Jordan lakes.

The three guides thus have strong credentials for assessing April fishing at Falls and Jordan lakes. They generally agree that the best period for landing a trophy bass occurs from late March through early April just before the full moon, whatever the lake.

During that period, the biggest fish of the year migrate from deep water to the shallows in preparation for the spawn and hold in 1 to 8 feet of water on secondary points, rock banks or bush- or stump-laden points.

"The fish are on the move from March through April," Cable said. "They're looking for suitable spawning areas, and fishermen should be looking for them, too.

"Recognizing spawning areas comes with experience, though most are characterized by sand and pebble bottoms harboring stumps and bushes."

Cable and Olive said the bass start moving when the water temperature reaches 50 degrees, start staging with temperatures in the upper 50s, and begin spawning with water temperatures in the lower 60s. Weather changes can hasten or delay this progression.

Sometimes, subtle differences can be noted in different parts of the same body of water. For example, Olive said there are two spawns at Falls of the Neuse. In early April, bass spawn at the lower end of the lake; in late April, the bass spawn at the opposite end around the Ledge Rock area.

Dinterman said a warming trend of about four days is needed to trigger the fish to begin bedding.

"One year, the fish started bedding in February because of unusually warm weather," he said.

While our experts agree that February and March are the prime months for catching that fish of a lifetime, they also agree that the bites will be limited, though the few fish that strike will be quality fish.