I usually fish from Hickory toward War Eagle and do ok. Maybe 10 pounds ish but I am with you. I can never even think about 20 pounds.
I went out Sunday and that water looked too dirty to me so I went and fished from 12 bridge back down and I could only buy one fish. I was fishing the jerk bait too much and I knew it. I am sure the jig would have caught me some but I was focused to much on the jerk bait.