Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
The Catfish Hunters
September eighteen, 2011

Local author, Jake Bussolini and Lake Norman Catfish Guidebook, Mac Byrum are co-authoring a e-book entitled “Catfish Hunters” which will be printed this winter season. Even though equally gentlemen are achieved anglers, they felt that value could be extra to their writings if they incorporated the expertise of other educated anglers and fishing guides. Collectively, they decided the ideal way to find out from the specialists would be to fish with them. So, as “Gadabout Gaddis from The Flying Fisherman,” a tv pioneer fishing host did back again in the 1960’s, Jake and Mac flew from lake to lake to do study for their book. Their quest for information took them to catfish holes in North and South Carolina, Virginia and as far west as the Red River of the North, which flows by way of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. This river is not to be confused with the Red River, a tributary of the Mississippi River that varieties component of the border amongst Texas and Oklahoma.

Every person will agree that flying two,four hundred miles in a light aircraft is a long way to go to catch channel catfish. But, the two men attest that the journey, combined with the studying experience, was properly value the time and energy. Jake’s best Red River channel cat tipped the scales at 21.eight pounds and Mac’s largest was not far powering at twenty.4 pounds. Equally fish had been massive for their species, taking into consideration that Jake’s trophy was just shy of the North Carolina state file of 23.four kilos.

Throughout their two days on the river they ended up professionally guided by Brad Durick, a focused angler and skilled of the Red River of the North. A total of forty 3 channel cats ended up landed, the bulk weighing amongst 10 and fourteen lbs.. What made the trip so special, and has each anglers nonetheless conversing, was the kind of bait they utilised. It was not the sucker fish or the golden eyes, (a forage fish), but frogs. Indeed, frogs. A Leopard Frog which is a little amphibian that’s a favored specimen for laboratory studies. It looks that this frog likes the rapidly relocating water of the Red River of the North and thrives on May possibly Flies and other insects. The fact that Leopard Frogs do not create a distasteful secretion, as some do, make them a tasty morsel for massive channel cats and other river predators.

Jake and Mac also chronicled their catfish fishing research from journeys to Santee Cooper, Lake Murray, Monticello, Wylie and Wateree in South Carolina, the James River in Virginia, as properly as, our very own Lake Norman in the e-book. Although some trips saw greater fishing, like the fifty-6 and a half pound blue cat taken by Mac on the James River, none were as intriguing as the North Dakota junket. The two writers are seeking forward to sharing their cat fishing encounters with you when the “Catfish Hunters” comes off the press this winter season.

Upcoming Activities:

Cost-free Fishing Seminar: “Frequently Questioned Concerns about Lake Norman Fishing” – Jake Bussolini and I will reply your fishing concerns on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, in Mooresville, NC. This session will be of great interest to people new to lake fishing and interested in catching bass, cats, crappie, perch and stripers. Bring your queries to this useful seminar. For added information, contact 704 658 0822.

The Lake Norman Sail &amp Electricity Squadron will conduct Boater Security Teaching on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. at the Duke Vitality Environmental Center, Huntersville. The value is $ forty five.00. Pre-registration is required. For further details, go to: www.usps.org/lakenorman or contact Bob Yannacci at 704 660 5568.

Tips from Gus! To drift fish for cat fish, merely drift in the present and drag the bait together the bottom. This strategy performs nicely and a whole lot of water can be covered in a day’s fishing.

Scorching Spots of the Week: Catch spotted bass on buzz baits early and late off rip-rap and natural rock details. Schoolie bass are on the surface of shallow river details and in excess of underwater humps on windless days. Greatest bets are Reed Creek at the south stop and around the Islands in the river channel around the State Park. Those targeting white perch are obtaining big colleges suspended in water to fifty ft deep. Ideal spots to fish are deep river and secondary points and in and around deep brush. Striper fishing is spotty.

The surface water temperature varies by place, but is primarily in the reduced eighties in open waters not affected by electricity generation. The drinking water stage is about 5. ‘ below entire pond on Lake Norman and two.8’ under total on Mountain Island Lake

Capt. Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an Outside Columnist and a entire time Specialist Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his world wide web web site, www.FishingWithGus.com or get in touch with 704-617-6812.