Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! Deep Water Fishing 2-19-12 lake Norman

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Picture Courtesy of Capt. Gus

Capt. Gus shown with a large amberjack caught on latest S. Florida fishing journey.

Deep water fishing has been fairly effective this calendar year, notably given that that’s in which bait fish invest the winter months getting ravished by schools of predator bass, white perch and stripers.

With advancements in sonar (fish finders), GPS engineering and the ever before presence of reduced flying seabirds, it’s easier than actually to find feeding fish. Savvy anglers not only view for seabirds that fly lower to the h2o, but spend specific consideration to those diving and snatching baitfish from the surface area. When that occurs, anglers must slow to idle pace to look at the fish finder screen and seem for proof of predator fish below the boat. When located, it’s customary to cast, troll or jig baits via feeding schools.

The most active fish are suspending thirty to fifty ft underneath the surface area. The feeding depth changes speedily, as baitfish switch training course in a futile attempt to escape becoming eaten. The particular person maneuvering the boat really should observe for this exercise on the fish finder. As the fish change depths, reposition lures a handful of feet above the fray.

Chilly water, although invigorating to individuals, slows the rate of metabolism of fish. Bass and perch do not feed as regularly or transfer as quickly, so it’s best to gradual the lure presentation to a crawl. Artificial lure retrieval should be sluggish with a slight stop-and-go motion, although suspended reside minnows must be permitted to keep in place for an prolonged interval of time.

Effective anglers current synthetic lures in a lifelike way at depths to fifty ft – the purpose buck tails, jigging spoons, Sabiki rigs and tiny baitfish are so common for vertical fishing. People who troll are using down riggers or direct-core line to get the lures down to the degree of deep swimming fish. The greatest trolling baits are buck tails, swim-baits and roadrunners. Scaled-down lures are inclined to tempt noticed bass and perch, although larger variations are most likely to lure stripers. Individuals trolling, uncover the Alabama rig to be really effective when pulled by way of faculties of feeding noticed bass and stripers.

Significant colleges of hungry fish not only entice seabirds, but plenty of fishermen. When you see a team of boats fishing in shut proximity to 1 an additional, give them a vast berth when passing, or much better yet, slow to no wake velocity. If you’re preparing to fish the very same region, function your way into the fishing grounds at idle pace and start by fishing the outer perimeter. If trolling motors are getting used, do also to steer clear of spooking the fish getting caught.

Guidelines from Capt. Gus: The Alabama, Umbrella, Sabiki and other tandem lure rigs are producing strikes from some rather significant bass and stripers. Why big fish like multi lure rigs is anybody’s guess, but some surmise that big fish would fairly gulp a mouthful of baitfish at one time, than snack on a number of tidbits.

Very hot Spot of the Week: Boats that fish beneath diving birds are catching plenty of spotted bass, white perch and stripers. These who have the skills and time to fish all day can catch hundreds of them. Finest bets are Reed, Mountain and Stumpy Creeks, as well as, any place alongside the outdated river channel exactly where birds are hitting the surface area. Crappie are getting small minnows fished all around deep h2o attractors and bridge pilings. Cat fish like drifting cut baits.

The surface drinking water temperature differs by spot, but is mostly in the forties and very low fifties in open up waters not afflicted by electrical power generation. The lake degree is about four.3′ below full pond on Lake Norman and three.0′ under entire on Mountain Island Lake.

Capt. Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an Outside Columnist and a total time Skilled Fishing Guidebook on Lake Norman, NC. Pay a visit to his world wide web site, www.Fishingwithgus.com or phone 704-617-6812. For added information, e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com.