Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! Great Fishing 1-1-12

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What a difference a few many years make. It wasn’t that extended in the past when a fishing excursion on Lake Norman was just that – a fishing excursion. Catching fish was yet another point. It was so bad that savvy anglers selected to go to Lake Wylie, High Rock and Lake Murray exactly where the fish have been bigger and more plentiful. In truth, disgruntled anglers nicknamed Lake Norman “The Lifeless Sea”.

At the flip of the century, Lake Norman’s fishing fortunes turned far better with the introduction of noticed bass, a member of the black bass loved ones. They tailored swiftly to Norman’s deep-water habitat and just before anyone understood it, there was resurgence in bass fishing. The once Dead Sea quick became a Mecca for tournament bass anglers who appreciate matching wits with the feisty spotted bass.

How white perch arrived to the lake is a mystery, but like the noticed bass, they have become so plentiful that they are straightforward to catch in big numbers. White perch feed on the very same baitfish colleges as noticed bass, so far more times than not, when you track down a single, the other will be feeding in the exact same place. The introduction of spotted bass and white perch, mixed with a recovering crappie population, has arrive a lengthy way towards sharpening Norman’s as soon as tarnished fishing picture.

To make issues even better, anglers in October 2011 began catching 8 to 10 inch hybrid striped bass. The hybrid grows quickly and exceeds ten kilos in body weight in some area lakes. This deep- h2o fish is the perfect match for Lake Norman’s very very hot summer time drinking water temperatures and very low amounts of dissolved oxygen. Hybrids are known for their tackle busting tenacity, and increase rapidly to the minimum creel measurement restrict of sixteen inches.

Herring, a forage fish, ended up planted to health supplement the lake’s fragile threadfin shad population. It was at first thought that herring would be just what the mismanaged striped bass fishery needed. But, as an alternative, they are delivering fodder for the rapidly growing population of noticed bass, white perch and hybrids.

If you haven’t fished Lake Norman in a while, give it a test. You will most likely catch a whole lot far more fish than the very last time.

Suggestions from Capt. Gus: January is a fantastic thirty day period to take advantage of closeout specials on rods, reels, GPS and fish finder models. Check the internet, catalogs, newspaper inserts and nearby tackle retailers for the best deals.

Approaching Activities:
Totally free SEMINAR – “How to Securely Navigate Lake Norman Employing Sonar and GPS” Be a part of me on Wednesday, January eleven, 2012 at six:30 p.m. at North Position Watersports, 112 Doolie Road, Mooresville, NC and find out the “Basics of Sonar and GPS.” Carry your questions and instruction booklets to this instructive ninety moment boating safety session. Contact 704-799-1994 for much more details

Cost-free SEMINAR – “Use Your Lowrance or Humminbird Fish Finder to Catch Bass, White Perch and Stripers” Jake Bussolini, Invoice Hassig and I will carry out this all new fish finder seminar on Wednesday, January eighteen, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC. Bring your questions and instruction booklets to this ninety-moment seminar. For further details, get in touch with 704 658 0822.

Sizzling Spots of the Week: For anglers challenging sufficient to weather conditions the chilly, bass, white perch, crappie and occasional stripers can be caught. Noticed bass are in main creeks, some along the banks, but the large colleges are feeding in the deeper areas of coves and alongside the edges of river and creek channels. Colder drinking water temperatures have also pushed crappie and white perch to deeper drinking water. Look for them at the 30 to forty-5 foot mark. Best bets for noticed bass are the coves and finger channels that feed into McCrary and Reed Creeks.

Lake Norman water temperatures are in the fifties and the lake stage is about two.0′ below entire pond. Mountain Island Lake is about 3.0’ underneath complete pond.

Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is a member of the Southeastern Out of doors Press Affiliation and a total time Professional Fishing Information on Lake Norman, NC. Go to his site, at www.fishingwithgus.com or call 704617-6812. For further info, email him at Gus@Gus@lakenorman.com.