Fishin’ With Capt. Gus! Hybrid Striped Bass – New Lake Norman Residents 12-18-20

Photo #one – Shut up of a Hybrid Striped Bass
Attachment 209959
Picture #2 – White perch (best) and Hybrid Striper Bass (bottom)
Pictures courtesy of Capt. Gus

Anglers have reported catches of little hybrid striped bass in Lake Norman because October. The hybrid, a cross in between a striped bass and a white bass, is being hooked by fishermen focusing on crappie, white perch and spotted bass utilizing small jigs, spoons and dwell crappie minnows The newest addition to Lake Norman’s developing fish population are way too modest to keep at this time, but will increase to seven kilos or far more at maturity.

How they obtained into Lake Norman is anybody’s guess. The important fact is that hybrid striped bass are living right here and are being caught. Generally named hybrids by location anglers, the NCWRC classifies them as Bodie Bass, named following Bodie McDowell, a retired Public Information Officer for the NCWRC.

Based on data offered by development charts, anglers can count on the fast developing hybrid to develop 11”- 15” in size by the spring of 2012, and achieve an additional 6” by the spring of 2013. A typical two yr previous hybrid in other lakes, weighs in between two and 3 pounds and fights with a lot more tenacity than a noticed bass.

The existence of hybrids in Lake Norman is not only a surprise to anglers, who did not assume stocking to begin till the spring of 2012, but to the NCWRC as effectively. When asked, Brain McRea of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission explained, “The hybrids in Lake Norman had been not stocked by the NCWRC. However, critical consideration is being offered to supplementing next year’s (2012) yearly striped bass stocking with a amount of hybrids.”

Hybrids are a well-known sport fish stocked in other impoundments in equally North and South Carolina. They journey and feed in schools, a lot the exact same way as their mothers and fathers, the white and striped bass. Known for their explosive strikes and tackle bursting capability anglers are thrilled about their introduction to Lake Norman. Although fishing techniques range by area, most are caught utilizing comparable tactics to individuals used to lure striped bass.

The actuality that studies of hybrids are becoming caught in various locations of Lake Norman, show that a wonderful several fish had been set in the lake at several areas. Based mostly on their dimension (8”-10”), they were most likely stocked previously this yr.

Be aware: Don’t confuse hybrids with white perch, because they are comparable in dimension, shade and shape. If it looks like a white perch but has damaged lateral lines, it is much more than likely a hybrid and ought to be produced if a lot less than 16” in duration.

Guidelines from Capt. Gus:

Lake Norman’s hybrid striped bass size restrict is 16” and the creel restrict is 4 fish (in mixture with striped bass) from October one – May possibly 31. For the duration of the summer time months, June 1 – Sept. thirty, there is no minimum measurement limit, but the creel restrict stays the exact same.

Very hot Spots of the Week:

Crappie fishing is exceptional for people fishing now. Crappie minnows are the baits of selection and fishing is best all around submerged brush. Noticed bass are almost everywhere. Large universities are feeding on suspended baitfish in most coves with twenty to forty feet of water. People casting the financial institutions are catching limits off points and docks adjacent to deep drinking water. White perch proceed to be the goal fish for family members looking for some thing simple to catch, clear and consume.

The lake amount on Lake Norman is about 1.7′ from complete pond and down 3.0′ on Mountain Island Lake. The water’s surface area temperature is in the fifties.

Captain Gus Gustafson, accredited by the US Coast Guard, is a member of the Southeastern Outside Press Association and a Professional Activity Fishing Information on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site at www.FishingWithGus.com , e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com or contact 704-617-6812.