Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! Ways to Spend the Holidays December 25, 2011

Picture Courtesy of Capt. Gus

Lake Norman Sunrise

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Techniques to Spend the Holidays
December twenty five, 2011

The week in between Xmas and New A long time is a wonderful time to catch bass, crappie, white perch and a striper or two. In fact, it’s the busiest week of the winter season fishing year. Lake entry parking lots fill swiftly with trucks and boat trailers, and the better fishing holes will see a lot of holiday anglers. December’s weather conditions may differ from 12 months to yr with the timing of passing climate techniques, but usually there are several good days to be on the drinking water. Get an early start if you’re preparing a excursion.

For boat proprietors who are living on the lake, it’s effortless to untie the boat and hurry off in research of fish. But, every person is not so fortunate. Some anglers should connect the boat to a trailer and tow it to the lake for launching. Even now other people fish from the shore, a pier, a rental boat, or uncover a friend or guidebook to get them.

For non-boat proprietors, manifeste access to shoreline fishing is permitted in some places. At the Lake Norman State Park near Troutman, NC (704-528-6350), shoreline fishing is permitted on the modest landlocked body of water identified as Park Lake and at the fishing pier adjacent to the swimming location. Anticipate to catch bass, bream, catfish and crappie from the small lake, and don’t be stunned if a striped bass tugs on your line at the pier. A freshwater fishing license is needed when lender fishing. Licenses can be obtained at regional tackle outlets or on line 24/seven at www.NCwildlife.com.

Financial institution fishing is also permitted for the duration of certain times at the McGuire Nuclear Station off Freeway 73 near Huntersville, NC and at the Marshall Steam Station off Highway a hundred and fifty in Terrell, NC. Bass, catfish, perch and stripers can be caught during the winter months. Bottom fishing with cut bait, minnows and worms, notably blood worms, is fairly effective at each locations.

Most main marinas stay open throughout the vacations and have pontoon boat rentals. Since the quantity of boats is restricted, never wait right up until the last minute to reserve yours. Pontoons make outstanding fishing platforms and can accommodate significant teams for both fishing or cruising.

For the adventurous, a trout fishing excursion in the Smoky Mountains may be the way to enjoy a day or two. A well-known spot with family groups is Cherokee, NC, wherever the Oconaluftee River and its tributaries are stocked with 400,000 trout each year. Visit www.cherokeesmokies.com for more information.

A enjoyable way to get rid of a handful of hours on a chilly day closer to house is to go to the big freshwater aquarium at the Bass Professional Shops in the Concord Mills Mall. This living display attributes a one hundred-plus pound catfish, alongside with big bass, crappie, stripers and other fish native to place lakes. Everyone enjoys the fish feeding presentations executed at six:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 12:00 noon on Thursday, and 2:30 p.m. each and every Saturday.

Guidelines from Gus: It really is a excellent idea to stretch new line after loading it on to the reel. An effortless way to do this is to remove any terminal tackle, permit out seventy five to150 ft of line driving a sluggish moving boat and drag it for a number of minutes. The water pressure will take away all memory from the monofilament line and reduce the chances of tangling whilst casting.

Upcoming Gatherings:
Free SEMINAR – “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman Making use of Sonar and GPS.” Sign up for me on Wednesday, January eleven, 2012 at six:thirty p.m. at North Stage Watersports, 112 Doolie Highway, Mooresville, NC and learn the “Basics of Sonar and GPS.” Convey your concerns and instruction books to this insightful ninety minute boating protection session. Contact 704-799-1994 for a lot more info.

Ideas from Capt. Gus: The week among Christmas and New Year’s is a excellent time to get your kids fishing, even if it’s only for an hour or two.

Scorching Spots of the Week: Fishing for white perch and noticed bass has been excellent. Fish the river channel and deep-drinking water creeks in and about the Lake Norman State Park and Mountain Creek to the south. Striper fishing is spotty, but anglers proceed to report catches of modest hybrid striped bass in creek runs on either aspect of the Highway one hundred fifty Bridge. Crappie fishing is the very best it has been in a long time. Very best baits to use are crappie minnows fished around sunken brush piles in twenty 5 to thirty five ft of drinking water.

Lake Norman is about 2.0′ from full pond and Mountain Island Lake is down two.7’. The drinking water floor temperature is in the fifties.

Captain Gus Gustafson, certified by the US Coast Guard, is a member of the Southeastern Out of doors Press Affiliation and a Professional Activity Fishing Information on Lake Norman, NC. Go to his internet site at www.FishingWithGus.com , e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com or phone 704-617-6812.