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A bad case of the fishing pox
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Published: March 12, 2009
In case you haven't heard, an epidemic is quickly spreading throughout the Lake Norman fishing community. It's not the dreaded Asian or Bird Flu, it doesn't affect the well being of fish and is not life threatening, but it does take its toll on humans. The disease is known as the Fishing Pox.
It usually targets male adults with a high propensity to spend their leisure time fishing. Fishing Pox spreads rapidly when weather conditions are extremely cold, winds are blustery, and when periods of rain, sleet or snow are persistent. The more time a person spends indoors, the more likely the chance of contracting the disease.
Fishing Pox symptoms might not be obvious at first, but it doesn't take a doctor to confirm the illness.
Symptoms include a severe itch in the palm of the victim's casting hand and hallucinations of leaping bass. Large sums of money are wasted on bogus remedies that do not cure the problem. To rid the disease, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on new fishing tackle, marine electronics, and numerous useless gadgets, all for naught. In more advanced stages, the Fishing Pox will cause the unwary to purchase luxury bass boats and ten-day trips to far off fishing destinations.
Little, if any, medical research is available. Random questioning of affected anglers suggests that those who scour the pages of fishing catalogs, surf the internet for fishing web sites, and watch more than two fishing shows per week, are at high risk. The disease is contagious and spreads rapidly among attendees of fishing/boat shows, outdoor seminars, and unsuspecting shoppers in sporting goods stores.
Fishing Pox is not covered by group medical plans, Medicare or Medicaid. However, a quick and relatively inexpensive cure is to GO FISHING! The sooner you do, the sooner the disease will disappear. Bigger is better — catching a big fish seems to eliminate the disease almost immediately.
Upcoming Events:
A two hour class offered by Lighthouse Marine Services on "How to Navigate Lake Norman Safely" will be at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 at 6:30p.m., Thursday, March 19. Capt. Gus Gustafson will discuss how to safely navigate the main channel, creek arms, danger spots, and back coves during daylight and dark. Other topics for discussion will include navigation and shoal markers, boat ramps, marinas, restaurants and various points of interest. Registration fee for the class is $25.00. To register, call 704-587-0325 or email uscgc17@bellsouth.org.
A free seminar on "How to Catch Trophy Flathead Catfish while Fishing for White Perch" will be at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 26. This two-hour session will be conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum and myself. For additional information, call 704-658-0822.
Hot spots
The Hot Spot of the Week: Bank fishing at the McGuire hot hole has been excellent for stripers and bass. (Long casts are necessary to reach fish on the opposite bank.) Ramsey and McCrary Creeks are active with stripers when using live baits.
Tips from Gus!
The first throw with a cast net is usually the most important one. The quicker bait can be caught, the quicker you can begin fishing. If you use a cast net frequently, store it in a few inches of water. A wet net will cast easier and open wider.
Capt. Gus Gustafson is a Professional Sport Fishing Guide on Lake Norman. Visit his Web site at www.fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-6812.
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