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Spring brings better chances to catch trophy fish
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Published: March 19, 2009
Lake Norman bass, stripers, cats and pan fish all have one thing in common. When the water begins to warm each spring, they get hungry! Hungry fish are easy to catch, especially while nesting and rearing their young in the shallows. Norman is well-known for harboring trophy fish. In fact, state records have been broken in the past few years for spotted bass and blue channel catfish. The record blue weighed 85 pounds and the big spot tipped the scales at over six pounds.
Fish can be caught from the bank in shallow water or by casting from a boat. Docks and coves with fallen trees are good places to begin. Lively minnows or wiggly worms could even mean a new state record. Lifelike artificial lures — like bucktails, jigging spoons or plastic worms, also take their fair share of lunkers.
Spring is a prime time to catch striped, largemouth and spotted bass that cruise creek ends and coves in search of forage fish. Stripers can grow to enormous proportions. Reports of fish up to forty pounds are not uncommon. The average striper, however, weighs four to five pounds and is about twenty inches long. Bass, although smaller than stripers, are hearty fighters, known for their wild jumps.
Warm weather also brings white perch, bream and catfish. Some catfish (over fifty pounds), locate near deep drop offs and are easy targets for anglers with heavy tackle.
For family fishing fun, buy a carton of worms for perch and bream. Lake Norman pinfish are small, but they are quite a battle. Light spinning outfits and small hooks are all one needs to catch these hard tugging little fish.
Bank and pier fishing are allowed at designated areas at the Lake Norman State Park and at both power stations. Rental boats are available at many marinas on the lake. If you use your own boat, access ramps are located in each of the four counties that border Lake Norman's 520 miles of shoreline.
Tips From Capt. Gus:
Terns and gulls return to the coast in April, which makes it more difficult to locate surface feeding fish. However, ospreys, blue herons, kingfish, crows and loons also herald the presence of fish. Fish areas where birds are stalking, hovering or diving.
Upcoming Events:
- A two-hour class offered by Lighthouse Marine Services on "How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman" will be conducted at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 at 6:30 p.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 at night. Other topics will include navigation and shoal markers, boat ramps, marinas, restaurants and other points of interest. The registration fee for this class is $25. To register, call 704-587-0325 or e-mail uscgc17@bellsouth.org.
- On Saturday, March 21, Light House Marine Services will offer a Boater Safety and PWC Class. Registration fee is $49 for the eight-hour session beginning at 9 a.m. The class will be at North Point Watersports, 112 Doolie Road, Mooresville. To register, or for more information, call Capt. Scott Spivey – 704-587-0325 or visit www.Lmservice.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. The two-hour session will be conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum and myself. For additional information, call 704-658-0822.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Bass are hitting lures in water less than 10 feet deep. Best results are on banks with a southern exposure to the sun and around docks and boat ramps. Crappie have moved to shallow brush piles and are biting Malibu jigs and small minnows. Stripers prefer live baits, and are biting on points early and late.
The lake level is 97.2 or 2.8' below full pond. Surface water temperature is in the high 40s and low 50s.
Capt. Gus Gustafson is licensed by the US Coast Guard and a Professional Sport Fishing Guide on Lake Norman. Visit his Web site www.FishingWithGus.com, e-mail him at
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