Email
Print
Decoding the language of anglers
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: September 3, 2009
Fishermen are sometimes known to speak in tongues of their own. They often say things to keep others off track about where the fish are biting, how they are being caught, and then brag about the one that got away. They might want you to think they know everything, but don't want you to know more than they do.
So, when you ask where the fish are being caught, expect answers similar to these:
• "Above the bridge." and/or "Below the bridge."
• "You know … that spot we fished a long time ago, remember?"
• "I fished with a buddy, but he told me not to tell anyone where we caught them."
• "I couldn't find that place again if I tried."
• "The last time I told someone where the fish were, he told everybody. I'm not telling anybody this time."
• "Up the river." and/or "Down the river."
• "Don't ask me. It was dark."
• "I can't tell you, but the spot was only big enough for one boat."
• "When I tried to find the spot again, I couldn't."
It is surprising how many words are spoken about "the one that got away." It seems that the fleeting moments between the time the fish is first seen and when it gets off the line are talked about forever.
Following are some of the most mentioned scenarios:
• "I caught a big one, but it got off."
• "I had him, but the line broke."
• "The net was too small."
• "I would have caught it if it hadn't pulled so hard."
• "The hook fell out of its mouth at the very last minute."
• "I caught three, if you count the one that got away."
How about when the fish aren't biting? That's when you hear lots of reasons and excuses. One of the simplest, yet most profound, explanations comes from Yogi Berra, the great New York Yankee baseball catcher. Once on a fishing trip, he said, "When they're not biting, you can't make them stop."
That explains it, doesn't it?
There are plenty of other reasons or excuses, depending on your point of view. Below are a few.
• "The only thing they are hitting is a certain kind of minnow, but the bait shop can't get them anymore."
• "They were biting yesterday. Maybe we caught them all."
• "The moon is too full" and/or "The moon is not full enough."
• "It is too hot (too cold, too windy, too calm, too bright, too dark, too wet, or too dry)."
• "The tide is high" and/or "The tide is low."
• "The water is muddy." and/or "The water is too clear."
• "There is a jinx on board."
• "They must be biting at night. They have to eat sometime."
• "It's a shame that I lost my favorite lure. It was the only one I had that caught fish."
• "They never bite when I go fishing."
Tips from Capt. Gus!
Forget the solunar and tide tables. The best time to fish is on any day that ends with a "Y."
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, Sept. 3, 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. Capt. Scott Spivey and I will discuss how to safely navigate Lake Norman's main channel, creek arms, danger spots and back coves during daylight and at night. Other topics will include understanding navigation and shoal markers, boat ramps, marinas, restaurants and points of interest on the lake. The registration fee for this class is $25. To register, call 704-587-0325.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Summer fishing for catfish, perch and stripers continues to be very good. As in past weeks, the best fishing is early and late, at the lower end the lake. Stripers are being caught on lures pulled to depths of 60 feet. Live bait and jigging spoons are also effective in schools of fish. Lots of perch caught on Sabiki rigs are in water twenty to forty feet and catfish are biting both cut and prepared baits.
Lake Norman's water temperature is in the high eighties and low 90s. The water level is about 3.3' below full pond.
This week's fishing forecast: Partly cloudy with a boat load of fish.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
