Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! February Lake Norman Fishing Outlook February 6, 2011-1.jpg

Photo Courtesy of Capt. Gus

Jack Spaleta of Charlotte, NC holding a striped bass caught on a cool January Lake Norman Fishing trip.



Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
February Lake Norman Fishing Outlook
February 6, 2011



If the weather and water temperatures stay cold, the warm water discharges at the Marshall and McGuire power plants will be in play during early February. Large schools of spotted bass will concentrate in Ramsey Creek at the lower end of Lake Norman. Temperatures there can be ten degrees higher than the creek runs farther from the nuclear plant. Likewise, the waters from the Highway 150 Bridge, south to channel marker 13, will benefit from the warming effects of the Marshall power plant. Anglers casting to boat docks will catch larger bass, but those who fish deep water will catch more. Big schools of 12" to 15" spotted bass will gather along the edges, ledges and drop offs and on the deep points in Ramsey and McCrary Creeks.



The striper fishery is still recuperating from the 2010 fish kill that reduced the lake population by an estimated 16,000 to 30,000 adult fish. Regardless, there are still plenty of stripers to be caught, and February is a prime month to catch them. Good locations to fish are the deeper parts of major creeks, including Reed, Mountain and Stumpy were stripers have been caught throughout the winter months. Stripers will stay in these cold water haunts as long as the water temperatures remain in the forties and the baitfish do not wander. Good results can be achieved by anglers who drift or slow troll live baits, vertical jig spoons or pull umbrella rigs.



A growing number of anglers cruise the lake, while keeping one eye on the fish finder screen and the other toward the sky. Low flying terns and gulls will indicate the presence of feeding fish and the arches on the fish finder will indicate the depth they are feeding. Not only do stripers feast on the baitfish below, but spotted bass, white perch and flathead catfish often enjoy the free meal as well. Best baits are 3/8 oz. to ˝ oz. Bucktails, Roadrunners and Little Fishie’s for casting and ˝ oz. to 1 oz. spoons when vertical jigging.



Crappies are the first fish to move toward the shallows each spring, and that migration begins in February. Man-made brush piles in water depths to twenty feet are good places to catch them early in the month. In cold water, a small jig, tipped with a crappie minnow, will usually see more action than plain plastic and Malibu skirted jigs. Mountain and Beaver Dam Creeks are known for a brush pile rich habitat. Most are submerged Christmas trees.



Those who fish from their own boat docks can expect to catch a variety of fish, particularly with worms and minnows suspended a few feet below a bobber. Chumming around docks with dog food or fish pellets will attract fish from nearby docks and brush piles.

February weather is usually quite chilly, so dress as if you are going duck hunting or snow skiing. Insulated outerwear, boots, gloves and a toboggan will be needed on most February mornings.
Upcoming events: Free Fishing Seminar - “Bank and Dock Fishing for Sunfish, White Perch, Catfish and Carp” will be discussed at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Bring the entire family to this event. I will cover everything from fishing with cane poles, hooks and bobbers, to using live and cut baits. Suggestions will be given about the best places to fish from shore. Contact 704-658-0822 for additional information.

Boater Safety Class -:The Lake Norman Sail & Power Squadron's next Boater Safety Class will be on Sat. Feb. 26 at the Duke Energy Environmental Center, Huntersville, NC beginning at 8 am the cost is $45. Registered at: www.usps.org/lakenorman or by calling Bob Yannacci at 704 660 5568 for more information.




Tip from Capt Gus: When casting or jigging under seabirds, it is best to drift or maneuver the boat with an electric motor. Otherwise, bait and predator fish will become spooked and stop feeding.



The Hot Spot of the Week: White perch, bass and stripers are suspended in the deep water at the mouth of Hagars, Mountain and Reed Creeks. Spotted bass are active around boat docks and deep brush at the eastern end of Ramsey Creek. Those using bloodworms and mussels are catching a mixed bag of bream, bass, perch, stripers and catfish at the Marshall Steam Plant hot water discharge channel.



The surface water temperature varies by location, but is mainly in the high thirties to mid-forties in open waters not affected by power generation. The lake level is 3.5' below full pond.



Capt. Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an outdoor columnist and a full time Professional Striper Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, www.Fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-6812. For additional information, e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com.