Photo's courtesy of Capt. Gus
Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! The Lure(s) of Bass Fishing October 9, 2011-2.jpg
Photo #1 Tackle box with bass lures
Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! The Lure(s) of Bass Fishing October 9, 2011-1.jpg
Photo # 2 James Remsen, age 4, of Charlotte,NC holding a bass caught on his first fishing trip with dad, Craig.



Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
The Lure(s) of Bass Fishing
October 9, 2011



So many lures and so little time - a problem many bass fishermen have! With tens of thousands of bass lures to choose from, it’s no wonder that newcomers to the sport often find themselves in utter dismay. To eliminate confusion, consider lure size, color and depth.

Size: Small fish eat small baits. Big fish eat a variety of bait sizes. Understanding this is important, since there aren't that many large fish swimming in area lakes. So for more strikes, match the size of the lure to the size of the targeted fish. When fishing is slow, downsize lures.

Color: Most feeder fish are silver, worms and crayfish have a reddish-brown tint, and shoreline insects appear to be gray or black. So why not match the color of the lure to the color of the bait? If a color doesn't produce, switch to the old standbys of white, blue, green and chartreuse. Dark shades seem to work best in low light situations and in murky water, while lighter/brighter lures are better on sunny days and in clear water.



Depth: Three common lures are top water, swimming, and bottom bumping lures. Game fish usually feed near shore or in the upper portion of the water column. But there are occasions when they follow bait to deeper water. If the fish food of the day is a bottom dweller, such as crayfish or an aquatic insect, use a bottom bumping lure.

Use top water lures when fish are lurking near the surface. This category includes a variety of poppers, chuggers and stick baits. Spinner/buzz baits and flukes are also good choices when zipped or jerked across the surface. When fish are lying in wait, a slow moving popper will entice strikes.



Swimming baits include the largest variety of lures. They are used when fish are suspended between the surface and the bottom. Lures like the Rat-L-Trap that vibrates, will run shallower than those with plastic lips. The larger the lip, the deeper the lure will swim. Spoons, buck tails and jigs are also fished at various depths by controlling the descent and the retrieval speed.



Bottom bumping baits are popular with bass, perch and striper fishermen. They include soft plastics, jig ‘n’ pigs, buck tails and jigging spoons. They should be fished slowly over a bottom covered with stumps, rocks or other debris. As a general rule, the deeper the water, the heavier the bait should be. But, don’t overdo it. The bait must fall naturally in order to trick the bass into biting.



Every tackle box should contain lures from the three lure groups mentioned. Zara Spooks are a “must have” top water bait. They have caught bass and stripers for decades. Rat-L-Traps and Shad Raps are good baits when fish are suspended. Finally, no tackle collection is complete without a variety of soft plastic worms for bottom feeding fish.



An old timer once gave this bit of fishing advice. “It’s a lot easier to feed ‘em than it is to trick ’em. So, when all else fails, bait your hook with a lively minnow or a wiggly worm.”

Upcoming Events:
A free safe boating class on “How to Navigate Norman when the Lake is Low” will be held at North Point Watersports, 112 Doolie Road, Mooresville, NC 28117 on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Topics for discussion will include “Understanding Lake Norman’s Channel Marker and Buoy System”, “Identifying and Learning How to Avoid the Ten Most Dangerous Spots”, and “Safely Navigating In Low Water Conditions.” For more information, call me @ 704-617-6812 or email Gus@LakeNoman.com.



Free Fishing Seminar: “Learn about Lake Norman’s New Fish Attractors and Manmade Reefs.” Jake Bussolini and I will give you the exact locations and discuss the best methods to catch fish near these manmade fish habitats. Free handouts and GPS coordinates will be available. This informative session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, in Mooresville, NC. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.


Tips from Gus!
Double the use of your fishing line and save money too! Reverse the line by reeling it on to a similar capacity empty spare spool or a spool on a different reel. The un-used line on the bottom of the old spool will be on the top of the new one.



Hot Spots of the Week: Crappie and white perch fishing is good to very good. Best bets are Mountain and Little Creeks. Spotted bass fishing is excellent at the south hot hole and off points and in back coves on both sides of the Highway 150 Bridge. Some stripers are up river.

The lake level on Lake Norman is 4.7 ' below full pond, and down 2.9" on Mountain Island Lakethe water surface temperature on both lakes is in the mid to high seventies.

Captain Gus Gustafson is licensed by the US Coast Guard, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and a Professional Sport Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his Web site at www.fishingwithgus.com , e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com or call 704-617-6812.