Fishin’ with Capt. Gus! Is Fishing Better on the Other Side? April 17, 2011-1.jpg

Photo courtesy of Capt. Gus

Charlotte residents, William Dubman (9 years old) and brother Robbie (11 years old) are holding a spotted bass caught on a recent fishing trip with their dad Vince on Lake Norman.



Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Is Fishing Better on the Other Side?
April 17, 2011



It doesn’t seem to matter! Regardless of where you go, the best fishing always seems to be at the farthermost distance from where you are.



Think about it! Fishermen spend six or seven hours driving to the outer banks of NC to catch winter stripers, and then run up the beach two hours by boat to the NC-Virginia state line to find fish. Lake Norman is no different.



Most bass tournaments begin at Blythe Landing or at the Highway 150 Bridge access points. On certain weekends, there are simultaneous blastoffs from both locations, and guess what? The boats from Blythe Landing head north, and those that started at the Highway 150 Bridge, travel south. Somewhere between channel markers 7 and 10, they meet and cross boat wakes. The boats traveling south are more than likely headed to the McGuire hot hole, while many north bound boats are making a bee-line to the hot hole at the Marshall Steam Plant.



Mountain trout fishermen do the same thing, only they walk or wade for miles upstream until they reach a favorite pool, eddy or set of rapids.



Fishermen believe “the water is always bluer on the other side.” When asked why they travel so far to find fish, one common answer is, “That’s what I’ve always done,” or “Fishing is usually better on the other side of the lake.”



If the truth of the matter is known, the reason for long traveling distances is that fishermen are adventurous and love to fish far away waters. Another likely reason is the enjoyment of the ride. And, when traveling in a bass boat at speeds up to seventy miles an hour, it really doesn’t take long to get from one end of a lake to the other.



On the other hand, there are those without boats who to stay in one spot most of the day. They get great satisfaction from watching the fast gas guzzling boats buzz by, while they catch a limit of bass on night crawlers right from the shoreline.


Free Fishing Seminar - “How to Catch Spring and Summer Catfish” will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. This session will be conducted by Lake Norman catfish guide, Mac Byrum and local author, Jake Bussollini. For more information, call 704- 658-0822.


Tips from Capt. Gus: Spring is a good time to experiment with spinner baits. They can be fished at any depth from the surface to the bottom, and are ideal in brush or open water.



Hot Spot of the Week: Crappie, bass and perch fishing has been good to very good. Most fish are in the shallow waters of coves, around docks and off long points. Mountain and Beaver Dam Creeks are best bets for crappie fishing. Bass are being taken in Reed and Davidson Creeks and in the waters surrounding the Lake Norman State Park.



Surface water temperature varies by location, but is mainly in the sixties in open waters not affected by the power plants. The water level is about 2.1’ below full pond on Lake Norman and 2.5’ below on Mountain Island Lake.



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