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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fish Food
January 27, 2008
Discerning anglers know it’s the food as well as the bait that makes a fishing trip more enjoyable. Most fishermen plan ahead and pack favorite snacks and lunches the night before. Long time favorites are fried chicken, barbequed ribs, and Dagwood type sandwiches loaded with meats, sliced tomatoes and condiments. But for others, the only food they take has been hurriedly purchased at a convenience store during a quick stop for gas and ice.
Everyone has done it. One angler gases the boat, while his partner rushes inside to grab a cup of coffee and a donut or honey-bun. Then he remembers that he had better pick up something to snack on or eat for lunch. Most convenience stores’ “fishing food” selections aren’t gourmet, but will suffice when an angler doesn’t plan ahead and wants something to eat.
Hurried anglers usually stop at the “Food of the Gods” section first. Those shelves are stocked with easy to open cans of Beanee Weenee’s, Vienna sausage, spaghetti, ravioli, potted meats, sardines and even smoked oysters. One’s first thought is to pick-up a few items and go. But, it’s not that simple. Choices must be made. The angler must decide between oysters drenched in mustard, soybean or hot sauce. If it’s beans he chooses, he must choose between original baked beans, beans with bacon, beans with hot dogs or beans marinated in barbeque sauce. Even the Vienna sausage selection gets complicated with an array of tasty options, including chicken, turkey and honey mustard soaked sausage.
Next, the confused angler opens a glass door in the refrigerated section to see the sliced meats. Again, the choices are many. The cooler is filled with packages of sliced bologna, liverwurst, ham and turkey. Before a decision can be made, he reminds himself that along with the meat, some type of bread and condiments will be needed to make a sandwich.
The angler knows his partner is anxiously waiting in the truck, so he decides to just pick up a few snacks and be done with it. Once again, the choices are overwhelming. The snack food section is stocked with an assortment of cookies, peanut butter crackers, potato chips, pretzels, jerky, meat sticks, candy bars, peanuts, etc.
In frustration, the befuddled angler finally grabs a hand full of snacks and checks out. Later in the day, when the fishing slows, the now hungry angler begins to look for his bag of snacks. To his utter disappointment, he realizes that he left his “fish food’ on the seat of the truck back at the boat dock.
Upcoming Events:
A free to the public; “How to Catch Trophy Catfish” seminar will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday February 20, 2008. The two-hour session will be conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum and myself.
Mitchell Community College in Mooresville has scheduled a new boating course – “Navigating Lake Norman.” This two-hour session will discuss specifics about navigating Lake Norman’s low waters in daylight and at night, using lake maps, GPS and common sense. The class will be on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. For more information, call 704 663 1923.
Tips from Capt. Gus!
To prevent icing in below freezing temperatures, spray a reel lubricant on your rod guides and on the line on your reel. If you don’t have a reel spray, dip your rod and reel in the water to melt ice buildup.
The Hot Spot of the Week is the warm water associated with the Highway 150 power plant’s hot water discharge. Stripers are hitting live and artificial baits in the upper third of the water column. The lower hot hole, at the nuclear plant, has also been productive with nice catches of bass and perch.
The lake level is 93.8 or 6.2 ' below full pond. Water surface temperature is in the high forties and low fifties.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an outdoor columnist and a full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, Fishin' With Gus! at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.
For additional information e-mail Gus at Gus@LakeNorman.com
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