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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Preparing for a New Season
February 3, 2008
A new season is fast approaching, which makes February an ideal time to prepare your tackle, boat and equipment for the first fishing trip of 2008.
Begin by cleaning, lubricating and repairing all fishing reels. Since monofilament line is relatively inexpensive, don’t risk losing a big one because of last year’s chaffed or otherwise damaged line. Replace the line on every spool, including any spare spools in your tackle box. Inspect rods for worn, broken and loose or missing guides. If rods or reels need professional repair, take them to Al at Fisherman’s Friend in Kannapolis, NC (704-934-2122) or to Frank Parsons at Tackle Town in Maiden, NC (704-483-1107).
Clean out, reorganize and take an inventory of lures and terminal tackle. Scrutinize every lure for dull, bent or rusty hooks and replace as needed. Clean, polish and shine lures that might have lost the luster to attract fish. It is also a good idea to remove all items that haven’t been used in several years. This will allow empty tackle box compartments to be filled with the newest and hottest lures for 2008. Remember to purchase a sufficient number of hooks, weights and swivels. These terminal tackle items disappear quickly.
Electric trolling motors attract monofilament fishing line. Remove any line wrapped around the propeller. Unattended line will eventually cut through the motor’s waterproof seal and will certainly slow the rotation of the prop. Complete the trolling motor tune-up by lubricating all moving parts and cleaning exposed electrical connections.
Batteries should be checked and re-filled to recommended levels. Older batteries should be load tested and connections cleaned. Even if a battery passes the test, it has a limited shelf life and requires periodic replacement (about every three seasons). Also, remember to replace the batteries in flashlights, portable aerators, handheld GPS units and anything else that requires stored electric energy.
Inspect life vests, dock/anchor lines, bilge pumps, running lights, fire extinguishers and the boat’s horn. Be certain that all are operative and meet established standards.
Tips from Capt Gus:
The 2008 fishing catalogs are arriving weekly. To make room for them, throw away or box up outdated issues.
Upcoming Events:
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 in low water during the day and at night, using lake maps and common sense. The class will be on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. For more information, call 704 663 1923.
A “How to Catch Trophy Catfish” seminar will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday February 20, 2008. This free two-hour session will be conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum and myself. For more information, call 704 658 0822.
Light House Marine Services is conducting an instructional course on how to use Sonar, GPS and Radar to better navigate on Lake Norman and other bodies of water. There is a $20.00 registration fee for this two-hour class which begins at 6:30 P.M. on Thursday February 21, 2008 at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC . For more information and registration, call Lt.Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org
The Hot Spot of the week: Cold water temperatures have stripers, bass and perch concentrated in the warmer water near the Highway 150 power plant. Watch for surface birds picking bait from the water, and for large bait balls on your fish finder. These tell tale signs usually indicate the presence of feeding stripers.
The lake level is 93.0 or 6.0 ' below full pond. The water surface temperature is in the upper 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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