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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Winter Water Temperatures
February 7, 2009
A few weeks ago when threadfin shad were dying in the freezing (32°) waters of Lake Norman’s shallow coves, some anglers were bass fishing in the relatively spring like (60°) water near the nuclear power plant. This thirty-degree variance in water temperatures is the major reason why the state’s largest man made impoundment is such a great winter fishery.
The astute angler finds schools of forage fish – knowing that bass, stripers and other predators are not far away. As the saying goes, “Find the bait, and you will catch the fish.” Lake Norman’s primary baitfish are shad, that prefer warm shallow waters, and herring, that seek the cooler depths. Largemouth bass prefer similar water conditions to shad, while stripers frequent the same habitat as herring. Knowing this, anglers search out the water depth and temperature preferred by the baits of their target species. Once located, they fish the area thoroughly.
During the wintertime, water temperature is one of the forces that drive bait and predator fish from one place to another. Warmer is usually better, but sometimes extreme cold can change the dynamics of fishing. That happened in January when freezing water temperatures trapped hordes of shad in the shallows. Eventually, they stressed, died, and were eaten by a host of predators, including bass, perch and stripers. Anglers tried to snatch stripers from underneath sea birds that were feeding on the dying shad, but mostly, they caught catfish.
Meanwhile, those who fished the deeper sections of the lake, limited out on striped bass, and caught unheard of numbers of white perch. An interesting fact is that these fish were deeply suspended in water to ninety feet. Why? Because that is where herring, Lake Norman’s other forage fish, spend the winter.
A third group, mostly bass fishermen, found their quary in the warmer waters surrounding the power plants. The flowing water is so warm that bass think it’s spring. The warm water bass are hyper compared to the ones swimming in the colder sections of Norman.
Water temperature is critical in the winter. Most fish finders are equipped with a temperature gauge. The gauge is surprisingly accurate - to a tenth of a degree. Be sure that temperature, depth and speed are all displayed on your screen.
Tips From Capt. Gus!
Cats and largemouth bass prefer warmer water. Stripers spots, crappie and perch can tolerate colder temperatures.
Upcoming Events:
”Understanding Sonar and GPS To Help Navigate and Catch More Fish on Lake Norman” is a two hour session scheduled at Mitchell College, 219 N. Academy St., Mooresville, NC, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The class will be conducted by Capt. Gus. To pre-register, call 704 663 1923. Registration fee is $15.00.
Hot Spot of the Week:
Recent snow and rains have caused the lake to become muddy and water levels to fluctuate. The best fishing spots are in Ramsey Creek, where water temperatures are in the fifties and low sixties. Bass, crappie, and stripers are in waters from the hot water discharge to the back of Ramsey Creek. The deeper sections of Reed Creek, between markers D1 and D8, are also producing nice stringers of stripers and perch.
The lake level is currently above normal. Surface water temperatures in deep open water are in the 40’s.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is licensed by the US Coast Guard, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and 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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