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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! - Fishing Pox
February 18, 2007
In case you haven't heard, an epidemic is spreading throughout the Lake Norman fishing community. It is not the dreaded Bird Flu and it does not affect the well being of fish. It is not life threatening, but it does take its toll on humans. The disease is known as the Fishing Pox.
It usually targets male adults with a high propensity to spend their leisure time fishing. Fishing Pox spreads rapidly when weather conditions are extremely cold, winds are blustery, and during extended periods of rain, sleet or snow. The more time a person spends indoors, the higher the likelihood of contracting the disease.
Little, if any, medical research is available. Random questioning of affected anglers suggests that those who scour the pages of fishing catalogs, surf the internet for fishing web sites, and watch more than two fishing shows per week, are at risk. The disease is contagious and spreads rapidly among attendees of fishing/boat shows, outdoor seminars, and to unsuspecting shoppers in sporting goods stores.
The symptoms might not be obvious at first, but it doesn't take a doctor to confirm the illness. Symptoms include a severe itch in the palm of the victim's casting hand and visions of leaping bass seen through the mind's eye. Large sums of money are wasted on bogus remedies that never work.
To rid the disease, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on new fishing tackle, lures, marine electronics, and numerous useless gadgets, all for naught. In more advanced stages, the Fishing Pox will cause the unwary to purchase luxury bass boats and ten-day trips to far off fishing destinations.
Fishing Pox is not covered by group medical plans, Medicare or Medicaid. However, a quick and relatively inexpensive cure is to GO FISHING! The sooner you do, the quicker the disease will disappear. Bigger is better; catching a big fish seems to eliminate the disease almost immediately.
Upcoming Events:
Jim Ledbetter Memorial - Bass Tournament - March 10, 2007 - Queens Landing, Lake Norman
Total guaranteed prize money will be over $15,000. For more information, contact Bob Patrick at
828-459-1119.
NCCATS - Catfish Tournament - March 17, 2007 - Badin Works/Alcoa - Badin Lake
For more information, visit http://www.nccats.com/
The Hot Spot of the Week - Bank fishing at the McGuire hot hole has been excellent for surface feeding stripers. Long casts are required to reach fish on the opposite side of the canal. Ramsey and McCrary Creeks are active when using live baits for stripers. The lake level is down 94.6 or 5.4' below full pond. Surface water temperature is in the low-to-mid forties.
Tips from Gus!
Many times, the first throw with a cast net is the most important one. The quicker the bait can be caught, the faster you can begin fishing. If you use a cast net frequently, store it in a few inches of water. A wet net will cast easier and open wider then when dry.
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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