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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Spring Has Sprung
February 28, 2010
Time and tide wait for no man and neither does the spring spawning season. In fact, it has already begun, with white perch and crappie moving toward the shallows. Largemouth bass, spots and stripers are also preparing for the annual spring ritual by eating everything in sight. With that in mind, don’t let cold temperatures and muddy water deter the beginning of the new fishing season. Gather up your tackle, dress warmly and go fishing. They are definitely biting!
To help kick off this new season, here are a few tips concerning water temperature, baits and presentation. Hopefully this info will increase the number and size of the fish in your live well or clipped to your stringer:
Water Temperature- A degree or two can make a difference in whether or not you catch fish.
- Coves with a southern exposure (facing the sun) warm faster, than those on the northern shore.
- Water temperatures surrounding docks with black floatation (for buoyancy) are usually a few degrees warmer than those constructed with Styrofoam.
- The waters near the Marshall and McGuire Power Plants are warmer than the water in other areas.
Muddy water warms more quickly than clear water.- The water around cement boat ramps is normally a few degrees warmer than the surrounding water.
Baits - Live or Artificial?- In early spring, crappie and perch prefer small minnows.
- Spinner, jerk, and crank baits are popular for shallow water fishing. If fishing offshore, switch to jigging spoons, drop-shot rigs and shaky heads.
- Large shiners, trout, shad or herring work best for stripers. Many of the same lures used by bass anglers, work well for those trolling and casting artificial baits.
- Catfish eat everything! Stink baits, worms and table scraps lure lots of kitty cats, while fresh cut herring, shad, perch and bream lure big blues and flatheads.
Presentation- In cool, muddy water, slow the retrieve to give the fish a chance to see the bait.
- Make multiple casts to the same target.
- Use baits that appeal to as many of the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) as practical.
- Live fresh cut bait and soft plastics appeal to all five senses, while spinner and crank baits generally appeal to sight and sound.
- Cast to surface feeding activity with your favorite top water lure. If you don’t have a favorite, throw a small popper, jerk bait or fluke.
- When all else fails, downsize your baits. Both large and small fish will strike a small bait, while only a large one can swallow a large bait.
A Free Seminar on “How to Catch Trophy Flathead and Arkansas Blue Catfish while Fishing for White Perch” will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Lake Norman Fishing Guide Mac Byrum and I will conduct the two hour session. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.
Tips From Capt. Gus:
To entice a variety of early spring fish, slowly fish small artificial baits in water less than ten feet. Popular lures to use are roadrunners, bucktails and small silver or gold spoons.
Hot Spot of the Week:
Striper and bass fishing continues to improve with the warming water temperatures. Best bets are Little, Ramsey and Reed Creeks. The water surface temperature is in the forties and fifties. Lake levels remain above normal.
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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