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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! - Fishing Rules of Thumb
& Other Misgivings
March 11, 2007
Someone once said, "'Eighty percent of the rules of thumb apply only twenty percent of the time."' Off the cuff rules applicable to boating and fishing situations are likely to have a higher error ratio. Fishermen have been known to make their own rules of thumb!
One rule frequently quoted is that, "Ninety percent of the fish are found in ten percent of the water." Or, "Ten percent of the fishermen catch ninety percent of the fish." Then there are times when fish are everywhere and everybody catches them.
This doesn't make sense, but you've probably heard, "It is bad luck when you catch a fish on the first cast." How can catching a fish be bad luck? Or another one, "Don't throw the first fish back; it might tell the others." Tell the others! Tell them what?
"The fish had to be a big one. It broke my fifty pound test line." If that statement has merit, use heavier line if you want to lose bigger fish.
Everyone has heard the rifle-like sound of line breaking while a big fish is being played. The first words from the dejected angler's mouth are usually, "It must have been bad line. I checked the drag before we started fishing." And consider this fishy situation, "It was so big that it swam right though my net." How is it possible for a "so big" fish to swim through a small net?
Think about this, too. The best fishing almost always occurs when an angler is alone. The "biggest fish always gets away" when there are no witnesses. This happens regularly.
How many times have you heard someone sheepishly say; "I checked the drain plug so I don't know why the boat filled with water." Or; "I can't believe it ran out of gas, I just filled her up yesterday." And, "I always check the air in the spare tire. I don't know why it's flat."
If you want to stay dry, don't depend on "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning." It has rained a lot lately and the only colors in the sky were blue, grey and black.
Remember, rules of thumb are made to be broken.
Upcoming Events:
NCCATS - Catfish Tournament - March 17, 2007 - Badin Works/Alcoa - Badin Lake
For more information, visit http://www.nccats.net.
Free - Basic Fishing 101 Seminar - Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 3:00PM
Gander Mountain, Mooresville, NC - 704 658 0822
Learn the " How's, When's and Where's" of catching bream, perch and catfish from docks and boats from Mac Byrum and Capt. Gus Gustafson.
Lake Norman Striper Swiper Spring Classic- Striper Tournament - May 5 - 6, 2007
Mark your calendars. Details to follow.
The Hot Spots of the Week - Warming and rapidly rising waters have stripers moving into creeks and bass appearing on shallow banks. Good catches are being reported on both sides of the 150 Bridge.
Tips From Gus!
Just a reminder - crappie taken from Lake Norman must be at least eight inches long and the daily creel limit is twenty per angler.
The lake level is 96.9 or 3.1' below full pond. Surface water temperatures are in the mid fifties and the water is muddy in places
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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