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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Rising Lake Levels
March 16, 2008
Good news!
Recent rains and stringent water restrictions have allowed area river impoundments to refill to normal levels. Lake Norman is currently more then a foot above it’s target level of 95.8 for the month of March. Mountain Island and Lake Wylie are also above their targeted water levels.
All lake access areas are open. Ramps are covered with water – positive news for easy boat launching and for bass and striper fishermen who plan to fish several major tournaments scheduled on Lake Norman this spring.
Rising waters have allowed bass, crappie and other species to swim farther up the banks and then back to where they traditionally roam during spawning season. Water under docks and that covering woody debris is a welcomed sight to anglers, since that is where they are most comfortable casting and hook a large percentage of all their fish.
Storm water runoff has muddied many shallow sections of the larger creek runs. This stained water has its advantages. It not only allows safe hideouts for forage fish, but offers prime ambush points for predators. In addition, since dirty water warms faster, it attracts the larger egg bearing female fish.
Higher lake levels, while welcomed, are not without risks and hazards to boaters. The same shoals that were exposed and easy to identify last fall, are now covered, but in some cases, by only a few inches of water. Navigation can be tricky and dangerous. Rising water also washes debris from the banks. Areas of flotsam can be quite large, but often difficult to see in low light conditions. Exercise extreme caution in these areas.
Boaters should remember to check and double check bridge clearances this spring. Water levels are considerably higher than they were a few weeks ago. Scraping an antenna, a fishing rod or even part of the boat’s superstructure, is a possibility.
Tips from Capt. Gus:
Current area lake level information is available online at www.duke-energy.com/lakes/levels.asp
Upcoming Events:
On Thursday, March 20, 2008, Light House Marine Services is offering an instructional boating course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics will include Understanding LKN’s Marker and Buoy System, Identifying and Learning to Avoid the Ten Most Dangerous Shoals, and How to Use and Interpret Lake Maps. Registration fee for the three-hour class is $25.00. The class begins at 6:00 P.M. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC. For more information or to register, call Lt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
The Lake Norman Striper Swipers’ Spring Classic fishing tournament is planned for April 19 & 20, 2008. This two-day event begins at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and continues until the weigh-in at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the LNSS web site at http://www.ncstriper.us/
The Hot Spots of the Week:
Stripers are active in most major creek arms. Action has been particularly good in Reeds, Mountain and Stumpy Creeks. Good catches of spotted bass are being reported at the lower end of the lake and large mouths are breaking the surface in boat basins at dawn. Crappie fishing has been good-to-very-good around brush piles and other woody debris.
The lake level is currently 2.7' below full pond and continues to rise. The water surface temperature is in the mid to upper 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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