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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fish Bait
March 23, 2008
What is the best fish bait? This question is frequently posed by seminar participants and newcomers to Lake Norman. The answer isn't simple. Bait choices vary by species, personal preferences, seasons of the year, weather, water conditions, etc. For the sake of simplicity, fishing baits can be divided into two major categories - natural and artificial.
Worms, crickets and minnows are popular natural baits, readily available at area bait and tackle shops. They account for a large percentage of all bream, crappie, perch, catfish, and even largemouth bass caught on Lake Norman. Fresh and frozen mussels, clams, shrimp and chicken livers are often used by anglers seeking catfish.
Live herring and shad, the preferred baits of striper fishermen, are difficult to catch and keep alive. One must have the ability to cast a throw net for these forage fish, and will need a special tank to keep the fragile baits alive. Rather than deal with the hassle of keeping them alive, some anglers hook a (whole) dead bait, or cut them into pieces to use when bottom fishing.
There are others who fish exclusively with artificial baits. Tackle shops have a wide variety of man made lures that look, swim and even smell like natural baits. There are so many, in fact, that anglers often find it difficult to choose which ones to buy. To make the selection process easier, artificial's can be subdivided into three major categories - top water, swimming and bottom baits.
Top water lures that pop, gurgle and buzz are used when fish are feeding in the shallows or near the surface. Swimming lures attract fish suspended somewhere in the water column. Bottom bumping baits, as the name implies, lure fish lurking near the bottom.
Most people associate artificial lures with bass fishing. However, all fish will take man made baits at times. Carp bite hand tied flies, crappies love small jigs, catfish hit swimming baits and jigging spoons, and striped bass will chase any lure that resembles a shad or herring.
So what IS the best bait? Some believe it is a worm, either natural or soft plastic. Others prefer only jigs and buck tails and some use a variety of natural and artificial's. Opinions are as varied as the number of possible answers. If it’s only the fish you want, any kind of fish, I am reminded of the words of an anonymous angler, “It’s easier to feed them than it is to trick them, so use natural baits.”
Tips from Capt. Gus:
Regardless of bait preference, the forage fish in Lake Norman run small. In order to “match the hatch,” use small baits. Small lures can even catch big fish, while often times, big baits are ignored because they can't be eaten by little fish.
Upcoming Events:
Safe Boating Class - March 29, 2008 - Capt. Alan Stopko is holding a "Boating at Night on Lake Norman" class from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Peninsula Yacht Club, 18501 Harbor Light Blvd, Cornelius, NC. The cost is $25 with pre-registration For questions or to register call 704 895 6993.
Trout Season Opens April 5, 2008 – The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open approximately 1,120 miles of “Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters” in 23 western North Carolina counties at 6 a.m. on Saturday April 5. The season will run until one half-hour after sunset on Feb. 28, 2009. For more information visit www.ncwildlife.org and click on the Fishing link.
Safe Boating Class - Saturday - April 5, 2008 - Lighthouse Marine Service is conducting a Boater Safety Class from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. The cost is $49.95 per person with pre-registration. Call 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org for additional information.
Night Fishing on LKN - Tuesday - April 15, 2008 - 6:30 a.m. Mitchell Community College, Mooresville, NC. is holding a Continuing Education Night Fishing Class with Capt. Gus Gustafson as its instructor. During this two hour session various topics including the use of scented baits, lights to attract fish and casting to and from docks after dark will be discussed. The cost is $25.00 per person with pre-registration. Call 704 663 1923 or visit www.mitchellcc.edu/cec for additional information.
Safe Boating Class - Thursday- April 17, 2008 - Lighthouse Marine Services is conducting a “How to use GPS, Sonar and Radar to Navigate and Fish on Lake Norman”. This three hour class beginning at 6:00 p.m. will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. The cost is $25 per person with pre-registration. Call 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org for additional information.
The Lake Norman Striper Swipers’ Spring Classic fishing tournament is planned for April 19 and 20, 2008. This two-day event begins at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and continues until the weigh-in at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the LNSS web site at www.ncstriper.us
The Hot Spots of the Week: Bass are hitting along shallow banks and boat docks. Stripers have moved toward the backs of most major creek arms. Fishing activity has been good in McCrary, Stumpy and Reeds Creeks. The lake level is currently about 2.0' below full pond and continues to rise. The water surface temperature is in the mid to upper 50’s.
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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