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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fish Tales
March 28, 2010
Are all fishermen liars, except you and me? That’s something many of us wonder from time to time.
I was reminded of this recently when an area fisherman sent this note. “Everybody believed that I lost my Bomber lure because a monster bass inhaled it and stripped my reel clean of line. But, I think the part about the fish leaping out the water and jumping over a boat dock might have been a little much. Surprising enough, nobody questioned the 1200 lb. blue catfish I said I landed.”
There was a time when everyone fished and few, if any, believed a leaping bass and 1200 lb. catfish tale. But in today’s world, the closest some people ever get to see a giant fish is on a computer enhanced internet picture. Big fish aren’t as common on Lake Norman as they once were, so those who can’t catch them often create stories to prove their prowess.
If you look and listen, you’ll quickly learn that there are many ways to make a fish appear bigger than it really is. One popular way, is to spread the hands apart to show the length of the fish, all the while, slowly moving the hands farther and farther apart to emphasize the size. This gesture could easily turn a 12” fish into a trophy size one.
Someone once said, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but I don’t think fishermen believe it. That’s why many fish tales are often prefaced by, “I wish I had brought a camera so I could show you how big the fish really was.” Others say, “The fish was so big that the picture weighed ten pounds.” Isn’t it odd that most big fish tales never have a picture or a witness to prove that a fish was even caught?
It’s not always the size of the fish that is exaggerated. Excuses about weather temperature, rough seas or rain are also factors.
When asked where one angler was catching fish, he said, “Way up the river, but it’s so muddy that you can’t get up there by boat unless it has four wheel drive.” Now THAT’S a muddy river!
Another said, “It was so cold while walking to the dock, I stepped on something that snapped like a stick. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was a frozen snake and each step I took was breaking its back. Now, THAT’S cold!
In closing, if you have a good tale, send it to me. It might end up in a future column. In the meantime, go fishing and enjoy the spring weather.
Saturday April 3, 2010, Light House Marine Services will offer a Boater Safety and PWC Class. Registration fee is $49.00 for the eight-hour session beginning at 9:00 a.m. The class will be held at North Point Watersports, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC. For more information or to register, call Capt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
The 31st Annual Lake Norman Shrine Club - Dogwood Bass Tournament is scheduled for Saturday April 3, 2010 from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm at Midway Marina. First prize for this charity event is $2500.00. For additional information, visit www.lakenormanshrineclub.org
On Thursday, April 8, 2010, Light House Marine Services is offering an instructional course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics will include “Understanding LKN’S Marker and Buoy System”, “Identifying and Learning how to Avoid LKN’S Most Dangerous Shoals”, and “How to Use and Interpret Lake Maps”. Registration fee is $25.00 for the two and a half hour class conducted by Capt. Gus. The class begins at 6:30 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
Hot Spot of the Week:
Crappie fishing continues to be good to very good with small minnows around shallow brush. Bass fishing is very good on shallow points and coves, and stripers are hitting live baits up river and at various depths in most major creek channels. Best bets are Ramsey, Reed, and Hicks Creeks for stripers and bass. Bank fishermen are reporting catches of bass, stripers and perch in both the Marshall and McGuire Hot Holes.
The water surface temperature is in the fifties and sixties and the lake level is about three feet below full pond.
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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