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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Trolling for Bass
April 4, 2010
A simple way to catch bass from any boat, even a pleasure boat, is to troll, which means pulling a lure behind the boat at a slow speed. If the boat is equipped with rod holders, it’s possible to fish with multiple rods. If not, each angler can hold his rod and wait for a bite.
Trolling for bass is fun and easy, especially now, you since the majority of bass are holding near the shoreline. If you aren’t sure what depth to fish, zigzag in water from eight to fifteen feet. Boat speed is crucial to catching fish. Slow is better. Trolling between 1.75 and 2.75 miles per hour will usually attract strikes.
Crank baits from 2.5” - 4.5” that dive to depths of three to eight feet below the surface are baits of choice in the spring. Best colors are chartreuse, blue, crayfish, grey, silver, white and black. When in doubt, use chartreuse. Lake Norman bass seem to see it better than other colors.
A 7’ long spinning outfit, loaded with ten-pound test line, is good for trolling. Begin by casting the lure about thirty feet off the stern and either hold the rod or place it in a rod holder. As the boat moves, you will notice a bend in the rod tip and a slight bouncing motion. Any sudden backward bend is the indication that a fish has struck the lure. Begin reeling immediately. Keep a bend in the rod and the line taut. A bass will more than likely jump several times before it gets close enough to the boat to either pull in or net. To reduce the chances of losing the fish, it is best to use a net. Many fish are lost when the line breaks as the fish is being lifted into the boat.
Circle back around so the lures go over the same spot where the fish was caught. Many times there is more than one bass in the same location. Passing over the area again and again is often more productive than searching for a new spot.
Bass make excellent table fare, even though the majority are released to fight another day. If you decide to keep a few to eat, remember that the creel limit is a combination of five, 14” largemouth and/or 12” spotted bass.
Upcoming Events:
On Thursday, April 8, 2010, Light House Marine Services is offering an instructional course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics to be discussed 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 course conducted by Capt. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC. To register or for more information, call Lt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
Reminder: Time is running out! Beginning May 1, 2010 anyone up to 25 years of age must complete an approved boater safety course in order to operate a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or greater, on all public waters.
Hot Spots of the Week:
On most days, the warmer weather has bass, perch, crappie and stripers feeding aggressively. Best places to fish are Reed, Mountain, Hicks creeks and the river area near Long Island Marina.
The water surface temperature is in the sixties and the lake level is about two 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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