|
|
  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! - How NOT to Catch Stripers
April 8, 2007
Much has been written about how to catch striped bass. This article will explain how NOT to catch them!
To assure that no stripers are caught, a frequently used technique is to stop the boat directly over the fishing area with the gas motor running. This is particularly effective if fish are holding in shallow, calm or very clear water. If running the big motor doesn't stop them from feeding, try bouncing a drink can off the bottom of the boat or slamming a deck lid. Another sure way to destroy a fishing spot is to bang the anchor or drag the anchor chain on the side of the boat when heaving it overboard. If the fish should bite regardless of your efforts, try stomping on the deck.
Some anglers profess that big baits catch trophy stripers. To see fish disappear, try throwing over sized baits at swirling fish. Better yet, cast behind a fish, regardless of bait size. Fish feel threatened from behind and will become spooked and swim away.
Hooks too large for the bait will appear unnatural to a fish. Stripers also shy away from lines rigged with unnecessary swivels and oversized weights. Anything that detracts from the natural action of the bait is a turn off.
To further avoid catching stripers, always sleep-in and allow yourself plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast. Anglers who fish from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon usually catch fewer stripers than those on the water at first light.
It is a fact that stripers depend on the sense of smell, particularly when feeding at night or in water with low visibility. To turn them off, transfer the smell of suntan lotion, or better yet, gasoline from your hands to the bait.
Anglers fishing for surface feeding fish can stop the bite at any time by running the boat into the middle of the fray. The more boats that run through a school, the more the chances of not catching fish. Usually, it takes only one boat to make them disappear for the rest of the day.
Finally, if you don't want to catch fish, run your boat on plane over the area you intend to fish. This will scatter them and make them refuse to eat for quite some time.
Miscellaneous striper trivia:
* Striped bass can swim in short bursts at speeds to twelve miles per hour.
* Stripers were accidentally introduced to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1886.
* Depending on maturity, a saltwater female striped bass will produce between 65,000 and 5,000,000 eggs.
* The heaviest striper ever recorded weighed 125 pounds and was approximately 6' in length.
* Landlocked striped bass grow to 50 pounds or more.
Upcoming Events:
Boat Handling, Maneuvering & Docking - April 14, 2007 - 9:00 a.m. until noon - The Peninsula Yacht Club, Cornelius, NC. For more information, contact Capt. Alan Stopko - 704 895 6993.
Safe Boating Course - April 21, 2007 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Mt. Mourne Volunteer Fire Dept., Hwy. 115. Interested parties should contact the Lake Norman Sail & Power Squadron - 704 947 2729.
Safe Boating Course - April 21, 2007 - 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. - Kings Point Marina, Cornelius, NC. For more information, contact Lighthouse Marine Service - 704 587 0325.
Advanced Cat Fishing Seminar - Saturday, April 21, 2007- 2:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Capt. Gus Gustafson and Mack Byrum will conduct this seminar at Gander Mountain, Mooresville, NC. 704 658 0822.
NCCATS - Catfish Tournament - April 21, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 a.m. @ Pinnacle Access, Lake Norman, NC. Visit http://www.nccats.net for additional information.
Lake Norman Striper Swipers Spring Classic- Striper Tournament - May 5 - 6, 2007
Captains meeting will be held at Gander Mountain, Mooresville, NC from 6:30 until 8:30 on Friday, May 4th. For more information, visit http://www.lnssfishn.com or call Tommy Messick at 704-634-6410.
Tips from Capt. Gus!
When fishing for white perch or other pan fish, minimize hang-ups by using light wire hooks. When light hooks catch bottom, they will easily straighten and can be pulled free.
The Hot Spots of the week are shallow points and clay banks on both sides of the Highway 150 Bridge. Stripers are spawning and aggressively feeding in these areas at dawn and dusk. The past week, striper fishing was very good to excellent with many limits caught.
Fishing for largemouth and spots has also been very good. White perch are plentiful in the backs of creeks and coves.
The lake level is 3.4' below full pond and the surface water temperature is in the upper fifties and low sixties.
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
|
|
|
|
|
