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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Marker Poles
April 27, 2008
The poles for navigation lights and channel and shoal markers also identify some of the finest bass and striper spots on Lake Norman. The majority of markers, also known as Aids to Navigation, are positioned in less than twelve feet of water and are adjacent to deep channels or drop offs - ideal underwater terrain for game fish seeking food or cover.
While stripers chase forage fish into the shallows, bass lie in wait to ambush unsuspecting prey in the shadows of marker poles. A “SHOAL” marker means that the surrounding lake bottom might be gravel, sand, clay, rocks or stumps, all of which make excellent habitats for game fish.
The easiest way to learn about the bottom near a marker is to approach it at idle speed and study the soundings on your fish finder. Make several exploratory casts with a lure that bumps the bottom. If rocks or stumps are present, you’ll see them on the fish finder screen or feel them with the rod tip.
The lake has over one hundred and fifty marker poles along the edge of the main river channel and nine of its creek arms. The markers, identified on lakes maps and GPS units, are easy to find.
Below is a short list of markers and the surrounding bottom conditions at each location:
Marker 1 and nearby shoal markers - rocks
Marker 2A and adjacent shoal marker - clay and gravel
Marker D3 and adjacent shoal marker - stumps
Marker M1 – clay, sand bottom
Marker M2 - clay, gravel bottom, stumps
Marker M4 - big rocks
Marker 15A and surrounding shoal markers - clay bottom, adjacent to river channel
Marker 20 – clay, stumpy point
Tips from Capt. Gus:
Areas identified with both a channel, and a shoal marker in close proximity to each other, are prime locales for bass, stripers and catfish. Examples are markers R4, 2A, D2, D3, D4, T2 and 15A.
Upcoming Events:
“Introduction to Casting” – Mitchell Community College, Mooresville, NC – Wednesday 7 & 14, 2008, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Capt. Gus will teach the fundamentals of casting bait, fly and spinning equipment. Bring your favorite rod/reel and learn to cast like a pro. The fee for the two night (four hour) session is $25.00. Call 704-663-1923 to pre-register.
Boater Safety Class -“How to Navigate Lake Norman” - Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC - Thursday, May 8, 2008, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. “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 is $25.00. For more information or to register, call Capt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
“How to Throw a Cast Net and Keep Bait Alive” – Free seminar – Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC, Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 6:30 p.m. Call 704 658 0822 for additional information.
The Hot Spots of the Week:
Bass and striper fishing has been good to excellent in Mountain, Stumpy and Hicks creeks. Surface feeding activity is at dawn and dusk, particularly when the wind is calm.
The water level is currently 1.9' below full pond and dingy in spots. Water surface temperature is in the 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
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