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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Table Food
May 9, 2010
The other day, a group of people were eating lunch and enjoying the weather on a covered pier. One of the children carelessly dropped a large strawberry into the water. Before anyone could scoop it out, a giant carp came to the surface to investigate. Everyone thought they had discovered a new carp bait, but the fish just smelled it and swam away. Moments later, a huge catfish appeared and wasted no time inhaling the strawberry. The action that followed consisted of numerous lines hitting the water baited with big strawberries. During the next few minutes, three cats were hooked, two were landed, and the third broke the line.
The strawberry experience reminds us that fishing isn't very complicated. Sometimes all one needs to catch a fish is a bait attached to a hook, line and sinker. Pieces of hot dogs, Vienna sausage, cheese, bread, corn, and even green peas or baked beans have been catching fish for decades. So the next time you go fishing, forget the worms and minnows, just share your lunch with the fish.
Don't be surprised if you catch a carp, catfish or bream on a piece of bread. When you're fishing in the mountains, a rainbow trout will take a piece of corn or cheese quicker than a wet fly. If you can't keep your bait on the hook because of the current, try chewing gum or candy Gummy Worms. Like fishing lures, certain flavors and colors work better on some days than others, so keep a couple different types of gum in your pocket.
Marshmallows suspended below a red and white float have taken many catfish over the years, and have even been known to fool a carp or two. Whole miniature marshmallows will catch a bream (sunny) in the shallows quicker than a cricket on certain days. If the fish are running small, cut the mini-marshmallow into pieces tiny enough for them to swallow.
Muscadines make excellent catfish bait. In fact, if you ever find ripe Muscadines growing along the bank, fish the area thoroughly. Catfish are likely to be feeding nearby on the tender droppings.
Don't throw away leftovers, particularly clams, mussels, shrimp, or crawfish. Catfish, bass and stripers will gobble them down from a hook or when used for chum. Some say, "The spicier the taste, the better.” So, don't be afraid to give Cajun or garlic shrimp/crawfish a try.
The bacon, ham or sausage you didn't eat at breakfast might be just the tidbit that will make a fish bite at sunrise. Crispy bacon is hard to hook, but an uncooked strip, cut into small pieces will often entice the most finicky fish. Ham will catch its share of swimmers when left on the bottom long enough for the scent to spread with the flow.
From time to time, fish will eat just about anything you will eat. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and tell others about fishing with your new “secret” bait - the strawberry!
Tips from Capt. Gus!
When table scraps fail to lure your favorite species, go back to the basics - minnows, crickets and worms.
Upcoming events:
Thursday, May 20, 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. Gus. 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.
Saturday, May 22, 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. To register, or for more information, call Capt. Scott Spivey- 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Schools of bass and white perch are hitting live minnows and lures in sloughs and coves. The bigger schools are near deep brush piles in water ten to thirty feet deep. In addition to bass and perch, stripers are still hitting live bait in most major creek channels. Best bets are Reed, Davidson and Hicks Creeks. Catfish is improving with the warming water temperatures. Channel cats are plentiful in shallow coves, while blues and flatheads are roaming in deeper water.
The lake level is about two feet below full pond and the water surface temperature is in the seventies
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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