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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! - The One That Didn't Get Away
May 27/30, 2007
Everyone seems to have a favorite fish story to tell. Most tales end with a giant finned monster breaking off and getting away. Lake Norman Realtor, Deanna Shirlen has a story with a different ending. Not only did she land a big fish, but she has a picture of her catch to prove it. Following, is Deanna's saga:
"It was 1983 on a gloomy weekend. We sailed our 23' boat to an island in Galveston Bay, Texas. The weather was cool and the fog so thick you could hardly see from stem to stern. My husband, eight year old daughter, and I, anchored off a small island in the bay for the night."
"My husband took out his fishing equipment, a very small rod and reel he had used as a child. I went below to sleep."
"His yell for help awakened me. When I arrived topside in my nightgown, he mentioned that he might need a gun. He didn't know what was on the other end of his line, but whatever it was, he knew it was big."
"Things began to get even funnier when the fish took off in a circle around the boat. The halyard lines, a canopy, the sails, and numerous other obstacles created quite a challenge to follow the fish. As the scene unfolded, I stepped barefooted into a bucket of crabs and out again very quickly."
"A couple hours later, we landed the fish. Now what? We took a picture. We had no way to weigh the fish, but estimated it to be about 42" long. With no knife to clean or cut up the fish and only a small cooler on board, we had little choice but to throw it back in the water."
"Almost immediately we heard a voice in the fog that said, ‘We have been fishing all night and have not caught a *#?! thing and they are throwing fish back. I've had it'. A motor started and moved away into the night. We had no idea there were people close by. My daughter slept through the whole thing. What a night!'"
Lake Norman Special Summer Striper Fishing Regulation:
There is no size limit on striped bass in Lake Norman from June 1 thru September 30, 2007. The regulation became effective two years ago due to the high mortality rate of stripers released in the summer. Anglers are urged to keep any size striper caught until the individual daily creel limit of four has been reached. You should target another species when you reach the striper limit.
Up Coming Events:
Fishing 101 - Mitchell Community College, Mooresville Campus - Call 704-878-3223 to register. This six hour course will be divided into three, two-hour segments. Classes will begin on June 13, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. and will continue for three consecutive Wednesday evenings. I will cover in great detail, the "how to's" of recreational angling on Lake Norman and other area lakes.
The Carolina Catfish Club’s monthly meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, in the Lodge at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. Fishing guide, Captain Darryl Smith will discuss the techniques he employs in catching record catfish on the Lakes of Santee Cooper in South Carolina. Prospective members are welcome.
Tips from Capt. Gus! - A five gallon plastic bucket can be used to keep minnows alive, or to store a multitude of items, including trash, nets, rope and fishing tackle. Upside down, a bucket can be used as a seat when shore or dock fishing. Drill holes in the bottom and attach it to the transom to slow the boat when drifting or trolling.
The Hot Spot of the Week
Striper fishing continues to be good-to-very-good in major creeks and points off the old river channel. Between dawn and sunrise, surface feeding activity on calm mornings is producing nice catches of bass and stripers. According to Lake Norman catfish guide, Mack Byrum, warming water temperatures have catfish moving to the shallows and hitting fresh cut fish.
The lake level is 2.6' below full pond and the water temperature is in the high seventies.
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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