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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Sabiki Rigs
June 29, 2008
A saltwater fishing technique is quickly gaining popularity with perch fishermen on Lake Norman and surrounding area lakes. The same technique is used by anglers along the coast to catch up to six pilchards, or “goggle eyes” and pinfish on a single cast. If you haven’t experienced the fun of catching multiple white perch on the same rod, try fishing with a “Sabiki Rig”.
The Sabiki Rig consists of six brightly colored feathered flies connected by a four to six foot length of leader. The tiny jigs with glow heads, extra sharp hooks and fish skin dressing and feathers, are highly visible. They come packaged in a variety of colors, with hook sizes from #4 to #10. When in doubt, a # 6 hook seems to work well on small perch and is also big enough to hold larger fish. Sabiki rigs are available at local tackle shops for two or three dollars, depending on the manufacturer.
When drifting for catfish, Lake Norman fishing guide Mac Byrum, attaches a ¾ oz. slinky or eye-drop weight to a Sabiki and lets it bounce off the bottom. Rather than reeling when he feels a bite, he jiggles the rig to entice other schooling fish to the remaining empty hooks. When perch are feeding aggressively, Mac loads the rig with three to five on each drop. When fishing slows, he adds additional worms or small pieces of cut bait to the hooks.
The Sabiki is designed to catch all types of small schooling fish. They work particularly well on white perch, but also catch crappie, bream and herring, a popular baitfish with striper fishermen. Care should be taken to fish the Sabiki only in open water. The multi-line jig heads are easy to hang in brush or other obstructions.
On Lake Norman, white perch swim in large schools and range in size to about one pound. They are also caught by conventional methods with small spinners, single jigs, live minnows, worms, cut bait and shiny spoons. The white meat is excellent. There is no size or creel limit for these tasty fan fish.
Take the family fishing and give the Sabiki a try. Youngsters can sometimes catch two, four or six on the same cast.
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, July 10, 2008, Light House Marine Services will offer a boating course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics will include “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. 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.
Free fishing seminar by Capt. Gus Gustafson – “Deep Jigging for Summer Stripers” and “How to Catch White Perch with Sabiki Rigs” - Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC., Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 6:30 p.m. Call 704 658 0822 for additional information.
Tips from Capt. Gus:
Some anglers make perch rigs by tying four to eight #6 gold hooks on a line with a 3/4 to 1 oz. weight. Add your favorite bait for scent.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Striper fishing is good to very good in the deeper sections of the old river channel from Marker 13, south to the dam. Bass are holding tight to piers and docks. White perch are schooling along drop-offs in water from twenty to thirty feet. The best bite is from dawn until 9:00 a.m.
The water level is currently 2.5' below full pond. Water surface temperature is in the mid-eighties and low nineties.
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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