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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! - Listener Beware
July 1, 2007
As one gets older, it becomes clear that "All is not fair in love and fishing." Is it possible that a conspiracy festers in the fishing community - one that condones white lies and fish tales? This is not to say that fishermen exaggerate, but there is some reason to suspect that a few tell fibs from time to time. In fact, there are those who are really proficient at telling tall tales. You might recall listening to a fisherman tell a story, and the next time he tells the story, the fish is bigger than it was the first time. Was the truth compromised? Maybe.
Listeners should be wary if a fish tale begins with, "This is no lie…the bass was on the hook for twenty minutes before it jumped off and got away. It weighed over twenty pounds and was four feet long." The fact of the matter is that most bass are brought to the net in less than a minute, and the North Carolina State Record is less than sixteen pounds.
A few years back, two boats were fishing on opposite points in the mouth of a small cove when a third boat pulled between them. The angler displayed what appeared to be a very large striped bass. He claimed that he had caught it a few minutes earlier and that it weighed thirty-four pounds on his scale. When he left, he declared, "I'm done for the day and headed to the taxidermist."
He left to ride around the lake for hours and show off his fish. The ship-to-shore radios were abuzz with chatter about his big catch. Since there was a striper tournament that day, most anglers assumed that second place was their best hope of finishing. However, the striper angler did not show up at the weigh site, nor did he certify his catch at any of the local tackle shops.
Later, a phone call revealed that the taxidermist had not seen him and that he was not mounting a thirty-four pound fish for anyone. What was believed to be a trophy catch, turned out to be a well orchestrated deception.
Not everyone goes that far, but you might have noticed that some anglers seem to have their best luck when they fish alone. Is that because there are no witnesses? Coincidently, a lone angler never has a picture or a fish to prove his tale. Should you ever have an opportunity to fish with such a person, the fishing will more than likely be less than spectacular, giving credence to the old adage, "You should have been here yesterday."
If you are like most people, you are leery, but you know that fish tales are as much a part of the sport as Santa is to a child on Christmas morning.
Upcoming Events:
A free ninety minute cat fish seminar is scheduled for July 14, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lodge of Gander Mountain, Exit 36, in Mooresville, NC. Fishing guide Robert Tomasek and Mac Byrum will describe methods used to catch trophy Arkansas Blue and Flathead Catfish.
Light House Marine Services will conduct a safe boating class at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. July 21, 2007. Register and pay for this eight hour course at http://www.lmservice.org or call 704-361-2991 for additional information.
Lake Norman Sail and Power Squadron has a one day "Boating Safety Class" on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at the Denver Volunteer Fire Dept., 3956 N. Highway 16, Denver, NC 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Class fee is $25.00 (includes all class materials). Call Lou Schwartz at 704-896-7219 to register, or visit www.usps.org/localusps/lakenorman for additional information.
Tips from Gus!
When docking, approach the landing site at a controlled speed slow enough to avoid injury to property or persons.
The Hot Spot of the Week is Mountain and Reeds Creeks where stripers are hitting lures trolled thirty to forty feet below the surface. Large schools of white perch can be found in deep coves and along twenty foot contour lines.
Bass fishing continues to be good to very good on early mornings and after dark. Lake Norman water conditions are generally clear with the lake level at 3.5' below full pond. The water temperature is in the low-to-mid eighties.
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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