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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ “Normie, the Lake Norman Monster”
July 6, 2008
“Normie, the Lake Norman Monster” - is it a hoax, or is it real? The question has been asked by Lake Norman visitors for more than a quarter century. At first, its existence was only a rumor by an individual who claimed he saw something very large swimming in the lake.
Next, were tales from anonymous scuba divers inspecting the dam. As they swam near the bottom of the lake, a burst of water pushed them toward the rocks, and something large swimming above them, turned the water black by obscuring the sunlight. The astonished divers freaked out!
Hundreds of monster sightings have been reported since – so many, in fact, that a website was developed by Matt Myers, for people to post their observations. In the year 2007, ten different incidents were reported. (Matt learned years ago, that those who report sightings of space ships hovering overhead, mermaids, monsters or alligators in the lake, are viewed by their peers with suspicion.) However, he wanted a venue to welcome such discussions without fear of reprisal or undue criticism. That’s when he created www.lakenormanmonster.com.
While some sightings are suspect, Matt believes there is enough substance to think there might be a creature lurking below the water’s surface! He says, “The following comments give credence to a monster theory and bear further investigation.”
- “Its eyes were the size of basketballs.”
- “It had a huge body with two large fins.
- “I was swimming in the northern part of the lake, when I saw the water divide, and something sticking out of the water was coming toward me.”
- “The “catfish” I saw was definitely bigger than I was. It was dark gray and approximately 4 feet long and 2 feet wide.”
When asked why the sudden interest in “Normie”, Matt was quick to comment, “Other large lakes have legendary monsters, so why not Norman? Lake Norman is the state’s largest lake, with water depths to over one-hundred-thirty feet, and it has more than five-hundred miles of shoreline - lots of room for a monster to roam.” He went on to say, “Newspaper articles about record catfish from LKN, stories about big garfish, recent stockings of grass carp (that grow to huge portions), and reports of people catching the dreaded snakehead fish, have everyone scanning the water.”
In closing, Matt sited a rumor about a biological experiment that possibly went astray. It seems that years ago Arkansas Blue Catfish and Wyoming Buffalo Carp were cross-bred in hopes of producing a fish that would reportedly grow to a thousand pounds and provide excellent table fare. Rumors are that these fish were stocked in Lake Norman. To date, none have been caught.
The website (www.lakenormnamonster.com) is loaded with reports of unusual sightings and strange happenings. It’s a fun site to visit. The next time you have some free time, visit Matt’s site. Also, do a little monster hunting on your own when cruising Lake Norman.
Upcoming Events:
On Thursday, July 10, 2008, Light House Marine Services will offer an instructional 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 for the three-hour class 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.
A 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:
Summer weather makes it difficult to keep bait alive. Even worms fade quickly when exposed to excessive heat. Store the carton of worms in an ice chest while fishing.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Stripers are in good numbers on deep river points and near Cowan’s Ford Dam. Bass fishing around boat docks is best from sunset to sunrise. Perch continue to please those using cut bait, jigging spoons and Sabiki Rigs.
The water level is currently 2.8' below full pond. Water surface temperature is in the high 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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