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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ The Three D’s
August 2, 2009
August is a time when daylight hours are so steamy that people want to stay inside and yard dogs prefer to sleep under the porch. It’s also a time when fishermen mistakenly put their fishing tackle away and wait until the weather cools. The fact of the matter is, fishing for panfish is quite good during the heat of any day in August. The three “D’s” - dawn, dusk and dark are best for crappie, bass and stripers. Daytime bites for sunfish (bream), white perch & small catfish are also excellent, even in the bright sunlight.
Sunfish are the perennial summer favorites of kids fishing from boat docks and along shorelines. A preferred method of fishing for them is to suspend a small piece of worm, or a live cricket, on a little hook a few feet below a red & white bobber. When the bobber bounces on the surface or goes under, a “sunny” is likely to be on the hook. The amount of strength these tiny tuggers have is amazing, as they battle their way toward the angler. Better yet, is the smile on a youngster’s face each time a sunny is landed.
While sunfish roam the shallows, white perch tend to locate in deeper water. Bank fishermen catch their share, but the larger fish and bigger schools are found at depths from fifteen to fifty feet. Casting into deep water from the bank has its time and place, but fishing from a boat is best.
Small minnows, worm pieces and cut baits take lots of perch on or just off the bottom. They also hit a variety of artificial lures, including shiny spoons, spinners, and jigs. By far, the best and fastest way to catch a lot of white perch is to use a Sabiki Rig. The rig is made of four to six small files tied in tandem a few inches apart on a leader. The swivel on the upper end of the line is attached to the line coming from the rod, and a weight or jigging spoon is connected to the other end. Then yo-yo the Sabiki up and down just above the bottom. Don’t be surprised if you hook a fish on every fly and even on the jigging spoon.
Catfish like the summer heat and bite regularly throughout the day. Bank fishermen can expect to catch lots of small channel and blues. Best baits are prepared stink baits fished on the bottom, but worms, chicken livers and minnows will also catch them. When fishing for cats, several rods are often used at the same time. Unattended rods should be secured to prevent a big cat from pulling it into the water. Care should also be taken to avoid being stung by the sharp barbs on a cat’s dorsal (top fin) and pectoral (side fins).
After enjoying a day on the water and catching a stringer full of panfish, try eating them. Fresh caught panfish are delicious when fried in peanut oil and served with hush puppies, fries and slaw.
Tips from Capt. Gus:
According to some accounts, the term “Dog Days of Summer” was first used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. During their time, Sirius, “The Dog Star” rose before the sun cleared the horizon in July and August. It was blamed for the summer heat and believed to cause men and dogs to go mad!
Hot Spots of the Week:
Stripers are suspended at depths to sixty feet at the lower end of the lake. The best places to fish are along the channels edges south and east of Marker 7 and at the dam. White perch fishing continues to be very-good-to-excellent with small minnows and sabiki rigs around deep brush.
Lake Norman’s water temperature is in the high eighties and low nineties. The water level is about 2.7' below full pond.
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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