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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fishin' Report
08-05-2007
The hot August sun has an effect on man and fish. Even yard dogs know to stay under the porch on a summer afternoon. Fish seek solace in shady spots and in deep water. At times, the water gets so bright and warm that most fish will cease to bite during daylight hours. That's when cat fishing is best.
Regardless of what people read or hear, catfish feed 24/7 during the summer. The bite might be a little better at night, but lots of cats are caught in the heat of the day. All sizes are prime targets for savvy fishermen like Lake Norman fishing guide Mac Byrum.
When Mac has a family group on board he uses prepared baits like the ones sold at local tackle shops to catch lots of small fish. Prepared or stink baits, attract catfish with its scent from long distances. The problem with prepared baits is that small cats are so quick to eat the bait that the big ones never reach it.
Mac uses fresh cut shad, herring, bream and perch to lure trophy blues and flatheads. He keeps the bait alive in a tank installed on his boat because fresh bait catches more than bait that has been iced down or frozen. Mac prefers the head of a small bream or white perch over a filet strip. His theory is that fish heads catch the larger fish.
When fishing for kitty cats, small number 4, 2 and 1 hooks work fine. For trophy size fish, Mac uses 8/0 circle hooks. He claims that large, wide gapped hooks are necessary to clear a cat's thick jawbone.
Most catfish anglers either double anchor the boat or drift. Mac prefers to slow troll with his electric trolling motor. This allows him to get to the fish and still control the boat speed and course regardless of how the wind is blowing. When water temperatures are above 75 degrees and catfish are most active, he varies the speed between 0.5 and 1.0 mile per hour.
Fishing for big cats requires relatively heavy tackle and an extra large landing net. Mac urges everyone to release big fish so others may be lucky enough to enjoy a fight. To learn more about cat fishing on Lake Norman and other area lakes, contact Mac at 704-641-4727 or visit his web site at www.fishingwithmac.com.
Tips from Capt. Gus:
The old adage, "Crank, don't yank" holds true when using circle hooks, even with cat fish. Reel when the rod tip bends. The combination of pressure from the fish pulling against the rod, and the line being reeled in, is more than enough to allow a sharp circle hook to penetrate.
The Hot Spot of the Week:
Stripers are being caught by trolling in the river channel from Marker 10 south to the dam. The biggest concentration of fish seems to be in the triangle area formed by Markers D1, D2 and main channel Marker 3. Big white perch are being taken on spoons and minnows in water to fifty feet deep. Surface feeding bass have been easy to find on most calm mornings.
The lake level is 756.0' above mean sea level or 4.0' below full pond. Water surface temperature is in the mid to high 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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