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Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fish Signs
August 15, 2010
Road signs help travelers find restaurants, gas stations, accommodations and various points of interest. If signs aren’t enough, modern vehicles are equipped with a G.P.S. and other helpful gadgets that allow the driver to easily locate almost anything along the highway. Wouldn’t it be nice if fishermen had similar resources available to help them find fish? They do, but most signs aren’t as obvious.
Among the easiest fish signs to recognize are jumps, ripples, wakes, and tails or fins protruding above the surface. Anglers get excited when they see fish break the water, because this is usually an indication that they are actively feeding. But, fish breaking the water, particularly small baitfish, are very difficult to see from afar. Therefore, savvy anglers watch for diving gulls and terns, another sure sign that fish are feeding on the surface.
Fish signs can also be real signs, like the ones attached to the poles on Lake Norman that warn boaters of rocks and shoals. While shallow water is hazardous to boaters, it is a magnet for bass and other game fish.
Two signs that have tempted people for years are, “Wet Paint and “No Fishing”. How many times have you ever tested to see if wet paint is really wet? And, often the best fishing in a given area is within casting distance of a “No Fishing” sign? Could it be possible that the fish have signs printed to provide them with a safe place to live?
Cat fishermen look for signs of freshwater mussel shells scattered along the shorelines. Opened shells are an indication that a mussel bed is nearby. Muskrats and Arkansas blue catfish feast on them.
Flying or floating insects also attract bass, bream and crappie. Bank and stream fishermen are always on the lookout for signs of an insect hatch, knowing full well that if they find one, fishing will be good.
Dock lights attract insects, fish and fishermen! Since lights can be seen from great distances after dark, they are a sign that fish might be there.
Probably the best fish sign of all is if you see an angler’s rod doubled over or hear the screech of the drag when a big fish is pulling line from the reel. Nothing draws an angler to a spot faster than another angler fighting a fish. If you don’t believe this, take a walk out on a fishing pier and notice the crowd gathered around the one who is reeling in a fish.
Upcoming Events:
A free 90-minute seminar entitled “Learning to Use Your Depth Finder to Catch More Fish” is scheduled for Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Gander Mountain in Mooresville at Exit 36. Lake Norman fishing guide, Capt. Gus Gustafson, and Jake Bussollini, author of “Freshwater Fighters” will lead the discussion. Bring the instruction booklet for your depth finder and any questions you might have. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.
Tips From Capt. Gus:
Boat batteries require extra attention during hot weather. Before leaving the dock, be sure that batteries are fully charged and filled with fluids. Jumper cables and a cell phone are “must have” items to have on board should a battery fail to operate.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Catfish are hitting cut baits suspended below the surface to depths of sixty feet at Cowans Ford Dam . White perch are hitting minnows and jigging spoons on humps and drop-offs in water twenty-five to fifty feet deep. Spotted bass are surface feeding at dawn in boat basins and above underwater islands.
The lake level is about 3.5’ below full pond and the 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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