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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ October Expectations
September 30, 2007
Anglers should expect October to bring cool weather and great fishing! By mid-month, fishing will improve steadily with the onset of Fall. Cooling water temperatures invigorate bass and stripers causing them to chase and feed endlessly on unsuspecting pods of shad and herring.
Look for stripers on points off the main channel and in major creek arms. Surface feeding activity can occur at any time of the day, primarily at dawn and dusk. The majority of fish will be caught by trolling or down lining baits along drop offs and in deeper holes along the main channel. Baits of choice are shad, herring, roadrunners, bucktails and jigging spoons. Popular locations this month are Reeds and Stumpy Creeks and sections of the main river channel near the State Park.
Fall bass fishing peaks in October. Be on the lookout for pods of shad that cruise the banks early and late. When you see bait shimmering on the surface, bass are usually not far behind. However, keep in mind that not all bass chase bait. Most wait in hideouts to ambush their prey. Underwater structure, pier pilings, stumps, rock piles and blow downs are popular haunts. Leery largemouth bass tend to locate inshore where they can be tempted by a variety of soft plastics, buzz and jerk baits.
Spotted bass, the feisty cousin of the largemouth, will be deeper. Spots tend to bunch in small groups or in small schools. Humps, contour drops and isolated structure are preferred hangouts for them through October.
White perch are easy to find by drifting baits just off the bottom. When a school is found, anchor and enjoy the action. Suggested baits are small minnows, shad, pieces of cut bait and shiny spoons and jigs. White perch do not have a size or creel limit, so keep all you care to eat. The white meat makes excellent table fare and is perfect for a family fish fry.
Flathead catfish sometimes follow marauding schools of feeding perch and are often caught incidentally by anglers seeking white perch. The brownish/yellow cat lurks below the perch where it picks at crippled feeder fish and eats discarded pieces of bait. Blues and channel cats that ply Lake Norman waters are easy prey for bank and boat fishermen using prepared or natural baits.
Regardless which species you seek or catch, October is a great month to spend some time fishing on Lake Norman.
Upcoming Events:
Seminar by Alan Stopko: Stopko will conduct a seminar on "How to Read Lake Norman Charts, Plan a Trip, Anchor and Tie Knots." This three-hour session will be at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 29 at the Peninsula Yacht Club. Call 704-895-6993 to register.
Continuing Education Class at Mitchell Community College (Mooresville Campus): "Understanding GPS and Fish Finders." This four-hour course will be conducted by Capt. Gus Gustafson on two consecutive Wednesday nights beginning October 10 at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 704-663-1923 for more information.
Tips from Gus!
With lake levels 4' below normal, fishermen are reminded to exercise caution when negotiating LKN waters. Keep your boat between the red and green channel markers and navigate through familiar waters only.
Hot Spots of the Week. Bass fishermen are finding largemouth and spots up to five pounds at the hot water discharge at the lower end of Lake Norman. A few stripers are being taken at dawn on top water baits while surface feeding over humps and shallow points in Reeds and Davidson Creeks. The lake level is 93.4 or 6.6' below full pond and still dropping. Surface water temperature is in the high seventies.
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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