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  Fishin' With Capt. Gus! - Fishing in the Rain
October 29, 2006
Night fishing can be great fun – the darker the night, the better the catch. Fishing in the rain is even better. Rain clouds provide ideal low light conditions for both anglers and predator fish to stalk their prey. With rainy weather, a falling barometric pressure triggers hunger pangs in the bellies of most game fish. This causes fish to attack anything that swims in front of them. Even though the prospect of catching a lot of fish is great, getting wet and chilled does not appeal to most people.
Veteran anglers will have the right foul weather gear to keep them dry and cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They know that the $1.99 poncho isn't going to work. Invest in a complete outfit, either one piece or two, that covers the entire body.
The head and chest areas are most important to keep dry. Most rain parkas and jackets have hoods that will shed water. The less expensive ones do not allow body perspiration to escape and will cause one to sweat and become wet anyway. Outerwear made with Gore-Tex allows body moisture to escape and keeps the rain out. Weatherproof outwear is available with or without insulation and/or a zip out lining for year round use.
A good rain jacket will keep the upper body dry, but rain will eventually wet your legs and feet. For complete protection, it is important to have waterproof pants/bib and shoes.
The hands are most difficult to keep warm. Some use Gore-Tex gloves; others wear disposable latex surgical gloves. The problem is that whatever you wear, the hands are constantly getting wet from the rain or from handling bait and fish. It is a good idea to have a dry towel. Some anglers use hand warmers. When outerwear has been worn for a season or so, it might become porous. To restore the waterproofing, spray it with a water repellent.
Now….brave the elements and go fishing the next time it rains! See you out there!
Upcoming Seminar:
Fishing 101- Bank and Dock Fishing for Pan and Game Fish
Bring the family to this free, informative seminar. Mac Byrum and I will explain the basics and will cover everything from cane poles, hooks and bobbers, to the latest in artificial baits and casting techniques.
Where: Bass Pro Shops, Concord Mills Mall upstairs meeting room
When: Monday, November 6, 2006
Time: 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Contact: 704-979-2200
The Hot Spots of the week are the mid lake areas of Mountain Creek and the islands near the State Park. Nice catches of stripers and bass are being reported on live and artificial baits. Watch for surface feeding schools early and late. During the day, the same schools will locate in water from ten to forty feet deep. The lake level is 2.9' below full pond and the water surface temperature is in the sixties and low seventies.
Tips from Gus! Don't wait until you are wet to don the rain gear. The dampness from your clothing will chill the body and make you uncomfortable the rest of the trip.
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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