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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Holiday Fishing
November 11, 2007
The winter holiday season is more than just a time to shop, eat and visit with friends and relatives. It is also one of the best times of the year to fish Lake Norman. By Thanksgiving weekend, most pleasure boats have been winterized and are off the water until spring. Those remaining are more than likely fishing boats that are searching for catfish, bass, stripers and pan fish.
The lake level is lower than normal. Three major ramps, (Ramsey, Blythe, and the State Park), are closed. However, the two most popular ramps, (Pinnacle and McCrary) at the Highway 150 Bridge, are open and will more than likely be useable during the holidays.
Striped bass, the king of Lake Norman’s fish, become energized when water temperatures dip into the fifties. They gorge themselves with shad and herring. The feast begins at dawn, a big meal time for hungry stripers, so get an early start. That’s when they will greet you with open mouths! On good days, you might boat the creel limit of four 16” stripers before the morning sun clears the eastern shores tree line. Now, that’s worth getting up for! Anglers who prefer to sleep-in or wait for the temperature to moderate, will also catch fish, but maybe not as quickly as those who took advantage of the early bite.
Stripers are sought after for their size and ability to place a strain on fishing tackle. But, another worthy opponent is the bass. Lake Norman has spotted and largemouth bass, both very tenacious and with great jumping ability. Some believe that bass stop biting in cold weather. That simply is not the case. In fact, some of the very best bass fishing occurs during the winter months. Successful winter anglers recommend downsizing baits and working them more slowly than normal. Unlike summer bass fishing, the sunny side of the lake attracts more bites. That's where bass spend most of the day absorbing the heat generated by the rays of the sun along the bank.
Pan fish are also active in November and December. Try using a small minnow on a colorful jig head. Dip it around a brush pile or bridge piling and wait for the tug. Your catch might be a surprise. Typically it will be a crappie or perch, but on occasions you will hook a bass, striper or catfish. The creel limit is twenty 8” crappies per day. Release the small ones.
The school breaks during the winter holidays are great times to introduce children to the sport of fishing. A perfect gift to consider is a new fishing outfit combined with a day of fishing on Lake Norman. Not only are the chances of catching fish very good, but to spend a day on the water with a child is a priceless experience. If you don’t have a boat, bank fishing is permitted at the Marshall Steam Plant, the McGuire Nuclear Station, or try the pier at the Lake Norman State Park.
Tips from Gus!
Underwater road beds that crisscross most area impoundments are excellent migration routes and primary feeding areas for a variety of fish. Topographic maps that show underwater structure can be purchased at area tackle shops or online at www.lakenormanmaps.com.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Stripers, bass, catfish and perch are biting throughout the day. Lately, the best areas are:
Bass - The south hot hole
Stripers - Mountain Creek
Catfish - Mountain and Hagers Creeks
Perch - Reeds and McCrary Creeks
The lake level is 93.2 or 6.8' below full pond. Surface water temperatures are in the mid to high 60’s.
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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