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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Kevin’s Trophy Bass
December 6, 2009
It was early spring when Mooresville website designer, Kevin Smith decided to return to his favorite pond to do a little fishing. On this particular day, he brought along an ultra-lite, closed faced fishing outfit. The rod resembled a twig from a small tree and the reel looked like an Easter egg with a handle. Kevin knew it was a fragile outfit, but thought it would be just right for catching the small bass and panfish that swam in the pond at his old homeplace.
Within minutes, Kevin had caught and released several small fish when the top water lure he was using disappeared from the surface. His pole bent double and the six-pound test line stretched to its breaking point. Realizing that he had hooked something big, he eased the tension on the drag enough to let the big one pull line. And pull it did. Kevin’s heart beat like a drum while visions of losing a monster danced through his head. Regardless of his fears and the fact that he was fishing with inferior tackle, he was able to reel the critter closer and closer to the bank.
Kevin’s sweaty palms made it difficult to hold the rod. The big one stayed deep. Several minutes into the drama, the shaking angler began to wonder what was on the other end. Could it be a carp, snapping turtle or a giant catfish? All Kevin knew was that it was too big to be a bass and regardless, he wanted his lucky lure back.
Finally, with less than three feet of line left, the biggest largemouth Kevin had ever hooked raised its head from the muddy water and threw the lure at him. Without thinking, Kevin tossed the fishing outfit on the bank, jumped knee deep into the cold pond and scooped water, air and the big fish onto the bank. Most fish tales end with the big one getting away, but not this one. The bass flopped high and dry on the bank and a cold, soaking wet, but smiling, Kevin Smith was on his knees beside it.
If you do not believe what you have just read, ask Kevin the next time you see him. He will be happy to show you the picture in his camera. Better yet, drop by his office where you’ll see a mounted replica of his eight-pound bass hanging on the wall.
Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers for Fishermen
• Hand and foot warmer packs - $.99
• Nail clippers - used to snip fishing line - $.99
• Pocket knife - $9.99 +
• Tape - to measure the length and girth of a fish - $1.99 +
• Nail polish - all colors - to change the color of fishing lures. $.99+
Hot Spots of The Week:
Depending on the weather, fishing for stripers, bass and white perch has been good to very good. Best bets for stripers are Reed, Mountain and Hicks Creeks. Spotted bass are holding near deep brush and roadbeds at the lower end of the lake. Big white perch are hitting sabiki rigs and other baits in water to fifty feet deep along the edges of creek channels.
The lake level is 3.3' below full pond and the water surface temperature is in the fifties and sixties.
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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