  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ How Long Should I Wait For a Bite?
December 9, 2007
“How long do I fish a spot before moving on to another?” This is an excellent question, frequently asked at fishing seminars. The easy answer would be, “Move when the fish stop biting.” However, there are many times when the bait hits the water and you get no bites for long periods of time. How long to wait and what to do next is the focus of this column.
Work an area thoroughly, regardless of how good the fish are biting. Look for positive signs, such as swirling fish, diving birds or baitfish images on the fish finder. If the bite is on, enjoy the action. If not, vary the water depth, boat speed, and choice of baits. When fish quit hitting or when you lose confidence in the spot, it’s time to move on.
Tournament bass fishermen tend to fish more quickly than other anglers. They typically make only a few targeted casts before changing locations. Bass anglers believe in the theory of “going to the fish, not waiting for them to swim by.” It is not unusual for a bass angler to fish thirty or more spots on tournament day. On the other hand, cat fishermen might spend an hour or more at any given spot. Their technique is to lure fish from great distances with smelly baits. Live bait striper fishermen tend to work an area thoroughly before moving to the next. As a rule, on days when the fish aren’t biting well, slow the presentation and fish deeper water with smaller baits.
Tides and currents can have a major effect on the timing of the bite. In saltwater, the hour prior to and just after a turn of the tide is the best time to fish. If you aren’t catching fish, or at least getting bites, don’t waste time. Move quickly to another spot before the “window of feeding” is over. Anglers fishing the upper reaches of Lake Norman know that fish bite best when the current is running. Fish are stimulated and tempted by moving water that washes bait and other morsels downstream.
Like the tide changes, dawn and dusk are major feeding periods. Be very selective in choosing a prime spot – one with a recent history of holding fish. Fish hard, but consider moving if nothing happens quickly.
The Hot Spots of the week are bridges where crappie and bass are hitting jigs, minnows and shad. The channel area between Slanting Bridge and the railroad trestle in Mountain Creek is producing stripers at dawn. Stripers are surface feeding during the late afternoon in the island area between markers 20 and 25.
Winter fishing tips from Gus:- Wear a personal flotation device, particularly when fishing alone.
- Wear boots or leather shoes, not tennis shoes.
- Have a catalytic propane heater available to warm face and hands
- Bring a thermos filled with something hot to drink.
- Be cautious of ice on access ramps and boat decks.
- If you don’t catch your own bait, try rainbow or golden trout. Both are livelier in cold water than shiners and bait minnows.
- Be sure to have a cell phone and a list of emergency numbers.
The lake level is currently 93.2’ or 6.8' below full pond. The water surface temperature is in the mid to high 50’s. Beatties Ford, Little Creek, Long Island, Stumpy Creek, Pinnacle, McCrary and Hager’s access ramps are OPEN on Lake Norman.
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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