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  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Landlocked Stripers
December 30, 2007
Stripers swim in coastal waters from New England to north Florida. They are not native to inland fresh water impoundments, but are capable of surviving when stocked or trapped. Like salmon, they swim upstream in certain rivers to spawn every spring. The fertilized eggs suspend themselves in moving current until hatching occurs in or near tidal marshes. Shallow estuaries afford food and protection for the pledging fish. When the juveniles become large enough to fend for themselves, they swim to open water and spend the remainder of life following forage fish up and down the coast.
In the late 1930's and early 1940's, a new inland fishery was born. Fishermen found that saltwater stripers, trapped during the formation of two connected South Carolina Lakes, were thriving. Santee Cooper quickly became synonymous with landlocked striped bass fishing. Today, stripers are stocked in Lake Norman and other southern reservoirs where there isn’t enough water flow to allow the eggs to incubate and hatch.
Striper stocking programs have been ongoing for decades in North Carolina impoundments. Adult freshwater stripers can achieve weights in excess of fifty pounds. The average size striper is considerably less. Their ferocity and size make them a much sought-after game fish that, on some lakes rivals the largemouth bass in popularity. A striper’s fighting ability has created a cult of professional touring tournament anglers. These pro fishermen travel from lake-to-lake in quest of the notoriety and money associated with catching large fish.
Lake Norman receives an annual stocking of approximately 162,500 stripers. The fingerlings are released in late spring. They are only an inch or so in length. About ten percent will survive to reach the minimum legal size limit of sixteen inches. Anglers are allowed a daily creel of four stripers. Catch and release is practiced during months when water temperatures are in the sixties or lower. The survival rate of released stripers during the summer is minimal, thus the reason for a four striper of any size creel limit.
Stripers are taken by a variety of methods, which include trolling or casting lures, or by suspending live baits at various depths while slow trolling or drifting. Fish are caught by anglers from the shoreline and from boats in water from a few feet to depths exceeding one hundred feet. As a rule, they are caught in the upper portions of the water column where the forage fish swim.
Those new to the sport can begin by using the tackle they already have. As individual striper fishing techniques develop, new tackle can be purchased to match one’s particular fishing style. Since the average size of a striper is somewhat greater then bass, heavier tackle is recommended.
Upcoming Events:
Mitchell Community College in Mooresville has scheduled a fishing class covering advanced techniques for catching bass, stripers and catfish. The class will be on Tuesday nights, January 22 and 29, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. For more information, call 704 663 1923.
A free Striper Fishing seminar is scheduled at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 6:30 PM. This 90-minute session will be presented by Lake Norman fishing guides, Capt. Craig Price and Capt. Gus Gustafson. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.
Tips from Gus:
Try casting a double spoon to breaks in the water. For this rig, tie a length of leader (twelve to eighteen inches) to the hook of a casting spoon. Attach a smaller spoon to the other end of the leader. The small trailing spoon will get most of the strikes, but don’t be surprised if you get a doubleheader every now and then.
The Hot Spots of the Week:
Holiday striper fishing has been very good in most major creek arms. Some of the best fishing has been reported in McCrary, Hicks and Mountain Creeks. Bass surface schooling activity is occurring in the hot holes. For best results try fishing early and late.
The lake level is 93.3 or 6.7’ below full pond and the surface water temperature is in the fifties. Beatties Ford, Little Creek, Long Island, Stumpy Creek, Pinnacle, McCrary and Hagers access ramps are open.
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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