• Lake Norman Fishing Report - NC

    Fishin' With Gus
    (704) 617-6812 http://www.fishingwithgus.com/index.php Gus@LakeNorman.com
  • Gus Gustafson's Avatar

    With Capt. Gus you will learn fishing techniques that will improve your fishing and allow you to catch more fish on you own boat. Light tackle is used to maximize the excitement of lake fishing. Guide boats can accommodate from one to six anglers. Fishing guides are available year round. They fish daily, including weekends and holidays.

  • Lake Norman Fishing Report - NC

    Tired of fishing the same old way? If so, it’s time to give “Jug-Hook Fishing” a try.

    Jugging, as it’s called, is a fun and easy way for the entire family to enjoy catching catfish and other species that will hit still baits. All that’s needed is a few empty plastic drink bottles (two liter), or better yet, empty bleach bottles, a length of line, a weight, hook and bait.

    Jugging is as simple as 1-2-3:
    * Write the users name and address or NCWRC customer number on each jug with a waterproof marker.
    * Attach a length of fishing line (four to twelve feet) to each jug or bottle.
    * Tie a weight (1/2 to 1 ounce) and hook (1/0 or larger) to the terminal end of the line.
    * Place a piece of cut bait on each hook (using live bait is illegal in North Carolina).
    * Throw jugs in the water and watch as they drift with the wind or current (maximum of seventy jugs per boat allowed.)
    * When a jug bounces or goes under, a fish has taken the bait.
    * Retrieve the jug and pull the fish in. Since most will be of good size, a landing net is suggested.

    Best baits are fresh cut bream and perch, a variety of store bought stink-baits, table scraps, cheese, shrimp, worms, chicken livers and anything with a pungent smell. Some of the best results are achieved by anglers using small pieces of chicken breasts sprinkled with garlic powder.

    Good places to fish are in back coves and shallow bays away from boat traffic. While some fishermen set their jugs and leave them unattended overnight, it is more fun to stay with them and land the catfish as they bite. According to NCWRC regulations, jugs must be fished daily and all fish removed daily. Unattended jugs, as evidenced by the absence of bait, may be removed from the water by wildlife enforcement officers.

    A license that authorizes basic fishing privileges is required by those using jug-hooks. For a complete set of Trotlines, Set-Hooks and Jug-Hooks regulations, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

    Note: In Lake Norman and Badin Lake the daily creel for blue catfish greater than 32 inches in length is one.

    Tips from Capt. Gus! Noodles, the colorful foam plastic ones used for swimming, are an excellent alternative to the plastic bottles used for jug fishing. Not only are they inexpensive, but they take less space in the boat when cut into nine to twelve inch sections. A piece of PVC pipe inserted through the noodle and capped on either end adds rigidity.

    Upcoming Events:
    Free Fishing Seminar: “How to Use Topographic Maps to Improve Fishing” is the topic for discussion at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. Jake Bussolini and I will discuss the basics of interpreting topographic maps and we’ll pinpoint some of the best fishing spots on Lake Norman. Contact 704-658-0822 for additional information.

    Hot Spots of the Week: A late summer heat wave has slowed fishing a bit, but anglers fishing at sunrise and dusk are being rewarded with nice stringers of bass at deep water docks and on rip-rapped points. Depending on preference, soft plastics skipped under wooden structures and top water lures worked slowly around the dock pilings, have been productive. Cat fishing is excellent, particularly blue catfish that are hitting live and cut bait on a rod and reel.

    The surface water temperature varies by location, but is mainly in the eighties in open waters not affected by power generation. The water level is about 2.3’ below full pond on Lake Norman and 3.0' below full on Mountain Island Lake.

    Capt. 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, www.Fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-68
    Comments 2 Comments
    1. spencerva22's Avatar
      spencerva22 -
      Thanks for the info, and i hope to be at your seminar tomorrow. Im in the army and recently moved here to nc and now living in denver. I have caught a few cats on cut brim and some stink baits drofting. If i want to anchor up around 150 area of lake where would be a good start point?
    1. fabfishin's Avatar
      fabfishin -
      spencerva22 - Gus may not check this very often. You might try contacting him at the number below


      (704) 617-6812

      http://www.fishingwithgus.com/index.php

      Gus@LakeNorman.com

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