• Lake Norman Fishing Report - NC

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

    February is a month of transition. Fish yearn to move to shallower sections of the lake to prepare for the spring spawning ritual. Water temperatures, not the groundhog’s shadow, will be the determining factor as to how soon the fish on Lake Norman will make that move. That is why the most useful piece of equipment on your boat is the water surface temperature gauge. Find warmer water, and you’ll likely find bass, hybrids, stripers, crappies and some nice size catfish. It doesn’t take much, just the slightest temperature change of even a degree or two, can cause fish to gather in a particular area.

    Records show that when conditions are right (water temps rising into the low to mid-fifties), fish will begin to move to the shallows of certain creeks as early as Valentine's Day. Excellent areas for pre spawn fishing activity are Ramsey, Hagers and McCrary Creeks. Those creeks are closest to the hot water canals, and they warm earlier than Davidson, Reed and other popular tributaries. Other places to look for pre spawning fish are in coves that have a southern exposure to the sun.

    Bright sunlight can trigger fish to feed actively at midday and late afternoon. Since fish, particularly big bass and stripers, rise to the surface to enjoy the warming effects of the sun, casting lures along sunny banks is quite effective in February.

    Should winter prevail and water temperatures remain in the forties, fish will stage on river flats in water from thirty to fifty feet deep. Flats adjacent to large coves and major creeks seem to hold the most fish. Marker 13, near the south end of Kaiser Island, is an excellent staging area. Another likely location is the river flat east of the old river channel, between Marker 18B and the entrance to Lake Norman State Park.

    Bank fishermen will find fish holding in the hot holes throughout February. In fact, the colder the weather, the more fish will congregate. A bite can occur at any time, but hybrids and stripers tend to feed at first light. Bass, perch and catfish hit throughout the day. Both live bait and lures cast up current will attract fish in the hot holes. Bass and stripers are likely to be on the surface, while white perch and catfish will be cruising the sub surface currents.

    Dress for the conditions. February weather can be a challenge.

    See ya out there!



    Tips from Capt. Gus: Double the use of your fishing line, and save money too! Reverse the line by reeling it onto a similar capacity empty spare spool or a spool on a different reel. The unused line on the bottom of the old spool will be on the top of the new one.
    Hot Spots of the Week: Fishing in the hot holes and under diving sea birds in the river channel is excellent. Large groups of bass, hybrids and white perch are between Marker 15 and the Highway 150 Bridge, between Markers 11 and 14 and from Marker 3 to Marker 8. Some anglers are fishing the deeper waters of Reed Creek between Markers D6 and D2.
    Upcoming Events: Free fishing seminar - “Getting Ready for Spring” - Jake Bussolini and I will discuss the how’s and where’s of catching pre-spawn and early spring bass, hybrids, crappie and white perch. This ninety-minute session will begin at 6:30 p.m. on February 18th at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, in Mooresville, NC. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.

    Lake Conditions: The water level on Lake Norman is about 4.4 feet below full pond and is 4.0 feet below on Mountain Island Lake. The surface water temperature is in the mid to high forties in water not affected by power generation on Lake Norman.

    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 website at www.Fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-6812. For additional information, e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com.
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