Lake Conditions: The surface water temperature varies by location, but is mainly in the fifties in open waters not affected by power generation. The water level is about 2.7 feet below full pond on Lake Norman and 3.4 feet below full on Mountain Island Lake.

The Lake Norman creel limit is twenty fish per day per angler, with an 8" minimum size limit. Crappie can grow to legal size in one year. After that, they gain body weight, but only add an inch to their total length annually. Large crappie (12” or more) are called "slabs.”



Upcoming Events: The Lake Norman Shrine Club will hold its 36th annual Dogwood Bass Fishing Tournament on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at The New Midway Marina in Terrell, NC. Contact William Cork at wcork@yahoo.com for information.

Free Fishing Seminar - Corey Oakley, Inland Fisheries Piedmont Research Coordinator for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will discuss the changes in Lake Norman’s fish population leading up to the introduction of hybrid striped bass. This ninety minute session begins at 6:30 p.m. on April 15^th at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. For more information, call 704 658 0822.

Free Safe Boating Class - “How to Navigate Lake Norman Day or Night” will be held at The Peninsula Yacht Club, 18501 Harbor Light Blvd, Cornelius, NC at 6:30 p.m. on April 23^rd. Becky Johnson and I will cover “Understanding LKN’s Channel Marker and Buoy System”, “How to Avoid Shallow Water”, “Ten Most Dangerous Spots” and “Interpreting Lake Maps”. For more information, call Ashley at 704 892 7575.

Hot Spots of the Week: Plenty of bass can be found off creek and river points. A-Rigs, swim baits and drop shot rigs are the baits of choice. Bass are beginning to spawn in the back coves of Ramsey and McCreary Creeks. White perch are being caught with Sabiki rigs and live minnows along the edges of creek and river channels. Crappie fishing is good-to-very-good in Mountain, Hager’s and Terrapin Creeks.


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 704-617-6812. For additional information, e-mail him at Gus@lakenorman.com.