• 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

    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 2.5’ below full pond on Lake Norman and 3.6’ below full on Mountain Island Lake.

    Don’t know where to fish? Try casting around any of Lake Norman’s channel, shoal and rock markers.

    There are over one hundred and fifty channel marker poles along the edge of Lake Norman’s river channel and nine major creek arms. All are identified on lake maps and GPS charts.

    Each channel marker is positioned in less than twelve feet of water and is adjacent to a channel or drop off - ideal underwater terrain for game fish seeking food and cover. Algae grows on the poles and provide food for feeder fish. The feeder fish, in turn, attract larger fish such as largemouth and spotted bass. Channel markers make drop-offs easy to locate, and since each marker has a number, the exact location is easy to find on a return fishing trip.

    Some markers identify underwater points of land that end at a creek or river channel. Anglers think of channel points as exits off an interstate highway - where the food is! The difference is that instead of burgers and fries, it’s shad and other forage fish.

    Hybrid striped bass and “schoolie” spotted bass often chase baitfish onto points where they are rounded up and devoured. Largemouth bass simply lie in wait by marker poles and ambush unsuspecting victims as they pass.

    Shoal and rock markers identify shallow places on the lake bottom that might be covered with gravel, sand, clay, rocks or stumps – again, great habitat for game fish. Each marker has a flashing white light on a diamond shaped white sign board with the word “shoal” printed on it. Knowing that the water is low, savvy anglers approach a shoal at idle speed while they study the depth soundings on their fish finder. Once in position, exploratory casts are made with lures that bump the bottom. The bouncing lure will allow you to feel the presence of rocks or stumps at the rod rip. The more underwater obstructions you feel, the better the fishing.

    Below is a list of channel markers and bottom features.

    Marker 1 and nearby shoal markers - rocks
    Marker 2A and adjacent shoal marker - clay and gravel
    Marker D3 and adjacent shoal markers - stumps
    Marker M1 – clay, sand bottom
    Marker M2 - gravel bottom, stumps
    Marker M4 - rocks
    Marker 15A and surrounding shoal markers - clay bottom, adjacent to river channel
    Marker 20 – stumpy point, rock reef



    Tips from Capt. Gus: If someone says you’re fishing too much, stop talking to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.

    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 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 15th at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. For more information, call 704 658 0822.

    Hot Spots of the Week
    : Warming water temperatures have crappie and bass preparing to spawn. Crappie fishing is good now that they have moved to the banks. Use 1/32 ounce jigs and small minnows in Reed, Mountain and Hicks Creeks. Bass are also preparing nests or roaming the shallows in preparation for the spawning. Stripers and hybrids are feeding in the hot holes of the Marshall and McGuire power plants.


    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.
  • Search Fishin.com

  • Recent Articles