• Lake Norman Fishing Report

    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

    High Water. Vertical bridge clearances are reduced when water levels rise. In fact, with the recent rains some boaters have learned the hard way when their vessels wouldn’t clear certain bridge spans.

    Regardless of water level, both vertical and horizontal clearances should be considered before passing beneath a bridge. Double check to assure that superstructure, antennas and fishing rods will clear the span. If the clearance is minimal, don’t attempt to pass, as even a small wave created by a boat wake could be enough to lift your vessel high enough to top out.



    Photo Credit – Capt. Gus
    Photo of Chris Rogus of Charlotte, NC holding a spotted bass caught on a rainy Lake Norman fishing trip.


    Listed below are approximate vertical bridge clearances when the lake is at full pond (760 feet above sea level). This information comes from lake observations and information provided by the Lake Norman Marine Commission.

    LAKE NORMAN BRIDGE CLEARANCES
    I-40 Bridge - Catawba River - over 10' 0"
    Highway 64/70 Bridge - Catawba River - over 10’ 0"
    Railroad Bridge - Catawba River - over 10' 0"
    Railroad Bridge - Buffalo Creek - 3' 0"
    Buffalo Shoals Rd. Bridge - Catawba River - over 10' 0"
    State Rd. 1832 - Balls Creek - 5' 6"
    Windermere Island Bridge - Catawba River - over 10' 0"
    Molly’s Backbone Rd. Bridge - Terrapin Creek - 2' 0"
    State Park Rd. Bridge - Hicks Creek - 3' 0"
    Perth Rd. Bridge - Rocky Creek - 3' 0"
    Perth Rd. Bridge - Cornelius Creek - 5 '3"
    Cornelius Rd. Bridge - Cornelius Creek - 4 '0"
    Highway 150 Bridge - Catawba River - 8' 5" (center) - 11' 1" (sides)
    Highway 150 Bridge - Mountain Creek - 5' 9"
    Highway 150 Bridge - Reed Creek (LKN Marina) - 5' 9"
    Mount Pleasant Rd. Bridge - Mountain Creek - 5' 5"
    Railroad Bridge - Mountain Creek - 6' 3"
    Slanting Bridge Rd. - Mountain Creek - over 10' 0"
    Governor’s Island Rd. Bridge - East of Burton Creek - 7'10"
    Williamson Rd. Bridge - Reeds Creek - 6' 0"
    I-77 Bridge - Reeds Creek - 10' 3"

    Tips from Capt. Gus! To check current area lake water levels, call 1-800-829-5253 and follow the prompts.

    Fishing Report: Water levels have stabilized, and fishing has improved. White perch fishing is particularly good for those using minnows and Sabiki rigs in combination. Large fish are suspended at depths to fifty feet deep. Try fishing Red Creek between channel markers D5 and D11. Bass fishing is good to very good. As with perch, the bigger fish are along deep water drop-offs during the daylight hours and lighted boat docks at night. Spotted bass continue to surface feed on river points and in boat basins. Summer cat fishing is also in full swing. Small channel cats will eat stink baits and five to fifteen pound blues like fresh cut bream and perch.

    Water Conditions:
    The water level on Lake Norman is approximately 1.9' below full pond. Mountain Island Lake is 3.0' below full. Surface water temperatures are in the mid to high eighties, depending on location or proximity to a power plant.
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