It’s been three years since the first hatchery truck released 162,500 hybrid striped bass fingerlings into Lake Norman. Since then, two supplementary stockings have taken place, one in 2014 and another in June of this year. All indications are that they’re adapting well to Norman’s high water summer water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels.


Growth chart courtesy of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission


Photo: Capt. Gus holds a Lake Norman hybrid striped bass.



Hybrid striped bass are artificially propagated by crossing striped and white bass. The end results are a fast growing agile gamefish that spends most of its life cruising in schools and pursuing forage fish. The fact that hybrids can withstand high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels, makes them an ideal addition to Lake Norman’s fishery. The average life span of hybrids is five to six years and their typical weight is between two and five pounds. How big Norman’s hybrids will grow is anybody’s guess, but seven pounders have been verified, which leaves some to imagine ten pounders are in the offering.

Fishing techniques are similar to those employed to catch their parents. Casting or trolling artificial lures is effective, as is deep jigging with spoons. Drifting live baits and bottom fishing with cut baits is also productive at times. But, by far, the most popular method is casting lures into the fracas when hybrids are feeding on the surface. The same tackle used to tempt bass and stripers will take hybrids, just downsize the baits a bit since they have a small mouth.

Early season hybrid action can occur anywhere, but the island area north of the Lake Norman State Park is a good starting point. Anglers who fish below Highway 150 will find hybrids feeding in Mountain, Little and Beaver Dam Creeks. The best time to find surface feeding is at dawn and dusk. Serious fishermen are on the water before daylight, knowing that the bite is often in full swing at sunrise.

Note: Hybrids are easily mistaken for white perch because they are similar in size, color and shape. If it looks like a white perch but has broken lateral lines along its body, it is more than likely a hybrid, and must be released if less than 16” in length. The daily creel limit is four hybrid striped bass in aggregate with striped bass. The minimum size limit for both species is sixteen inches.
A free fishing seminar on "Fishing Myths and Other Considerations That Effect Catch Rates” will be conducted by Jake Bussolini at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14^th. This interactive session will also examine the best methods to catch cool weather hybrids, stripers and spotted bass. For more information, call 704- 658-0822.

The 1^stAnnual Lake Norman Open Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2015 @ Beatties Ford Access in Denver, NC. This will be Lake Norman’s only multi-division, multi-species tournament – bass, stripers & kayaks! Call 704 996 0946 for information.

Hot Spot of the Week: Fishing for bass, crappie and white perch continues to improve as water temps fall. Crappie are hitting minnows dropped around submerged brush in water from twenty to thirty feet. Spotted bass are everywhere, with the best results by those casting deep diving lures off points and in the deeper parts of coves and sloughs. White perch continue to be the target fish for families looking for something easy to catch, clean and eat. Upriver hybrids are hitting surface lures at dusk. Fish are active from channel marker 18B north.

Tips from Capt. Gus: Bank and dock fishermen find that minnows and worms work best, but also use a variety of prepared baits (stink baits) and household foods like hotdogs, bread and chicken livers.

Lake Norman’s water level is on the rise after a week of heavy rains. The surface water temperature is in the high sixties and low seventies in waters not affected by power generation.

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 www.Fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-6812.