During late January and early February water temperature is one of the forces that drive bait and predator fish from one place to another. Warmer is usually better, but sometimes extreme cold can change the dynamics of fishing. This year’s chilling temperatures have caused bass, stripers, hybrids, perch and catfish to concentrate in very deep water. Some of the best catches are coming from the bottom at depths to ninety feet. While that might seem deep to freshwater bass fishermen, snapper and grouper fishermen consider ninety feet shallow.

Why so deep? During the winter, the warmest water temperatures are near the bottom. The deeper the water, the warmer it is, if by only a few degrees. Since fish are cold blooded, a few degrees make a big difference in their comfort level. Herring, deep swimming forage fish, also spend the winter in the deeper parts of the lake. With these two scenarios, you have the perfect winter fishing hole.

Finding fish in deep water can be like looking for a needle in a hay stack, particularly for those accustomed to casting in shallow water shorelines. Hopefully, the following tips will help you locate and catch deep water fish in February.
* The deepest water is generally in submerged river channels, creek runs, quarries, farm ponds and drainage ditches.
* Channels and other contour changes are clearly identified on (paper) topographic maps and on a variety of electronic GPS devices.
* Use a fish finder to determine water depth and help locate schools of fish.
* Be certain that the surface water temperature, depth and speed are displayed on the screen.
* Low flying and diving sea birds will pinpoint the areas where fish are feeding at times.
* Look for loons. Diving loons feed on forage fish below the surface.
* Look for concentrations of boats that are fishing in open water.

Below are a few places likely to hold a variety of deep water fish in February.
* Ramsey Creek – Deep water points between R3 and R5 – Bass, stripers, perch
* Davidson Creek – Channel in front of abandoned water intake at T1 – Bass, white perch, catfish
* Reed Creek – Creek channel between Marker D6 and D9 - Bass, stripers, perch, catfish
* Mountain Creek – Creek channel and deep points between M1 and M3 – Bass, stripers, perch
* Stumpy Creek – Deep water between Marker B2 and B3 - Bass, perch, hybrids
* Catawba River Channel - between Marker 12 and 17B – Bass, perch, stripers, catfish
* Catawba River Channel – between Marker 7 and 2 – Bass, perch, stripers, catfish
* McGuire Hot Hole and surrounding waters – Bass, perch, hybrids, stripers

Tips from Capt. Gus! Hand and foot warmer packages are inexpensive and help to keep extremities warm. Some anglers use a catalytic propane heater to warm the face and hands. A model commonly used in golf carts can be safely mounted in a cup holder on the helm of the boat.

“How to Navigate Lake Norman Day or Night” is a free Safe Boating Class to be held at Morning Star Marina at Kings Point, Exit 28, Cornelius, NC on February 13th at 6:30 p.m. Becky Johnson and I will cover topics that include “Understanding LKN’s Channel Marker and Buoy System”, “How to Avoid Shallow Water”,” The Ten Most Dangerous Spots”, and “Interpreting Lake Maps”. For more information, call Ashley at 704 892 7575.

Free Fishing Seminar – “How to Catch Pre-Spawn and Spawning Lake Norman Bass” – Jake Bussolini author, and I will conduct this all new session on February 19, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville, NC. For additional information, call 704 658 0822.

Lake Norman’s water level is about 4.1’ below full pond and 2.6’ below full on Mountain Island Lake. The surface water temperature is in the thirties and forties in water not affected by the power generation on Lake Norman.