Lake Norman’s red and green channel markers do more than identify river and creek channels. They are positioned in places where the lake bottom changes from shallow to deep water, thus also identifying some of the best fishing spots on the lake. It is in these spots that sport fish (bass and hybrids) regularly dine on forage fish that gather near the sign poles to feed on baitfish. The poles are also used as cover for fish to ambush their prey.

Photo:Capt. Gus holds a smallmouth bass caught on a recent trip to Canada


Shoal and rock markers identify places where the lake bottom becomes shallow very quickly. Such places, while considered hazards to navigation by boaters, are thought of as fish attractors by anglers. Quick changes in bottom contours are to fish what a bright light at night is to an insect. Shoals are often covered with rocks, pea gravel, tree stumps or other debris considered to be magnet areas for fish.

The easiest way to learn about the bottom near a marker is to approach it at idle speed and study the soundings on a fish finder. Make several exploratory casts with a lure that bumps the bottom. If rocks or stumps are present, you’ll see them on the fish finder screen or feel them with the rod tip as the lure bounces over them.

Channel, shoal and rock markers are easy to locate when traveling up and down the waterway. For those who wish to learn more about the lake’s bottom, there are excellent topographic maps available that not only show the bottom contours, but also show the position of the markers.

Below is a list of markers, bottom conditions and fish likely to be caught at each location:

Marker 1 and nearby shoal markers – rocks; bass
Marker 2A and adjacent shoal marker – gravel; bass
Marker 7 - clay bottom; bass and catfish
Marker D3 and adjacent shoal marker – stumps; bass and catfish
Marker M1 - sand bottom; bass, perch, catfish
Marker M2 - clay bottom, gravel and stumps: bass, perch, catfish
Marker 15A and surrounding shoal markers - clay bottom; bass, catfish, perch and hybrids
Marker 20 - clay, stumpy point; bass, hybrids, catfish

Tips from Capt. Gus! A good thing about fishing near a channel marker is that the fishing area is easy to find on a return trip. Simply make a note of the number and/or letter on the sign.

Hot Spots of the Week: Up lake, bass anglers are catching limits using soft plastics rigged Carolina style. The bigger bass are on drops and deep points in water to thirty feet. Smaller spotted bass are surface feeding on shallow points and are hitting a variety of top water lures. White perch fishing is also very good, with many boats catching a hundred or more per trip. Fishing for catfish is excellent.

The surface water temperature varies by location, but is mainly in the eighties in open waters not affected by power generation. The water level is about 1.4’ below full pond on Lake Norman and 3.0' below full on Mountain Island Lake.