Photo of Capt. Gus holds a pair of bass
Lake Norman Fishing Forecast – June 2018
The Angler Magazine
Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
The Last Cast
June 2018 Forecast
The last cast, or is it?
How many times have you heard a fishing buddy say, “Just one more cast!” This usually happens about the time you’re ready to call it a day. If you’re an avid fisherman, it happens quite often. Veteran anglers have come to understand that it doesn’t necessarily mean only one more cast. In fact, it’s a neat way to say that we’ll probably be fishing longer than originally planned.
More importantly, “just one more cast” symbolizes the optimistic attitude necessary to outwit a fish that might not be hungry. It also speaks to the perseverance it takes to be successful in a sport where the opponent, (the fish) is not always visible.
There are times when the “just one more cast” mindset has turned a bad day’s fishing into a good one. Most of the time, it’s a good excuse to extend the fishing trip, simply because it’s fun to be on the water. When one considers the alternatives, such as doing yard work or cleaning out the garage, it’s no wonder so many people choose to fish longer.
It’s really interesting how many times the last cast of the day produces a fish and is often the biggest fish of the trip! The other day, I took a few youngsters crappie fishing. Two of the three caught several thirteen inch or larger fish, while the third one only had a few that were close to eight inches. When it came time to pull the fishing lines in for a final time, the third youngster made one more cast. And yes, he caught a seventeen-inch crappie, the largest fish of the day!
Many believe that the last cast has a very high likelihood of hooking a fish. So, maybe that’s why you hear “just one more cast” spoken so often at the end of a fishing trip.
Tips from Capt. Gus: Conversely, catching a fish on the FIRST cast of the day is said to bring bad luck for the rest of the day!
Lake Norman June Forecast: Post spawning bass will aggressively hit a variety of top water lures on channel points at dawn. Anglers casting around docks near mid-day should use bottom bumping soft plastics for larger bass. White perch are in the back of coves in water to thirty feet deep. Most are being caught on live minnows, small spoons, Sabiki rigs and crappie jigs. Like bass, crappies have finished spawning and have moved to deeper water. Best bets are around submerged brush piles and bridge pilings.
Cat fishing will improve dramatically as water temperatures approach eighty degrees. Chicken parts, fresh cut bream and white perch are the baits of choice for blue cats, while chicken livers and stink baits are preferred by those who target channel cats.
Expect Lake Norman’s water levels to be about 2.0’ below full pond and the surface water temperature to be in the high seventies and low eighties in water 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.
