Photo: Capt. Gus holds a Lake Norman spotted bass
Expect August to be HOT, that’s why the best time to fish is between 10:00 PM and 10:00 AM. It’s cooler, there is less boat traffic and the fish are quite active. Lighted docks, marina basins, bridge pilings and boat ramps are good starting spots. Summer anglers also hang lanterns around there boats as the drift their favorite fishing grounds, while others use underwater LED lights to attract fish after dark
The heat of the day finds bass on drops too thirty feet and sulking under deep-water docks and near blow downs. Soft plastics fished near the bottom or skip cast under docks can be quite productive. Once on the bottom shake the bait in place to keep it in strike zone as long as you can. Some surface occurs during the early morning but the majority will be yearlings.
Night fishing for catfish can produce great results in August. Blue cats will concentrate in the deep water near the Cowans Ford Dam and in the old Catawba River Channel. Summer blue cats suspend at the thermocline (where the warm and cold water meet) and are caught by drifting cut baits. Channel cats will be active at night and are easy to catch from docks with a variety of stink baits and table scraps.
Angler’s deep jigging spoons or suspending live bait will catch hybrids near the deeper river and creek channel slopes and edges. Trolling is popular with anglers that have equipped their boats with down riggers. Best baits are Alabama rigs, roadrunners, spoons and deep diving crankbaits.
White Perch like warm water, but not the bright sunlight, so fish early and late in water to fifty feet. Sabiki rigs, silver jigging spoons and live minnows will take the majority of perch in August. As previously stated; white perch make delicious table fare and are perfect the perfect for fish frys. Lake Norman has no size or creel limit on white perch.
Tips From Capt. Gus:
Before you hit the lake check to see if your fishing license is current. If not you go to: www.NCwildlife.org to renew or purchase for the first time.
See you out there!
Capt. Gus
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 at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.
