July 2018
There are times during the summer, particularly from mid-July until Labor Day, when lake water temperatures are so warm that most fish stop biting. Catfish are the exception. The warmer the water, the more actively they feed. The reasons are many, but simply stated, catfish have a higher tolerance for warm water than other popular hook and line fish.
Lake Norman is populated with three types of catfish – Channel, Blue and Flatheads. Average channel cats weigh from one to three pounds and are fun to catch on light tackle. They are frequently caught on heavily scented baits, known as “stink baits.” In addition, fishermen have learned that catfish also like chicken parts, table scraps and left-over foods. Some of the more popular “refrigerator” baits, are chicken livers, shrimp, cheese and bacon strips. In addition, minnows (dead or alive), night-crawlers and red wiggler worms are popular baits for those who target channel cats.
Blue catfish grow to over one-hundred pounds in some parts of the country. The Lake Norman record is eighty-five pounds. A big one can be caught at any time, so savvy anglers use heavy tackle and large hooks (3/0–7/0) tied to fifty to eighty-pound leader material. Since blue cats will hit the same baits mentioned above, anglers prefer to use fresh-cut strips of bream, herring, shad and perch. Some believe the head of a bream, or white perch, will produce more strikes than a filet strip. The theory is that the head holds more scent, and it seems to attract larger fish. Another bait that has gained popularity in recent years, is a small piece of chicken breast sprinkled with garlic powder.
Flatheads, while not quite as large as the blue catfish, have achieved weights of over fifty-pounds on Lake Norman. The state record, however, is held by a seventy-eight-pound blue taken from the Cape Fear River in 2005. While other the species of catfish are classified as scavengers, the flathead is a predator that stalks forage and gamefish. That is why live shad, herring, perch, bream and goldfish are frequently used to target them.
“Jug fishing” is a fun way to spend a summer day catching catfish. The rig is simple; tie a length of fishing line (six to eight feet) to the handle of an empty Clorox bottle. Add a weight and hook to the terminal end of the line. Bait the hook with a piece of cut bait, and throw the rig into the water. The more jugs you use, the better your chances of catching cats. Allow them to float with the current, and watch for a bite. The bite happens when the jug begins to bob or move erratically. Get to the moving jug quickly, and pull the catfish into the boat with a long-handled net.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission:
* A jug-hook shall have the name and address of the user legibly inscribed and attached.
● Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers.
● The number of jug-hooks that may be fished is limited to 70 per boat.
● Jug-hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily.
● Untended jug-hooks, as evidenced by the absence of bait, may be removed from the water by a
Wildlife Officer.
Tips from Capt. Gus: There is no size or creel limit on catfish taken from Lake Norman. The only exception is that the daily possession limit for blue catfish greater than 32 inches, is only one fish.
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. For additional information, e-mail Gus@LakeNorman.com.