While most fishermen are waiting for cool weather to arrive, those targeting catfish are catching plenty of large ones. Catfishing improves every summer when the weather gets really hot, and this summer has been no exception. Three of the best places to try your luck are at Cowans Ford Dam, “The Sandbar” and “Cocktail Cove.”

The area near the dam has been teeming with Arkansas Blue Catfish since the stripers began to die in late July.  It seems that the blues are feasting on the dead fish suspended at the thermocline that haven’t floated to the surface. There have been so many catfish at the dam, that some anglers are catching them on 1, 1½, and 2 ounce jigging spoons without bait!  Others are using a variety of cut and live baits. The cats range in size from five to ten pounds, with an occasional fifteen pounder to round out a stringer.

“The Sandbar” and “Cocktail Cove”, two very popular places with the raft-up crowd, just happen to be great catfish holes during the week. Blues and channel cats frequent both locations and are easily caught when the boat traffic subsides. For those who aren’t familiar with the area, “The Sandbar” is located just south of the two islands between Markers D4 and D6, and “Cocktail Cove” is midway between Markers D7 and D9 on the east side of the Brawley School Road Peninsula.

If you want to catch flathead catfish, a good bet is to first locate a big school of feeding white perch. The flatheads will be under the perch schools, feeding on them and anything else that is close enough to swallow. The best bait, of course, is live white perch suspended just off the bottom. The fluttering action of a jigging spoon will also tempt big flatheads, who must think the metal jigging spoon is a wounded fish sinking toward the bottom.

Catfish have been thrilling dock and shoreline anglers all summer. Stink baits, worms, minnows and a variety of table scraps are bait’s of choice. Many believe in catch and eat, versus catch and release. The tasty meat of channel and blue catfish is excellent.

So… before the summer comes to and end, give catfishing a try. They are plentiful and some are really large.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday, September 9, 2010, Light House Marine Services is offering an instructional course entitled, “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics to be discussed will include “Understanding Lake Norman’s Marker and Buoy System,”  “Identifying and Learning how to avoid Dangerous Shoals” and “How to Use and Interpret Lake Maps.” Registration fee is $25.00 for the two hour course conducted by Capt. Gus. The class begins at 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC. To register, or for more information, call Lt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.Lmservice.org .

Tips from Capt. Gus: Since catfish have a very thick jawbone, a wide gap hook should be used. Savvy fishermen often use hooks ranging in size from 3/0 to 10/0 - about the same size as those used to catch large saltwater fish.

Hot spot of the week: The deep water at Cowans Ford Dam continues to be the place to be for Arkansas Blue Catfish. Spotted bass are hitting jigs, shaky heads and worms, fished on drop-shot rigs on creek and river humps at both ends of the lake.

 White perch are suspended just off the bottom in water to forty feet deep. Best bets are deep coves and brush piles. 
 
The lake level is about 3.0’ below full pond and the water surface temperature is in the mid to high eighties.

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, Fishin' With Capt. Gus! at www.lakenormanstriperfishing.com or call 704-617-6812. For additional information, e-mail him at Gus@LakeNorman.com.