Fishing with Capt. Gus

The yo-yo action of a spoon, fished vertically below the boat, has tempted saltwater striped bass for decades.

Deep jigging has also been proven to be equally effective in freshwater lakes. Stripers, bass, white perch and catfish are all enticed by this technique. A little known fact is how effective jigging spoons are for catfish. Some of the biggest blues and flatheads have been caught while deep jigging.

If you don't wish to use live bait, jigging spoons are an excellent choice. Many of Lake Norman's best fishermen use jigging spoons and other bouncing baits year round. Deep jigging is easy to do with either spinning or bait casting tackle. Attach a half-ounce spoon to the line and position it at the desired depth below the boat. Lift the rod tip, then lower it. This will allow the bait to fall back to its original depth. As the jig falls, it will flutter and sway, much the same way that a dying shad minnow sinks to the bottom. This dancing and darting action makes the jig appear so lifelike, that it will outfish live shad and herring on certain days.

A key to success with deep jigging is to maintain the feel of the lure as it falls through the water. If you can't feel the lure dropping, you won't feel the bite. Often the bite is so slight that if the line isn't taut, the fish will spit the lure without the angler ever knowing he had a strike.

On the other hand, if allowed to free-fall quickly, the jig will sink faster than most fish are willing to chase.

Scent can be added by hooking a shad minnow or piece of cut bait to the hook.

You can visit www.lakenormanstriperfishing. com or call Gus Gustafson at 704-617-6812. E-mail him at Gus@LakeNorman.com.