Lake Norman's Latest Articles

Fishing - Deep Water Fishing

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Deep Water Fishing
2-19-12

Deep water fishing has been quite successful this year, particularly since that’s where bait fish spend the winter being ravished by schools of predator bass, white perch and stripers.

With advancements in sonar (fish finders), GPS technology and the ever presence of low flying seabirds, it’s easier than ever to locate feeding fish. Savvy anglers not only watch for seabirds that fly low to the water, but pay particular attention to those diving and snatching baitfish from the surface. When that happens, anglers should slow to idle speed to view the fish finder screen and look for evidence of predator fish below the boat. Once located, it’s customary to cast, troll or jig baits through feeding schools.

The most active fish are suspending thirty to fifty feet below the surface. The feeding depth changes quickly, as baitfish switch course in a futile View More Deep Water Fishing

Fishing - New for 2012

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ With Capt. Gus!
New For 2012
February 12, 2012

Fishing/boating web sites and the 2012 catalogs are brimming with new and improved products. Below are a few that might be of interest and could make your next fishing trip easier and more productive.

Fish Finder/Chart Plotter - Black & white units as low as $199
An affordable, Fish Finder/Chart Plotter Combo is a must for every angler. Even the occasional angler will find it useful. What could be better than seeing the exact depth and location of the fish displayed on a screen? Prices increase with screen size and features. Humminbird, Garmin and Lowrance brands are industry leaders.

Auto-Piloted Electric Trolling Motors
Minn Kota offers a series of trolling motors with auto-pilot. This feature allows a 55, 80, or 100+ pound thrust electric motor to guide the boat along a set compass course. The auto-piloted motor is a favorite View More New for 2012

Nate's Notes - Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? (Parties)

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

It’s Superbowl time, and while we may not all agree on who should win, we can all agree that nothing beats a good game-day party.

As always, our local bars and restaurants offer all sorts of give-aways and specials to entice us to walk through their doors. This year, more than others, it seems they are really bringing their A-game, offering significant specials and chances to win great prizes. So, local sports fans, let’s see what our local haunts have to offer:

Sports bars, big and small

Hickory Tavern (9526 Birkdale Crossing Dr.) is giving away scratch-off tickets to the first 300 people through the door. The tickets have game scores on them, and if your scratch-off score matches the score at the end of the game, you can win $25,000. I didn’t ask the odds on this one, but $25K View More Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? (Parties)

Nate's Notes - Out with the old, in with the "Soul"

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

This is always an exciting time of the year around the lake as people and businesses prep for spring and summer months. We say goodbye to the old and hello to the new, and head into 2012 with high hopes for area happenings.

The interior of Baja Soul Taqueria, in Birkdale. (Nate Davis photo)

I’m excited this week to see Baja Soul Taqueria apply the “out with the old, in with the new” concept. The new restaurant opened Wednesday in Birkdale, where T1 Tapas and iPub used to be. The good news is that I think the new management has finally found the perfect niche.
My family and I made it out on Monday evening for the friends and family soft opening and all of us – including the kids – walked away having enjoyed the experience. It’s something View More Out with the old, in with the "Soul"

Nate's Notes - New Cornelius "Hot Spots" have it right

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

This winter has brought a few new hot spots to Cornelius, and here’s my take on two that are definitely worth a visit: Drifters Bar and Grill and Paddy’s Pour House. Also, the latest on the old Midtown Sundries space.

DRIFTERS BAR AND GRILL
19707 Liverpool Parkway

The friday night crowd at Drifters. (Shutter Legends Photo)

Locals already are flocking to Drifters Bar and Grill as their new nightlife location. Just last weekend, the place welcomed more than 350 people both Friday and Saturday nights. Is it just the “Honeymoon” phase of a new restaurant? I doubt it, because it came out of the gate pretty slow, and has steadily built up a nice crowd of regulars that pretty much fills all the seats around the bar area – which in turn provides the early momentum needed to build View More New Cornelius "Hot Spots" have it right

Nate's Notes - Time for Fish and Video Games..

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

It’s no secret that the first two weeks of January are the slowest social weeks of the year. As much as I love the weekend social scene here, I thoroughly enjoyed the down time. I had some wholesome, fresh air, fishing fun with friends, and balanced that with the ultimate in anti-social activity: video games.

I took advantage of the the unseasonably warm temperatures this week and called my friend Jeremy of Dr. J’s Marine Service, who invited me to go fishing down at our neighborhood marina. I live right next to the lake, but in my 11 years of living here, I had never gone down to the docks to fish. So I gladly accepted Jeremy’s offer, grabbed my $10 rod and reel that I bought at Target and headed down to see if I could pull a fish out of the glorious lake.

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

As parents, my wife Carrie and I encourage after school activities other than video games and watching television. But being a typical “guy,” by the time our girls were old enough to participate in after school activities, I had put zero thought into what those activities might be.

Carrie thought we’d put the girls on the dance/gymnastics route (pretty typical, I guess), which was good news for Zoie, 5, who is all about some dancing. But Mazie, 7, didn’t latch on in the same way. At one point, she decided she’d give gymnastics a try, and we made that happen.

Our friend, Paige Coleman, owns White Lightning Gym in Huntersville, so deciding where to send Mazie was easy. She went to gymnastics a couple of times a week for several months, but, as with dancing, decided it wasn’t for her. Paige suggested that Mazie try cheer, as most little girls View More A Lesson in Holiday "Cheer"

Nate's Notes - Giving Warms the Heart... even in 55 Degree Water

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

December… what a month. It almost seems like there is so much to do it’s tough to actually appreciate the Holiday season. Redneck Yard Art – Check. Christmas Tree and other inside decorations – Check. Pictures with Santa – Check. Christmas Cards, designed, printed, mailed – Check. Presents purchased – Check. Elementary School Christmas Program – Check. Holiday Parties – check, check, still checking checks. Wow, they don’t stop. And to add to the fun, I determined 45 minutes prior to departure for the last party that I no longer fit in my dress shirts. So, excessive eating – Check. And emergency trip to Stein Mart for a new shirt – Check.

Some moving "redneck lawn art," featured at the Davis' home. (NATE DAVIS photo)

Amid all of the holiday “fun,” I also got to “enjoy” my very first View More Giving Warms the Heart... even in 55 Degree Water

Fishing - What's in a Name?

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ With Capt. Gus!
What’s in a Name?
2-5-2012

February is boat show month around the Carolinas. It’s a time to look, wish and if you’re lucky enough, you might buy the boat of your dreams. In case you don’t know, maritime tradition requires that all new vessels be christened and given a name before the inaugural launching.

Boat names have always been an interesting case study, particularly since the shift from women’s names to just about anything that comes to mind. Today’s boat names might be anything from famous personalities, like the deck boat with “ I LOVE LUCY” stenciled on the stern, to one named “Your AD Here,” which gives one a hint about the owner’s occupation.

When asked about the name “VISITATION”, the lady sitting on the fantail said, “My husband is a pastor and when people call and ask where he is, I tell them he View More What's in a Name?

Real Estate - Why Buy a Property Now? Is it a Buyer's Market?

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

You've probably heard it all over media outlets. "Affordability is at an all-time high." "Interest rates are below 4.0 percent!" The question remains, however, why buy a home? What do these proclamations actually mean for you?

Let's look at these claims. Affordability is at an all-time high. This is calculated by a ratio of median household income to median home prices for any given area.

According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) this record level is around 73 percent of all new and existing homes. To put this number into perspective, before recent years' developments it was rare to see the HOI go above 60 percent.

"With interest rates at historically low levels and markets across the country beginning to improve, homeownership is within reach of more households than it has been for nearly two decades," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association View More Why Buy a Property Now? Is it a Buyer's Market?

Fishing - Fishing at the Boat Ramp

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ With Capt. Gus!
Fishing at the Boat Ramp
1-15-12

Ever wonder why you see so many people fishing near public boat ramps? It seems as though the busier the launch area is, the more fishing you see.

The biggest reasons are simple. Cement ramps are usually steep and afford fish easy access to the shade and cover from the floating docks used during loading and unloading. In addition, where the cement ramp meets the lake bottom, there is a hollowed out deep spot called the “blow hole.” This underwater crater is made from the backwash of spinning boat propellers while the boat is being loaded on the trailer. A blow hole is the perfect place for bass and other predators to lie in wait for unsuspecting baitfish to swim by. Like private docks, not all boat ramps have fish, but each holds its share from time to time.

Arguably, View More Fishing at the Boat Ramp

Fishing - Locating Winter Fish

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ With Capt. Gus!
Locating Winter Fish
January 8, 2012

Photo courtesy of Capt. Gus:
Austyn Petyan of Mt. Holly, NC holding a Lake Norman striped bass caught on a holiday fishing trip with brother Dustyn and dad John.

An easy way to locate feeding fish in January is to watch for diving sea birds. They identify the exact places where stripers, bass or white perch are chasing forage fish to the surface. The feeder fish are squeezed by the predators from below and the birds from above. Surface feeding activity can result in a memorable fishing trip, but don’t expect it to happen every day.

When fish aren’t surface feeding, they move deeper into the water column, where temperatures are a few degrees warmer. If in doubt, fish deeper. In addition to temperature considerations, herring live in deep water. This forage fish is the one most sought after by View More Locating Winter Fish

Fishing - Great Fishing

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!
Great Fishing
1-1-12

What a difference a few years make. It wasn’t that long ago when a fishing trip on Lake Norman was just that – a fishing trip. Catching fish was another thing. It was so bad that savvy anglers chose to go to Lake Wylie, High Rock and Lake Murray where the fish were bigger and more plentiful. In fact, disgruntled anglers nicknamed Lake Norman “The Dead Sea”.

At the turn of the century, Lake Norman’s fishing fortunes turned better with the introduction of spotted bass, a member of the black bass family. They adapted quickly to Norman’s deep-water habitat and before anyone knew it, there was resurgence in bass fishing. The once Dead Sea fast became a Mecca for tournament bass anglers who enjoy matching wits with the feisty spotted bass.

How white perch came to the lake is a mystery, but like View More Great Fishing

Fishing - Rising Lake Levels

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Fishing with Capt. Gus!
Rising Lake Levels
12-11-11

After several months of low water conditions, recent rains have caused water levels on Lake Norman to rise well above targeted levels for December. High water, while too late for the 2011 boating season, makes catching fish easier, particularly largemouth and spotted bass.

The low lake water levels experienced in September and October, forced bass to leave the shoreline and find cover in deep water. Conversely, as water levels rise, bass return to the same covered rocks, downed trees and stump fields that they frequented in the spring. Savvy anglers made notes while the lake was low and marked new spots on their GPS units and topographic paper maps.

Shallow water bass are easy to tempt with top water lures. Spinner and buzz baits are popular with local anglers, but floating worms, swim and jerk baits also have their time and place. View More Rising Lake Levels

Food Reviews - Spotlight Charlotte Restaurant: The Cowfish Sushi - Burger- Bar

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

If you live in or around Charlotte you've probably been hearing all of the talk about The Cowfish. I know I have! Tonight my boss was in town and he asked me to pick a restaurant and make reservations. Pressure! I decided to give The Cowfish a try and I am so glad I did. My boss is difficult to impress since he "wines and dines" all over the country but he absolutely loved it. They have such a unique concept.....sushi AND burgers......who would have thought of it? Great food and incredible service. I love the fun atmosphere with a lot going on around the bar. They also have tables inside and outside for quieter dining.

Check out our Coconut Battered Onion Rings which were so YUMMY! This appetizer was enough for at least four people.

View More Spotlight Charlotte Restaurant: The Cowfish Sushi - Burger- Bar

Nate's Notes - The best Gift this Season is a Smile (or two, or three...)

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

With Thanksgiving just behind us and the holiday season officially in full swing, now is the time to be thankful for what we have and to turn our attention to those less-fortunate. It truly is more fun to give than to receive, but sometimes it is hard to figure out how – and where – to give.

Sure, it is fun on Christmas morning to see our kids light up at the sight of their gifts, but let’s be honest: most of the kids in our neck of the woods are spoiled beyond belief. So while it’s fun to see them smile, it’s a whole lot more fun to give to kids who have little or nothing. And for those in our community who aren’t affiliated with religious organizations and don’t trust the telemarketers (for good reason), it can be hard to find ways to experience the joy of giving View More The best Gift this Season is a Smile (or two, or three...)

Nate's Notes - Holiday In's and Outages...

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Any week that kicks off with a “surprise” school closing is sure to be a tough one. Although our house didn’t lose power Monday, we certainly were feeling the effects of the outage.

“Power Outage Day” (it might as well be called – after all, the kids got a holiday out of it) began for me around 5:30 a.m. with the phone ringing in the bedroom. Carrie had left the room around 2 a.m. to escape my extra-loud snoring, so she didn’t have the pleasure of the early morning wake up call. We just bought these new phones that have talking caller ID, and though I was half-asleep, I do recall a computerized voice saying, “Meck County…” to which my response was to promptly roll over and fall back to sleep.

An hour and a half later, the day then began as normal, with the whole family up at 7. As we View More Holiday In's and Outages...

Nate's Notes - Free Means Free, Even in Olde English

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

In continuing with our Family tradition of Sunday Family Fun Day, my wife, Carrie, the girls and I headed out to the Renaissance Festival. This was our fifth year at the festival, thanks to the good promotions people who trade tickets with us for advertising on LKNfun.

I began selling the “comp” tickets five years ago – a practice I now know is a no-no. My intention always was to spend all my proceeds from the ticket sales inside the fair – no harm, no foul (or so I thought). I usually ended up with about $200 cash to spend, and that would turn into a medieval spending spree, making the festival truly memorable for the kids.

Mazie and Zoie got their faces painted at the festival Sunday. (Nate Davis photo)
Face painting for $20? Sure, kids… $30 for princess hats? No Problem… Riding a camel? View More Free Means Free, Even in Olde English

Sports - EIGHT things I did (or stopped doing) to lose EIGHT pounds

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Since it is summer time I'm of course hearing a lot of conversations about people wanting to get in shape. I love working on ways to be more healthy and in the past four years I've drastically changed my eating habits for the better. I've also committed to regular exercise. These are no brainers of course and we all know that eating right and exercising are the keys.

In March and April I traveled a lot and gained back eight pounds. URRRR! I was determined to lose it again and I have. I lost the eight pounds by doing a variety of things. Here are eight specific things I did or stopped doing to lose the weight. Maybe this will give you some ideas if you are trying to get in shape for summer.

1. I stopped buying cheese. It was my weakness and I had to get it out of the View More EIGHT things I did (or stopped doing) to lose EIGHT pounds

Sports - Whatsupwithdana introduces My Aloha Paddle Sports and Fitness: Stand Up Paddleboarding Comes to Lake Norman!

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

I am so excited that Stand Up Paddleboarding is finally catching on in the Lake Norman area. Over the past three years I've paddleboarded in California, Florida and Mexico and could not believe we weren't doing it at Lake Norman. Well maybe a few people were.......now it is taking off like crazy since My Aloha Paddle Sports & Fitness opened in Cornelius. It is the first of its kind in the Charlotte and LKN area to offer lessons, board rental and fitness sessions. They also sell boards which is great since I am confident you will love it and want to buy your own board like I am going to do.

Stand Up Paddleboarding is taking the country by storm because anyone can join in the fun. Many people have the misconception that it is difficult to learn (maybe like surfing). That is so View More Whatsupwithdana introduces My Aloha Paddle Sports and Fitness: Stand Up Paddleboarding Comes to Lake Norman!

News - Cornelius Town Newsletter 11/25/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

Written by Commissioner Dave Gilroy - Reposted.

Hello Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

First, a warm thanks to everyone who took the time to vote two weeks ago. As I mentioned prior to the election, turnout in these local-only, off-year elections is extremely LOW. For the four Cornelius precincts, the dismal #s this year were 6%, 8%, 13%, and almost 20% (Jetton Park poll) for an overall average of 10.6% of registered voters. I really appreciate your support again of course, but the most important thing is to find a way to get broader participation – more to come on this subject in time.
Our Town Board met Monday night. There is a lot going on, so please read when you have a few minutes to spare:

Positive Sales Tax Trends – we started our meeting with some good news on fiscal year (FY) Q1 tax receipts from the county sales View More Cornelius Town Newsletter 11/25/11 - From the Desk of Dave Gilroy

Sports - 2 Powerboat Racers Die After High Speed Crash in Key West

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

KEY WEST, Fla. – Two offshore powerboat racers died Wednesday after their catamaran went airborne at high speed and crashed, marring the opening of three days of racing at the Key West World Championship, officials said.

Big Thunder Marine — a 46-foot Skater catamaran with four 1,200 horsepower engines that competed in the Superboat Unlimited Class — came down so hard its right front hull was severely damaged on the third lap of Wednesday's race inside Key West Harbor, organizers said.
Superboat International President John Carbonell said he witnessed the crash, which occurred adjacent to a spectator area.

"He was probably going about 130 mph and the boat's propellers were barely in the water," Carbonell said. "The boat apparently caught some air and went bow (front) up; straight into the air, came down and went backwards."

He identified the dead as Robert M. Morgan, of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman, View More 2 Powerboat Racers Die After High Speed Crash in Key West

News - Charges dropped, Glenridge arson suspect freed

Wed. 22 Feb 2012 01:31:39 +0000

After almost 2 months in Mecklenburg County Jail, the primary suspect in a series of arson fires in Cornelius over the past year was freed Monday after the Mecklenburg District Attorney dropped the charges against him. Robert Joseph Prevatte, 31, was arrested Sept. 16 as police investigated a series of arson fires on Meadow Crossing Lane in the Glenridge neighborhood, where he was living with his girlfriend.

I won’t always recap holidays or talk about columns from weeks past, but I can’t help it this time. Halloween weekend was a doozy. And it all started on Facebook.

View More Halloween lessons learned the hard (and fun) way