Lookout Shoals does not store large amounts of water, and in this regard, rain can be a good sign for striper anglers: If it has been raining and water and has collected in Lookout Shoals Lake, the Duke facility will bleed off this water to keep Lookout Shoals from flooding.

Lundy’s free-line tactics include using his own brand of planer boards with a standard free-line rig. Lundy will troll free lines with the current, barely faster than the current, enough to pull the planer boards out away from the boat. In this situation, the bait will keep trying to turn and go upcurrent, which creates plenty of action and therefore attracts the attention of nearby fish. Lundy warns to watch for rocks around this area of Lake Norman.

"I know every one of the rocks because I’ve hit them with my lower unit," Lundy claimed. "In fact, it’s good to have at least three people in the boat when fishing this area. One man runs the trolling motor while the other two are left to fish."

Lundy relies on his Minn Kota electric trolling motor, equipped with an autopilot function that allows remote control of the trolling motor from anywhere on the boat to guide the boat while free-lining. The average water depth for the area around the I-40 bridge is 2 to 3 feet, with occasional deeper holes of 6 to 8 feet. The oxygenated cool water coming out of Lookout Shoals attracts baitfish from the lower Lake Norman area. In addition, water moving through the Lookout Shoals dam drags baitfish with it, and the bait is cut up by the turbines and creates a natural feeding area for striped bass.

The closest ramp to access the upper reaches of Lake Norman is the Long Island Wildlife Access area maintained by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The Long Island ramp is approximately five to seven miles south of the I-40 bridge.

BEFORE YOU GO
Anglers wishing to fish either Lake Norman or Lake Jordan should be aware of the possibility of ramp closures due to low water. Another consideration when fishing the upper area of Lake Norman is to be aware of rapidly rising waters that may create a boating hazard when on that section of the lake. Small-boat anglers or anglers who are wading may encounter dangerous currents when water is being released. Always wear a life preserver when fishing potentially hazardous areas, even if you’re in a boat.

If you would like to fish with pro tournament angler and fishing guide Mike Lundy, you can contact him at (704) 871-9477 or by e-mail at Mike@MikeLundyFishing.com.