Great Days Outdoors - February 2021 by TrendSouth Media

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 3

HUNTING & FISHING IN ALABAMA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE

CONTENTS Quail Hunting - A Southern Tradition . . . . . . . 8 by John E. Phillips Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather . . . . . . . . 14 by Frank Sargeant Boat Insurance: When Being on the Water and Doesn’t Go Right, It Can be Made Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 by Ed Mashburn How to Build a Hog Trap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 by Josh Honeycutt Managing Your Pond for Weed Control. . . . . 32 by William Kendy Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig and More. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 by William Kendy

Alabama AG Credit Land Financing Rates. . . . 46 by William Kendy

In Every Issue

4 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Best Bets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by William Kendy Camphouse Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 by Hank Shaw New Gear for Outdoorsmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 by William Kendy From the Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 by Chris Blakenship From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 by Charles Sykes The Gun Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 by Craig Haney Paddle Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Ed Mashburn Coastal Outlook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 by Chris Vecsey Pier & Shore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 by David Thornton Regional Freshwater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 by Ed Mashburn Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room. . . . . . 72 Great Days Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Classifieds & Fishin‘ Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Fishing Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 by William Kendy A Great Day Outdoors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 by Jim Mize

Moseley Plantation

Cowpen Creek Farm, Quail, Lake, and Hunting Preserve

Why You’ll Love It - Nearly 2,500 acres of fine hunting and timberland near the wildlife mecca of Union Springs, Alabama. The Moseley Tract is located in the heart of Alabama’s wildlife plantation belt and is surrounded by large landowners, quail plantations and well managed land. It has been managed as a timber tract for decades but also holds some of the finest deer and turkey numbers around. 2,436 +/- acres of nice timberland with excellent county road access on the west. This property could be enhanced for deer, turkey, ducks and or quail to make an excellent all-around game property. The timber value is substantial and very little hardwood has been cut in decades. The pine stands are a mixture of planted pines and naturally regenerated pine. Nearly 730 acres of the woodlands are both upland and bottomland hardwood. Most of these woodlands are middle aged to older oak, poplar, and gum.

Fishing lake, tillable farmland, well managed timber, & superb hunting. Just east of Atmore in the Canoe community, easy access off of Hwy 31 & Jerkins Lp Rd, short drive from I-10 & I-65. Wildlife habitat has been meticulously managed for quail, turkey, dove, trophy deer, ducks, & other wildlife for years, w/as many as three dozen coveys of wild quail present, an abundance of turkey, & 140+ inch deer harvested or seen regularly. Fantastic gravel road & internal trail system throughout the property, dozens of wildlife food plots, several duck ponds. Cowpen Creek, a lg yr round creek, flows through the property for over a mile. Constructed improvements include 4 water wells at strategic locations, a 2BR cabin, a 1BR cabin, several camper hookups, equipment shed, pole barn, & fenced acreage designed for equestrian use that adjoins a 10 stall horse barn w/tack rm, full BA, & office / condo w/kitchen. 90+/- acres of income producing farmland is some of the highest yielding in this region, & a lg 35+/- acre dove field. Stocked fishing lake is 4+ acres with a pier and tackle shed, & there are multiple scenic home or lodge sites around the lake overlooking the surrounding farmland.

Bullock County, Alabama, 2436+/-Acres

Escambia County, Alabama, 1287+/-Acres

FL Panhandle Listings

Alabama Listings COUNTY Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Autauga Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Barbour Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Bibb Blount Blount Bullock Bullock Bullock Butler Butler

ACRES 545 371 298 230 185 1995 926 555 463 372 884 342 278 92.7 37 416 188 168 152 36 60 9.3 4000 2436 167 436 395

COUNTY Butler Butler Butler Calhoun Calhoun Cherokee Cherokee Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Chilton Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Clarke Cleburne Cleburne Coffee Colbert Colbert Colbert Colbert Colbert Conecuh Conecuh

316 120 85.16 80 48 2230 938 421 164 146 73 13.64 620 176 54 41 40 856 128.16 200 159 92.4 80 17.37 11 40 40

ACRES 22 20 10 430 161 128.5 112 100 360 140 72 63.04 22 876.25 96 63 30 20 20 1283 860 782 555 510 338 264 194

Conecuh Conecuh Conecuh Coosa Coosa Coosa Coosa Coosa Covington Covington Covington Covington Covington Cullman Dale Dale Dale Dale Dale Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas DeKalb Elmore Elmore

COUNTY Elmore Elmore Elmore Escambia Escambia Escambia Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Fayette Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin Franklin Greene Greene Hale Hale Hale Hale Hale Henry Henry Henry Henry

163 158 111 1287 654 68 672 640 484 473 344 244 234 76.76 10 8 490 38 329 223 120 80 70 279 200 151 100

Henry Houston Houston Houston Houston Houston Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Jefferson Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lamar Lauderdale Lee Lee Lee Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Lowndes Macon Macon

ACRES 47 325 155 66.8 31 20 633 108 78 75 20 373 202 92 90 87 1.17 4505 171 53 1013 783 656 500 2 2370 486

Macon Macon Macon Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marengo Marion Marion Marion Marion Marion Marshall Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Mobile Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Perry Perry Perry

483 232 163 6214 3000 1164 558 551 286 88 63 51 50 535 1800 439 308 260 192 3314 926 858 788 768 330 240.75 240

COUNTY

ACRES

Perry Perry Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pickens Pike Pike Russell Saint Clair Saint Clair Saint Clair Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Shelby Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Sumter Talladega Talladega Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa

151 120 837 240.36 150 121 57 521.95 112 50 656.08 66 62 200 135.84 126 126 92 740 550 530 400 350 115 65 160 500

COUNTY Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa Walker Walker Walker Walker Walker Washington Washington Washington Washington Washington Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Wilcox Winston Winston Winston

479 280 280 203 220 203 154 144 132 1320 456.8 240 213 190 2365 522 436 310 196 160 140 2.3

Santa Rosa Santa Rosa Walton Walton Walton Walton Walton Washington

ACRES 680 95 454 45 52 45 22.5 22.5

Over 700 more tracts across 47 states available...

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 5

BEST BETS

BEST BETS FOR FEBRUARY These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month! BY WILLIAM KENDY

THE FLAVOR OF THE MONTH

The month of February in Alabama can get rather chilly, especially if you are out pursuing your passion for the outdoors. When you are out in the field or on the water, just the thought of coming home to a hot meal is certainly something to keep you going. While this isn’t my normal BB “blurb” I wanted to call your attention to some of the recipes we have in this issue. We are trying to match our recipes with the subject matter of our articles and position them as close to those features and columns as possible. For example, we have a quail hunting feature and we have a quail recipe. We have a hog trapping article and we have a BBQ pork recipe. Sometimes it is just the little things that matter.

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2021

PUBLISHED BY: Great Days Outdoors Media, L.L.C. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joe Baya EXECUTIVE EDITOR Butch Thierry GENERAL MANAGER: Samatha Hester MANAGING EDITOR: William Kendy

TIME TO EVALUATE

February is the perfect time to assess your boat insurance needs. While the weather is cold you can get ready for the upcoming fishing season. In his article, “Boat Insurance-When Being on the Water Doesn’t Go Right, It Can be Made Better”, Ed Mashburn interviews a Mobile Geico insurance professional to find out what boat owners can do to be realistically prepared for accidents, bad weather, and bad people. For example, while you may own your dream boat outright but not having adequate coverage can affect more than just your boat investment. If you have inadequate liability insurance and you are involved in an accident on the water with another boat, that could threaten your home and/or other financial assets.

WINTER CATFISHING

Even though it is cold outside, there can be some hot catfish angling in frosty weather. According to Frank Sargeant, in his article, “Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather - Tips and Techniques”, anywhere skipjack and shad are found, especially in the Tennessee and Mississippi River systems, makes for prime wintertime catfishing. Sargeant points out that catfish have an incredible ability to detect small amounts of scent, not only with their whiskers but actually their whole body and use that ability more than sight to identify food.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Wendy Johannesmann

Great Days Outdoors (USPS 17228; ISSN 1556-0147) is published monthly at P.O. Box 1253 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 Subscription rate is $30 for one-year, $54 for two-years, and $72 for three-years. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile, Ala. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 SUBSCRIBERS: All subscriptions begin the first issue for the month following receipt of payment, if payment is received by the 15th. Great Days Outdoors assumes no responsibility for delivery after magazines are mailed. All delivery complaints should be addressed to your local postmaster. CONTACT US: EDITORIAL | JoeBaya@greatdaysoutdoors.com ADVERTISING | SamHester@greatdaysoutdoors.com SUBSCRIPTIONS | greatdaysoutdoors@pcspublink.com Great Days Outdoors Media LLC PO Box 460248 Escondido, CA 92046 877. 314. 1237 info@greatdaysoutdoors.com www.greatdaysoutdoors.com All rights reserved. Reproduction of contents is strictly prohibited without permission from Great Days Outdoors Media, LLC.

Some studies indicate they can smell some compounds at one part to 10 billion parts of water which is far less than one drop in a typical 20,000-gallon swimming pool.

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That means you are not limited to using awful smelling bait. Read and find out.

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6 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

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FERTILIZING

Shooting preserves like those in the Alabama Black Belt are a great place to teach youngsters how to hunt quail and take quail under the guidance of a highly-qualified guide.

8 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

Quail Hunting

a Southern Tradition BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS

Quail hunting in Alabama is a more-traditional sport than hunting deer or turkeys. The bell around the liver-and-white pointer had stopped ringing. We went in the direction of the silence and found the dog standing as staunch as a statue in a park. Moving slowly toward her, we waited for the explosion of brown-and-white birds helicoptering up from the ground and then taking off like Harrier jets. When the birds came up, all three of us, my dad, his friend Barry and myself, fired. During this earliest remembrance of quail hunting, more than likely, I was looking at all the birds and didn’t pick out one to shoot. But, when the quail fell, my dad said, “You got him, son. Good shooting.” When my dad and I hunted quail together, he’d always tell me, “Once I retire from U.S. Steel in Birmingham, I’m buying us a pair of trained birddogs, and we’ll hunt at least two days a week during the middle of the week every week!” But sadly, once Dad finally retired, he was too sick to walk behind the bird dogs and find quail. THE LAST 50+ YEARS HISTORY OF ALABAMA QUAIL When I was in college, pine plantations were becoming the new money crop for farmers and ranchers. There were fewer small-family farms with numerous fencerows separating crops where quail could hide, nest and raise their young. Today, large-field farming, pine plantations and urban sprawl have taken over much of the state’s habitat that once has homed quail. However, tradition dies hard in the South and especially in the Alabama Black Belt region with its rich soils that grow plentiful crops in this agricultural heart of the state. The tradition of quail hunting has caused shooting preserves to spring up there, so hunters can watch welltrained pointing dogs find quail with their noses and freeze, with their tails held high, to show hunters where they can walk in and flush the birds. “Nobody’s going to pay you to ride a horse and hunt quail,” a friend of Bubber Cameron’s told him when he was considering setting-up his shooting preserve that’s today known as Cameron’s Quail Preserve, one of the first in Alabama. But “Mr. Bubber”, as everyone called him, wouldn’t give up his dream of having a shooting preserve, hunting quail and training bird dogs. Also, a part of that dream was eventually having mule-drawn wagons his shooters could ride, if they didn’t want to ride 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 9

Quail Hunting – a Southern Tradition

At many shooting preserves in Alabama’s Black Belt, hunters may have the option of riding a horse or in a mule-drawn wagon. Photo courtesy of Alabama Black Belt Adventures

horses or walk to find the many coveys of quail on the Camerons’ family land. Today Mr. Bubber’s sons, Rush and John, take their quail hunters afield in mule-drawn wagons near Aliceville, Alabama, in Pickens County. Quail hunting is an ideal way to get a youngster interested in hunting and to take older quail hunters afield, so they can remember the good ole days when Alabama homed plenty of quail, and many small farms allowed you to hunt their lands for quail free of charge. Actually, quail hunting is a much-more-traditional sport in Alabama than deer hunting or turkey hunting. After the 1930s Great Depression, like most of the U.S., deer and turkeys almost had vanished from Alabama’s landscape. Squirrels, rabbits and quail were the most-popular and most-hunted wildlife, until the restocking programs began that brought deer and turkeys back to Alabama. These two game species of deer and turkeys became extremely popular with not only Alabama hunters but also hunters from all across the nation. However, Alabama always has homed a remnant of wild quail, and there always have been dads and grandads who have wanted to teach their sons and daughters the joy that’s found walking behind a pointing dog with quail on its mind. If my dad was alive today, I’d take him to one of the shooting preserves in Alabama’s Black Belt Adventures (https:// 10 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

alabamablackbeltadventures.org/), let him ride in a wagon and watch those bird dogs holding their tails high, while using their noses to find quail. GOOD NEWS FOR QUAIL HUNTERS The latest research on restocking wild quail in Alabama tends to indicate that instead of using pen-raised quail that predators can catch and eat easily, the wild quail that have been released successfully on Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and other places in the state are beginning to rebound. However, increasing habitat for quail can be a very-expensive and time-consuming project. All Alabamians hope that one day we’ll have plenty of large coveys of wild quail and birddogs to point them throughout the state. In the meantime, we still have the opportunity to hunt quail, watch dogs point and then flush and harvest quail for the table at various Black Belt quail-hunting preserves. No matter your age, you can enjoy an exciting day of wing shooting at these preserves from mid-October through March 30 each hunting season. Some of the Black Belt quail preserves also offer sporting clays, Crazy Quail and trap and skeet ranges where you can tune-up your shooting skills on clay birds before you take to the field to hunt quail. These comfortable lodges also have some of the finest southern cuisine for

Quail Hunting – a Southern Tradition

breakfast, lunch and dinner and provide places where you can rest, relax and reminisce about the day’s hunt or the hunt to come. February and March are great months to take family, friends, employees and business associates on old-fashioned southern quail hunts at these lodges and build remembrances. ALABAMA PLACES TO HUNT QUAIL IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH Known around the world as a hunting and fishing hot spot, the Alabama Black Belt offers unique experiences in white-tailed deer hunting, turkey hunting, duck hunting and some of the best bass fishing anywhere to outdoorsmen of all abilities. Beginners will find great opportunities to have successful outings, while learning to hone their skills.

Taking a mess of quail with quality bird dogs and plenty of shooting makes a trip to an Alabama quail preserve a memory that lasts a lifetime. Photo courtesy of Alabama Black Belt Adventures

Experienced sportsmen will have new challenges with each return trip. The versatility of what the Black Belt offers is part of what makes it so appealing to hunters and fishermen, and the abundance of the game there is what keeps outdoorsmen returning to Alabama Black Belt Adventures. Here are some well-known quail preserves. * Cameron’s Quail Preserve: Big coveys of quail are a common sight at the traditional Cameron’s Quail Preserve on the banks of the Tombigbee River near Aliceville, Ala. By turning the birds out and working dogs on them daily during the off-season, the quail fly hard and fast. The Camerons strive to maintain on their preserve: a quality hunt with hard-flying quail; a quality dog-training facility and program, featuring puppy and older dog training; and a clean, comfortable, relaxing homelike lodging with outstanding southern cooking. The Camerons also will offer during the summer of 2021, youth camps to teach youngsters how to quail hunt. Amenities include two private lakes for catching bass, bream and crappie and game preparation. Contact John Cameron, co-owner, at 205-455-2499 or 205-367-7636, or visit www.cameronquailpreserve.com, or write cameron@froglevel. net. * High Log Creek Farm and Hunting Preserve: This traditional quail hunting lodge, located an hour southeast of Montgomery, Ala., and 30 minutes southwest of Columbus, Georgia, in Hatchechubbee, Ala. in Macon County has as its goal providing an authentic plantation hunt with horseback guided hunts complete with a mule-drawn wagon. Accommodations include a 4- bedroom, 5-bath lodge with a large living and dining area and delicious country cooking. Contact Rex and Jacque Clark, owners, at 334-667-0002, write info@ HighLogCreek.com, and see info at https://highlogcreek.com/. * Shenandoah Plantation: Specializing in quail hunting by horseback, on foot or in customized vehicles, this plantation just outside of Union Springs, Ala., offers a lodge and two guesthouses. It also has a scenic 40-acre lake stocked with trophy bass and a shooting-clays course. Contact: Robert Moorer at 334-558-780 or 334-738-8187, write robertm7080@gmail.com, or visit on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/Shenandoah-Plantation-118567726220377/. Quail hunting always has been and always will be a remembrance-building experience. A trip to one of Alabama Black Belt Adventures’ shooting preserves will create a trip with memories to last a lifetime.

251-626-6061

10670 U.S. Highway 31 Spanish Fort, AL 36527

www.advanced-transmission.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 11

Quail Hunting – a Southern Tradition

BY HANK SHAW Photo by Holly A. Heyser

Roast Quail This is a basic roast quail recipe that can serve as a stepping stone for other, fancier recipes. Once you know how to properly roast a quail, you can then play with glazes or marinades -- even though I am not normally a fan of marinades, they will work with quail because the birds are so small.

Prep: 30 mins • Cook: 15 mins • Total: 45 mins Ingredients OPTIONAL BRINE • 1/4 cup kosher salt • 1-quart water • 2 bay leaves QUAIL • 4 whole plucked quail • Lard, butter or olive oil • Salt • 2 celery sticks (optional) • Black pepper • Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions

If you choose to brine your quail, boil the water or wine with the kosher salt and bay leaves, then turn off the heat and let cool.

12 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Submerge the quail in this brine for 2 to 6 hours. Preheat your oven to 500°F, or if it doesn’t get that hot, as hot as your oven will go. This will take a little while for most ovens, up to 30 minutes. While the oven is preheating, take the quail out of the fridge and pat them dry. Coat with lard, olive oil or butter (your quail will be browner with melted butter) and salt generously. Set aside at room temperature while the oven heats. When the oven is hot, get a small roasting pan or cast-iron frying pan and set the quail in it. They will want to tip over, so steady them with cut pieces of the celery stick. Try to prevent the quail from touching each other to speed the cooking process. Roast the quail in the oven for 12 to 18 minutes. The lower end of the spectrum will give you quail that are juicy, succulent and a little pink on the inside -- but pale. The higher end of the spectrum will give you a fully cooked, browner quail, but one that is at the edge of being dry. Your choice. When you take the quail out of the oven, place on a cutting board and rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Use this time to make the wild game sauce of your choice, or just squirt lemon juice on the birds before serving

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 13

High current like this moves lots of shad and skipjack downriver, but the big cats are likely to be waiting in seams and behind current-blocking rocks downstream. (Frank Sargeant Photo)

14 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING

Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

BY FRANK SARGEANT

Many of us think of catfish as a fish of warm, lazy summer nights, but fisheries biologists say that in fact, catfish in many waters around the southeast are most active during the chill of winter, especially those giant trophy blues that many of us love to chase. That’s because the shad and skipjack the cats like to feed on are slowed and frequently killed by cold weather, making for an easy, high-protein feast from November into early March. In the warmer months, the cats have a hard time catching the fast-moving baitfish and have to grub out a living by eating mussels, crawfish, panfish fry and assorted bottom critters that are scarcer and less nutritious. This makes winter prime time to catch these catfish, anywhere shad and skipjack are found—including the prime Mississippi and Tennessee river systems that stretch hundreds of miles throughout the Southeast. The annual baitfish die-off typically takes place when a short but intense cold system sweeps across the South, quickly chilling surface temperatures and shocking the baitfish. Particularly below the many dams on the river systems, the stunned bait creates an easy feast for catfish (as well as for smallmouth and stripers in some rivers). SCENT IS CENTRAL Large blues spend most of their time in deep and often murky water—they’re not sight hunters by preference, even though they occasionally run down baitfish. Smell is much more central than sight for catfish in most situations and, according to fisheries researchers, they can not only smell with their “whiskers”, but with their entire skin. They also have amazing sensitivity to small amounts of scent. Some studies indicate they can smell some compounds at one part to 10 billion parts of water which is far less than 1 drop in a typical 20,000-gallon swimming pool. That makes scent central to choosing the right bait to catch catfish, and has inspired all sorts of terrible-smelling concoctions including mixes that start with limburger cheese and other awfuls. But in fact, this stuff is not necessary—the cats can home in on the smell of baitfish just fine. A favorite of pro catfish guides across much of the South is gizzard shad head and entrails, “shad guts” as they’re

known, and many freeze dozens of these baits in plastic bags for use as shad get hard to find in winter. A SUPER BAIT THAT DOESN’T STINK! The natural bait works, no doubt about it. Still, there’s also a way around the goo and the stink of handling the real thing. Fishbites baits are chemical designer-baits loaded with extracts with proven attraction to the target species. They’re famed among surf anglers for producing impressive catches of pompano and whiting. The company now makes a special bait engineered for catfish, the “Yeh Monn!” bait strips. This bait, which requires no refrigeration, doesn’t contain any natural fish products, and it doesn’t “stink” to the human nose like many manufactured scent baits. It has a thick plastic-like coating on a mesh backing which adds strength and durability to the bait. The company, now located on a bayou of the San Sebastian River in St. Augustine, Florida, was founded by noted marine biologist Dr. William (Bill) Carr Ph.D., a professor at the University of Florida’s Whitney Marine Laboratory as well as an avid angler. His research methods there led to the key findings about the chemical stimulants fish use to detect and track their prey. Carr’s discoveries busted the myth of stink-baits, proving that there’s little in common between what humans smell in the air and what fish detect in the water. Odors that persist in air don’t necessarily dissolve in water and become detectable or attractive to fish, per Carr’s research. Once he had figured that out, per his son, Michael Carr, who now heads the company, Dr. Carr focused on replicating natural, nongaseous feeding stimulants that could be transported by water in the lab, creating more refined and potent versions. He first studied snails, then worked up through various fish species of interest to anglers. Once he had the right chemical mix, he developed a water-soluble gel to hold the scent on a mesh that would remain on the hook through repeated bites. This breakthrough represented a new era in fishing bait technology—Fishbites was born. Not only did Bill Carr unlock the scent component of the formula, he 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 15

Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather - Tips and Techniques

also unlocked the importance of the flavor which is built into Fishbites. Fish might smell something interesting, but if the taste doesn’t match the smell, they might simply spit it out before you can set the hook. Fishbites tastes as good as it smells to fish, apparently. Happily to humans, it doesn’t smell much, at all. Carr founded Fishbites as a private company in 1999 along with a number of family members, and the rest is history. Fishbite products have now been used worldwide to catch dozens of species of fresh and saltwater fish. The sand flea version has become legendary for its ability to lure pompano on both coasts of Florida as well as the beaches of Alabama. Many anglers also have learned that the “Bob’s Your Uncle” version, in pork strip and pork frog imitations, is a great substitute for natural pork skin baits which are no longer available in the fishing market. The strips and frogs add lots of attraction to a spoon or jig, not only for bass but also for redfish and other saltwater species.

Mike Mitchell’s clients hauled in this monster weighing 103 pounds on a chilly day on Lake Wheeler. (Mike Mitchell Photo)

Their latest product is focused entirely on pleasing the palate of catfish. Immersed in water, the ‘Yeh Monn!’ Catfish Bait, begins to melt and puts out a scent trail as soon as it hits the water, says Michael Carr. In current areas, the scent quickly spreads downstream for hundreds of yards, allowing catfish to home in on it. It’s edible (to catfish) and biodegradable, so fish that eat it are not harmed. At the same time, not a lot of fish are going to pull it off the hook since the tough mesh it’s built into stays put through repeated bites in most cases. Each pack of Yeh Monn! includes two 5/8-inch by 12-inch bait strips, which can be cut into multiple 2 or 3 inch pieces to use on the hook. It’s available in shad, liver, worm and crawfish flavors. It doesn’t fly off on the cast, either, as many natural baits do—one piece is good for dozens of casts, though the flavor gradually melts out of them over

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an hour or so. (You can’t put used bait back in the pack because it will cause mold on the remaining product.) See product details at www. fishbites.com. CURRENT EVENTS So where do you fish your bait, whether natural or manmade? Current is a huge help in spreading scent both of natural and designer-baits, of course, even though it will spread locally in the still water of a lake or pond. Current is strongest where rivers are either shallow or narrow—the compression of water trying to get over a shoal or through a pinch point speeds up the flow. This creates a natural feeding area not only for catfish but for bass and other species. “I look for strong flow, but within that flow there are slower holding areas where the big fish will wait for food to be washed to them,” said Captain Mike Mitchell, who regularly wins big regional catfishing tournaments on the Tennessee River lakes across northern Alabama. “Learning to see those seams is key to success in finding the biggest fish.”

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The waters directly below dams are also usually catfish producers since lots of current brings the food to the fish. (In fast water the fish are likely to be in the eddies behind dam abutments and large rocks, rather than directly in the flow.) Another big help can be a steady wind, which creates directional water movement. Fishing a scent bait a few hundred feet upwind from an exposed shore and fish working along that edge will often be drawn in to your bait. This is also true around windswept points. Fish just on the downwind side of the point, where the wind is likely to create current as it forces water around the land.

Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather - Tips and Techniques

This monster blue caught on Lake Wilson in north Alabama is Captain Mike Mitchell‘s biggest ever--it went 117 pounds! (Mike Mitchell Photo)

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Mike Mitchell says he typically finds big fish on ledges between the deepest holes and shallow feeding areas, typically from 30 to 50 feet in winter, but they’re constantly on the move. The big guys are usually deep by day, he says. He also likes areas with rock or submerged timber, submerged humps and holes. His favorite lakes are Wilson and Wheeler, downstream from famed bass factory Guntersville. The lakes are loaded with shad and skipjack as well as plenty of mussels, all good catfish foods. He frequently fishes by “bumping”, that is putting out a spread of skipjack baits and letting them bump along bottom with the current as the boat drifts over likely terrain. Mitchell’s biggest cats? One went 103, the other, just last spring, 117! CATFISH GEAR The right gear depends on where you fish—pond catfish rarely get much over 8 to 10 pounds, so typical bass fishing gear can handle them. A size 2500 to 3000 spinning reel, 15 pound-test braid and a 7 foot medium action rod, or a 6-foot medium action baitcaster loaded with 15- to 20-pound test mono does the job, along with 5/0 Kahle style hooks, good for sticking the fish’s lip rather than being swallowed. Use just enough weight to cast and you’re good to go. For the potential giants of the major river/lake systems, on the other hand, a considerable upgrade in tackle is a must because the 10-pounders are sometimes the “little” ones.

Mitchell likes 7 ‘6’’ Big Cat Fever heavy and extra-heavy rods with Shimano Charter Special lever-drag reels, loaded with 40-pound-test mono hi-visibility Slime Line mono. Leaders are 100-pound-test mono to a Daiichi circle hook in 7/0 to 10/0 size. He uses small floats when dragging baits so that the bait and hook stay off the bottom avoiding hang ups. Snagless sinkers from 2 to 8 ounces maintain bottom contact—the heavier weight is necessary when the river is in flood stage, he notes. His bait is usually a chunk of cut skipjack about 4 to 5 inches long and he says it is a simple but deadly method for luring the giants in. Just one more thing—you’re gonna need a bigger net! If you hook up with one of the pot-bellied giants of the Tennessee River lakes, you’re going to need a major landing device. Huge nets like the Frabill 8520 Power Stow Landing Net, with a 40” x 44” hoop size, or the Steve Douglas HD150 Hydro-web are in the ballpark. Eat your Wheaties and scoop ‘em up! (Trophy cats are rarely gaffed because they are usually released to fight again. Keep the younger fish for the table.)

Important Contact Information Mike Mitchell www.tnriveroutfitters.net, 256-673-2250.)

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 17

Winter Catfishing in Cold Weather - Tips and Techniques

BY PAUL SCHULTZ

Recipe and image courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Cajun Blackened Catfish

This is a recipe that I obtained from a very good Cajun friend who is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. His family adopted me (friendly) many years ago and we have swapped Cajun and Creole recipes through the years. Prep: 10 mins • Cook: 10 mins • Total: 20 mins Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon dried thyme 4 – 4-ounce catfish fillets, skinned ¾ cup unsalted butter

18 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Instructions 1.

In a shallow bowl, mix together the black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, parsley, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, oregano, and thyme until thoroughly combined. Press the catfish fillets into the spice mixture to thoroughly coat. 2. Arrange a portable heat source outdoors, such as a butane burner or side burner of a gas grill. Melt butter in a glass or metal bowl. Light the burner, and place a large castiron skillet onto the burner over high heat. Pour about 1/4 cup of melted butter into the skillet; set remaining 1/2 cup of butter aside. 3. When the butter in the skillet is smoking hot, lay the catfish fillets into the skillet. Cook until the spices are burned onto the fillets and the catfish is opaque and flaky inside, about 3 minutes per side. Don’t breathe smoke from burning spices. To serve, pour remaining 1/2 cup of butter over the catfish.

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Boat Insurance When Being on the Water Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Go Right, It Can be Made Better

Bad things happen to good people- and good boats. Good insurance can make the pain go away.

20 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

LIFESTYLE

BY ED MASHBURN

Most of us who go on the water are optimistic by nature. We assume that we’ll have a good time and that nothing bad will ever happen to us. We assume that storms will go somewhere else and they won’t trouble us. We assume that bad people would never think of messing with our boats. Optimism is a good thing, but to tell the truth, a little realistic thought and preparation is also a very, very good thing. . One of the things that boat owners can do to be realistically prepared for accidents, bad weather, and bad people is to have proper boat insurance. After hearing the horror stories of a buddy who lost his boat and almost lost his home after his inadequately insured boat was involved in an accident, it seems that knowing more about boat insurance is a good idea. We spoke with agent Ron Davis at Geico of Mobile who provided a lot of information to process and consider. We asked the questions, and he provided the answers. GDO: “Do boat owners have to have boat insurance? What can happen if an uninsured boat owner is involved in an accident?” Davis: “Marine insurance requirements can vary greatly from boater to boater. Some states do require watercraft to be insured in order to register them in that particular state. Also, most lienholders require both liability as well as physical damage coverage on any watercraft that are financed with their institution. While a boater may not be required to carry marine insurance for their watercraft, having an uninsured accident can be catastrophic for the boater and their family. Marine insurance provides boaters with peace of mind that they have not only protected their investment, but also their family and their assets in the event of a liability claim.”. GDO: Why do boat owners need insurance? Are there some boat owners who need insurance more than others? Davis: “Boat insurance is unique in the sense that we are covering what is typically someone’s most prized possession. Our marine customers show so much pride in their watercraft. Most boat owners work their entire life to purchase their dream boat. For most, the dream doesn’t always end with the purchase of a boat, a lot of boaters spend a lot of time adding their own equipment and customizations to make the boat their own. Having the proper coverage helps keep that dream alive following a loss. Boat insurance is not only key for ensuring that your boat itself is covered, liability plays a huge part as well. Accidents are called accidents for a reason. Boaters want to 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 21

Boat Insurance-When Being on the Water Doesn’t Go Right, It Can be Made Better

be sure that you have the right amount of coverage for others in the event of an unforeseen liability claim. Whether you’re a boater who is on the water every weekend or once a year, you want to make sure you have the best possible coverage.” GDO: “What kind of boat insurance do most recreational boat owners need?”

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22 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Davis: “Every boater who intends on putting their boat in the water wants to make sure they cover their boat for at least liability losses. Some boaters choose to self-insure for their boat if they own their boat free and clear. However, causing damage to other boats, property or bodily harm to others can be financially detrimental to a boat owner. If a boat is financed, you want to make sure that you have physical damage coverage on the boat for at least your loan amount. If a boat is financed and you do not have the proper coverage you could find yourself continuing to pay for a boat that you would no longer have in the event of a total loss. Even if a boater keeps their watercraft in storage throughout the year, physical damage coverage could provide coverage for losses due to weather and even theft while the boat is being stored. We are in the business of “better safe than sorry” and have seen firsthand just how important boat insurance has been to our customers when losses have occurred.”

Boat Insurance-When Being on the Water Doesn’t Go Right, It Can be Made Better

GDO: “Is a boat covered by homeowner’s insurance?” Davis: “Each company is going to have their own guidelines for extending coverage to watercraft and other recreational vehicles. Normally, with coverage extended from a homeowner’s policy the watercraft may have limited coverage or may only be covered at the boater’s residence. The best way to ensure that your watercraft is covered for both liability and physical damage coverage is to insure the boat under a marine policy.” GDO: How much does recreational boat insurance cost on average? Davis: “Premiums can vary for each boater based on their needs. There are also other factors that are considered such as the type of watercraft, value of the watercraft and how much experience a boater has operating watercraft. Much like each boat is to its own proud owner, the cost of boat coverage is going to be unique to every boater. Here at Geico in Mobile, we want to make sure you are getting not only the best coverage, but the most competitive rate we can offer as well.” Peaceful, calm, and quietbut nothing on the water is guaranteed. Boater’s insurance can help keep things the way we want it to be

GDO: “What does boat insurance cover?” Davis: “Typically, boat insurance offers coverage for both liability and physical damage coverage on the boat. There are other optional coverages that are commonly selected such as medical payments for you and your covered passengers, personal effects coverage for things like fishing gear and equipment and even coverage for fuel spillage. When it comes to boat protection, I personally don’t think there is such a thing as “too much coverage”. For boaters who live in coastal areas, like the Gulf, coverage for storms such as hurricanes have become one of the most important aspects of a policy. We have learned more than ever just how important our marine policies have been to our policyholders during this last hurricane season. The aftermath of a storm can be very overwhelming and costly; having the adequate coverage can remove such a burden from boat owners.”

GDO: “Who can we talk to so we can find out more about boat insurance?” Davis: “We would love to see how much we could save you on your boat and other insurance needs here at the local Geico office in Mobile. You can contact us at 251-445-0053.”

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 23

BY JOSH HONEYCUTT

Want to trap hogs?

Here’s your info starter kit for capturing pesky pigs. Few things are more detrimental to native animals and habitat than wild hogs. And few things are more exhilarating them capturing an entire sounder of swine. It’s certainly necessary. Here’s most of what you need to know to get started. TRAPPING: A REAL SOLUTION TO A MASSIVE ISSUE Hogs are hard on everything else within the ecosystem, including agriculture, natural habitat, native wildlife, and more. Areas overrun with swine show extensive signs of damage, such as excessive rooting, overbrowsing, etc. Few are more aware of this than Kinion Bankston, founder of Southern Boyz Outdoors. He is a hog trapping expert, educates the public on trapping pigs, and sells supplies that help get the job done. “They have a huge impact on habitat,” Bankston said. “If you have an oak flat on your property, they’ll eat every acorn on the ground, and impact your deer, squirrels and other native animals that rely on those to make it through the winter, especially here in the South where we don’t have cornfields, soybean fields, and things like that.” Not only do they demolish food supplies that native animals rely on, they also push them out of areas due to their very presence. “I’ve been on a stand before where they pushed deer out of the food plot,” Bankston said. “All of a sudden, the deer blow, turn and run off, and hogs come out. So, they will run wildlife off. Plus, they’ll eat turkey eggs.” Bankston even has an acquaintance who was tracking a deer, heard hogs, and when they got to it, the hogs were eating the deer a lady had shot. They ate the hind quarter off of it by the time they got there. The point? Hog management is crucial. Some people argue that hunting is enough, but it isn’t. It can’t keep up with the exploding hog populations across the landscape. “The reason for trapping hogs is because killing them only takes out one or two at a time, which really doesn’t do anything to keep up with the reproduction rate,” Bankston says. “When you’re catching an entire sounder of hogs, that’s when you really start putting a dent in the population.” Trapping hogs isn’t easy, though. It takes significant planning. Even then, there’s no guarantee of success. While they don’t have great eyesight or hearing, they have a great sense of smell. “Catching hogs is a challenge all of the way around,” Bankston said. “It’s especially challenging catching that single boar that’s traveling on his own and looking for a sow, and catching that while sounder of hogs is a huge challenge.” HOG TRAP TYPES There are different types of traps available, including box, cage, and cor24 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

HUNTING

How to Build a Hog Trap

While removing hogs is necessary, don’t waste the meat. Prepared properly, it’s great food. Don’t want it? Share it with those less fortunate. They can use it. (Southern Boyz Outdoors photo) 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 25

How to Build a Hog Trap

Trapping hogs is the only effective measure for managing populations. (Southern Boyz Outdoors photo)

ral-style options. Each offers pros, cons, and different levels of efficiency. They also have varying degrees of affordability, capacity, portability, size, weight, and more.

the trap, the more apt you are to capture single hogs, but especially groups of them if sounders are present.

Box-style traps are perhaps the cheapest, most maneuverable, and simplest to implement. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also the least effective, have the lowest capacity, and the least inviting for skeptical hogs.

A cage trap is the next-best option. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still limited in terms of capacity. It also has a fair chance of capturing deer and other non-target species. That said, this model is less obvious to hogs, and might invite those that are more skeptical of a lesser, more confined trap.

Still, construction is fairly simple. These are usually square or rectangular. Square designs start at 8-feet-by-8-feet and increase from there. The smallest rectangular designs are 4-feet-by-8-feet. Generally, the larger

Generally, these models are crafted with livestock panels and metal framing, such as T posts. Usually, these traps are at least 10-feet-by-10feet, and might be larger. This option is superior to the smaller, box-style

26 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

How to Build a Hog Trap

leaves an eight-feet section. In the middle, you put another T post with a spade on it. That gives you a T post every four feet all of the way around the trap. It’s easy to relocate. You just pull your T post up, pull your eight foot panels, and then move it over (to the new location).”

method. Some might also choose the circular design, which is best known as the corral trap. These are the most popular today, and are generally at least 10 to 12 feet in diameter. These are very adjustable, extremely transportable, and are also easy to increase (or decrease) in size. The best part? This style is the most inviting option to trap-shy and timid hogs. Pros aside, these are usually more expensive, especially if used in conjunction with cellular-controlled gate systems, which are necessary for catching entire sounders at once.

All things considered, circular models are best for keeping trapped hogs confined. Regardless of which route is taken, the sides should be at least five to six feet tall, need to be secured to the metal framing and support posts, and doors should be heavy and spring-loaded to prevent hogs from escaping. After all, the key is catching the entire sounder of hogs — not losing them.

“The real challenge is just how smart they are,” Bankston said. “Hogs are very intelligent. Say you have a group of hogs coming in, if you catch two of those hogs, the rest of that sounder will not go back inside of that trap. To me, they’re smarter than a coyote, and coyotes are some of the smartest animals in the world. Hogs are even smarter than them.”

Not in the mood to build your own trap? You can purchase ready-made kits instead. Some popular brands include Jager Pro, GameChanger Traps, BoarBuster Wireless Traps, Hawg Stopper and others. HOG ATTRACTANTS There are plenty of things you can use to attract hogs. For most, shelled corn works just fine. That said, it’ll draw non-target species, such as deer. If you use corn, soak it in water so that it will sour and become less desirable to all but hogs, which eat almost anything.

Trap styles aside, the door is a vital component of the finished piece. Those that descend straight downward, or swing into place from the inside, are top performers. Combined with a cellular-controlled gate, the corral trap and straight-down gate is Bankston’s favorite approach.

There are other options. Commercial products made specifically for hogs include:

“We build these big 30-feet-diameter pens with a Hogg Boss gate system,” Bankston said. “It’s a cellular gate system that drops (via your cell phone). We’ll use a cattle panel. We’ll take one of those, and cut it to eight feet. Then, we’ll take the wire, leave the horizontal line at its longest, and cut down one of the vertical lines of the panel. Then, we’ll bend that end into a circle. Then, you lace those together. Take a T post without the spade on it, drop it down through there and drive it into the ground. That

Hog Wild Beast Attractant, Hog Wild Pig Punch, Pig Out, Pig Punch, Hog Heaven, Long Distance Hog Bait and additional hog attractants. Other purchasable things that might work include dog food, molasses, peanut butter, rice bran, sweet feed, and more. Beware, commercial baits work,

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How to Build a Hog Trap

but may draw other animals, like fresh corn.

we can drop the gate and catch the entire sounder.”

All said, the smellier the better. Ruined fruits, meats, vegetables and other perishables make for great bait. That’s why household scrapes are popular, these are cheap and stinky. Many who trap hogs extensively cut deals with restaurants and other food producers for things that would otherwise be tossed in the garbage. They’ll compile this food waste to create their own slop bait.

One important factor to remember is safety. Hogs are mean. They can hurt you. Don’t turn your back on them, and be ready for difficult situations. Always trap hogs with at least one partner, and have a means of protection against cornered and stressed swine.

Of course, check state and local regulations before baiting hogs. HOG TRAPPING “DOS” AND DON’TS One obvious key to trapping hogs is focusing on areas where hogs typically concentrate. “When they cut down the timber, and then planted all of these pine trees that we have down here in the South, there are a lot of oak trees along the river bottoms,” Bankston says. “That’s why people find these hogs along creeks and other drainages. It’s because of the oaks.” Have a large amount of ground to cover but want to minimize gear costs? Identify numerous hotspots with obvious hog sign. Scout just as you would when hunting whitetails and other game. Then, place a hog trap in each area, but without a gate. (You’ll rotate the gate from trap to trap as needed.) Put out some sort of feed or slop, and post cameras. “We’ll have an 8-feet opening in it,” Bankston says. “Then, as soon as we have a sounder of hogs move in, we’ll take the Hogg Boss gate (https:// hoggbossgates.com/), set it up and give them a couple of days to get used to the change. Then, once they go back in, with the cellular camera,

On the flip side, there are also plenty of mistakes you can make. For starters, don’t underestimate your local hog populations. Every group of hogs is different, and what works for some, might not for others. “You have these Russian boar type hogs where the hair stands up on them — they’re more aggressive,” Bankston says. “Then you have these piney woods rooter type hogs that are more laid back and seem to be easier to catch. One of the biggest things is getting out there and figuring out what works best in your area.” Regardless of what type you have, hogs are strong. Using inferior traps can lead to breakouts. Bad trap, gate, panel and trigger selection can waste time invested. And once captured hogs break free, you’ll likely never catch them again. Tips and tricks aside, the best thing you can do is to just start trapping. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t give up. Don’t fear failure. Learn from it. “If you’re going to start trapping hogs, my suggestion is to get out and experiment,” Bankston says. “Set your traps up, post cellular cameras, and start trying.”

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How to Build a Hog Trap

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Hunting hogs is fun, and certainly something to do, but isn’t a great tool for reducing hog populations. Trapping is, though. (Southern Boyz Outdoors photo)

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For more info on the events or CCA Alabama www.ccaalabama.org 251-478-3474 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 29

How to Build a Hog Trap

BY HANK SHAW Image by Holly A. Heyser

Wild Hog BBQ This recipe is designed to make pulled pork barbecue from a wild hog shoulder. You can use it for a store-bought pork shoulder, but it won’t need as long to cook. Use any BBQ sauce you want: I like my South Carolina mustard-based sauce, or a Kansas City-style Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 8 hrs • Total: 8 hrs 15 mins Ingredients

• • • • •

One 4-to-8-pound wild hog shoulder, boneless or bonein Salt Dry rub of your choice Barbecue sauce of your choice 1/4 to 1/2 cup bacon fat, lard or butter

Instructions

Sprinkle salt all over the pork shoulder, getting it into every crevice. Put the meat in a covered container in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. I like a solid 24 hours.

30 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

3. 4. 5.

Rinse the meat and coat with the dry rub of your choice. If you’re not using a dry rub, either use black pepper or pat the meat dry. Set foil in a tray that will hold the pork shoulder, leaving enough extra foil around the edges so you can wrap the meat later. Get your smoker going. If you have lots of time, set it to 200F. A happy medium is 225F, but don’t go higher than 250F. Set the meat in the tray and put it in the smoker. Flip the pork shoulder every hour so it gets even smoke. Smoke like this for at least 4 hours, and up to eight; I prefer about six hours. Now wrap the meat tightly in the foil and continue to cook until it’s done and is shreddable, anywhere from another hour or two for a young hog or store-bought pig, to another eight hours for an old hog. You can do this in an oven, too. Shred the meat with a pair of forks, and mix in the bacon fat. If you find yourself with long, stringy threads of meat, chop it a bit so it works better as a sandwich. Serve with the barbecue sauce of your choice on a bun with coleslaw.

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 31

Managing Your Pond for

d Wee l o r t n o C BY WILLIAM KENDY

32 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING In addition to food, largemouth bass need cover and structure to provide protection and give them the hiding place from which they can ambush bait fish and grow into big fish. Part of that structure equation is aquatic vegetation. The problem with aquatic vegetation is that sometimes it can just get out of hand and take over the pond. On a recent GDO Alabama Freshwater Fishing Report podcast, Southeastern Pond Management president Norman Latona shared his expertise in how to manage your pond for aquatic vegetation. SEPond offers a wide range of services, ranging from ecosystem analysis, management programs, liming, fertilization, fish inventory and removal processes, stocking, weed and vegetation control and more. Latona pointed out that since the south has a long growing season, sometimes aquatic vegetation can literally take over and it can be challenging to control it. The question is, “how much vegetation is too much”? “There are a number of strategies that you can put in place to control unwanted and over excessive vegetation and it just isn’t about hammering them with chemicals,” Latona said. While chemicals have their place in the pond management arsenal, there are other more organic ways to control a pond’s vegetation inventory. Latona pointed out that most of aquatic nuisance plants have their origins in the mud in the bottom of the pond and need sunlight to develop and grow. By coloring the water and limiting the amount of sunlight that penetrates down into the water column to the mud, that alone inhibits aquatic weed growth. While on the surface, it sounds nonsensical and rather contradictory, applying sound pond management techniques such as liming and fertilizing to support algae growth, can cut down on unwanted aquatic growth and contribute to a healthy, productive and balanced pond. “When you talk liming and fertilizing to control vegetation, it sounds kind of counterintuitive in that you would think that if you fertilize you will grow more weeds,” Latona said. “But what we are attempting to do is grow planktonic algae in the water that will give a pond that green tint, reduce sunlight penetration and stop weed growth.” “Collectively, that actually adds up to a giant shade cloth and cuts down on the visibility and sunlight penetration. Those weeds need to have sunlight to grow and if we can keep some of the sunlight off of them, we can usually control the growth because most aquatic weeds need to have some pretty intense direct sunlight to grow,” he said. Latona said that while it sounds crazy to talk about liming, fertilizing and weed control in January it makes sense to start down the path of weed control early and emphasizes that air and water temperature doesn’t really have an effect on weed growth. He emphasized that pond owners need to realize that once this type of vegetation gets established it becomes very difficult to control so the key is to start early. 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 33

Managing Your Pond for Weed Control

“Folks get kind of confused and think that if the water temperature is 45 or 50 degrees that weed growth isn’t a factor and that just isn’t the case. It’s just like with trees in that it doesn’t matter what the temperature is, it is all about the number of hours of sunlight,” Latona said. “Weeds will begin to grow in the spring, as the day length and sunlight intensity increases, regardless of air and water temperature. Once that vegetation gets to a certain level of maturity and abundance, you are really fighting an uphill battle to control it.”

tive arrow in his pond management quiver SE Pond prefers to take a multi-faceted approach to the weed control problem. That not only includes liming and fertilizing, chemical treatment and especially in shallow lakes, grass carp.

The question of how much vegetation is too much vegetation is a tough one and hinges on what your objectives and goals for your pond are.

“Grass carp are not going to completely eradicate aquatic vegetation unless you stock them at a super high density but they are a piece of the puzzle and part of the strategic solution,” Latona said. Latona said that for the average pond (if there actually is such a thing) stocking grass carp at the rate of 12 to 18 fish per acre is a good rule of thumb.

For example, from a biological and fisherman’s perspective, there isn’t much of a drawback to vegetation as long as it doesn’t get to the point where it chokes the pond and inhibits the ability of the predators to effectively prey on forage fish and obstruct the ability of fisherman to fish it.

At the end of the day if liming, fertilizing and the introduction of grass carp just aren’t cutting it, there are always herbicides. In addition, if the pond has the option of drawing down water, the nuisance weeds can be exposed to cold temperatures and that may help do the job.

“Bass love vegetation to hide them as predators and so do bluegill and, to some extent, shad who use it to hide from the bass. It is also a tremendous source of food because of all the tiny little aquatic insects that we call zooplankton and the tiny snails and crustaceans,” Latona explained. “Where we run into problems is when it gets to the point when it impedes the ability to fish, especially for bank fisherman. In addition, heavy weeds may attract snakes, rodents and even semi-aquatic animals like muskrats and beavers to the water’s edge, which some people consider undesirable.”

“We have a handful of approved chemicals that, if they are applied properly, are not harmful to humans, pets or wildlife and don’t hurt the fish,” Latona noted. “We tend to use herbicides more during the heavy growing season, which is the summertime when they are blooming and that is when they can be particularly effective.”

“Finally, for people who maintain nice, manicured and maintained landscapes around the pond, a preponderance of overgrown weeds may not be very esthetically pleasing,” Latona added. While Latona emphasized that while aquatic herbicides are an effec-

34 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

What about water drawdown? “If we have the ability to control the water level, we can draw down the lake or pond and expose the more susceptible areas with the nuisance weeds to the air and sub-zero temperatures and that can be effective,” Latona said. According to Latona, when you kill weeds they decompose and release all of their nutrients, which helps to stimulate planktonic aquatic algae

Managing Your Pond for Weed Control

Managing Wild Turkeys Through Teamwork

the money spent on turkeygrowth permits, whichin isturn partreduces of the licenswhich, the ing requirement to hunt turkeys in Florida, goes into up thatthe fund. need to fertilize to “cloud” water to reduce the amount of sunlight (mud) of the pond. “Many hunters and NWTFreaching membersthe arefloor heavily involved in It is like pile and raising funds for the wild turkey andanitsaquatic habitatcompost by participating of a bigwhereby interrelated managein NWTF hunting heritage part banquets, a portion of ment circle. those funds raised goes into the cost-share program,” Nicholson said. “Hunters’ purchases of hunting equipment also helps “So, we herbicide and in a week support wildlife conservation through the Wildlife andgreen Sportas or so, the pond will be as Fish Restoration Program,pea which brings federal grant soup because of all thefunding dead to state wildlife management agencies such as the FWC.” vegetation that is basically organic fertilizer and ‘boom’, we stimulate Through this combined effort from the NWTF, FFSeven and a big plankton bloomFWC, without any fertilizer,” said. Florida turkey hunters, theadding wild turkey populationLatona is healthy “We’ve accomplished things and flourishing in Florida. And, if you’re a turkey two hunter, thenat once.” you must be getting excited because spring turkey season and the youth turkey hunt weekends are just around the corner.

Contact Information Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program Whether it isChapter by Florida State of the National Wild Turkey Federation Contact Information “organic” treatment, as (NWTF) in liming and fertilizing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) SEPond Management and/ or plating Florida Forestcarp Service (FFS) Norm Latona orGreen using herbicides, Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) CP: Partnership 205-288-1371 SEPond can fix your Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Office: 888-830-7663 Wildlifeweed andissue. Sport Fish Restoration Program

42 APRIL 2020 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 35

David Hamilton and grandson Lucas Crossley holding a pair of sheepshead caught on fresh dead shrimp using the split shot rig.

36 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FISHING

Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more! BY WILLIAM KENDY

Sheepshead are known for their distinctive “convict” striped appearance and their “state of the art” bait-stealing skills. These powerful, saltwater big “bream” type of fish normally run in the two-to-sixpound range (but get much larger) and, once you manage to work your way through their heavy scales to clean them, provide excellent table fare. The best news is that they are abundant on the Gulf Coast and February is a prime time for catching them. Sheepshead’s vertical stripes help them blend into the structure that they like to frequent. They have strong “buck teeth” like incisors and powerful jaws that can make short work of barnacles, small stone and fiddler crabs, shrimp, minnows, clams and other tidbits, such as sand fleas, that tickle their fancy. When it comes to habitat and hangouts, since sheepshead are fond of “clipping” barnacles, they can be found off structures such as pilings, wrecks, docks, bridges, jetties, reefs and just about any hard structure that provides cover and dinner. That doesn’t mean that if you are a landlocked angler and don’t have a boat, you can’t catch sheepshead. You can target docks, seawalls, bulkheads or dangle baits as close to bridge or pier pilings as you can. Captain Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing, based out of Mobile is not only an experienced fishing guide but also holds the Alabama state record for sheepshead. He caught a 13-pound, 14-ounce whopper. I reached out to Garmeson to get his read on the best fishing rigs and tactics for fishermen trying to catch sheepshead in February. According to Garmeson, whether you are fishing in Mobile or Perdido Bays, the sheepshead are going to be moving out to saltier water and preparing for the spawn and that is where the bulk of the fish are going to be. “Angers want to look for big struc877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 37

Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more!

Husband and wife duo Kim and David Ward showing off a pair of sheepshead caught using the 1/0 Owner K-hook

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Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more!

ture, especially metal structures, stone and concrete, as their ‘go to’ locations for the largest number of fish in water that is six feet or deeper and sometimes even as deep as 50 to 60 feet,” Garmeson said. “Wood pilings are not out of the question and hold fish as well.” Garmeson points out that in February anglers should concentrate on structure in the lower areas of the bays or at “near shore” structures in the upper reaches of the Gulf typically within about six miles out. He also says that he looks for two things when it comes to structures; a lot of barnacles and hopefully some oysters.

“THERE WILL BE BLOOD”

“In my opinion, the more barnacles, the better. Once I have either visually seen or found fish on my fish finder and not gotten them to bite I’ll use a heavy floor scraper to scrape the pilings and see if I can fire them up,” Garmeson said. “Scraping and dispersing barnacles is basically a sheepshead fisherman’s chum and sometimes creates a sheepshead feeding frenzy.” In terms of bait, Garmeson says that the most common and productive bait for sheepshead are live shrimp, dead shrimp and fiddler crabs. “When it comes to shrimp, if the bait shop person gives you an option, request the smallest live shrimp in the tank. That often means you will get some extra shrimp in your live-well because not many fishermen want small shrimp,” Garmson said. “You also want to get the freshest dead shrimp you can find and that may mean resorting to going to seafood grade shrimp. You don’t want to use shrimp that are getting black and orange and actually stink.” Garmeson points out that sheepshead fishing isn’t “tackle intensive”. A 300-400 level spinning reel, a 200-400 class baitcaster and a 6 ½ to 7 ½ foot medium to medium heavy rod with some backbone will fill the bill. The important part is to have a durable reel with a good drag system. Garmeson’s favorite setup is the split shot rig. He uses 20-pound braid line with a 20-30 inch fluorocarbon or monofilament leader depending on the water clarity. He feels that fluorocarbon is better for spooky fish but monofilament is better if abrasion resistance is a factor.

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“I use a 1/0 Kahle hook and the smallest size split shot I can get away depending on managing the speed of the current,” Garmeson said. “Obviously the lighter the current, the smaller the weight and the stronger the current the heavier the weight. I will start with a #7 and go up to a #1 which is about ¼ to 3/16 ounce. I attach the hook about 10 inches from the split shot.” “A split shot rig allows you to fish in denser structure and you are not going to get hung up as much as you would with say a slip sinker. It’s also easier to get unhooked if you do get caught,” Garmeson added. “Normally, you are going to be fishing pretty much vertically in very light or even non-existent current conditions. If the current or wind conditions change, it is easier and faster to change weights. Also, if you break off with a split shot rig, it is quicker and easier to get back in the fishing game.”

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www.HOGRUSH.com 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 39

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40 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more!

William Buster (left) caught the beast while William McEvoy (right) used his netting skills to bring it into the boat.

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Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more!

Captain Taylor Morrow is Ugly Fishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest captain and is shown holding a great late winter sheepshead caught using the split shot rig and live shrimp near a natural gas rig in the Gulf.

42 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Picking the Best Sheepshead Rig...and more!

Next in the rigging pecking order for Garmeson is the Carolina rig. A typical Carolina rig utilizes a ¼ to 1-ounce egg sinker, a barrel swivel and a 1/0 Kahle or J-hook, something that won’t bend out easily. “When you using more weight you are going to have better contact with your line and the feel of your bait but you are not going to cover the water column as well because the heavier weight is too quick,” Garmeson said. “One downside of using a Carolina rig is that when you do break off there is more rigging to do to get you back fishing.”

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A “knocker” rig is about as simple a sheephead setup as is possible. It is just a leader, a barrel (slip,egg) sinker and a hook.

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“I’ll use a knocker rig if the current is working a little bit swifter and it allows me to maintain my bait in the water column,” Garmeson said. “The weight is going to sit on the eye of the hook.”

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“An application of a knocker rig is when I find that the current is working a little quicker for my split shot and I can update my weight a little bit and maintain my presence in the water column and not get pushed up by the current,” Garmeson said. “If you are in current near a rock jetty and actually freeline and feed line away from your weight and your bait will naturally drift along the rocks and it maintains a controlled drift.”

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The final rig Garmeson addressed is the “slip-cork” rig (bobber-stopper, slip-float). It is essentially a carolina rig on a controlled depth with a slip float. “This can be a really good tactic when you know exactly the depth that your fish are in and you need to let the current move your bait into an area which is difficult to cast to,” Garmeson pointed out. Garmeson has two last “parting fishing tips” for sheepshead anglers. The first is about visible braid and the second is about the bite. “If you are using braided line, use a high-vis line, something that you can easily see. It is easier to see if the line moves from one way to the other and since you have a 30 inch mono or fluorocarbon leader, it isn’t going to matter to the fish,” Garmeson said. “Sheepshead have a very light and often unnoticeable bite. Anger’s need to keep a tight line and always slowly lift the rod and then lower it back down so they can feel if a fish grabbed the bait and is swimming upwards, downwards or so the side,” Garmeson concluded. “Oftentimes they won’t raise the rod tip high enough to feel or see if there is a bite and, when they reel it up, they find a bare hook.”

Important Contact Information Captain Patric Garmeson 251-747-1554 www.uglyfishing.com

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 43

BY BROCK LEE

Recipe and images courtesy of hfDepot.com

Baked Lemon Sheepshead We love savoring the flavors of the sheepshead by keeping the number of ingredients to a minimum. In life, people are limited by time. This sheepshead recipe will not only save you time in preparation work but will give you a cooked sheepshead fillet loaded with flavor that I guarantee the family will love.

Prep: 15 mins • Cook: 45 mins • Total: 1 hour

Ingredients

• • • • • • • •

2 lbs. sheepshead fillets 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped salt and pepper dill olive oil

Instructions 1. The night before place sheepshead fillets in a Ziplock 44 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

5. 6. 7.

and mix the salt, pepper and lemon juice in it. Let the sheepshead fillets marinate all night or for at least a minimum of 4 hours before preparing. Get a baking sheet and aluminum foil and place a little olive oil on it before the sheepshead fillets. Once this is done, place the marinated fillets on a baking sheet on top of the aluminum foil. Coat the outside of the sheepshead fillets with melted butter. (**Coating should be in a brushing motion not to overdo it**) Carefully chop up onions, fresh parsley, and fresh dill to place on and around the sheepshead fillets. Place all the onions and parsley around the fillets and the fresh dill on top. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil on top of the fillets. Cover your sheepshead with another piece of aluminum foil making a small covering over the fillets to ensure they will keep the moisture in and not to dry out. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees to ensure proper cooking of the fish. Once the oven reaches this temperature reduce the temperature to 400 degrees and place the fish on the ovens top rack. Cook the sheepshead fillets for 12 minutes or until cooked.

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BY WILLIAM KENDY

Alabama Ag Credit

Land Financing

Rates

Alabama Ag Credit (AAC) is a financial coop with nine locations in Alabama serving 40 counties in Central and South Alabama. It provides financing for farm, timber and forestry operations, rural real estate, agribusiness, equipment and livestock and recreational and hunting land. Keith McKinley is AAC Relationship Manager based out of Monroeville. He points out that interest rates have trended downward all year long. “I will say that in the last few months it has leveled off due to the election,” McKinley said. “While our rates don’t follow the Treasury exactly, they do trend with them and it has resulted in a long of folks inquiring about financing.” “It is supply and demand and, in my conversations, I found that some people are pulling money out of the stock market or their depository accounts and putting it on tangible assets that they can put their hands on,” Mckinley shared. McKinley pointed out that the size of parcels sold are increasing. “In our market we see a lot of 80-to-120-acre tracts but this year (2020) we’ve seen a jump in the larger tracks,” McKinley said. “Where we are at, there is a lot of property held by timber companies and trusts and normally timberland doesn’t trade that frequently here but this year the larger tracts have.” “In 2020 not only the number of inquiries and loans have increased, but also the average tract land size has increased as well,” he said. According to McKinley there are a lot of components, including credit, financials, loan-to-value, the type of property, the length of term and other variables. “The longer term you have, the longer the rate lock and the higher the rate but the lower the payment,” McKinley explained. “Some people are rate buyers and some people are payment buyers and we try to make both happy if we can and we don’t get paid to say no.” When you borrow from Alabama Ag Credit, you become a stockholder and part owner in the cooperative, entitling you to a portion of the earnings (patronage) when the association does well financially. The more you borrow, the bigger your share of earnings. “For the last eight or nine years the patronage has reduced the stated rate by around 95 basis points and it is a return on the stock that they invested at closing and we are thankful and proud to be able to offer it.” Alabama Ag Credit Land Loan rates (as of 1/10/21} 5 year – 3,20 7 year – 3.27 10 year – 3.44 15 year – 3.74 20 year – 3.97 30 year – 4.27 *rate subject to change based on individual credit worthiness Contact: Keith McKinley Monroeville Office – (251) 743-2865 CP – (251) 229-9019 www.alabamagcredit.com

46 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

Serving gardeners, farmers and everyone in between

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 47

BY HANK SHAW Photos by Holly A. Heyser

Lowcountry Perloo Perloo, perlo, purloo or pilau, however you spell it, this one-pot rice dish is fantastic. I urge you to use American shrimp when you make this recipe, and if you can, use Carolina Gold rice, which cooks a little differently from regular long-grain; but definitely use a longgrain rice if you can’t find Carolina Gold. Some sort of smoked pork is vital to a good perloo. Bacon is what I use, but salty country ham or salt pork will also work. Jowl bacon is ideal. And yes, I’ve seen sausage in perloo, too, but to me that tips it a bit too close to jambalaya. Prep: 30 mins • Cook: 30 mins • Total: 1 hour Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 pounds shrimp, with shells (and heads if possible) 2 bay leaves 1 onion, chopped 1 large carrot, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1/4 pound thick-cut bacon 2 cups chopped white or yellow onion 2 cups chopped celery stalks 1 yellow bell pepper, diced 2 large garlic cloves, minced 2 1/2 cups rice 1/2 cup white wine 1 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes 1 datil, fish or habanero chile, minced (optional) 1/3 cup chopped parsley Black pepper to taste

Instructions 1. Peel all the shrimp and put the shells, and heads if you have them, into a pot with the bay leaves, onion, celery and carrot. Cover with 7 cups of water and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for 30 minutes while you chop everything else for the perloo. 2. As the stock is simmering, slowly fry the bacon in a large, heavy pot. When it is crispy, remove the bacon (eat a slice) and chop roughly. Set the bacon aside. 3. Sauté the 2 cups chopped onion, 2 cups chopped celery and the diced yellow bell pepper in the bacon fat until soft but not browned. Add the garlic and rice and cook, stirring often for 3 minutes, until the rice turns translucent. 4. Add the white wine, tomatoes and chile pepper to the pot and stir well. 5. Set up a fine-meshed strainer with a paper towel in it. Ladle two or three ladles of the shrimp stock through this strainer into the rice pot. Stir well. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this process until the rice is tender. 6. Add one more ladle of shrimp stock to the pot, along with the shrimp and the parsley. Mix to combine, cover the pot and turn the heat to its lowest setting. Cover for 5 minutes to let the shrimp cook, then mix in the bacon and black pepper and serve.

48 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

CAMPHOUSE KITCHEN

British Venison Meatballs This is my recipe for this British classic and I like it a lot. I was initially inspired by a version I read about in Chef April Bloomfield’s book A Girl and Her Pig. This is not her recipe, though. It’s an amalgam of several I’ve read in various books, as well as from my own, albeit limited, experience eating these meatballs. If you are in a hurry, you can indeed start with ground pork or venison -- something meat processors really love to give you a lot of if you don’t butcher your own deer. You must make sure that the ground meat has some fat in it, otherwise your meatballs will be dry and sad. Prep: 20 mins • Cook: 50 mins • Total: 1 hour 10 mins Ingredients

• • • • • • • • • • • •

1-pound venison 1/2-pound bacon ends (or regular bacon) 1/2-pound venison liver 1 cup oats or breadcrumbs 1 cup minced onion 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 cups venison broth or beef broth Caul fat or very thin bacon

Instructions 1. Take the caul fat out if you are using it and soak it in tepid water with a little salt tossed in, maybe a teaspoon. This will help it loosen. 2. Cut the venison, bacon and liver into 1-inch chunks and freeze for 30 minutes to an hour, until they are about halffrozen. Grind the oats in a food processor or spice grinder into a coarse meal like coarse cornmeal. Or, just use breadcrumbs. 3. When the meat is ready, mix it with the onions and grind on a medium die, 6 mm if you have one, or the “coarse” on a Kitchenaid grinder. Put the meat in a bowl and mix with the oats and all the herbs and spices. Preheat the oven to 375°F. 4. Gently unravel the caul fat into one layer and lay it on a clean work surface. Form balls with the meat mixture of about racquetball size, a little smaller than a baseball or the size of a small orange. You want them big. Place the ball on the caul fat and slice enough of the caul around it to wrap the ball completely. Arrange seam side down in a baking dish. If you can’t find caul fat and are using thin bacon, wrap the balls in bacon strips until you have them covered. Repeat until you have all the meat done. 5. Bake uncovered in an oven for 40 to 50 minutes, basting every 10 to 15 minutes with the stock. Serve with mashed potatoes and peas.

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 49

NEW & COOL GEAR BY WILLIAM KENDY

SPRO Gouken “Tough-as-Nails” Fluorocarbon

The Gouken small diameter line maintains a balance of power, sensitivity and camouflage at the same time delivering abrasion resistance. Instead of refracting off the material, it allows light to pass through resulting in a high degree of invisibility. It is available in 150-yard spools in 10, 12, 15, 16 and 20-pound test. Suggested Retail Price:$18.99 www.spro.com

Stevens 555 Over/Under Offers Quality at Affordable Cost

Available in 12, 20, 28 and 410 this light-weight and fast handling O/U features a black semi-gloss aluminum receiver, chrome-lined carbon steel barrels, a stylish oil-finished semi-pistol grip Turkish walnut stock, a single selective mechanical trigger, manual extractors and weighs in at only 5 ½ pounds. It comes with four choke tubes: full, modified, modified improved cylinder and cylinder. Suggested Retail Price: $679.00 www.savagearms.com

Penn Announces First Battle® Fly Fishing Saltwater combos

Available as a four-piece, medium fast rod in 8 and 10 line weight rods, the Battle® Fly Fishing combo comes pre-spooled with a looped WF floating line and backing, encased in a mesh hard rod tube and reel carrier. The die-cast reel is anodized to protect it from harsh saltwater conditions and features a fully adjustable disc-drag system and an anodized, double up-lock aluminum reel seat. Suggested Retail Price: $249.95 www.PennFishing.com

Outdoor Edge® Introduces the RazorWork™

Go from work to skinning with the push of a button with the new RazorWork DC knife from Outdoor Edge®. It features a replaceable scalpel-sharp 3-inch utility blade made from Japanese 420J2 heattreated and hand-finished stainless steel. You can replace the standard blade to a 3-inch drop point blade with a push of a button. The handle is constructed from a lightweight one-piece non-slip Grivory polymer. Suggested Retail Price: $30.90 www.outdoor edge.com

Magellan Outdoors IceBox Dual Open 20 Quart Cooler

Featuring a dual-opening lid with a stainless-steel locking system for secure closure, the IceBox Dual Open 20 has two built in bottle openers, a drain plug and an ergonomic grip allowing for comfortable transportation and portability. It has anti-skid feet for stability, an efficient refrigeration V-Seal, is dry-ice compatible and the nontoxic cooler box is tasteless and easy to clean. Suggested Retail Price: $95.00 www.academy.com 50 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

NEW AND COOL GEAR FOR OUTDOORSMEN

CHARD Introduces New Pro-Former Electric Jerky Gun

The New Pro-Former electric jerky gun turns large amounts of wild game or lean ground beef into jerky with one pull of the trigger. The gun provides 300 foot-pounds of force which reduces hand fatigue and the 15-inch aluminum tube holds over 1.5 pounds of meat making it ideal for producing larger batches. Four stainless steel nozzle attachments are included for making strips and sticks along with a tube and nozzle brush. Suggested Retail Price: NA www.chardproducts.com

Alaska Classic Binocular Pack

The Alaska Classic is designed to fit the widest array of binoculars and is ideal for new Range Binoculars, 10×50, 12×50 and any smaller binoculars. This durable mid-size line is meant to accommodate full size binoculars up to 50mm objective lenses. All come in both Mossy Oak Break-Up County and Original Bottomland patterns. Harness, binocular tether system and auto-locking buckles are included with each pack. Suggested Retail Price: $104.99 www.alaskaguidecreations.com

Land your Next Trophy with an H2O XPRESS™ Tac-40 Casting Rod

Strong, sturdy and durable, the H2O XPRESS™ Tac-40 casting rod combines helical core construction to reduce torque while increasing blank power and offers a comfortable and lightweight split-grip EVA handle plus a rubber painted Fuji ACS reel seat. Its one-piece design incorporates semimicro Kigan SiC line guides and it is available in 6 ½, 6 ¾, 7 and 7 ¼ foot lengths. Suggested Retail Price: $129.99 www.academy.com

GoSun SolarLight Solar Assisted Flashlight;

This four-ounce rechargeable flashlight packs 280 lumens of on demand light offering a thousandfoot reach. With an integrated solar cell, it has the ability to recharge using solar energy alone, but can also be recharged with the included USB cord. It has a lantern mode, spotlight ability and a red strobe emergency setting. A magnetic back allows for hands free use. Suggested Retail Price: N/A www.gosun.com

Lakewood 41″ Bow Case Combo

This combo includes the main bow case, along with an arrow and accessory case. The bow case features a convenient to-loading drop-in design and allows for quiver-on storage. It incorporates a foam interior allowing for secure bow protection, D-Rings for tie down and includes a shoulder strap. It holds up to 18 arrows in a separate compartment and comes with a lifetime warranty. Suggested Retail Price: $299.99 www.lakewoodproducts.com

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 51

Bathing

in the Great Outdoors

BY CHRIS BLANKENSHIP Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

I like to learn. I don’t think we are ever too old to add to our knowledge base so I will sign up for training programs that I come across from time to time. Earlier this year, American University invited me to an online program called “Rooting Forest Therapy.” Their email said it would teach me how to be a more effective leader through “Forest Bathing.” I figured with an intro like that I should give it a look. Come to find out, forest bathing did not have anything to do with taking off my clothes at a pond in the woods. That was simply the best translation of the name for the practice in Japan, where it began in the 1980s. It was all about slowing down and taking in all the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings when we are in the great outdoors. The lady who taught the class said we have 21 senses and not just the five we learned in school. I threw the flag on that, but maybe I am just not as in tune with my sensitive side as some of those folks. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors. Most of it is spent moving or going somewhere. I like to hike, but I am a destination hiker. It is like I am on a mission to get to the lake, the overlook, the waterfall or whatever is at the

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end of the trail. When I am on the boat, we are running somewhere on plane or fishing or doing something. Not a lot of sitting. I am a terribly impatient hunter, so sitting in a stand for hours is tough on me. I like to be on the go. This class was all about slowing down and taking it all in. Speaking of sensitive sides, a big part of this class was sharing our thoughts and feelings. For the first exercise, we had to be outside with our computers and close our eyes and just listen for 10 minutes and then tell what we heard and how that made us feel. Like most men, I kind of like to keep my feelings to myself. Sharing in a group online was a little uncomfortable at first. But I figured I did not know any of these people and would never hear from them again, so I opened my soul and spewed my feelings all over them. All kidding aside, it was an interesting program, and with about four more classes a person can be certified as a Forest Bathing Moderator. I didn’t really buy into the whole forest bathing and meditation thing and will not be getting certified, but I will say it was relaxing. And don’t we all need a little more relaxing time in our lives?

FROM THE COMMISSIONER After this class, I have tried to slow down and take more time to let my five, or 21, senses get all they can out of my time outdoors. My wife and I went to Southern Utah and Lake Powell this fall to celebrate my 50th birthday. It was a spectacular trip! We hiked many trails into some of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen. On every hike, we stopped multiple times and just took in the beauty or the sounds or felt the novelty of 5% humidity on our skin. It was quite a change of pace for me. Maybe I stopped more because at 50 I can’t take those hills like I used to, but I like to think it was also to slow down and enjoy the majesty of it all. My wife kept telling me she liked the new me. A few months ago, I wrote about leasing a small place to hunt this year. Having that place all to ourselves has been great! We put up some nice ladder stands and cleaned up a couple of old shooting houses to give us multiple places to hunt. I have really enjoyed sitting in different spots and taking in all the sights, smells and sounds of the flora and fauna of the place. It has really been peaceful.

watched the moon rise in late afternoon and tracked its changing shape as it waxed and waned. After writing the last few paragraphs, I’m wondering if I bought into the forest bathing more than I originally thought I did. Maybe it is just getting older and slowing down to enjoy all that I have the opportunity to do. Either way, I must admit that this has been the most peaceful and relaxing fall and winter outdoors that I can remember. I hope that you will take time to “bathe in the forest” this year during the rest of deer season and continuing into turkey season. I also hope that carries over into the boating and fishing season this year. There is a lot to see, hear and feel in the outdoors if we will take time to let ourselves truly enjoy our experiences in the beautiful world God has given us. Slow down and enjoy bathing in the great outdoors.

In each morning hunt I have just closed my eyes and listened. It is amazing what all sounds you hear as the woods are waking up at daybreak. The turkeys coming off the roost and cutting up. The ducks coming and going with their calls and flapping. The acorns dropping and hitting three or four limbs on the way to the ground. The deer stepping on the leaves and twigs as they try to sneak around. The squirrels chirping at each other and jumping from tree to tree in the chase. All the calls of the different songbirds. It also makes me very aware of how much sound I make fidgeting in the stand. In the afternoons I have enjoyed watching the colors of the woods change as the sun creeps across the sky and disappears behind the trees. I have watched my green fields look greener and greener as the season has worn on and the other vegetation has lost its color. Part of the season I have

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 53

Is violating and breaking the law really worth it?

I’ll Just Never Understand Some People Why some people don’t follow easy laws blows my mind. Each Monday morning for the past several years I receive an email from one of the Law Enforcement Section’s assistant chiefs containing a detailed list of game and fish violations from the past week. Some of the violations I see year in and year out never ceases to amaze me. I guess I’ll just never understand the way some people think.

BY CHARLES “CHUCK” SYKES Director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF)

But, by far, the most frequent citations are issued for night hunting and hunting over bait. I can’t understand the reasoning for either. Let’s look at hunting over bait first.

I’m writing this article on November 23, 2020, the Monday after opening weekend of firearms deer season for most of the state. As I’m scrolling through the spreadsheet of citations and warnings issued over the past week, two things really catch my attention.

December 28, 2020, will mark my eighth anniversary in this position. For each of my first six legislative sessions, baiting bills were introduced by legislators and battled over. Finally, during the legislative session of 2019, a bill finally passed and was signed by the Governor that allowed hunters to legally hunt over bait for deer and feral swine with the purchase of a Bait Privilege License.

The top two citations are “hunting over bait” and “hunting at night.” There are warnings and even a few citations issued for a myriad of violations, including hunting license, fishing without permission, failure to wear hunter orange, and criminal littering.

So, now that hunting over bait has been made legal, why are we still issuing citations for it? That’s a really good question. Hunters apparently lobbied their legislators to a degree that the bill passed, and we’ve made it an extremely simple procedure to purchase the bait

54 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

FROM THE DIRECTOR privilege license. Why are people still out there being cited for hunting over bait? Let me assure you that this is not an isolated incident in only a few counties. This is a violation that was constant from one end of the state to the other. Whether it’s a “principle” issue or a “property rights” issue, I really don’t know. I can tell you from a financial perspective that it makes absolutely no sense to hunt over bait without having acquired the appropriate license. One bag of corn typically retails around $7-$8 per 50-pound bag. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the hunters ticketed for hunting over bait didn’t just buy one bag for opening weekend. For the sake of argument, let’s say they will buy one ton of corn throughout the season at a cost of approximately $300. A resident bait privilege license costs $15.25 this year (it changes a bit each year due to the CPI index). That means for the price of two bags of corn, a license can be purchased that will keep someone legal. I don’t think that’s too much of an investment to make. As with the vast majority of our game and fish violations, hunting over bait is a Class C Misdemeanor. The County Judge, not us, decides the penalty for the violation, which can range from $0-$500 plus court costs. If I lowball the cost for the violation at $50 plus and equal $50 court costs, that’s $100 in out-of-pocket expense that could have been avoided for less than $20. To me that’s just a sound financial decision that should be easily justified by anyone. Speaking of an easy financial decision, let’s take a look at night hunting. Unlike baiting, people caught night hunting deer are charged with a Class B Misdemeanor and will get hit much harder in the wallet. The minimum fine for someone - please notice I’m not calling them hunters- hunting deer at night is $2,000. In addition to the cash out-of-pocket (don’t forget to add court costs, which usually mirror the fine), the resulting sentence can include up to six months in jail, loss of all hunting privileges for up to three

years, and possible confiscation of all items used in the crime. That means rifle, lights, vehicle and anything else utilized in the violation. Hypothetically, a person could lose a $50,000 vehicle, $2,000 rifle and scope, hunting privileges for up to three years, pay $4,000 in fines and court costs and get room and board in one of Alabama’s correctional facilities. I just can’t comprehend the idea of taking that kind of risk. One would think that most of the night hunting cases are due to someone seeing a huge buck on the side of a road and, in a moment of lapsed judgement, shooting at it. I wish I could say that was an accurate statement; unfortunately, it’s not. The majority of the deer we confiscate on these violations are does or small bucks. Alabama is well-known for the generous length of our deer season. Someone can hunt deer in Alabama from October 1 through February 10 in many areas of the state from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Is that not enough time to harvest a deer? That’s basically 4.5 months during daylight hours. Why do so many still find pleasure in riding around at night and illegally shooting deer? Not only is it illegal and unethical, it can also be extremely dangerous. Is there some thrill in doing something illegal and not getting caught? I can understand a high school or college-age kid making a poor judgement call and getting into trouble, once, by night hunting with friends. But adults have no excuse. I don’t want you all to think that I’ve lived a life free from impurities, because I haven’t. However, like most of us, what I did as a child and young adult, I grew out of as I matured. And I’m not saying that some of the violations aren’t committed by people in those rebellious years. But the facts are, most of these violations are committed by adults, both men and women, who have families, jobs, and other responsibilities. I guess I will never comprehend the thought processes of these individuals. Honestly, with some of them, I don’t want to know what they are thinking!

Hunting over bait is legal with the appropriate license, yet some still choose to hunt illegally.

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 55

CHOOSING THE QUAIL

GUN

The over/under or side/ side double barrel 20 gauge shotguns are considered by many to be the classic quail gun

BY CRAIG HANEY Photo submitted by Craig Haney

There was a time when I could have gone to a meeting on a Tuesday night, stood up before a group of strangers and declared “My name is Craig and I am addicted to buying shotguns for quail.” My wife suggested if there was not a quail guns anonymous group in existence, I should start one. She finally got over the idea as I figured out what shotguns worked for me and Miss Lynn and I are still married. If you want to become a quail hunter, the first thing you usually think about is the shotgun you need for the sport. If you are a turkey hunter or waterfowler, you should have a shotgun that will be sufficient for quail hunting. The turkey or duck gun, however, may be somewhat heavy for quail hunting and not as fast to your shoulder as a lighter shotgun. When bobwhites flush from cover, they quickly take off from the hunter so a lighter gun is quicker to mount and get on the quail for the shot. If you don’t own a shotgun, buying your first quail gun may be intimidating. Here are some steps to help you make your decision on which

56 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

A fast handling gun is a must for quail hunting.

gun is best for you. CHOOSING THE GAUGE 12-Gauge In general,the 12-gauge is the most popular gauge in the United States. Being the most popular, it has the largest selection of shotgun models available and the largest availability of shells. With field loads, it does a great job on quail, plus it can be used for turkeys, ducks or pheasants with the proper loads for those game birds. A lightweight 12-gauge in the 6 1/2 pound range is faster handling than the turkey or duck gun and a great weight for quail. 16-Gauge The 16-gauge was in its’ heyday in the 1940’s and 50’s when almost 25% of all shotguns sold were 16-gauge and just over 50% were 12-gauge. A popular comment about the 16-gauge was that it carries like a 20 but hits like a 12. No matter, the 16-gauge has been dying a slow death since then. I surmise most

THE GUN RACK people using a 16-gauge today inherited it from their father, grandfather or a favorite uncle. They pay a price to hunt with it as shells are roughly twice what 12 or 20-gauge shells cost. 20-gauge The 20-gauge ranks behind the 12-gauge in general popularity in the United States and like the 12 has a wide range of models and shells available for it. Generally the 20-gauge shotgun has a smaller frame and lighter weight than the 12-gauge making it a popular choice for quail hunters. While the 20-gauge ranks behind the 12-gauge in overall popularity, the 20-gauge is probably the number one quail gauge. 28-gauge 28-gauge shotguns are popular for quail hunters because of their light recoil and minimal weight which make it fast-handling when the birds flush. Keep in mind the larger loads of the 12 and 20-gauge shells make them more efficient in taking birds but an accurate shot may find the 28-gauge ideal for his needs. .410-bore The .410 is the only exception to the gauge designation for shotguns having an actual bore diameter of .410/1000ths of an inch which is the approximate equivalent to a 67 ½ gauge. .410 shotguns are small, lightweight and have a lot of eye appeal but should probably be left to accomplished hunters. CHOOSE YOUR ACTION Pump Pump shotguns are the most popular in the United States because they are inexpensive and dependable. Some hunters prefer the semi-auto, over/under or double gun for a faster follow-up shot

when the birds flush. Semi-automatics Semi-autos use the energy, gas or recoil, from the fired shell to chamber the next shell and you get a two-fold advantage of lower felt recoil and increased speed for follow-up shots. The negative for semi-autos is they are more likely to malfunction if not cleaned regularly. Double barrels Double barrel shotguns can be side-by-side or over/under configuration. They are popular for their ease of operation in the field, traditional look and the ability to have two different chokes which is great for shooting at quail flying away from you. Generally quail hunting shotguns, no matter the action, have either 26 or 28-inch length barrels. The 28-inch barrel weighs more and has a better swing onto a bird. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FIT. Once you have decided on gauge, action and barrel length and your budget for a quail gun, go to a gun shop in your area with a large selection of shotguns. Tell the salesman what you are looking for and you would like to shoulder some shotguns to see how they fit you. There is a difference in how they will fit your shoulder and cheek when you bring the gun up. MORE THAN QUAIL? If your main focus is hunting quail, then a 20-gauge in the action you choose is an excellent quail or dove gun. There are also turkey and duck loads for the 20 that make it a more versatile gauge than ever before. If ducks, geese, turkey and pheasants are birds you also want to hunt besides quail, then a 12-gauge is probably your best choice.

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457 Dauphin Island Parkway “At the Loop” Mobile, AL 36606 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 57

Transport that

KAYAK kayak and head to the launch site.

However, it’s not really that simple. Even though a truck bed supports a kayak well, if that kayak is not well-secured, it can decide to take off on its own, and that is not a good thing. After a kayak is placed in a pickup bed, it needs to be secured both front and back. Tie-down lines can be simple polypropylene plastic rope or even parachute cord. Bungee cords can give good service to keep the kayak in firm pressure with the front of the truck bed and assure that no rearward slippage can occur. Every pickup bed I’ve ever used would easily transport two kayaks, and in fact, two kayaks make a more secure fit in a truck bed than a single.

All transported kayaks must be secured side to side and front to back- this is crucial.

One of the best things about fishing kayaks is just how easy they are to get from home to the water. Compared to bass boats, bay boats, and even small fishing skiffs, kayaks are just easy-peasy to transport.

There are several ways to transport a kayak from home to water, and I’ve used most of them in my time as a kayak angler. Each transport system has its flaws, and each has its shining moments. Thankfully, even the most expensive kayak system is not too much to bear for most anglers.

For longer, heavier kayaks or long-distance travel, it may be a good idea to obtain a pickup bed extension rack. These are easy to mount, most just have a central post that fits into the trailer mounting hitch of the truck, and they provide good, secure support for the part of the kayak hull that hangs out the back. These extension racks really do a good job of stopping “bounce” which can occur when the truck hits a bump or pothole as it travels down the road to the water. The extension racks also give very handy places to secure the back end of the kayaks with line.

TRUCK BED Probably the easiest way to transport any kayak to the water is to slide the kayak, or two,into the bed of a pickup truck, secure the

When transporting kayaks in a truck bed, it is a very, very good idea to have a red “long load” warning flag attached to the kayak. This can help

However, even though kayaks really are easy to move by vehicles on dry land, it’s really important to do things right when transporting a kayak. Let me assure you that it’s not a good moment when driving to a fishing trip to look in the rearview mirror only to see the kayak skidding along the roadway. Don’t ask me how I know this- just trust me, it is not a good thing to see.

BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

Two kayaks, when both are secured front and back in the bed, tend to settle and lock themselves into a good holding position as the truck travels down the road. Just make sure that when loading two kayaks into a truck bed that no rod holders, seat mounts, seat backs or other kayak gear is bent incorrectly or put under a lot of pressure.

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PADDLE FISHING keep inattentive drivers following the tow vehicle from getting too close to the end of the kayak. TRAILERS Kayak trailers come in a wide range of designs and there are, to tell the truth, some very good ones, and some that are not so good. The bad thing is that it’s really hard to know which trailer is a keeper and which one is a cull until it has been purchased and tried. Although single kayak trailers are popular, especially for those anglers who have large and extra-large kayaks, for a single kayak, a trailer presents plenty more complications. There are tires to maintain, electrical systems to keep working. However, for folks who transport several kayaks at a time, trailers are probably the best way to get the boats to the water. There are double-kayak trailers, and many kayak trailers can be adjusted to take four or more boats at one time. The biggest problem any kayak angler who uses a trailer to get the ‘yak’ to the water and back home will come from the wheels and tires. Kayaks don’t present any trailer with a heavy load, so some trailer makers put very small wheel and tire assemblies on the trailer and these small wheels and their small wheel bearings can burn out quickly when the trailer is pulled at highway speeds. The little-bitty tires are put under a lot of stress and speed from extended highway use. I have a buddy who is a first-rate kayak bass tournament angler, who won a neat kayak trailer at one of his tournaments as a prize. He loaded the new trailer up for another contest the following week and the trailer blew three tires on the way to the next tournament. My buddy was not happy. Kayak trailers need to have full-size tires and wheels, even though the load weight is not great. Just like all boat trailers, kayak trailers will need regular inspection of the lights. Unloading and loading the kayak from dry land and keeping the trailer lights dry can go a long way to keep the lights functional. It’s just as easy to slide the kayak off the trailer and onto the shoreline and then to the water as it is to back the boat into the water. And the trailer lights never get wet. And for those who live close to the water but too far to pull the kayak by hand to the launch area, there are even kayak trailers made for bicycle use. These little bike trailers would be great to use to transport that kayak to a backwoods stream or lake that the truck can’t drive to. CAR TOP Kayaks are such light-weight boats, with proper rigging and equipment, they can be transported safely on the top of almost any kind of automobile, even sub-compacts. As a matter of fact, I have transported my kayaks on car top from home on the Gulf Coast to the east coast of Florida, the Florida Keys, and even as far as Arizona. Truly, car topping is a very workable solution to the kayak transport problem, if it’s done right. A car equipped with a solid luggage rack on top is ready to be a safe, secure kayak transport system. A wide range of sizes and styles of luggage rack and mounted car top racks are out there and they all work well. It is crucial that the car’s luggage rack is strong enough to take the weight of a kayak (or two) loaded on top, and it is equally important that the luggage rack will accept the mounting of the kayak rack. Check with the owner’s manual of the vehicle or go online to make sure that everything will work

together. It is absolutely crucial that car top mounted kayaks are secured to the vehicle. This means good solid line attachment front and back and also side to side. When the kayak is loaded, secured with lines, you should be able to rock the vehicle by pulling on the kayak itself. If there is any movement or slippage, re-attach the lines to make the whole unit solid. No kidding, nowthis is serious. All kinds of bad things can happen when a roof-mounted kayak comes loose and takes to the air behind the vehicle. It’s a very good idea to take a break after the first hour of car-topping a kayak to pull off and check the attachment lines and rack. Roof mounted kayaks are not heavy, but they present a lot of wind pressure, and they can loosen attachment lines after a few hours’ travel. Now, for those vehicles- mostly smaller cars, which don’t have rooftop luggage racks, there are still ways to transport a kayak safely. There are several mounting systems which use thick, soft-plastic pads to secure the kayak to the roof of the vehicle. These “pad” systems work, but everything that goes for luggage rack mounts goes here double. When the kayak is placed on the pads, the boat must be balanced front to back and side to side. Make sure the pads are not placed over skylights in the roof of the vehicle. Try to not have the kayak impact any radio antennas. When the kayak is secured by strong lines front and back and side to side, it is important to make sure the foam pads are compressed- this helps hold the kayak to the vehicle securely. Again, if done properly, the whole vehicle- not just the kayak- should move when the kayak is pushed and pulled. If the kayak only moves, then re-tie the lines until it is all secure. And a bit of advice- when using one of these pad systems, make sure the bottoms of the pads that contact the roof of the car are absolutely clean. Just a few grains of sand on the pad bottom can make a real mess of the finish of a car. Again, don’t ask me how I know this. Finally, any and all of these kayak transport systems work well, all are fairly inexpensive, and they all are quick and easy to install and use. Any of these systems will allow a kayak angler to load a kayak safely and securely in ten minutes’ load time, and then be on the way to the water and the fish. And that’s what we’re really interested in, right?

Important Contact Information Yakima Roof Racks • 888-925-4621 • support@yakima.com I’ve used the Yakima JayHook System for many yearsa great transport system $149. Ecotric Foldable Pickup Truck Bed Hitch Extender Access online at Ecotric.com Steel construction, attaches to trailer hitch. Adjustable and can take two kayaks- 400 lb. maximum load $66.50 Malone Standard Roof Top Kayak Carrier Kit 207-774-9100 • maloneautoracks.com 12 inch EVA foam blocks come equipped with tie downs. Best for smaller kayaks $34.99 Malone Auto Racks Microsport Kayak Trailer 207-774-9100 • maloneautoracks.com Supports 350 pounds- up to four kayaks Steel construction. Designed and built for highway use $1700 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 59

Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook

Three happy anglers and a beautiful Redfish. A successful surf outing is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face! Photo courtesy of Blake Hunter http://www.reel30a.com

This is the heart of winter. Water temps are at their lowest and it’ll still be a bit before things warm up as we transition into spring. Still the fish have to eat and there’s a lot of fun to be had on the water. MISSISSIPPI Many species will be available in MS waters this month, but two targets will stand out above the others; sheepshead and redfish. Sheepshead will begin to aggregate as the month progresses and they go into a prespawn pattern. Prior to that, you’ll be able to find decent sized groups along almost any inshore structure, especially if there’s decent current flow. Fiddler crabs and shrimp will work bets on both carolina rigs and dropshot setups. Use leaders made of 15-20lb fluorocarbon or mono. Smaller, stronger hooks do best in the #2-#4 size.

BY CHRIS VECSEY

Schmidt makes note that the majority of the larger reds make a transition to open water and even move offshore. As the reds move out, he will sight fish along the beaches and drops of the barrier islands, often in water ranging from one to three feet. His approach depends on the mood of the fish, but he will either pole his skiff along or use a trolling motor. Being a fly fisherman at heart, Schmidt prefers to target these schooling fish with the long rod, but also keeps spinning tackle on board to suit all comers. “ “My favorite flies are generally simple ones. I throw Clousers in tan/white, charteuse/white as well as deceivers in similar color patterns,” he said. When his clients are less fly savvy, Schmidt uses spinning tackle armed with various plastics and hardbaits, but likes to stay with the classic, proven lures.

For Captain Richard Schmidt, who operates Richard Schmidt Flyfishing, the primary focus will be on redfish, and sightfishing for them with both fly and spinning gear.

“I mostly throw cocahoe minnows with the time-tested “firecracker” color being a favorite.”

“A lot of the bigger reds will move out of the marsh this month, so I like to move out to the barrier islands when the weather allows.” Schmidt said.

On windy days, Schmidt employs a lot of the same tactics but will retreat to the creeks and the marsh for slot reds and trout.

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FISHING OUTLOOK ALABAMA Along with inshore trends in MS waters, Alabama’s inshore anglers will be focused on sheepshead, redfish, drum and others. Another species that’ll be ramping up towards the back half of the month is Pompano. As water temps approach the mid 60s again, these silver speedsters will gang up around the inlets and deeper troughs off the beaches. Shrimp, sand fleas and various small jigs designed to imitate the two prey items will catch these tasty slabs. Pomps usually feed best on an incoming tide but can be caught in numbers at any point if there is decent water movement. For those staying sheltered in the rivers and creeks, trout will still be staged in deeper holes throughout the backwaters. Small paddletails and shrimp imitations worked slowly will take plenty. Don’t be surprised if you find these fish very far upriver, often in total freshwater and mixed in bass, crappie and other typical freshwater gamefish. This is a great opportunity to break out the lighter gear and go for a great mixed bag.

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Offshore, the tuna and wahoo bite will be consistent around the lumps and various offshore platforms. It’s common to find huge aggregations of menhaden offshore this month and the tuna, wahoo, king mackerel and sharks won’t be far behind. Chunking around the lumps and rigs will produce. Bring plenty of spare hooks and leader material as the sharks will take their share of taxes. Troll deep diving plugs for wahoo on rigs in 250-600ft. Wahoo run a bit bigger this time of year and often in decent sized groups. Leaving plugs in and maintaining trolling speed after hookup encourages multiple hookups. FLORIDA PANHANDLE The Florida Panhandle will definitely see a lot of anglers heading out for scamp and other shallow water groupers before the season closes on March 1st. Natural bottom areas in 175-350ft will be the main focus. Loading up with quality live bait prior to heading out pays off big. Back onshore, it’s time to break out the long rods and set baits along the sandbars and troughs just off the beaches. “Water Temperature is the name of the game.” says Blake Hunter, who owns and operates Reel30A charters and rental services. “If we get a mild winter and water temperatures stay lower 60s and move into the upper 60s on warmer spells, then chances of catching consistent Pompano will go up.” Hunter says that he likes to carry a infrared thermometer to test the surf within the winter time. It’s a handy device to have in your bag when looking for warmer water and helps Hunter in determing what to target and how. “I will also be targeting Redfish, Whiting during the month of February. Fresh dead shrimp and FishBites seem to work best for me in the winter months with less forage around.” Hunter has logged countless hours along the panhandle beaches and says the day after a big front pushes through, when the water is really muddy and stirred up are usually his best redfish days in the surf. “Black drum will be there too, mixed in the stained water with the redfish and they will hit the same baits and leader setups.”

Important Contact Information Richard Schmidt Flyfishing Captain Richard Schmidt Ocean Springs, MS • 228-697-7873 www.richardschmidtflyfishing.com Reel 30A Charters and Rentals Blake Hunter Santa Rosa Beach, • FL 850-687-6063 www.reel30a.com

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877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 61

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook

BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton

Large redfish can be caught from shore in February.

This issue marks the 7th anniversary since I began writing for the magazine. It has primarily aimed at introducing new anglers to the myriad of year-round fishing options available from shore along the gulf coastal region. But my hope is even experienced anglers may learn (or relearn) something by reading the articles each month. After all, one of the greatest keys to continued success in fishing is utilizing available information while applying your personal experience in a basic manner. Even failure can teach us what we need to do (or not do) in order to catch fish. If we learn anything, then we know there are no ‘quick fixes’ to catching fish. But every lap around the sun adds another layer of experience and information we can draw from in order to consistently be more successful as we venture forth to enjoy our great days outdoors. Even in mid winter! WINTER’S WORST: Without a doubt February is THE most challenging month for Emerald Coast shore bound anglers to score fish. Water

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temperatures are usually at their coldest for the year, near 60 or even into the 50s. This limits the species available to “resident” fish in the drum family like croakers, king croakers (called whiting and ground mullet), seatrout (white and speckled trout), black and red drum. Plus sheepshead, bluefish, and a few pompano. The weather is often cloudy, cold, windy and even rainy. This limits days an angler can effectively fish the beaches in a month already a few days shorter than the rest. Learn to watch the weather forecasts (especially your marine forecast) and try to plan your fishing excursions during the more moderate weather periods between fronts. And have some alternate venues (like the banks of the intercoastal waterway, inland pier or docks) which are not as adversely affected by strong winds, waves, fog, etc. as your backup plan. Additionally, the first and third week of February are NEAP tide periods. The acronym means ‘Near Even As Possible’ and it limits the amount of tidal variation and current available during those days. Often fish do not feed as

FISHING OUTLOOK strongly during this phenomenon. But wind conditions (speed, direction and duration) may (for a time) enhance or inhibit what tidal flow (current) is available at a specific location. Winter fish don’t have to eat as often because their metabolism is slowed by the cooler water. But they may “binge” when favorable conditions present them with feeding opportunities too good to pass up. This window of opportunity may be open only for a few hours. So the trick is to anticipate when, where and what the fish you seek will be feeding on. And be there ready and waiting when they do! Anglers should always dress appropriately for the weather predicted over the course of their day. Layered clothing allows “peeling off” in case the sun comes out and the wind dies off. Note it can also be warm in February, with periods of moderate air temperatures even well into the 70s. But warm air moving over cooler coastal waters can create advection fog (sea fog). That can quickly change the complexion of a February day on the beach from warm and sunny to chilly and damp. A wind breaker or light rain jacket should always be available nearby for the angler’s comfort if needed. Comfortable chest waders are another useful item for beach and wade fishermen to tolerate cold water and open up many areas not accessible to anglers intent on keeping their feet on dry ground. Fish instinctively move to slightly deeper (and warmer) water during colder periods, but may briefly move in shallower to feed only when their environment allows them to do so. It also controls the movements and availability of baitfish they may pursue. TARGET SPECIES: Probably the most sought after fish by wintertime pier and jetty anglers is the sheepshead. A fine eating, rather large panfish (2 to 6 pounds) which is readily caught on light to medium tackle using live shrimp or fiddler crabs. But the supply of live bait is unreliable in midwinter. So it is a good idea to call ahead to the bait shops to see what is available, or become adept at gathering your own as in the case of ghost shrimp, hermit and fiddler crabs. Generally sheepshead will respond to most any of the aforementioned baits presented “naturally” around pilings or rocks in fairly deep water near the mouth of the bays or gulf where they are gathering into larger schools prior to spawning. Try to avoid places and times when the current is running strong, as this makes a finesse presentation more difficult when they tend to ‘hunker down’ behind structure. Sometimes sheepshead may be out in the open on the bottom along sandy drop-offs or in the passes at the base of rock rip-rap. So a live shrimp or ghost shrimp fished on the bottom (Carolina rig or Knocker rig style) behind a ½ to 1 ounce egg sinker on a #4 to #8 single kahle hook can produce sheepshead along with black and red drum, bluefish and even pompano in this manner. The deeper waters accessible from the jetties at Perdido Pass and the Fort Gaines jetties (on Dauphin Island in Alabama) are proven spots to fish in this manner. The same can be said for the jetties in Pensacola Bay, Destin Pass and Panama City Beach. Just keep your terminal gear as light as possible, because sheepshead have good eyesight and be notorious finicky eaters at times. Whiting are another wintertime mainstay fish along the beaches and piers. On days with calm or light surf, whiting can often be caught on light tackle using a small piece of fresh shrimp or a ghost shrimp on the bottom within 100’ of the beach. A light Carolina rig presentation will work fine on these days, but wave action or a cross wind usually requires the use of a pyramid or other bottom holding type of weight to keep the bait in the zone where the fish are. Look for cuts in the beach bar where the ‘holes’ along the beach drain out especially on the incoming tide which occurs late in the day most afternoons. Try not to be too surprised if an occasional pompano, redfish or drum takes your tiny offering intent on catching whiting. As they are frequent by-catch with this method. Bull redfish and black drum can also be targeted near the mouth of coastal bays this month. The points and jetties near these passes can

produce some fine “trophy” catches in the variety of circumstances the water and weather present. Fresh cut fish (mullet) or cracked blue crabs are very effective baits for these big drums which may exceed 30 pounds. A 9-12 foot heavy action, surf style spinning combo with 20-30 pound test line is standard tackle. The terminal rigs often consist of a 5/0 to 8/0 circle hook on a three to four foot 40 to 80 pound monofilament leader with three to eight ounce pyramid weights or “sputnik” type sinkers. PIER PERHAPS? Possibly the best news to report is the long awaited reopening of the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores Alabama sometime this month. The pier closed May 10th 2020 for much needed renovations and was slated to reopen the day after hurricane Sally came ashore. The relentless two day beating from the storm took out a 175 section of pier near the end, and left the remaining portion in shambles. It has taken these months since to repair the damage to allow the shoreward section (over 1000 feet, out to about 70 feet south of the middle platform) to reopen mid February. Anglers returning to the pier can expect to catch whiting near the beach by using small pieces of fresh shrimp or ghost shrimp. Occasional sheepshead, slot sized redfish or even speckled trout may be available using live shrimp. In the deeper water around the middle platform anglers will be targeting sheepshead with fiddler crabs or live shrimp suspended between the pilings. Some bluefish and even a few pompano are often caught with this method. By the end of the month IF the weather gets warm enough, a few spanish mackerel may even be caught on the east side of the 70 foot section by anglers throwing jigs. Just be aware that ‘social distancing’ may still be an issue to take into account when pier fishing.

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REGIONAL FRESHWATER Fishing Outlook BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

Now is the time to really get into some hot crappie fishing. Jigs always work on the slabs.

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FISHING OUTLOOK

FLORIDA WATERS

LAKE TALQUIN Jeff DuBree of Whippoorwill Lodge on Lake Talquin says that this is a big spawning month for the bass and crappie on Talquin. Anglers should focus their efforts in the deeper creeks which feed into the lake, and when the water temperatures get close to the mid-60 degree mark, they should be on the water. Both bass and crappie will be in pre-spawn patterns at the start of the month, but the fish will move into spawning areas as the month progresses. Crappie chasers should try trolling multiple jig and grub rigs over deeper creek mouths. So far this year, jigs in blue and green have been good producers. For bass, anglers should throw spinnerbaits and jerk baits near cover on the larger creeks. It’s still a bit early for the best bream action, but anglers can start to find some good shellcrackers in deeper water near creek mouths by fishing worms on the bottom. WAKULLA RIVER Although the spring-fed Wakulla River never gets as cold as other freshwaters of the region, the bass still tend to bite better as the spring weather starts to arrive in northwest Florida. Rob Baker of The Wilderness Way in Crawfordville says that toward the end of the month, the weather usually gets quite a lot warmer, and by March, spring will be in full swing.

”Crappie will be great this month. Look around bridge pilings- try ultra light spinning rigs with 4 lb. line using either small jigs or live minnows. Sometimes a combination of the two works best,” Williams said. For some real exercise, anglers can look for birds diving over open water. There will be white bass, hybrids, and stripers under the birds working big schools of shad, and the big striped fish will eagerly take silver and shad colored jigs, spoons, and top water plugs. LAKE GUNTERSVILLE February is a very interesting month for bass anglers on Lake Guntersville, according to Captain Jake Davis who . This month is a very good time for trophy hunters to make a run to the big north Alabama lake and spend some time casting to very big bass. Big bass will be moving up into shallower water looking for lots to eat before they start their spawning work says Mid-South Bass Guide Service Captain Jake Davis Rat-L-Traps and Texas rig soft plastics in particular work well on early spring big bass. The bass will be from ten feet deep to less than a foot, and they’ll be all over the lake. This shallow water pattern will only get better as the month goes on. When the bass actually start their spawning, and this depends on the warm weather and warm rains that we might get in February, angler will want to look at spawning bays in creeks and around new grass growth. The grass may only be an inch or so long now, but it is enough to hold lots of bass.

Bass in the Wakulla River will be moving into spawning areas. Look for large trees and other solid cover which projects out into the main river.

According to Davis,lures in cloudy water need to have a good shade of Guntersville red on them, but if the water is clear, more natural shad colors will be best.

The most reliable lures for the Wakulla River in early spring will be soft plastics. Wacky-rigged worms allowed to sink slowly near the heavy cover can be very effective. Edges of thick weed beds are always good spots to find bass in the Wakulla River.

Crappie anglers need to get up to Guntersville in February because Captain Jake informs us that the slabs will be thick under bridges and docks, and they will be fat, dumb, and happy- ready to bite. Small jigs and live minnows will work for the bigger crappie at this time.

Spinnerbaits worked along open edges near weed beds can draw some strikes from big bass.

ALABAMA WATERS

LAKE EUFAULA Captain Sam Williams of Hawks Fishing Guide Service fame, says that in February on Lake Eufaula, the weather dictates how fishing trips go. On warm, sunny days, the bass can move up shallower and bite a bit quicker, but on most of the fishing trips scheduled for February, anglers looking for bass will want to slow down in their presentation of lures. Bass will be moving slowly, and lures worked too fast will usually be ignored. In particular, bass anglers should work the old leftover lily pad stems and blowdowns which present shoreline cover for bass. On warmer days, bass will pull up out of deeper water and hold on the stems and limbs in the water.

MOBILE DELTA “On the beautiful Mobile-Tensaw Delta in February, everything will be geared toward the stages of the rivers. If we have heavy flooding rains upstream, it can take two or three months to get lower good fishing water brown here on the Delta,” says Captain Wayne Miller from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service. On average years, the lakes in the middle and lower Delta should be well fishable- these are waters south of the I-65 area. Anglers fishing the deeper cypress lakes will have good luck with jigs and other crawfish imitations. Crankbaits can be very good at this time. Anglers should focus on points and deeper waters with the mudbug lures. In the area around the Causeway, bass will be piled up in the creeks. Anglers should look for the bigger lakes with lots of creeks feeding into the lakes, and then work the creeks hard for bass.

For most of February, bass anglers can fish Rat-l-Traps off the first ledge with good results. A slow retrieve will be best- don’t burn the lure back to the boat.

The largemouth bass will be feeding heavily on crawfish in February because this is the major forage for the bass at this time.

Crankbaits worked in deeper water with trash piles and old stumps in 12 to 22 feet of water can be good.

WILSON/PICKWICK LAKES Patience is a prime ingredient for early spring anglers on the big Tennes-

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Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook

see River chain of lakes.

Captain Lee Pitts from Lee Pitts Outdoors gets pretty excited when he talks about the fishing on Lake Weiss in February.

February gives catfish anglers a wide range of possibilities on Lakes Wilson and Pickwick. One day, the catfish may be on a tear and eating up everything. The next day, you’d swear there’s not a catfish in the lake. It will take patience and persistence this month.

“February is when spring starts kicking in. Everything is heading to the creeks,” Pitts said. This is a good month for long-line trolling for schools of crappie which are chasing shad. The crappie are not holding to shoreline cover yet, but are out in open water keeping up with the shad. Multiple rod set ups work well, and Lew’s Slab Shaker rods in lengths from eight to twelve feet to vary the angle and depth of presentation work well.

Long time guide Captain Brian Barton points out that when the cats are found, they will be tightly schooled up, so anglers can catch a lot of good catfish- once they are located. Cat hunters will want to look in 25-40 feet of water in the upper portions of the lakes. Bluffs and ledges with sharp bottom contours will be best.

Pitts likes 1/24 oz. Mo-Glo jig heads by Bobby Garland, and he really likes to thread a Bobby Garland Baby Slab or Slab Slayer grub body. He reminds us that at this time, the bigger crappie don’t want a lot of action on the lures, but rather a slow pull with just the action provided by the soft plastic lure is what is wanted.

When the dams are generating, anglers will want to work the upstream side of humps and islands below the dams. On the lower end of Wilson, cats may be 90 to 100 feet deep at times, but 60-75 feet is usually a reliable depth to start fishing. On another note, Barton says that anglers can expect to meet up with some big, mean February striped bass below the dams. Anglers who fish the tailrace waters of either dam just downstream of turbine boils will likely encounter some hard pulling striped fish. Anglers should use live shad for bait. Let the bait go to the bottom in the fast water. Weight requirements will depend on the amount of water coming through the dam. If there’s no bite in ten minutes, then a move is in order. The stripers, hybrids and whites will be somewhere below the dams when water is running. WEISS LAKE Weiss Lake is one of the premier crappie and bass lakes in the entire country, and the fish can break wide open in early spring.

Bass at Weiss will be moving very shallow in February. Anglers should look for them to see them clearing bottom in hard bottom areas in readiness for spawning. Clay banks can be good, but rock bottom is best at this time. “I like Strike King squarebill crank baits, and Rat’L-Traps will work, too. I like something with chartreuse, orange or red accents. And I never go out this time of year without a black and blue colored jig ready to go,” Pitts said. “Some of our best fishing days are in February- for big fish and for lots of fish,” Pitts added.

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Regional Freshwater Fishing Outlook

As the water warms, the bass get more active and willing to come play.

Important Contact Information Capt. Brian Barton 256-412-0969 Brianbartonoutdoors@aol.com www.brianbartonoutdoors.com Capt. Jake Davis Mid-South Bass Guide Service 615-613-2382 www.midsouthbassguide.com SIPSEY FORK Alabama’s only year-round rainbow trout water offers some fine early spring fishing for anglers who take the time to observe what the trout are feeding on. Randy Jackson of Riverside Fly Shop points out that February can be a very good month for trout anglers in Alabama. The Sipsey Fork should start having good hatches of stoneflies beginning with the smaller brown stoneflies which will emerge all along the run of the river. Fly anglers should try dark brown stonefly imitations in sizes fourteen to sixteen. AS the month goes on, it is very possible that the larger black stoneflies will show up, and the trout go wild over these bigger bugs. Midges are still present, and anglers who drift nymph patterns in twenty to twenty-four sizes will take fish. Spinning gear anglers can use a clear plastic water bubble and a fluorocarbon leader to fish the same flies that work for fly rod anglers. Trout Magnets and Roostertail with single hooks will always catch fish on the Sipsey Fork. MILLER’S FERRY LAKE Although cold weather can slow down the early spring bite on Miller’s Ferry, a warm early

spring can bring things to a boil quickly, According to Joe Dunn of Dunn’s Sports in Thomasville, February will see the crappie on Weiss Lake starting their transition into spring and spawning. If the water temperatures hold chilly, the crappie will still be suspended in deeper water in sloughs and deep channels, but when the water temperature hits 60 degrees, the crappie will move shallow. During February, anglers can troll with jigs and live minnows in fifteen to ten feet of water to find the schools of crappie. Dunn says that some parts of the lake warm up sooner than others, and this can trigger earlier spawning. In particular, Hog Pen Slough, Marina Slough, and the Gee’s Bend areas all tend to be the first parts of the lake to warm enough to cause the crappie spawn to start. He goes on to say that as February moves along, the bass will start thinking about moving on the spawning banks. If we get some warm weather in February, they may actually move up in the grass along the shorelines and start bedding. Crankbaits, chatter baits, and swim jigs all will work well on bass at this early spring situation.

Joe Dunn Dunn’s Sports 334-636-0850 33356 Hwy. 43, Thomasville, AL Capt. Lee Pitts 256-390-4145 www.pittsoutdoors.com Capt. Sam Williams Hawks Fishing Guide Service 334-355-5057 www.hawksfishingguideservice.com Randy Jackson Riverside Fly Shop 16027 Hwy 69 N Jasper, AL 256-287-9582 riversideflyshop.com Captain Wayne Miller Mobile-Tensaw Delta Guide Service 251-455-7404 millewa12000@yahoo.com Jeff DuBree Whippoorwill Lodge 850-875-2605 Rob Baker Wilderness Way 850-877-7200 3152 Shadeville Road Crawfordville, FL

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 67

MOON & FEED TIMES

68 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

ALABAMA TIDE CHARTS

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*Testing conducted by Yamaha at Yamaha’s test facility on a Grady-White® 257 Advance/300 hp, with each boat rigged for maximum performance. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. 1-800-88-YAMAHA

116 E. I-65 Service Road N. Mobile, AL 36607 Phone: 251-476-2699 www.bluewateryachtsales.net 877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 69

FLORIDA TIDE CHARTS

70 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

MISSISSIPPI TIDE CHARTS

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SAVINGS AND SERVICE THAT WILL FLOAT YOUR BOAT 251-445-0053 3766 Airport Boulevard Suite C | Mobile geico.com/mobile-al

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Â© 2020 GEICO

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 71

Pensacola Motorsports

TROPHY

Alec Bailey on Thanksgiving morning with his black drum

You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish.

ROOM

Darrell Townley with the 11.16lb sheepshead

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©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. See your authorized BRP dealer for details.

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PHOTO of the MONTH Joe Brown proudly shows off his tripletail

Jake Markris with his monster 8pt while in Missouri this past October.

Jared Williams and Allison Alred with their snappers caught in Orange Beach

KID'S CORNER

TROPHY ROOM 1

Deer

Adelynn Hays of Saraland, Al killed this 8pt, 160lb buck in Bellville, AL

Brantley Bakker, 7, 1st deer on his family farm in Alabama

Hunter Travis with his 170 lb 8pt.

Sean & Christian caught this 5lb, 24” Flounder at Mullet Point, Al,

Jackson Bakker, 10, 1st Crossbow Kill at family hunting camp in Al.

Deer

Anna Catherine Horton with her 80lb deer

Elli McLaurin, 9, with her first deer from Monroeville, AL

Give us your best shot!

Send your submission to info@greatdaysoutdoors.com. Submitting a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. We cannot give any guarantees on when a photo will be published. Please include: child's full name, age, mailing address, and any details. We need to know when, where, size (weight, points, etc.), shot or caught with what and any other meaningful information, like first time, etc.. CONTRIBUTIONS WITHOUT THIS INFO WON’T BE PUBLISHED.

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Call today! 877-314-1237 or email us at samhester@greatdaysoutdoors.com

FISHING TIP

February Smith Lake BY WILLIAM KENDY

Stripers

When you talk about fishing for big Alabama striped bass, Lewis Smith Lake immediately comes to mind. It has a reputation for lots of big fish and Captain Mike Walker of Fishing 24/7 Guide Service can help you connect. GDO asked Walker on a recent GDO Alabama Freshwater Fishing Report for some advice on catching winter stripers. “The peak time for us is February and the first of March,” Walker pointed out. I want to catch them when they are eating up the hardest and trying to put the weight on for the spawn.” “That time frame offers the best opportunity to hit a home run with a big striper,” Walker said. Walker emphasizes that is the water temperature, bait size and knowing where and when to fish are key. “When it is really cold, we have to wait for the afternoon to target and catch the bigger fish,” Walker said. “When the surface temperature gets below 50 degrees, 99% of the fish are going to be eating “tiny” and you will have to stop using big bait for a certain period.”

When Walker says “tiny live bait” he is referring to one to three inch gizzard or threadfin shad. When he refers to “big live bait” he means a pound up to two pounds. He emphasizes that just because these stripers aren’t eating big, they are still chowing down. “The bigger fish are still feeding two times a day and the key is knowing where they are going to feed and when,” Walker said. “They like the flats until it gets too cold. The flat could have 80 feet of water by it or 20 feet of water by it, as long as there is still water that they can run to. On Smith, our flats are surrounded by quick drops and the fish can come up, grab something and then be gone.” “They’re not going to be on flats all day but they are going to be feeding around flats, off in the deeper hole and migrate to those flats as the bite comes in. When it comes to when to fish those areas, you need to spend time on the water and after a while, you kind of just dial in,” Walker concluded. Contact Information Captain Mike Walker (305) 503-2020 www.fishing24-7guideservice.com

•

fishing0247@gmail.com

877.314.1237 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // FEBRUARY 2021 77

A GREAT DAY OUTDOORS

When Boxer Shorts Save Your Life admit, stripping in a swamp and waving your boxers for help is pretty bad. It’s not like losing your truck keys in the snow, having a flat tire two miles back in the woods, or forgetting your food on a weekend canoe trip. I know I’ve done all that stuff.”

BY JIM MIZE

“I was reading the other day . . .” said Beanpole, pausing so long I thought that was his whole sentence. Sometimes Beanpole is that way, just letting a random thought float through the air like a gnat on a dead wind. But not today. “. . . and I read about a fellow being lost duck huntin’ in Arkansas. He was in camo, of course, and the search chopper couldn’t see him . . .”

“Sure, but how about the time you were fishing from a float tube out by Farmer Phelps and thought a moccasin was on the back of your tube. You freaked out, backed into a stick, sank the tube, and filled your waders. Somehow they were tangled with your pants so you would have drowned if you hadn’t swum away without your waders and your pants. If I recall, both are still on the bottom of that pond. And you had to sneak home in your boxers.” “Yeah, and ever since she caught me sneakin’ home, Ol’ Lady Gilley still peaks over toward my house at night. At her age, her eyes can’t be that good.”

“That would be a fix,” I said.

“Probably why she looks,” I muttered.

“. . . until he came up with a good idea,” continued Beanpole. “He stripped down to his white boxers, took them off, tied them to his gun barrel and started waving them.”

“What?”

“I hope he put his pants back on first,” I said. “A fellow could get frostbite bad doing that in duck season.” “No kidding,” said Beanpole. We were alone at the firing range, popping off a few rounds to check our scopes. So it was quiet except for the occasional bark of our rifles. Sometimes we would sit out here for hours, plinking, fine-tuning scopes, or shooting borrowed rifles. Just a good way to let an afternoon pass. Still, I figured that Beanpole must be thinking something, otherwise, why half a story? “What’s your point, Beanpole?”

“I said, ‘It must be your looks’.” “Most likely,” agreed Beanpole.

“You were moving fast,” I agreed, “but you should have seen those kids. They thought they were being chased by a ghost with no pants.” “That would be the worst kind,” admitted Beanpole. “Maybe they’ll make a movie.” “They probably will,” I said. “I just don’t know what it would be rated.” Without speaking, Beanpole started packing up his gear. Figuring we were leaving, I did likewise. We walked off the shooting range, the length of Beanpole’s strides telling me he had a purpose. The closer we got to the truck, the faster he walked. By the time we got there, he was practically flinging gear into the truck bed. “Where you headed?” I asked.

“Yep, that was bad,” admitted Beanpole, subconsciously rubbing his backside.

“Oh. I can’t stop thinking about that duck hunter having to wave his boxer shorts to be rescued. I think I’m going on home and give him a call.”

“Seems I remember seeing you scurrying through the woods with your coveralls down around your knees running like a duck trying to get away from those yellow jackets.” “Yeah, I probably should hunt alone more often,” said Beanpole. “Fewer witnesses.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Why tell me that story?”

“Certainly safer for your buddies, too.”

“Hmmm. I guess I just liked the idea someone was in a worse fix than me for a change.”

“Still,” said Beanpole, trying to save face, “having to be rescued by a chopper who sees you waving your underwear, that’s pretty bad.”

“Like what?” asked Beanpole. “You have to

“Well, let some bats flutter your fanny and see how fast you move.”

“And how about that time with the yellow jackets?” I asked. “You had stopped to answer nature’s call, squatted over their nest, and figured out real quick that yellow jackets don’t appreciate some natural functions. You couldn’t sit for a week after that and the itching kept you backing up to every brick wall you passed.”

“My point?”

“Oh, you’ve done worse,” I said with confidence.

I remember another episode when you were answering nature’s call, this time in an abandoned outhouse, and you sat down, waking up a bunch of bats under the outhouse. They tried to escape through your seat, and if I recall correctly, you actually ran out of your pants to get away. Seems like you also surprised some teenagers who thought the house was haunted and scared them half to death.”

“Come to think of it,” I said, “you’ve spent so much time outdoors with your pants down that it’s a wonder your butt’s not sunburned.

78 FEBRUARY 2021 // GreatDaysOutdoors.com // 877.314.1237

“Think I’m gonna do something,” said Beanpole. Since mind-reading has never been my strong suit, I asked the obvious question. “What’s that?”

“Why’s that?” I asked. “Just a hunch,” said Beanpole, “but I just realized how much we probably have in common. For a fellow to think of waving his underwear to be rescued, that wasn’t his first time.” “When Boxer Shorts Save Your Life” is an excerpt from Jim’s new book, Hunting With Beanpole. Paperback and E-Book versions are available through Amazon and autographed copies through his website, www.acreektricklesthroughit.com.

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Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. In the state of CA, program provided through Boat Association Insurance Services, license #0H87086. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. ÂŠ 2019 GEICO