Great Days Outdoors - February 2023

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CONTENTS

Choosing the Best Sheepshead Rig . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Frank Sargeant

Small Barn House Plans for Your Land 12 by Ed Mashburn

Destinations for Wild Quail Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . 14 by Josh Honeycutt

How to Shuck Oysters at Home 18 by Stephanie Mallory

Winter Bass Fishing Keys to Success . . . . . . . . . 22 by Frank Sargeant

Best Hunting Trips for the Month of February 26 by Josh Honeycutt

The Benefits of Fishing From a Pontoon Boat . . . . . . . 30 by David Strickland

How to Do a European Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 by Stephanie Mallory

Land Loan Interest Rate Update 37 by Great Days Outdoors Staff

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Choosing the Best Crappie Jigs for the Conditions 38 by John E. Phillips

Best Fishing Trips for February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 by Ed Mashburn

Managing Your Pond for Weed Control 48 by William Kendy

How to Buy Land with No Money Down . . . . . . . 52 by William Kendy

In Every Issue

Best Bets 6 by William Kendy

Camphouse Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 by Hank Shaw

New & Cool Gear for Outdoorsmen 56 by William Kendy

From the Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 by Chris Blakenship

From the Director 60 by Charles Sykes

Paddle Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 by Ed Mashburn

Coastal Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 by Chris Vecsey

Pier & Shore 66 by David Thornton

Regional Freshwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 by Ed Mashburn

Prime Feeding Times, Moon, Sun, and Tide Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Pensacola Motorsports Trophy Room . . . . . . . 76

Great Days Kids Corner 78 Fishing Tips 81 by William Kendy A Great Day Outdoors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 by Jim Mize

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BEST BETS FOR FEBRUARY

BY WILLIAM KENDY

ALABAMA: THE LAND OF MANY RUTS

The fact is by the time the Alabama deer season closes on February 10, 2023 there will have been around five different ruts that occurred from November to February. This anomaly is due to the fact that when the deer herd was restocked in the 1940-1960s the brood stock came from different parts of the country each with their own specific rutting patterns.

Christmas and the New Year are history and football will be pretty much finished so go hunting. The late season rut will be in force in south Alabama peaking at the end of January and the beginning of February. If you don’t have access to private land there are a number of public WMA (including the 51,040 acre Mobile-Tensaw Delta/W.L. Holland WMA) and Forever Wild land to hunt. Go to https://www.outdooralabama.com for more details.

CATCHING BASS IN FROSTY WEATHER

February is a good time to bundle up and head to the TVA lakes of northern Alabama. Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick lakes all harbor healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Success in catching these fish in February means finding the schools of shad or herring which probably will be in deeper water or back in deep creeks. Find the bait and you will find the bass. Don’t overlook shallower creeks though.

From a lure perspective the pros suggest that to reach the fish in deeper water lures like the Berkley Vibrato, Spro Carbon Blade and Damiki Vault work if they are jigged. Just let the lure drop to the bottom, pump it up a few feet and then let it flutter back down.

See “Winter Bassing Success in Alabama” by Frank Sargeant in this issue for more insider tips.

TIME FOR SHEEPSHEAD

February is a good month to venture out to collect some tasty sheepshead. Structure such as concrete and wooden pilings, docks, bridges, piers and even rap and oyster beds likely hold sheepshead. Since they devour crustaceans a good way to drum up activity is to scrape off the barnacles and oysters that live on that structure. The fishing will be basically vertical jigging with either shrimp or a sheepshead delicacy, fiddler crabs.

Sheepshead are famous for being bait thieves so don’t be shy about bringing lots of bait and extra hooks, sinkers and swivels. In terms of tackle size a medium spinning or casting outfit spooled with 15 pound braid and a 20 pound leader fits the bill.

As the water gets colder sheepshead will migrate into the bayous, creeks and smaller bays expanding fishing and catching opportunities for small boat and even kayak anglers.

These are our top targets for hunters and fishermen this month!

Sheepshead are everywhere in Mobile Bay during the cooler months, including around residential docks in relatively shallow water . (Patric Garmeson)

Choosing the Best Sheepshead Rig

BY FRANK SARGEANT

A wise sheepshead angler once advised that the best time to set the hook is “just before they bite”.

It’s not quite that bad, but getting a hook into these tasty saltwater fish can be a challenge because of their tendency to nip a bait off the hook in an instant. The fact that much of their mouth is literally hard as stone also adds to the challenge.

However, with the right rigs and the right baits, they’re one of the easier inshore fish to catch, a great “starter” fish for kids and beginning anglers and they’re just about unbeatable on the table due to their diet of crabs, barnacles and other shellfish.

Sheepshead action is best in summer along the Atlantic Coast north of Georgia, but best in the cooler months in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana with February, March and April prime time.

Here are some tips on how to dredge up a fishbox full this year.

DROP SHOT RIGS

Drop shot and/or dropper rigs were being used in saltwater a long time before bass anglers discovered them, and they’re still one of the best rigs for catching sheepshead and other light-biting fish.

The arrangement puts the weight at the “bitter” end of the line, and the hook about 18 to 24 inches above the weight. Best hooks are size 4 to 1/0 short shank quality J hooks like VMC, Gamakatsu or Mustad. Take note: Circle hooks are not very effective for catching sheepshead.

Keep in mind that using larger hooks will definitely cut back on your catch. The large hook not only kills your live bait quickly but it’s also much less likely to be taken into the small mouth of the average two to four pound sheepshead.

The hook can either be tied on a dropper around six inches long, or connected directly to the running line.

This rig allows the bait to quickly get to the right depth, and the angler feels any bite on the bait immediately, without the fish having to move the weight first.

CAROLINA RIGS OR SLIP SINKER RIGS

Putting a slip-sinker above a bead and swivel on the running line, with a leader 18 to 24 inches long below it running to the hook, is another

effective way of connecting with sheepshead, especially on the edge of oyster bars and riprap where it’s less likely to get snagged.

When a fish picks up the bait, the line slides through the sinker and the fish does not feel the weight so an angler carefully watching the line is tipped off that it’s time to set the hook.

SLIP-CORK RIGS

A slip cork rig, with a weight below a cork with the line running free through the middle and a bobber stop on the line, is great around jetties and rip rap where you’ll get snagged if you fish on bottom. The rig also allows you to cast next to a piling and let the bait sink down to predetermined depth while you keep the boat well away to avoid spooking fish.

The sinker is usually positioned below a bead and swivel separating it from the cork, with the hook dangling below, though a drop-shot arrangement also works with the slip-cork.

FREE-LINING LIVE BAIT

Where the water is relatively shallow and currents are usually mild, as in most of the Gulf states, free-lining live shrimp can be effective.

This calls for the same small hooks as above and split shot weights of 1/8 ounce or so. The idea is to pitch the bait to a piling or rockpile and let it slowly drift down in front of the fish, which usually inspires them to latch on.

It takes light spinning gear and a good eye for watching the line to know when you’ve got a bite, but this tactic can be very effective in the right place.

NAKED JIGS

Naked jigs, that is jigs where live bait is used on an otherwise bare jig, are highly effective for sheepshead in many situations, so much so that at least two companies make jigs specifically for sheepshead fishing.

They are the Bottom Sweeper and the Jail Bait, both short-shank designs ideal for fishing fiddler crabs, shrimp tails or even sand fleas.

While most southern anglers use jigs from ¼ to ¾ ounce, when sheepshead are found in deeper water around large bridges or wrecks where currents are strong, jigs up to three ounces may be needed to get the baits down to where the fish are.

Lighter versions of the jigs also work well when sheepshead are found around oyster bars and rocky potholes, where they’re less likely to snag than a weight separated from a hook.

The Bottom Sweeper rides on a boat-shaped lead with the hook upright. It can be crawled or hopped across snaggy bottoms, and a hook-set usually snatches the hook right into the upper jaw of the sheepshead. It’s available in ¼ to 3-ounce sizes; https://bottomsweeperjigs.com.

The Jail Bait is designed to allow securing a live fiddler crab to the top with a rubber band. A double hook rides points upward so the rig can be crawled across most snaggy bottoms. It’s a favorite of anglers targeting trophy sheepshead on the Atlantic Coast. It’s available in ½ and ¾ ounce sizes; https://eyestrikefishing.com.

THE BEST BAITS

More sheepshead are caught on fresh shrimp across the Gulf states than on any other bait, primarily because shrimp are the easiest bait to get at local bait shops and marinas. Sheepshead will rarely turn down a live shrimp or a fresh one cut in pieces, though they don’t much care for frozen bait.

However, it’s likely the favorite food of sheepshead is crab, particularly fiddler crabs. A dozen fiddlers pretty much guarantees a dozen sheepshead if you’re rigged right . Some coastal bait shops have fiddlers in stock at times, and if you live near saltmarsh country, you can catch your own on low tides when they swarm around the scattered grass or shallow beaches.

If fiddlers are hard to come by, pieces of blue crab can also be effective. Cut a five inch crab into four pieces with bait shears, remove the legs and the sheepshead will consider them bite-sized.

CAPTAIN PATRIC GARMESON’S TIPS ON CATCHING SHEEPSHEAD

Garmeson is a Mobile Bay guide who loves to target sheepshead in the cooler months, particularly early spring. He’s also holder of the current Alabama state record for ‘heads with a monster that went 13 pounds, 14 ounces.

“Fishing for sheepshead starts in December and usually peaks in our area in March and April,” Garmeson said. “Water temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees are ideal, that’s when we see the biggest fish showing up on the gas rigs.”

He said the average Mobile Bay fish weighs three to four pounds, but 7 to 10 pounders are occasionally in the mix.

He typically arms his clients with a 7’ to 7’ 6” spinning rod and 3000 to 4000-size reel filled with 20-pound braid, but early in the season when the water is clearest, he may go as light as 10-pound-test. The leader is 20-pound fluorocarbon, but as light as 12-pound-test in late winter, with a split-shot above a Kahle-style hook in size 2, sometimes a bit smaller if baits are small.

His standard bait is live shrimp hooked just under the “horn” on the head. If the fish are stealing the bait regularly, he clips off the tail fin of the shrimp and threads the hook through from that end and out the belly. He

Big “heads” also hang around docks, piers and pilings so long as water temperature is moderate—anywhere there are crustaceans to munch on . (Patric Garmeson)

also likes fiddler crabs when he can get them. He said salted oysters can also be effective, though they’re hard to keep on the hook even with the salt firming them up.

Oddly, though, his state record came on an artificial, 1/4-ounce, pink Bomber jig head rigged with a three inch, white Berkley GULP! shrimp. GULP! is flavored and scented, which no doubt encouraged the record ‘head to take that fatal bite.

He finds fish both by using down and side-imaging sonar to graph structure, and also by visually spotting them near the surface on the gas rigs.

“When the water is clear, we can often see a few fish up near the surface, or see a flash down deeper, and where you see one there will usually be a lot more,” Garmeson said.

“We use a split shot heavy just enough to sink the bait at a slow rate. If there’s no current, we use less weight, if there’s lots of current we use more,” he explained. “The idea is to let it sink past the fish naturally and that’s when they usually grab it and my anglers have to learn to watch the line and if it stops sinking or jumps, that’s the time to set the hook.”

He also uses slip cork rigs at times, with the slip cork bobber stop allowing anglers to suspend the bait 6 to 10 feet down. The bobber also makes it easy for less expert anglers to see when they’ve got a good bite.

Garmeson uses the spot-lock feature on his trolling motor to hold his boat in position 10 to 20 feet from the rig, so that the fish are less likely to be spooked then if his anglers were fishing directly over the fish.

“The fish are most often on the down current side of the piling, so that’s where you want your bait to sink,” he advises. “Just get a good fresh bait on the right rig in front of them and the sheepshead will do the rest.”

To book a trip with Garmeson, visit www.uglyfishing.com.

SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY & ECOLOGY

Admiral Oysters are now available for retail by the dozen at Bon Secour Fisheries, Inc. in Bon Secour, Alabama.

Fresh, raw oysters can elevate any event. From a simple, nutrient dense appetizer at home to a shucking party with friends, Admiral Oysters will steal the show.

Oysters grown at our farm are consistent in size and flavor profile. Frequent handling and wave energy at our unique location creates a sustainable environment in which our oysters thrive. This combination results in the perfect half shell presentation of the Admiral Oyster.

We are located near Fort Morgan AL, in an untouched wild stretch of beach that will be immune from development. The site has witnessed centuries of history including the Battle of Mobile Bay as Admiral Farragut charged into the Bay with the iconic line “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead”. That motto comes in handy on cold rainy mornings and when the winds get high!

Visit Us at AdmiralShellfishCompany.com

Call 251.949.7411 for pricing and availability 877.314.1237

Gas rigs on Mobile Bay are a sure-thing target for big sheepshead in the cooler months (Patric Garmeson)

Small Barn House Plans for Your Land

BY ED MASHBURN

Post-frame buildings allow modification and specific features which other techniques might not permit .

Quick and efficient, postframe buildings allow rural homeowners to customize their new building .

CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS

Building a small home out in the country is a dream for many folks, but construction costs are high right now, and traditional construction techniques for residential construction can sometimes be out of reach for many potential rural homeowners.

Even smaller rural homes built with traditional techniques can be prohibitively expensive and potential rural homeowners can soon be discouraged by the cost and long-building time schedules for new construction.

What many rural home builders need is a simpler, lower-cost means of putting a comfortable, safe, and affordable rural dwelling together. And we have just such a potential technique for consideration.

A good option for small rural residence construction is post-frame construction. This fast, low-cost construction technique is inspired by barn and workshop projects, which have proven to be very cost-effective. This building system uses much less site preparation work, and the building foundation work is much simpler and less expen sive than traditional techniques.

One of the best sources of materials and advice for a potential small rural post-frame home owner is Dixie Building Supply and Baker Metal Works which has several branches in the Gulf Coast region.

“Post Frame building style can give a customer more freedom in planning with an open concept. Materials are readily available, and the construction time can take far less than a typical house build says Trista Cabrera of the Pole Barn Building Department of Dixie Building Supply.

When it comes to planning in the initial stages of a post-frame building project, potential home builders can find some great advice.

“Baker Metal Works and Dixie Supply can be a great source for materials needed for your post-frame project. We do not offer engineered plans as we are a material provider only. We do however work closely with a third-party contractor that is very knowledgeable in what is required in certain areas to be able to build post-frame style with living quarters.” Cabrera said.

When starting the planning process for a rural post-frame home, potential builders will need to keep a few things in mind.

“Check ahead with their local permitting department to make sure that this type of build is permitted in the area. Many areas with HOAS or non-rural areas may not permit a post-frame building with living space. Every county is different and each needs to be contacted before beginning your project,” Cabrera said.

FINDING FINANCING

Financing a post-frame construction rural home is of vital importance, and potential home builders will need to explore many sources of financing. This is true of any rural small house projects, but it is especially true for buildings being planned with post-frame construction in mind.

When it comes to financing the construction of a small post-frame residence, many lenders simply don’t want to get involved with such projects. However, one area lender is eager to help rural landowners who have plans for a rural residence.

“Yes! We finance these structures frequently in our office in Monro -

eville. They’re often referred to as ‘barndominiums’ or ‘barnardos’. We finance smaller homes in rural areas. As long as the property is located outside of any incorporated town/city limits, OR inside a city or town with 2,500 or less in population, we can finance that home,” Morgan Hutcherson, branch manager of the Monroeville Alabama office of Alabama AgCredit said. “The only other caveat is that it cannot be a home with a value greater than $392,000 (this amount changes each year- stay tuned for 2023 numbers that will be out soon.) This cap only applies to the house itself, not any other outbuildings such as barns, sheds, etc.”

When asked what a potential borrower on a rural post frame home needs to do for a loan on a new building, Hutcherson pointed out that in addition to the normal loan application packet there are other documents that are required.

“We will need the following documents related specifically to the construction. 1. Copy of plans 2. Copy of the draft contract with the builder (has to be licensed), 3. Draw/cost schedule (sometimes a builder includes this in the construction contract, but if not, we will need a copy. 4. ‘set back survey’ this survey is used to show the location of the house relative to the property lines or set back line. If the property is over ten acres, we can generally override this requirement. However, we can start the conversation with you before you have all of this information and walk you through how to obtain these items,” he said.

Hutcherson offered some additional tips.

“The best advice I have is to budget for the project early. Talk to two or three contractors about specifics so that your quoted price is accurate. Ask the contractors what items are included and what’s not ( oftentimes the following are not included- driveways, sidewalks, septic tanks, power/water hookups). Sometimes there are certain allowances for things such as appliances or light fixtures- the se allowances don’t always cover the whole cost,” he outlined. “Talk to the local lender about the terms early- loan to value (if your land is free and clear, this can reduce/remove any requirements for you to fund a down payment on the construction, closing costs, how a draw works, etc. By having these conversations early, one can have a much better idea of how much out of pocket expenses may be involved, total cost, and timeline of construction.”

For those interested in more information about a rural home loan,

“The best way to get this information is to call one of our lenders that serves the area in which the house is located. This information changes almost daily right now in this volatile market, so a local lender can help keep you up to speed on terms,” Hutchinson concluded.

Quail Hunting Destinations

BY JOSH HONEYCUTT

Quail hunting has a rich tradition, especially in the South. It’s been a large part of overall hunting culture for a very long time. Today, that continues, and there are some great places to enjoy it. Check out these great hunts for quail enthusiasts.

1. Rockin’ G Ranch, Texas

One great hunt is at Rockin’ G Ranch (https://mallardbay. com/listing/lrloOJtgnv19).

“Those guys are in Turkey, Texas, right outside of Amarillo,” said Wyatt Mallett, co-founder of Mallard Bay. “They do pheasant and quail packages. He runs these trips for $1,500. It’s a two-day, three-night package. The customer comes in the night before, wakes up, and hunts. That includes guides, meals, lodging, bird cleaning, and a lot of trigger time on fast-flying birds, as well as fishing on their lakes that are stocked. That’s a good one to go with.”

2. Dirty Texas Outfitters, Texas

Next up is Dirty Texas (https://mallardbay.com/listing/-fsCLX2BcN2O).

“They’re in Colorado City, Texas,” Mallett said. “They run trips for $300 per day (per hunter). Hunts are over professionally trained German short-haired pointers and English setters. You have the option to hunt wild bobwhite, scaled quail, or 15 strategically placed pen-raised quail. It’s a minimum of two hunters to book. This does not include lodging. It’s a drive in. But they do have a lot of hotels in the area. If a hunter is looking for a cheaper option, this is the way to go for that.”

3. Bluestem, Oklahoma

Bluestem is in Oklahoma (https://mallardbay.com/listing/ B9bSFc7aacI9).

“Those guys are $300 per day,” Mallett said. “It is more of an added package, though. You can book a duck hunt and an add-on quail hunt. They run $700 duck hunts for all-inclusive packages, which includes lodging, two meals per day, and one waterfowl hunt per day. Then you can add the quail hunt for $300. They have a nice lodge.”

4.

Covey Point, Alabama

Covey Point (https://mallardbay.com/listing/QNMe9NJrytcP) is in Goshen, Alabama.

“That’s a great family-run outfitter,” Mallett pointed out. “I spoke with John David, the owner, and they do full-day quail hunting with lodging. It’s $1,000 per day. You get warmup clay pigeons. It’s a four-hunter minimum to six-hunter maximum. You get the overnight accommodations and three home-cooked meals, including breakfast, lunch, and supper. You get snacks and drinks on your hunt. There is no license needed. There are no extra bird fees. You can take home the frozen quail in a cooler.”

5. Cupped Wing Guide Service, Arkansas

Another option is in Marion Arkansas with Cupped Wing Guide Service (https://mallardbay.com/listing/_i5eyN9MV6Pp).

This hunt is available for up to six hunters. It is a two-person, two-day minimum. This is a guided hunt; and it includes transportation during the hunt, an experienced guide, and game processing. However, lodging and meals are not provided, and you will meet up with your guide the day of the hunt. In addition to quail, pheasants and chukar are available as part of this upland hunt, too. This $350 half-day hunt is either morning or afternoon. It can become an all-day hunt for $350 more.

Wyatt Mallett, co-founder of Mallard Bay, after a great quail hunt . Photo courtesy of Wyatt Mallett

FIND THE RIGHT FIT

Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right hunt. Fortunately, good resources make it simpler.

“Want to find a great trip? Go to MallardBay.com (https://mallardbay.com),” Mallet said. “Search for ‘quail’ or ‘upland.’ Stuff like that will get you in the right direction. All the outfitters on here have been vetted and verified by a member of the team. You know what you are going into. You know what you are paying for. There are no hidden fees, or anything like that. Everything is transparent at checkout.”

It’s also simple to book. “You put 50% down outside of two weeks from the trip. Inside of two weeks, you pay in full,” Mallett explained. “You reserve your dates that way. You can book as far out as the outfitter will allow. If you have a big group and want to get it all planned out for schedules, you can book six months to a year out. If it’s last minute, if they have availability, throw it in there. I’m biased, but that’s what I would do to go find a hunt.”

When trying to determine whether to go the wild or pen-raised bird route, consider the factors. Some might prefer a pen-raised hunt over a wild quail pursuit, or vice-versa.

“It’s more controlled,” Mallett said. “You’re really thrown into the experience. They put them out, and you all walk the lanes together. Then the dogs go on point, everyone gets ready, and then the birds fly up.”

Once a hunt is scheduled, it’s time to prepare.

“Know that quail are fast,” Mallett advised. “It’s quick and fast shooting. These are small birds. But if you’re good at shooting teal, you should be

good at hitting quail. It’s really cool to see those dogs go out, go on point, and then flush. That’s one of the coolest things for me.”

Fortunately, for new hunters, a quality guide shortens the learning cover. Of course, gun safety and shooting proficiency are very important.

“If you’re going with a good guide, they’ll train you in certain things,” Mallett said. “They’ll keep everyone in one line instead of in front of each other. It’s never a bad idea to go to the range and shoot clays before doing any type of bird hunting. And trust your guide. Trust and understand what and why they say what they say. Follow them for safety and success reasons.”

15 Quail Hunting Tips

1. Focus on the Basics: Quail are like most species — they need food, water, and cover to survive. Keep these things in mind, and you’re well on your way to success.

2. Watch the Conditions: Those having difficulty finding birds should ensure conditions are right. Very cold or very hot limits a dog’s ability to locate birds. About 40-50 degrees is the best window. Also, rain diminishes scenting abilities, too.

3. Focus on the Right Habitat: Quail tend to spend a lot of time in brushy cover. But they prefer a brush that provides overhead cover (structure) and a somewhat open floor for better maneuverability.

4. Get the Timing Right: In most places, quail hunting is allowed during all daylight hours. However, afternoons tend to produce the best conditions. If it’s very cold or frosty, birds often hold up on the roost later into the morning. But by afternoon, coveys have been laying down a lot of scent, making it easier for dogs to find them.

5. Watch the “Sky Dogs”: Hawks and

other birds of prey are great at locating quail. Keep an eye out for them. If you find one camped out, send the dogs in that direction.

6. Stay in Line: Keep your composure. Stay in line with the group. Don’t get ahead or fall behind. This is how unsafe situations develop.

7. Have the Right Mindset: Always keep your mind right. Have confidence in your shooting abilities. This is important for staying prepared, remaining safe, and making shots count.

8. Find the Stance: Get feet set properly to improve shooting efficiency and results. This will lead to more shot opportunities, increased hits, and fewer crippled birds.

9. Lean Into It: Standing straight up during the shot isn’t advised. Neither is leaning way forward. But it is important to lean into the shot. This is one aspect of proper form.

10. Cheek Down on That Gun: Keeping your cheek down on the gun is important for quality shooting. If you don’t keep your cheek down, odds of missing

are quite high.

11. Pick a Spot: Don’t look at the entire covey, or multiple birds, when they break. Instead, pick out one bird, and then select a small area to hit. Think small, not big, to make better shots.

12. Stay Down on That Gun: You got your cheek down. Now, keep it there. Don’t pull up to see if you hit the bird. This oftentimes leads to misses, too.

13. Swing Through the Shot: Unless you need to pull off because your gun barrel is at the edge of your safe window or zone, swing through the shot. This will help you to stay on target and not shoot behind the bird.

14. Track the Dogs: Always know where the dogs are. Never shoot in their vicinity. But even if they aren’t close, never take low shots. These aren’t safe for the dogs, or people.

15. Take Safe Shots: Always put safety first. Handle firearms carefully and mindfully. Never compromise for a shot at a quail. It isn’t worth it.

Voyagers Executive Chef Brody Olive says he and his team shuck more than 1000 oysters a week (Image

by Brody Olive/ Voyagers)

How to Shuck Oysters at Home

BY STEPHANIE MALLORY

If you’ve never shucked an oyster, the first time can be a bit intimidating. There’s no doubt a learning curve, but if you acquire the right tools and learn the correct techniques, you’ll be shucking like an expert in no time.

Of course, to get the most out of your experience, you want to start off with the best-tasting, high-quality oysters you can find. The fresher the better and the location where the oysters were farmed or harvested makes a difference in taste as well.

Anthony Ricciardone, co-founder of Admiral Shellfish Company, an aquaculture farm that produces delicious, fresh raw oysters for the premium half-shell market out of Gulf Shores, Alabama, says location has a big impact on the oyster’s flavor.

He explained that different locations have different algae, food sources, salinity and wave action, and all of these factors and more affect an oyster’s flavor.

“Oysters can vary in taste even when they come from the same region. In Mobile Bay, you can have 10 different farms with 10 different salinities due to how far a farm is from the mouth of the bay and what rivers surround it. Admiral Shellfish oysters are raised in the perfect location.

Not being near a major river system or marsh full of tannins, but still having the perfect amount of plankton and algae for oyster foods, lead to a clean briny creamy oyster flavor. Our frequent handling makes a consistent cupped shell that plates well and a hinge is there for shucking ease,” Ricciardone said.

GATHER YOUR TOOLS

Brody Olive, head chef of Voyagers at Perdido Beach Resort, says he and his team often shuck more than 1,000 oysters a week. With that much practice, they ‘ve got the system and equipment down to a science.

When it comes to knives, Olive says they use a multitude of different knives and that the ideal knife comes down to personal preference.

“I like a really sharp straight knife with a nice, fat handle that’s easy to grip. I need something I can twist like a motorcycle throttle. If the handle is super thin, I can’t get the torque I need. My father likes to use a curve-bladed knife for the torque and angle. I often use a Boston Bagger, which is a really sharp knife that will easily penetrate the hinge or lip of the oyster,” Olive said.

Of course, the knife you choose is also going to depend on the type of oysters you’re shucking. If you’re shucking Alabama farmed oysters, you’ll need a knife that works well for their smaller dainty shells than if you’re shucking those enormous old-school Apalachicola oysters, which also tend to have a bigger gap and can handle a duller more rounded knife.

It’s a good idea to invest in a shucking knife and not rely on the standard kitchen knife, because oyster knives tend to have thicker handles and can take the pressure required to pry apart live oysters.

“Amazon sells a lot of inexpensive shucking knives. You can order and try several until you figure out what you like,” Olive said.

Lindsay Allday, oyster sommelier at Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar, in New Orleans, has shucked more oysters than she can count. It’s now like second nature to her, but for newbies, she says it can take some getting used to.

When it comes to knives, her choice depends on the oyster

“They all have different shapes and angles. Some are narrower and some are wider. For those big, wild oysters, you’re gonna want to use a bigger knife. For the smaller farm-raise oysters, you’ll need a smaller knife. If you use a big knife on a little oyster, you may end up butchering it,” Allday said.

She said her two go-to knives are a blue-handled Toadfish knife and a Duxbury shucker made by R. Murphy.

When it comes to safety, Allday recommends wearing a chainmail glove.

“I shuck so many oysters a week that it’s just a game of statistics before I stab myself in the hand. The oyster’s sharp shell can also slice your hand open. Why risk cutting a nerve or tendon or getting an infection and having to be on antibiotics for a week?” she asked.

For those who don’t want to wear chainmail gloves, she said there are cutproof gloves available. Although they won’t stop a knife from going all the way through, the gloves will offer some protection.

Both Olive and Allday recommend securing the oyster with a folded towel to protect your hand and keep the oyster in place.

EXAMINE AND CLEAN YOUR OYSTERS

Before getting started, Allday says examine your oysters and make sure they all look nice and healthy.

“Don’t shuck one that’s open or smells bad,” she said. “If you will be shucking wild oysters, you’ll need to wash them well. But if you’ll be shucking cultivated oysters, like those from Admiral Shellfish, you can skip that step because they come power washed and clean.”

Olive agreed.

“Admiral does a great job providing a very clean product, but if you buy wild

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Stick

Scrape

oysters, you’ve got to make sure you get the excess mud and debris off, so it doesn’t get in the shell when you shuck it,” he said.

Olive also recommends shucking oysters outside to help with the mess. “Slide a couple of chairs around a cooler and use it as your platform because you can spray it down easily when you’re done. You don’t want to drip oyster juice all over mama’s kitchen,” Olive noted.

TIME TO SHUCK

When it comes to shucking the oyster, Allday said there are many ways you can do it, but she favors one particular method.

“Most of us shucking Gulf oysters will go in from the hinge. But if you’re shucking East Coast oysters, you may have to shuck through the bill. They’re a bit more fragile because of the different nutrients they receive,” she said.

When preparing to shuck an oyster she says she folds a towel, sticks the oyster on top of it and then folds it again, so the oyster is within the fold.

“While holding the oyster within the towel, stick your knife in just off the hinge on either side. Stick the knife tip in far enough so that if you let go of the oyster, it’s going to stay there. I call it the Cajun lollipop,” Allday said.

She said next, you’ll wiggle, twist or shimmy the knife until you feel the oyster unlock.

“If the oyster is cold, it’ll sometimes produce a gratifying popping noise,” Allday said.

Next, she said you’ll shimmy the knife down. If the hinge is facing you, you’ll shimmy it down the right side toward the bill or the front where the abductor muscle connects the oyster to the top and bottom shell. At a 45-degree angle, scrape the knife across the inside top of the shell to detach the muscle Allay explained..

“It’s more of a scrape than a slice. You want to get as much meat off as you can,” Allday said.

You’ll do the same thing on the bottom. Coming from the right side of the bill, swipe backward to detach the oyster from bottom.

Allday says make sure you hold the oyster upright and keep it level so as to not spill the brine, because that is where most of the flavor is held.

“If you do spill some of the brine, don’t worry too much. A shucked oyster will produce more brine because it pushes out what it was filtering. Of course, you don’t want to waste any of it because the more brine inside the oyster, the better the flavor,” Allday said.

“The goal is to not cut the oyster or stab any of it with your knife. You also don’t want to get bits of shell or grit in there. After I cut it open, I take my pinky and clean out the shell to remove any dirt or debris that may have gotten in there. Once you make sure it’s nice and clean, it’s ready for eating,” she concluded.

Olive says if you follow these simple tips, you’ll be shucking like a pro in no time.

“Just remember to take your time. It’s not a race. Speed comes with repetition. It’s about technique and safety. If you’re cognizant and paying attention, you’ll do just fine. There’s no reason to be intimidated,” he explained. “Once you get a good rhythm, it’ll just flow. Each oyster will only take two or three motions to shuck. Over time it becomes muscle memory and you’ll kind of just Zen out as you’re doing it.”

Admiral Shellfish Oysters are consistently fresh and clean with a delicious flavor. (Image by Brody Olive/Voyagers)

the knife across the inside of the shell to detach the muscle (Image by Brody Olive/ Voyagers)

your knife in just off either side of the hinge and twist or shimmy it until you feel the oyster unlock (Image by Brody Olive/ Voyagers)

A good oyster-shucking knife is a must . (Image provided by Brody Olive/ Voyagers)

There’s no need to get out at sunrise for winter bassing, but some of them can be mighty pretty—and also productive

Winter Bass Fishing Keys to Success

BY FRANK SARGEANT

Plunging winter temperatures definitely cut down on the bass fishing competition in Alabama’s many lakes and rivers, but that doesn’t mean the fish can’t be caught. It takes a change in attack plans but if you can take advantage of a quality sonar system on your boat, finding and catching bass throughout the colder months is not all that difficult.

Having said that, even if you don’t have the latest whiz-bang forward-facing sonar, there are still plenty of likely spots for catching winter fish.

First, winter bassing is more about finding the bait than about finding the bass, because a ball of several thousand shad or herring is a lot easier to see on even a basic sonar than are the rice-sized dots that indicate bass. Nearly all largemouths will be in deeper water at this time of year, though “deep” is a relative term.

On the Tennessee Vallely Authority (TVA) lakes, Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick, the deep water break is typically at 20 to 25 feet on deep creeks running off the main river channel, and that’s where the bait schools will be found, often in areas with broken rock or other hard structure.

Even deeper lakes like Lewis Smith have herring schools at 50 feet and more all winter long, and plenty of spotted bass lurking close to them.

These fish are so deep it’s hard to reach them with conventional bass lures, but blade baits like the Berkley Vibrato, Spro Carbon Blade and Damiki Vault get down to them fast. They also have a very clear signature on sonar, so that you can watch your lure in relation to the bait and the fish below if you have forward scan sonar. (You can also do this with conventional down-looking sonar by very quietly easing the boat directly over the fish at depths of 30 feet and more and fishing your lure vertically.)

Best action for this bite is simply to let the lure go to the bottom, then pump it up to just above the bait, then let it flutter down three feet or so, then pump again. Any hesitation in the fall means a fish has it so you have to stay alert and be ready to set the hook quickly.

With mid-water bait like blueback herring, it’s better to let the lure sink down to the level of the bait ball and work it in that zone—the bass will be close by.

Tail spin lures like the Bass Pro Shops Tail Spin, Jackall Deracoup and Little George also work well for this action, and are somewhat less likely to snag bottom structure. (You still will lose both these types of lures with some frequency, though, so carry backups.)

If you have a spot-lock trolling motor, it’s also possible to fish these deep water bass with mini-jigs like the Ned Rig with Z-Man TRD and TicklerZ tails in weights of 1/10 ounce or less. The high flotation of the Z-Man ElaZtech tails create a very slow sink with the light heads, and if you can keep the boat

in place so that you can feel the bite, the lures are highly effective. Z-Man sells complete kits for this action, so it’s easy to get the right setup. The lures need to be fished on light lines, 10 or even 8 pound test braid with a 5-foot monofilament leader, so that they can be thrown any distance. Light spinning gear is a must for this action, of course.

The winter bite is not limited to the deepest water. Back in the larger creeks of many impounded lakes, the bait schools hang on the shoulder of the channel, sometimes as shallow as 10 feet. Pro guides like Captain Mike Gerry at Guntersville say these bait schools have bass nearby all winter long, particularly in areas where the hydrilla has died back to the point there are only a few green stubs protruding from the bottom.

Gerry likes to fish these areas with diving crankbaits like the Spro Little John, cranked down to the point where they occasionally catch in the stubby weeds. Rip the lure free and that’s when the bass often hit, according to Gerry. The same pattern also works for fast-sinking, vibrating crankbaits like the Aruku Shad, Red-eye Shad and the Rattletrap.

THE WHOLE DAM STORY

Another major winter bite occurs below Wilson and Wheeler dams, as well as on those in the Alabama River and Tombigbee river systems, when dying shad start being sucked through the gates. Many shad are weakened or killed by extended water temperatures in the low 40’s, and they offer easy targets for bass as they’re sucked into the flow.

Particularly below Wheeler and Wilson dams on the Tennessee River, there’s a great winter fishery based on this bait kill. In fact, for anglers who want to catch a big smallmouth without heading up to Great Lakes country, this is the spot—many fish in the four to five pound class are caught every winter.

The can’t-fail way to get these fish is to castnet a few shad at the base of the dam (only when flow conditions allow!) and then fish them as live bait, casting up into the fast water and letting them sweep over the rocky terrain below. Nose hook the bait on a short-shank 1/0 hook and add a split shot or two to keep it down a few feet.

However, plenty of big smallmouths are also caught on crankbaits that dive four to five feet as well as soft plastic swimbaits and suspending jerkbaits. The current provides most of the action. Just jerk, jerk, jerk and hang on.

BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS

Shad schools also swarm around bridges and causeways in winter because these are choke points that increase the water flow and bring food to them. Again, the bass are where the food is, so locate these schools and you’ll locate the bass.

In the dead of winter, the bait is usually found on the down-current side of any

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span, and there may be several schools, not only directly below the span but also dotted here and there on any shoulders or channels leading downstream. As winter progresses, the bass feeding on these fish sometimes spread out and work along the riprap shorelines often found along causeways leading to these bridges. Hank Cherry won his Bassmaster Classic event at Lake Guntersville in part by finding bass on such a shoreline, and Randy Howell did likewise in an earlier Classic at the lake.

Hank Cherry’s strategy at Brown’s Creek was to use a suspending jerkbait, the Megabass 110+1, cranked down to 6-10 feet and then fished very slowly, with long pauses between jerks. Cherry changed out the hooks to slightly heavier Berkley Fusion trebles in No. 5 size to make the lure sink slowly on its own when paused.

Randy Howell, on the other hand, used a 5/8 ounce Livingston Lures diving crankbait now known as the Howeller at Spring Creek to load up on his final day winning catch.

The flow at a causeway is typically from the creek side toward the river side, of course, but occasionally the flow reverses. This can be caused by a sustained strong upstream wind, or by backflow created when the lower dam on a river system lake closes while the upper dam is opened, causing the main lake to rise. Take note of which way the water is going and position your boat accordingly.

Also note that bass in late winter may be headed from the depths of the main lake toward the tributary creeks in a pre-spawn migration. This typically gets started around mid-February, and takes place even when water temperatures are still very low—the fish apparently respond to the lengthening days, which tell them spring is approaching. Again, the bridges are choke points that concentrate the fish, so they’re always worth exploring when you’re searching for winter action.

is a true liquid fertilizer that is designed to not only provide fertilizer to your food plot, but also supply calcium. Calcium is vital to the development of deer antler growth and egg shell strength in turkeys.

TARGETING SPRINGS

Captain Mike Carter, who fishes Lakes Weiss and Guntersville, scores some big winter and early spring fish by targeting underwater springs he has located over the years with his temperature gauge. Bass hang in these areas, which may be five degrees or more warmer than the average lake temperature, pretty much from early winter until the pre-spawn period.

Carter catches the fish mostly by throwing jumbo soft plastic swimbaits, lures seven to eight inches long with paddletails, fished on 1-ounce heads with 6/0 or larger hooks. He fishes the lures on 20-pound-test mono and stout baitcasters.

It’s a whole lot of throwing and winding, and sometimes hundreds of casts are required for each fish, but Carter catches many bass of seven pounds and up every winter with the tactic.

Bottom line is there are numerous ways to go about connecting with winter bass in Alabama. It’s never going to be as productive as spring, summer and fall, but for getting your fishing fix until the warmer months return—and maybe scoring a few lunkers--these tactics will bring success.

STAYING WARM WHILE WINTER BASSING

It can be unpleasantly cold on the water in winter, no doubt about it, but if you dress right and then add a propane heater like the Heat Hog to your boat, it can ease the pain. These compact heaters put out an amazing wall of warm air and can keep your feet toasty all day, as well as warming your hands when you take a break. Naturally, you need to shut them down when moving from place to place, but they’re easily restarted with a push button igniter; www.heathog.com.

•

• There are no particles large enough to clog spray nozzles

• It is readily absorbed by plants because it is a foliar application. Therefore, within one hour 80-90% of the fertilizer is already absorbed into the plant and working

• Heavy rain will not wash away the fertilizer

Best Hunting Trips for February

BY JOSH HONEYCUTT

A February hunt for whitetails offers a lastminute opportunity to deer hunt .

Once February rolls around, most hunters are hanging up their gear. Others aren’t, though, and they’re working to finish the season strong.

For those who still want to squeeze a little more juice out of the winter season, here are 10 great February hunts within an eight-hour drive of the great state of Alabama.

Deer, Alabama

Alabama has a deer herd that’s about 1.25 million strong. It also has about 200,000 deer hunters, but there’s plenty of deer and ground. Licenses and tags are reasonable for in-state hunters and also for out-of-towners. Plus, the Yellowhammer State has 33 Booners in the books. That’s pretty cool, too.

Of course, the Black Belt region tends to produce the best hunting. Yet for those looking for the final rutting opportunities that extend into February, focus on the south central part of the state. Counties to focus on include parts of: Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Lowndes, Pile, Montgomery, and more. Zones A, B, and C offer February hunting. Overall, Alabama has about 775,000 acres of wildlife management area (WMA) ground, plus other forms of public land hunting opportunities. Check out these resources to find a place to hunt (https://www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/where-hunt-alabama). Go here for outfitter options (https://mallardbay.com/search?query=whitetails).

Deer, Louisiana

Most think of Louisiana as a duck state. It is, but it’s also a great deer hunting destination. It has about 500,000 whitetails and only 175,000 deer hunters. Licenses are cheap for residents ($35), but somewhat pricey for non-residents ($300). Still, it has a lot of big deer, especially for the South, with 99 Boone and Crockett whitetails in the book.

The state has public land all around, but altogether, it offers 1.6 million acres of public land. Sure, much of that is flooded for ducks and not great deer habitat, but whitetails live in swamps, too. They’ll find the high ground. Use this map (https://ldwf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ MapSeries/index.html?appid=4c4a4d9526c248c080c3eaa4808b9bea) to find some public land hunting options. Check out Mallard Bay for outfitter options (https://mallardbay.com/search?query=whitetails). Area No. 5, 6, and 9 offer hunting opportunities in February.

Deer, Mississippi

Another excellent deer hunting destination is Mississippi. It has a deer herd of 1.5 million, and only about 100,000 deer hunters. That’s a low-pressure situation in many areas. It offers big buck potential with 188 record-class bucks in the B&C book. Plus, resident licenses start at $25, and non-resident prices start at $380.

Interestingly, the rut extends into the first week of February for numerous counties. Some of these include Perry, Stone, Harrison, Greene, George, Jackson, and parts of other counties. Those looking for public lands to try should go here (https://www.mdwfp.com/ wildlife-hunting/quail-program/public-land-hunting.aspx). Go here

Check out these 10 awesome outdoor adventures for the shortest month of the year

for outfitter opportunities (https://mallardbay.com/search?query=whitetails). February deer seasons occur in the Southeast unit.

Deer, Ohio

Those who aren’t seeking a late-winter rut hunt but want to focus on late-season bed-to-feed patterns, should consider Ohio for an early February hunting trip. Find the quality solar bedding, thermal bedding, and food, and you just might find a good buck to hunt. Of course, it’s a great state, with 750,000 whitetails and 1,172 bucks in the all-time Boone & Crockett book.

Do your research and find a great piece of public land to hunt (https:// ohiodnr.gov). Or go here for outfitter availability (https://mallardbay.com/ search?query=whitetails). Archery season (crossbow included) goes until February 5. That offers five full days of hunting in early February.

Geese, Arkansas

Arkansas is home to one of the best goose hunting destinations in the world. Here, more than 150,000 geese are harvested each year. According to Realtree’s Duck Hunting Nation (https://www.realtree.com/waterfowl-hunting/duck-hunting-nation/2018/arkansas-duck-hunting), there are about 6.4 geese per hunter.

Here, you’ll find some of the best prices for licenses and permits, too, even for non-residents. Not to mention its incredible public waters, and excellent outfitting options as well (https://mallardbay.com/outfitters/arkansas). Of course, this hunt is limited to the Light Goose Conservation Order season, which occurs February 1-3 and February 5-April 25. Go here for specific regulations (https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/migratory-birds/light-goose-conservation-order/).

Geese, Louisiana

Another excellent waterfowl option is the Pelican State. While duck season

ends in January, about 40,000 geese are harvested here each year, and goose season extends until early February, or even March, depending on species and location (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations).

According to Realtree’s Duck Hunting Nation (https://www.realtree.com/waterfowl-hunting/duck-hunting-nation/2018/louisiana-duck-hunting), there are about 6 geese per hunter. Licenses and permits are very affordable here. Of course, there’s a good bit of public land to roam on. Check out some Louisiana outfitting options here (https://mallardbay.com/outfitters/louisiana).

Predator, Missouri

Those seeking a good hunting opportunity for predators might consider Missouri. It offers an abundance of diversity from the mountainous region in the South to the ag-rich grounds in the north, and a mix of habitat types in between. Check out the Missouri Department of Conservation for additional info (https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/seasons/coyote-hunting). Remember, bobcat season closes the end of February (https://mdc.mo.gov/ hunting-trapping/species/bobcat).

Predator, Kentucky

The Bluegrass State is another predator-rich destination (https://fw.ky. gov/Hunt/Pages/Furbearer-Hunting-and-Trapping.aspx). From the flat ag grounds in the West, mountains in the East, and rolling hills and river bottoms in the middle, it too has an abundance of habitat types. Here, coyotes and bobcats are aplenty. Coyotes can be hunted year-round, but bobcat season ends February 28.

Squirrel, Tennessee

Those who like to chase bushytails can expect a solid hunt in the Volunteer State (https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/small-game-regulations.html). Fortunately, it spans the month of February, eventually ending March 15. It even

both plenty of mast and ground-level cover.

How-To Plan an Out-of-State Trip

Those who want to plan a late-season, out-of-state hunt in February should keep the following tips in mind:

• Choose an adventure type and destination.

• Get in the right condition and shape.

• Decide upon a do-it-yourself, semi-guided, or guided hunt.

• Determine the timing of the hunt.

• Read the regulations. These will likely be different than what you are used to.

• Get the correct licenses, tags, stamps, etc.

• Prepare a gear checklist.

• Study the hunt area via apps and maps.

• Learn the target animal’s behaviors, tendencies, and patterns.

Other Whitetail Opportunities

Other states offer deer hunting into February, too. Arkansas has approximately 20 different hunting zones, and some of these offer archery seasons that go through the end of the month. Florida also offers late opportunities, especially in zones B, C, and D. And don’t sleep on Virginia, as it offers some urban archery hunts that extend as late as March, and even April. Obviously, these seasons have a lot of guidelines to follow. Read regulations for full hunt details.

The Benefits of Fishing From a Pontoon Boat

BY DAVID STRICKLAND

Pontoon boats offer a unique platform to enjoy a wide variety of activities. Unlike their early predecessors, newer models benefit from lightweight construction materials and have evolved into a class of their own. As a result, modern pontoon boats come in a fantastic array of sizes suitable for small streams, lakes, and even larger bodies of water, including the ocean.

Their design allows them to carry heavier loads than conventional boats, and their extreme stability and open floor plan sets them apart from traditional vessels. Their versatility is apparent when you visit a dealer and see the assortment of sizes and layouts equipped for entertaining, water sports, and fishing.

Pontoon boats can vary from small one-person models with a hand-operated trolling motor to tritooned double-decked versions nearly 30’ long and capable of 60+mph with twin 400 hp engines.

Versatility in any product is a big plus, but how must the seating and layout be addressed when making a pontoon more fisher-friendly?

Also, what accessories are needed to ensure your pontoon will accommodate both the casual or even competitive angler in your family?

PONTOONS FOR FISHING

I spoke with Melissa Williams at Buck’s Island Marine on the upper end of Neely Henry reservoir in Southside, Alabama. She is the Buck’s Island Senior Sales Rep. there and shared her thoughts about several excellent options that come standard with a fishing pontoon or can be added to almost any pontoon boat.

Buck’s Island Marine has sold a lot of traditional bass boats in their 70+ years in business, but the size and versatility of pontoons have significantly increased their popularity. As a result, the family-owned company now stocks models with two or four swiveling fishing chairs with bait stations, live wells and tackle storage. They also offer several models with the newest electric outboard options for lakes with motor restrictions.

“Our most popular sized pontoon is in the 20- 22’ range fitted with 90- 115 hp outboards,” Williams said. “Many customers prefer these boats because their size and layout make them ideal for spider rigging. Multiple rail-mounted rod holders are easily positioned on the four

Several essential items are necessary for any fishing style, but a few amenities can make for a more relaxing and enjoyable fishing experience.

corners or sides, making it easy to hold numerous rods for push-fishing or long lining.”

Maintaining precise boat speed is vital for controlling bait or lure depth when trolling, so Williams highly recommends adding a premium wireless bow-mounted trolling motor with GPS to make navigation and speed control a breeze. A detachable mounting bracket also makes removing the trolling unit a snap for those times when entertaining or skiing is more of a priority. She also mentioned a remote anchoring system could be handy when drop fishing.

Add a GPS-enabled fish-finder compatible with your electric motor, and you have a great fishing rig with lots of elbow room and even shade with the addition of a Bimini top.

SWIVEL FISHING CHAIRS

A pair of swivel fishing chairs is the best accessory for transforming any pontoon boat into a fishing rig. Some fishing models have two mounted chairs on each end and many crappie fishermen take advantage by placing multiple rod holders near each corner for spider rigging.

LIVE WELLS/COOLERS

Every optimistic fisherman needs a live well or cooler to keep their fish in. Their spacious decks make it easy to find a convenient location for temporary placement, or you might find that a table-top or padded chairtop cooler is a better choice. In addition, several manufacturers offer ice chests and live bait stations conveniently mounted near their fishing chairs.

If you need to add a live well to your setup, a bilge pump, a hose, and a few PVC fittings make for a relatively easy DIY project that won’t take up much room, especially if retrofitted underneath an existing hinged seat.

KIDS

Introducing children to fishing can be a fun but sometimes challenging ordeal. So what better, safer, or more stable platform to introduce them to one of the greatest pastimes? The railing on most pontoon boats completely encloses the main deck, and the access gates can be locked so that the little ones can roam when boredom strikes or the fish don’t cooperate. They can also stretch out or grab a snack while you continue

to fish and keep an eye on them.

Drink holders abound on most models and are conveniently located near most seating or can be easily attached anywhere on the railing. Some newer models even come standard with electronically cooled drink holders for the ultimate in chilled beverages. In addition, the roominess of most pontoon boats easily allows for Bluetooth speakers and even a television or video-game console for those times you need a little extra diversion or to keep up with your team’s score.

The exterior railing on pontoons allows for creative mounting options and is roomy enough to attach a small kayak or paddleboard. These can come in handy when the fish are biting, but your teenagers want to be a little more active.

SALTWATER

Several manufacturers offer saltwater pontoon models that stand up to the harsher ocean environment. They’re built with corrosion-resistant materials and require no more maintenance than the typical fishing hulls. However, a freshwater rinse and wipe-down prolong their integrity and appearance.

Tritoon models fare better in moderate waves, and their shallow draft allows fishing close to shore and over shallow sandbars, and they’re often able to sneak into inlets where deep-V fishing rigs can’t reach.

Robust rod holders are required because of the species involved, but carrying a few friends or family along while bottom fishing or trolling along the beach can be enjoyable whether the fish bite or not.

Several rail-mounted grill options can elevate your outing on a pontoon boat. Can there be a better ending to a day of fishing than to anchor in some secluded bay, clean your catch, fire up the grill, and break out the plates?

DECK RAILING

The typical railing setup on traditional pontoon boats encompasses most of the deck area with gate access at each end and maybe to one side. However, the preferred layout for a dedicated fishing model has a walkthrough design where the rail sets back from each end. This configura-

The Benefits of Fishing From a Pontoon Boat

tion allows easy travel from one end to the other and is preferable when playing a large fish.

TROLLING MOTORS

Choosing a suitable trolling motor for a pontoon boat can make a tremendous difference in your ability to find fish and stay on them.

Making the right decision in a trolling motor is not that difficult, but knowing a few key details can help your decision.

A bow-mounted trolling motor with a detachable bracket is one of the best investments for making any pontoon boat more fishable. Going with a premium model that has wireless connectivity and GPS tracking makes maneuvering and trolling a breeze.

If you already own a fish finder, especially a newer model, it makes sense to check if it can interface with a trolling motor. Newer GPS models can make navigation and speed control easy with several wireless steering options.

The traditional method of matching trolling motor size to any boat is to figure two pounds of thrust for every hundred pounds of boat weight. However, because of the boxy nature of a pontoon, it’s better to add ten or even 20 more pounds of thrust to your final equation. Then, match your motor with a good 24v or 36v system, and you’ll have plenty of power and run time to fill your cooler.

STORAGE

Stowing your rods in rail-mounted vertical rod holders is easy, or you can bring hard cases that slide under your seating or mount horizontally on your railing. Likewise, several portable or deck-mounted options for tackle and hardware will satisfy almost any serious fisherman.

Factory-installed options offer many storage options, such as locking rod boxes mounted between the railing and seating.

Under-seat storage on most factory-installed chairs provides ample storage for life jackets and other gear. A changing area can also be added for those needing a little privacy.

TRAILERING

Launching and loading most pontoons is no more complicated than the average bass boat, and single-axle trailers work fine if most of your towing is to local lakes or rivers. However, Williams strongly recommends a double-axle model if towing a larger boat or if you’re traveling greater distances to your boat ramps.

CONCLUSION

Does the idea of a large, stable deck with tons of elbow room that can comfortably accommodate your entire family and a few of their friends appeal to you? Do you need a boat that won’t break the bank but will allow two to four people to comfortably fish, ski, or enjoy the fresh air and sunshine?

Then you need to program Buck’s Island Marina into your GPS and plan a road trip, or call Melissa and discuss the many fishing pontoon options available.

Contact Information

Melissa Williams (Senior Sales Rep.) www.bucksisland.com (256) 442-2588

ALABAMA BISON HUNT

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ALABAMA HUNT

How to do a European Mount

BY STEPHANIE MALLORY

You’re proud of that deer you just took and you want to show it off. While many would simply head to the taxidermist, making your own European mount can be quite satisfying and creates an even deeper connection to the hunt and the process you went through to harvest that deer.

Not only is it fulfilling to do your own European mount, but it can save you quite a bit of money. In addition, you’ll get the finished product much sooner and If you do it yourself, it will only take a few days. If you rely on a taxidermist to handle the job, you may be waiting on your mount for months.

European mounts make super-cool displays, require less space and offer more options for showing off your deer than bulky shoulder mounts. You can set your skull mount on a table or on top of a fireplace mantle, stick it in a book shelf or hang it on the wall.

Joe Knight and his wife are award-winning taxidermists and owners of Furs N Spurs taxidermy shops located in Columbiana and Birmingham, Alabama. Although taxidermy is not a full-time job for the couple, they are passionate about the art and compete at state-level competitions with the ambition to compete on the world stage.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

Before you get started, you’ll need the right tools. Knight said that he doesn’t have a favorite knife for skinning.

“I just use whatever knife will get the skin off. You may also need a Sawzall to remove the head from the neck.”

Step 1: Detach the Head -- If you plan to use the head as a European mount, the first step is to detach the head at the last vertebrae at the base of the skull.

“From there, you can either freeze the head, if you want to get to it at a later date, or start on it immediately,” Knight said.

Step 2: Remove the Skin -- When you are ready to start the process, you’ll need to remove all of the skin from the head with your skinning knife. You can start by making an incision through the hide from the skull base to the tip of the nose. Skin the hide down and away from the skull. Make sure you remove all skin from the eye sockets and from around the antler pedicles, where the hide is a bit tough and thick.

Step 3: Remove Eyeballs and Lower Jaw -- Once the skull is skinned, remove the eyeballs from the head using tongs. Next, you’ll need to remove the lower jaw.

“Pry the mouth open and cut straight back in the furthest part of the mouth,” Knight explained.

Step 4: Remove the Brain – Next, you’ll need to remove the brain. “There are several ways you can do this,” he said. “The most efficient way is to use an air compressor and air nozzle. Make sure you turn the head away as you blow the brain matter out of the skull. If you can’t do that, you can use a paddle bit for a drill and go in there and scramble the matter up and then wash it out. At this point you have several different ways you can move forward.”

Step 5: Simmer the Head -- Knight said that the average person who does not have all the high-quality taxidermy tools should next put the meaty head into a pot of simmering water – not boiling.

“Make sure you do this outside and away from the house because you don’t want to stink up your house,” Knight cautioned. “For this step, I like to use a propane burner and propane tank. I let the skull or the head simmer for 30 minutes, but it can vary. Check it in 30 minutes. The meat will start to turn a rubbery substance.”

Step 6: Scrape the Meat from the Skull -Knight said that once it starts turning, you can scrape the meat off. It should just slide off.

“To make it easier, I like to use a pressure washer with a turbo nozzle. You’ll want to use around a 3200-psi pressure washer so the force doesn’t blow the skull apart,” he said.

Step 7: Degrease the Skull -- Once you’ve removed the meat from the skull, there’s another step that some folks say is unnecessary, but Knight said that it’s a must if you want a good-quality European mount.

“You must degrease the skull. The best way to do this is to fill a bucket of water with dawn dish detergent. Insert a fish tank heater and let the skull sit in that solution until you see no more grease sitting on top of the water. The process may take a day or two. You’ll want to periodically take the grease off the top of the water. When no more grease appears at the surface of the water, you’ve got a good degreased skull,” he pointed out.

Step 8: Bleach the Skull -- Next, you’ll move on to the whitening process.

“I like to go to a beauty supply store and buy hair bleaching cream. Look for one with 40 percent volume peroxide.”

Knight said to paint the cream on the skull so that it covers the skull evenly and doesn’t fall off.

“Paint the bone section of the head only. Set the skull outside on a sunny

day for a couple of hours. Then, wipe the cream off and you should have a bleach-blond European mount,” he advised. “The thing you’ll want to watch out for throughout the process is that the teeth can fall out.”

“That normally doesn’t happen when you’re working on a whitetail skull, but it does happen more with coyotes and other animals. Just watch for it, and if a tooth falls out, you’ll want to put it back with super glue.”

Step 9: Pick the Base -- Knight said that he likes to display his European mounts on plaques that he builds.

“I attach the skull to the plaque with number eight sheetrock screws,” he added.

Step 10: Enjoy Your Finished Product – Your complete skull mount should now be worthy of proudly displaying in your home or office. And each time you look at it, you’ll fondly recall not only the excitement of a successful hunt, but the fulfilling process of creating your own European mount.

Land Financing Interest Rates

BY GREAT DAYS OUTDOORS STAFF

Alabama Ag Credit is affiliated with the over 100-year-old nationwide Farm Credit System and is a stockholder owned cooperative. That means that when someone obtains a loan with Alabama Ag Credit they become a stockholder of the association and a portion of those earnings is returned to them through the AGC patronage program, as determined by their board of directors.

At closing you make a one-time Alabama Ag Credit stock purchase and that stock ownership entitles you to share in the co-op profits, lowering your loan’s total interest cost. When your loan is paid off, the cost of the stock is refunded to you.

In other words, 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.

Alabama Ag Credit doesn’t sell its loans on the secondary market like a lot of other financial institutions. When you have a 20-year loan with Alabama Ag Credit, it owns your loan for 20 years and that loan stays with them.

As part of the farm credit system one of AAC’s missions is to service rural Alabama and provide financing for people who want to buy acreage, be it 20 acres for a homestead or more acreage. While it specializes in financing rural and farm land they can finance a residence as long as it is outside of city limits and meets other Farm Credit System requirements.

One of Alabama Ag Credits popular financial products is their 20-year fixed rate loan with a 15% down payment. For rural homesites, the standard is a 15 year loan with 15% down.

At AAC, the terms of a land and rural residential loan, such as interest rate and down payment, depend on the applicant’s unique underwriting factors and a number of components, including credit, financials, loanto-value, the type of property, the length of term, the market conditions and other factors.

One of the things that differentiates Alabama Ag Credit is that they have a complete sheath of services which makes life easier for the customer and ensures a shorter buying and closing process. For example, one of those benefits that AAC offers is that it has its own appraisal department, which results in a shorter turn-around time for the whole transaction and is also economical.

Alabama Ag Credit is headquartered in Montgomery and has nine offices across the state.

Alabama

AAC has terms up to 30 years with rates between 7.5% to 9% depending on the fixed rate period.

Contact: www .AlabamaAgCredit .com 800-579-5471 877.314.1237

Choosing the Best Crappie Jigs for the Conditions

BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS

Learn how to catch crappie in types of weather and water conditions.

By matching the size of a jig head and the color of its soft-plastic body to the weather, water and air-temperature conditions and the spawn’s different phases, you’ll have the best chance of catching a limit of crappie.

Two of the nation’s top crappie guides with a collective total of 70 years of crappie-fishing experience, Billy Blakely and Tony Adams tell us when and where to fish what.

Billy Blakely

Billy Blakely, a crappie guide at Bluebank Resort in Hornbeak, Tenn., on Reelfoot Lake for 40+ years, averages crappie fishing 200+ days a year, under all types of weather and water conditions. His tactics will help you catch more crappie.

“At Reelfoot, wind plays a major role in the sizes and the colors of jigs I fish,” Blakely explained. “The color of the water, whether it’s clear or stained, and where the crappie are in their seasonal migration patterns - the prespawn, spawn and/or postspawn - are determining factors impacting the depth the crappie will hold.”

*Windy Days - On windy days, Blakely fishes up to a 1/4-ounce jig head in a 20 mph wind, making the jig easier to cast and get down to the school of crappie quicker. Blakely also realizes his boat will be pushed much faster by the wind.

“I’ll cast that jig head past the crappie,” Blakely said. “Then when the wind blows my boat on the water, the jig head will pass in front of the crappie before I’m blown off the spot I’m fishing.”

A heavy wind will stir-up the water, causing it to be muddy. So, Blakely fishes a chartreuse-colored jig on six pound-test line.

*Little or No-Wind Days - With little or no wind in fairly-clear water, Blakely picks his jig colors to match the forage fish. He primarily fishes either silver, white, a solid-white or a black back with a white belly crappie jigs.

“You want your crappie jigs to look natural when the water’s clear,” Blakely reported. “My jig head may be as little as 1/64-ounce in deep water. Most of the time, I’ll use a 1/16- or a 1/32-ounce jig head.”

If the crappie are in 10-foot or deeper water, Blakely fishes a 1/16-ounce jig. If the crappie are concentrating 1-10 feet deep, he likes a 1/32-ounce jig head.He fishes plastic jigs on Reelfoot and other lakes with trash in them, because they will hold their true colors, unlike white hair jigs that become stained, causing the crappie to quit biting.

Tony Adams, knows the tactics and the jig colors and sizes to catch crappie throughout the winter, spring, summer and fall that produce crappie like this

*Power-Punching Brush - When crappie are holding in brush, Blakely likes a heavier jig – a 1/8-ounce – to hit the underwater limbs, bounce off them and continue to fall – what he calls power punching for crappie.

“I’ll fish crappie jigs with weed guards on them to make them less likely to hang-up,” Blakely explaind. “If the brush the crappie are in isn’t very thick, I’ll put the tip of the hook just under the plastic jig body, also called Texas-rigging or skin-hooking, while fishing six pound-test line. Since my jig heads have light wire hooks in them, if a jig gets hung-up in the structure, by pulling on my line, often the hook will straighten-out.”

*Power-Trolling - Blakely will troll primarily chartreuse and “Hot Chartreuse” (a very-bright chartreuse) crappie jig bodies just above Reelfoot’s underwater stumps, to enable the crappie to see the jigs better and eat the jigs quicker.

“When we power-troll these regions with a strong wind, we may use wind socks to slow down the drift of the boat,” Blakely reported. “For trolling, I

primarily fish with a B’n’M BGJP rod and braided line with a swivel tied to the end of that line. I’ll put a 1/4-ounce weight above the swivel, and on the other end of the swivel, I’ll tie 2 feet of 6-pound-test monofilament line with a 1/8- or a 1/16-ounce jig head to the tag end of the line. I want my boat to move about 1.5 miles per hour.”

*A Jig and Cork for Black Crappie - Black crappie usually start biting well in the winter months all the way through the summer at Reelfoot and perhaps at your lake. Blakely starts off fishing with an egg-shaped cork that looks like a little cigar. When you push on the cork, the cork has two line keepers that resemble small hooks, with one line keeper at the top of the cork and another line keeper at its bottom - that allow you to adjust your line to the depth of water you want to fish. Bait shops usually stock these in white with a red band around them or solid-chartreuse colors.

“I want my jig to suspend 8-12 inches under the cork,” Blakely said. “I prefer a 1/64-ounce jig head. I’ll pop the cork to give that light jig action to cause black crappie to bite. I like to use this technique over the tops of submerged

Billy Blakely, who’s been fishing and guiding for crappie at Bluebank Resort for 40 years, and uses tactics that are tried and true on Reelfoot Lake

lily pads and grass. That popping noise causes the crappie to look up, spot that little, light jig and come out from under the lily pads and attack.”

If the water’s clear, Blakely likes to fish a black top and white bottom jig body or a solid-white jig made by Grizzly. In murky or stained water, he fishes a chartreuse jig body. This tactic usually produces black crappie on Reelfoot from February – May, as long as the pads are still submerged.

*Guidelines for Selecting Jig Heads and the Jig Body’s Color - The amount of sunshine and clouds present on the day you’re fishing for crappie, as well as the clarity of the water, determine what color jig body and what size of head to fish. On bright, sunny days, Blakely likes a shad-colored jig body On darker days with cloud cover, or when rain’s falling, Blakely prefers chartreuse-colored jig bodies.

“If I’m fishing stained or muddy water, I’ll use an orange or a chartreuse jig body,” Blakely said. “In shallow water, I prefer a 1/64- or a 1/32-ounce jig head. A chartreuse-colored jig body will catch crappie at almost any time of the year at any water depth.”

Tony Adams

Tony Adams has been crappie fishing and guiding on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., since 1989 and also fishes about 200 days per year in every kind of weather and water condition. He’s sunk more than 2,000 brush piles at various depths to have crappie hot spots for every season.

His two favorite crappie rods (poles) are: B’n’M’s Duck Commander six foot-long ultralite graphite for shooting docks, casting to and retrieving from underwater structure and/or pitching the jig and cork to shallow water because this pole’s strong enough to lift a big crappie from the water right into

Choosing the Best Crappie Jigs for the Conditions

the boat. He uses the 10-foot B’n’M Poles to fish more vertically, slow-troll around structure and keep the boat away from the crappie.

the money spent on turkey permits, which is part of the licensing requirement to hunt turkeys in Florida, goes into that fund.

*Prespawn- During the prespawn, Adams has to deal with cold weather and often muddy water, overcast skies, rain and occasionally a bluebird day with temperatures of 50-60 degrees. On a dark day with muddy water, Adams fishes dark-colored jigs like black/neon, pearl/silver, black/grape, the “Electric Chicken”, orange, green, chartreuse, brown, black, pink and black/pink.

“If the crappie aren’t biting aggressively, I’ll fish a 1/32-ounce jig head or perhaps a 1/16-ounce,” Adams explained. “I use my Humminbird Helix 12 to find the crappie and learn the water depth where they’re holding. I’ll use the side-scanning feature first to pinpoint the structure. Once I see crappie holding there, I’ll use the depth finder’s down-scanning feature to identify exactly where in the brush the crappie are concentrating. Next I’ll throw out a buoy marker, either to the left or right of the brush,to know exactly where to cast and/or troll my jigs. I next use my Minn Kota Spot-Lock GPS anchor to hold my boat in position to make an accurate cast.”

“Many hunters and NWTF members are heavily involved in raising funds for the wild turkey and its habitat by participating in NWTF hunting heritage banquets, whereby a portion of those funds raised goes into the cost-share program,” Nicholson said. “Hunters’ purchases of hunting equipment also helps support wildlife conservation through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, which brings federal grant funding to state wildlife management agencies such as the FWC.”

Through this combined effort from the NWTF, FWC, FFS and Florida turkey hunters, the wild turkey population is healthy and flourishing in Florida. And, if you’re a turkey hunter, then you must be getting excited because spring turkey season and the youth turkey hunt weekends are just around the corner.

“I’ll fish a variety of retrieves, depending on how the crappie are biting. I may ‘yo-yo’ the jig up and down off the bottom, waiting on the crappie to bite it on the fall, I may swim it on either side of the structure, and/or I’ll fish it right through the middle of the structure,” he pointed out.

Contact Information

Wild Turkey Cost-Share Program

Florida State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Florida Forest Service (FFS)

Adams’ favorite soft plastic is a two inch Crappie Minnr, made by Big Bite Baits, or a curly-tail grub. If the water’s clear, and the weather’s some warmer, he uses lighter-colored plastics like Bobby Garland’s Monkey Milk, blue pearl pepper, firecracker, silver glitter and 1/16-ounce jig heads. If the bite’s slow, Adams fishes a 1/32-ounce jig.

Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program

Adams always takes live minnows with him in his boat for when the bite’s

slow to lip hook to the hook of the jig to give the jig more action and cause the jig to fall even slower.

*Crappie Just Before They Go to the Bank - Adams uses these same colors of jig bodies on 1/32-ounce jig heads with twirly tails at this time before the spawn, as well as a yellow and white and yellow/white/chartreuse known as the Rain color. He also likes the Snot Rocket – a lime/white color.

*The Spawn - Once the crappie go to the bank to spawn, Adams fishes a 1/16-ounce jig head in Snot Rocket, Acid Rain or yellow/white colors. Sometimes he fishes by casting it very close to the bank and reeling it slowly toward deep water. Or, he’ll start retrieving the jig very slowly, pause it, let it fall and start reeling it slowly again.

“When the crappie move into the shallow water to spawn, I’ll use the jig-andcork tactic,” Adams reported. “I’ll have my jig from 12-18 inches from the bottom of the cork, depending on the water depth. I’ll twitch the cork several times, let it sit still, twitch it two or three more times, pause it and then repeat this same action all the way back to the boat. The crappie most often will bite when the jig’s sitting still, or if you twitch it.”

*Postspawn - After the spawn ends, Adams fishes his jigs in 6 to 10 feet og water. He’ll pitch a jig into small structure out from the bank, since that’s where the crappie will concentrate just as the spawn starts to slow down.

“Sometimes I’ll fish those same brush piles in the water depth where I see the fish holding in, beside or on top of the structure,” Adams explained.

If you’ll try these two experts’ strategies and fish the kinds of jigs suggested under various conditions, you drastically should increase the number of crappie you catch.

Looking for your own place to hunt, fish, enjoy 4-wheeling—even a building site for a cabin or home?

Alabama Ag Credit is the original land lender and your local expert in recreational real estate financing. We understand the unique requirements of long-term rural real estate lending, and can custom build loan packages with competitive rates and flexible terms. So you can enjoy the great outdoors for years to come! AlabamaAgCredit.com Call 800.579.5471

When a pastime becomes a passion. Some don’t get it, but we do.

Info for Catching Crappie in Different Conditions

*Tony Adams

https://www.facebook.com/tony.adams.5477

Ph: 334-688-7505

Email: tony.adams@marvins.com

*Big Bite Jigs https://bigbitebaits.com/

*Billy Blakely Bluebank Resort https://www.bluebankresort.com/ 877-258-3226

*Bobby Garland Jigs https://www.lurenet.com/brands/bobby-garland

*B’n’M Poles https://www.bnmpoles.com/

*Grizzly Jigs https://www.grizzlyjig.com/

*Humminbird https://www.humminbird.com/

Skillet Grilled Fish

You can use this recipe with any white fish filet such as Crappie or Catfish. Cook: 15 mins Ingredients

• 4 catfish fillets

• 1/2 teaspoon each cumin, onion powder, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons ground oregano

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 ounce lime juice

• 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

*Minn Kota https://www.minnkotamotors.com/ 877.314.1237 //

1. Rinse fish under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.

2. Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over mediumhigh heat. Adjust an oven rack to the top third of the oven and preheat broiler.

3. In a small bowl, combine cumin, onion powder, salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Sprinkle fish on both sides with spice mixture.

4. Add catfish fillets to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side.

5. Remove from heat and add lime juice and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

6. Place pan under broiler and continue to cook until fish is firm and cheese is melted, about 2-3 additional minutes.

7. Remove from oven and allow to sit for two minutes.

By Lisa B Recipe and image courtesy of www.cookingbride.com

Choosing the Best Crappie Jigs for the Conditions

Deer Island is just off the mainland at Biloxi Kayakers can access from the beach and powerboat anglers can find a good ramp at Ocean Springs- just down the road from Biloxi

Best Fishing Trips for February

BY ED MASHBURN

Yes, the days are short now in winter. Yes, that north wind coming off the water can be sharp to bare skin. Here at the end of winter before spring comes, it might be a bit depressing for Gulf Coast anglers. However, with a little planning and preparation, Gulf Coast anglers can still find some truly wonderful places to go for a short drive for big fun in February.

All along the coast, there are some great places for late winter excursions which don’t involve long drives and complicated planning. We’ve got a few suggestions for locations which offer a lot of fun for not a long lot of expense- of either time or money.

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI- DEER

ISLAND

Biloxi once was a sleepy, laid-back little fishing and residential area. However, over the past twenty years or so, that has changed. There are now rows of massive casinos and hotels, and Biloxi has become a major tourist destination. But the sleepy little fishing village and some good inshore fishing is still there.

Just off the beaches of eastern Biloxi, a low, partially wooded narrow spit of land known as Deer Island, protects the beaches of the mainland from big Gulf storms and high waves. This little narrow spit of island is also a good place to paddle a kayak or canoe to visit.

In February some flounder can be caught by slowly bumping a live bull minnow or shrimp along the bottom in the channels which branch off from the sides of Deer Island. Soft plastic jigs also work well for the delicious flat fish. Dropping live shrimp alongside the old pilings and old stumps around the island can produce some fast sheepshead fishing. Redfish can and do show up at various times and places around Deer Island, and they eat the same things flounder do.

Although the big casinos have changed the place, they also give visiting anglers some very attractive choices of places to stay, eat, and even “win” a little money when they are not fishing. This wide range of activities makes Biloxi and Deer Island a really good choice for family short trips to help warm up winter.

For more information go to Biloxi Visitors Center visitor@biloxi.ms.us or 1-800-245-6943

MEAHER PARK, ALABAMA

For RVers and cabin-campers alike, Meaher Park on the Causeway of northern Mobile Bay is a perfect place to spend some sunny winter days and chilly winter nights. Located between Mobile and the Eastern Shore, this 1,327 acre state park offers 61 RV spaces with full service provided and also four new and very comfortable handicapped accessible rental cabins which overlook the delta and the wildlife there.

For anglers, the park also includes a very well-maintained boat launch which gives quick and safe access to the Blakely River and some truly wonderful winter fishing. Anglers who launch at the park can work the waters of the main river for redfish, black drum, sheepshead and speckled trout. In winter, the specks will school up in the main river just upstream from the Causeway bridge over the river and anglers can throw jigs and live shrimp under popping corks to load up with a big box of specks fast.

When visiting Meaher Park or its waters, keep an eye open for the eagles that live in the area. They fly over almost constantly and are a lot of fun to see.

For those who like to eat some good seafood, there may not be a better stretch of seafood restaurants anywhere in the world to compete with the Causeway of north Mobile Bay. Some of the freshest and best-prepared seafood to be found anywhere is a very, very short drive from Meaher Park.

For non-anglers, there are lots of shopping centers close by, and the impressive and well-maintained battleship Alabama memorial facility is just down the Causeway toward Mobile.

For camping reservations and more information, call the park office at 251626-5529.

NAVARRE BEACH PIER

Although it looks like snow, the white sand of Navarre Beach is not nearly as cold and unpleasant as that frozen stuff. In February, the beach at Navarre Beach is a wonderful place to walk, look at the birds and water and breathe the clean, sweet air that comes in off the Gulf.

The fun doesn’t end there. The longest fishing pier on the entire Gulf of Mexico offers February anglers the chance to see, cast to and catch some great fish. Sheepshead congregate around the pilings of the pier and a live shrimp dropped down to them often results in a sharp strike and a hard fight. Redfish are very common and they too find live shrimp very attractive. Some very large reds are hooked- and sometimes caught- off the pier in February. Depending on the year, pompano fishing can be very strong off the pier, and anglers can catch these hard-fighting, delicious fish by throwing small but heavy jigs out along the second bar off the beach.

Visitors to Navarre Beach have a wide range of rental options ranging from condos and apartments to very large rental homes. The Navarre Beach area also offers one of the best boat launch facilities to be found anywhere. The free ramps alongside Juana’s- found just as a visitor enters the island across the free bridge from Hwy 98- are well-maintained, steep, and free.

There are lots of good restaurants for visitors both on the island and back across the bridge to the mainland.

For more information about housing and activities at Navarre Beach go to Navarre Beach Tourism TDO@santarosa.fl.gov or call 850-981-8900.

WAKULLA RIVER, FLORIDA

Now, this wonderful place is something different. The Wakulla River is a more or less wild place with minimal development along the shorelines and with lots of native animals and birds to see and enjoy. By the way, it’s where a lot of the old Tarzan movies were filmed- it’s that kind of wild place.

The Wakulla River is just south of Tallahassee, and not far off US I-10- the major east/west artery of Deep South travel. This gorgeous river is entirely spring-fed, so the clear water stays the same temperature year round which is 70 degrees and the big bass and other fish that live here think it’s year-round spring time. Winter is a very good time to fish the Wakulla River because there are fewer floaters and swimmers and the whole river scene is much calmer, quieter and more pleasant.

Float trips which run from the boundary of the Edward Ball State Park (more on this great place later) to the Highway 98 Bridge are very popular and very productive for visiting fishers.. Anglers can bring and launch their own craft or rent a kayak and use the shuttle service from TnT Hideaway at 850925-6412 to put themselves in close contact with some great bass fishing.

As anglers float the clear water, there will be a wide-range of wildlife- birds including turtles and gators along the stream, and by fishing soft plastic lures over and under the massive weed beds of the river, some nice bass will likely be encountered. In addition to the gorgeous largemouth bass in the Wakulla River, Anglers can also encounter the Suwannee bass which is a species of bass found in only a very few northwest Florida streams. It looks and fights like a smallmouth bass and that’s high praise.

There’s really only one place for visitors to stay when at the Wakulla River, but what a place it is. The Lodge at Wakulla Springs is a state maintained and operated lodge which offers visitors a classic old-time feel in a modern renovated location. The lodge has a very, very nice restaurant which prepares some great food including their bean soup which is fantastic.

Also at the lodge are swimming areas in the river near the massive spring which supplies millions of gallons of freshwater daily, tour boats operate to take visitors to see the wildlife of the river, and in winter, visitors will almost certainly see the manatees which spend the cool months in the warmer water of the spring. Anglers and non-anglers alike will be impressed by these massive aquatic mammals as they rise, snort and blow, and then sink back into the depths.

For more information call Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park at 850561-7276.

Suwanee bass are found in the Wakulla River and few places else- a wonderful little fish.

Seared

Managing Your Pond for Weed Control

BY WILLIAM KENDY

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 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.

According to Latona, it takes three things to grow plants: soil, water and sunlight. While obviously, we can’t control the water or the soil, the one thing we can manipulate and control, to some extent, is the sunshine. He also said that most aquatic vegetation won’t tolerate much shade and is pretty direct intense sunlight dependent and any steps to mitigate the intensity or volume of direct sunlight will inhibit vegetation grown on the pond bottom.

“By liming and fertilizing we are enhancing planktonic algae growth, which is a green plant as well and we can create a shading effect and we can block some of that intense sunlight from ever hitting the bottom which is where most of the nuisance stuff grows, and it is almost like putting a shade cloth across the top of the water,” Latona said. “If weeds do grow it is struggling and it isn’t going to grow in the massive quantities that you see in lakes and ponds that are super clear.”

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 about 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 give a pond that green tip, 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 the cold months 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.

“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 needed to stimulate growth” Latona said. “Once that vegetation gets to a certain level of maturity and abundance, you are really fighting a long-term uphill battle to control it.”

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

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 fishermen to fish it. If the pond is so full of weeds that it can’t be effectively and enjoyably fished it defeats the whole concept of a fishing pond.

“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 and whatever fish are big enough to eat them. 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 that it allows to grow and multiply” Latona explained. “Where we run into problems is when it gets to the point when it impedes the ability to fish, especially for bank fishermen. In addition, heavy weed presence may attract snakes, rodents and even semi-aquatic animals like muskrats and beavers to the water’s edge, which some people consider undesirable.”

Authors Note: Otters are very efficient predators when it comes to eating the larger bass or other fish in a pond and that isn’t good news for most fishermen who want to catch big and maybe trophy bass or bluegill.

“For people who maintain nice, manicured and maintained landscapes around the pond with an obstructed view a preponderance of overgrown and tall weeds may not be very aesthetically pleasing, “Latona added.

While Latona emphasized that while aquatic herbicides are an effective 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.

“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.

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.

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

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 growth which, in turn reduces the need to fertilize to “cloud” up the water to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the floor (mud) of the pond It is like an aquatic compost pile and part of a big interrelated management circle.

“So, we herbicide and in a week or so, the pond will be as green as pea soup because of all the dead vegetation that is basically organic fertilizer and ‘boom’, we stimulate a big plankton bloom without even adding any fertilizer,” Latona said. “We’ve accomplished two things at once.”

AQUATIC WEEDS

A lot of the vegetation issue has to do with water depth. If you have a deep lake and the banks are cut pretty sharply down around a good portion of the lake, chances are you won’t have a lot of super shallow water where vegetation can take a foothold and get established.

Latona points out that if there is “emergent shoreline” and vegetation that grows in the soil around and in the shallow areas and maybe in three or four feet of water in the marginal areas that they will form some mats as

they slowly creep outward into the open water. Still, if you do the correct liming and fertilizing the weeds won’t get out further and take over the entire surface area of the pond.

“That is one of those kinds of ‘best of both worlds’ scenarios in my mind,” Latona explained. “You have vegetation along the margins and the baitfish love it, the predators love it and all the fish utilize it for habitat for spawning, protection and ambush of dinner but you don’t run the risk of it growing and taking over open water and becoming a nuisance.”

If the water has a green tint to it, it is not only plankton rich, which is the beginning of the pond food chain, but the green tint hinders weed growth because it inhibits sun from reaching the bottom. As we’ve established, weeds grow out of the bottom of the pond. The less sun hitting the bottom the less weeds you will have. Sounds a bit dumb but it is true and that dovetails into water depth as an inhibitor to weed growth. The deeper the water and the greener it is, the less weeds you are going to have because of the tint and most likely the more fish.

If you are constructing a pond, sculpturing the depth is easily done but, if you have an established pond, water depth is a whole different beast. “If we can get down to sub three feet of water depth, we can eliminate a lot of the shallow areas that attract vegetation that leads to an owner having to spend a lot of time and money battling these weeds for years to come,” Latona said.

Southeastern Pond Management www.sepond.com 205-664-5596 (Birmingham office)

How to Buy Land with No Money Down

BY WILLIAM KENDY

One of the most frequently asked questions in the real estate industry is “Can I buy land with no money down? The answer to that question is basically no…and yes…depending on your financial situation and your definition of “money down”.

To get clarification and find out what the options on this issue are we reached out to First South Farm Credit (FSFC) which has over 40 offices serving Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

FSFC specializes in providing credit for farming operations that include crops, livestock, land and timber. We spoke to Taylor Hart, manager of the First South Farm Credit Auburn/Opelika Branch.

Hart pointed out that for land loans FSFC requires a 15% down payment and can finance the remaining balance, depending on the borrower’s creditworthiness, income and other considerations, for up to a 30-year term with competitive rates.

“Depending on the credit situation and financial picture of an individual we can tailor a loan program that makes owning a piece of paradise, ranging from a small piece of “dirt” to a large tract, a reality,” Hart said. “Once they get that property, we can also financially assist in making improvements and developing the parcel:”

First South works within the 15% down payment structure but Hart has some suggestions and “wrinkles” when it comes to how to get that “downstroke” and it doesn’t always need to be cash.

The first thing for applications who are a little shy on cash could be to see if you can get funds from family or even friends.

“If a family member or a friend is willing to ‘gift’ the funds for a down payment, we don’t have an issue financing the remainder,” Hart said. “If the funds are borrowed from an outside source we will need to figure that into our repayment analysis but a gift that has no repayment terms will have no bearing on the deal as long as other financial ratios are positive,”

Another possible source for a down payment is to have a co-signer on the note that can provide the down payment. In this scenario, both individuals have the responsibility to complete the terms of the loan. There may be an agreement between the two borrowers about who is responsible for the down payment and who is responsible for making the monthly payment, but at the end of the day they are both responsible for meeting the terms of the note.

A third source of a down payment is to tap any equity you have in your home with a home equity line of credit or HELOC (also known as a second mortgage). The loan amount is based on the difference between the home’s current market value and the homeowner’s mortgage balance due. First South Farm Credit doesn’t do second mortgages.

“A HELOC can provide you with the down payment for a piece of property and normally are available at reasonable rates,” Hart pointed out. “In this scenario the HELOC would be figured into the repayment analysis but can be a source of getting cash for the down payment based on equity position.”

Hart said that if your options just aren’t working out then it is time to look at what you have that can be turned into “liquid assets” (as in cash). If you own a tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) or an individual retirement account (IRA) or other financial instrument you may be able to cash these in to get the required 15% down payment. Even though there may be a penalty it would give you the funds needed to get into the land game. It is important to keep in mind that land which with the exception of time, is the only thing we can’t make more of and it does appreciate in value.

While that penalty for withdrawing interest earning funds is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, the characteristics and the features of the land may sweeten up the taste a little. For example if you have marketable assets, such as timber that can be selectively harvested, the income from this could cover the penalty cost. In addition, if the property timber such as longleaf or slash pines, you could create a revenue stream to offset the penalty.”

“If you already own a piece of rural property free and clear we can take that property as collateral in lieu of a down payment for the purchase of the new tract,” Hart said. “Or if you have collateral in a tract of land but still have a mortgage on it, we can refinance that tract into the new loan for the purchase and, depending on collateral position, a cash down payment may not be needed. We would be looking for at least an 85% loan to value in this situation.”

At the end of the day keep in mind and factor into the overall scenario that when you deal with a financial institution, like First South Farm Credit, that is a cooperative you are working in essence with your own company. While that sounds a bit far-fetched the reality is that when you take out a loan you become a member which means you own part of the business. That “ownership” entitles you to share in the profits through FSFCs Patronage Refund Payment Program In other words, you get money back and that can help subsidize any money spent on buying that dream piece of land.

Venison Mincemeat Pies

Prep: 3 hrs 45 mins • Cook: 30 mins

• Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients Dough

• 250 grams all-purpose flour, about 2 cups

• Pinch of salt

• 100 grams unsalted butter, diced

• 25 grams bacon fat (see below)

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup cold water

Pan Sauce

• 125 grams dried lingonberries or cranberries, about 4 ounces

• 125 grams dried blueberries or raisins, about 4 ounces

• 125 grams dried currants or other berries, or dried chopped apricots, about 4 ounces

• 1 cup brandy, rum or Scotch

• 325 grams ground venison, or other meat, about 12 ounces

• Salt

• 1/2 cup lard, beef suet or butter

• 125 grams brown sugar, about 1/2 cup

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground clove

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or mace

• 1 baking apple, such as granny smith, peeled, cored and grated

• Zest and juice of a lemon

To Finish

• 1 egg

• 1 tablespoon milk or cream

• Turbinado, brown, or demerara sugar, for dusting

Instructions

Filling

1. Make the filling first. In a perfect world, you would soak the berries in the alcohol overnight. If you can do this, it’s better. You then strain off the alcohol to use later. But you can skip this if you are short on time.

2. Put all the filling ingredients except for the Scotch or brandy in a bowl and mix well. Put this in a lidded pot and cook at 225°F for 3 hours. Pull it out and stir well several times as it cools, which helps distribute the fat in the mix. When it’s totally cool, add back the reserved alcohol. This mix can sit in a sterilized Mason jar for a month or so, or you can simply

proceed with making pies.

Dough

1. If you are doing this all at once, make the dough while the filling cooks. Mix the salt and flour, then cut the fats into it with a cutter or your fingertips until the mix looks like a coarse meal. This will take a little while.

2. Mix in the egg and the ice water and work this dough into a nice ball. It’s not totally necessary to be gentle with it like a regular pie dough because you want the crust on these to be a bit sturdy, so you can pick them up and eat them. Regardless, refrigerate for no less than 20 minutes, and up to a day.

Making Pies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a mincemeat pie or muffin tin, then dust it with flour.

2. Roll the dough out thin, to about 1/4 inch or even a little less. Depending on your tin, you will want to cut out one set of larger circles to fill the bottom of the tin, then another set of smaller ones for tops. You can also cut out stars with a cookie cutter to serve as tops. For my standard mincemeat pie tin, I use a 3-inch cutter for the bottom, a 2-inch for the top. Wine glasses or empty jars are good substitutes for a dedicated cutter.

3. Beat the egg with the milk or cream to make an egg wash.

4. Fill each tin with the bottom crust, then fill those with the filling. Paint the rim of a pie, set the top on, then crimp or pinch the edges all around to seal. Move on to the next pie.

5. When they are all sealed, paint them all with the egg wash, then dust them all with the turbinado sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut a cross in the center of each pie. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until they are pretty and browned.

6. Let them sit out of the oven in their tins for about 10 minutes, then move them to a rack to finish cooling. Eat warm or at room temperature.

Lancashire Hotpot

Lancashire hotpot is a one-pot stew of sorts that is made in layers of meat, onions and potatoes, flavored very simply with stock, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and maybe a little dried herb.

This rendition is made with venison, but lamb or mutton also work well. If you are using lamb, cut the cooking time down by one hour. If the potatoes on top get too brown for your liking, cover the pot.

Prep: 1 hour • Cook: 3 hours •Total: 4 hours

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 pounds venison, mutton or lamb neck, boneless

• 3 to 5 venison or lamb kidneys, cleaned (optional)

• Salt and pepper

• Flour for dusting

• 1/4 cup lard, bacon fat, butter or oil, divided

• 3 cups sliced onions

• 2 teaspoons dried thyme or savory

• 2 cups beef or venison stock

• 1 to 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and sliced thin (see below)

• 3 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

1. Slice the neck meat into slabs about 1/2 inch thick, then again

into big chunks. Cut the kidneys into pieces about the size of the last digit of your thumb. Salt all the meat, then dust it in flour.

2. Heat half the lard, bacon fat or other cooking out in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the kidneys well, stirring once in a while. Remove and set aside. Brown the rest of the meat in batches. Do not crowd the pan, and take your time on this. You want a really nice browning. Add more fat as you go if you need to so nothing blackens. This process can take 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the meat as it browns.

3. Add all the onions to the pot and stir well. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits. Brown the onions well, salting them as they cook. As they cook, preheat the oven to 325°F. When the onions are done, turn off the heat on the stovetop.

4. Remove most of the onions, leaving a thin layer. Add a layer of venison and kidneys, then some sliced potatoes (use the knobby ends here), a little dried thyme and a splash of Worcestershire. Top with more onions and repeat with another layer. Add enough stock to come about 3/4 of the way up the sides of the stew. Grind some pepper over everything, then top with the remaining slices of potato to form something of a top or lid.

5. Brush the potatoes with melted butter and bake uncovered for 3 hours if using venison or mutton, or 90 minutes to 2 hours if using lamb neck. After about 2 hours, you might need to put a lid on the pot to prevent the potatoes from burning. When the meat is tender, serve in bowls with a crisp salad, pickles and some malty beer.

NEW & Cool gear

BY WILLIAM KENDY

Ugly Stik One Piece Tiger Elite® Spinning Pier Fishing Rod

The Ugly Stik Tiger Elite is a top all round choice for pier, jetty and plug fishing. It has a virtually indestructible blank construction with added graphite for increased sensitivity. Equipped with one-piece stainless steel Ugly Tuff guides it also features conventional reel seas with stainless steel cushioned hoods. It has a diamond shrink tube over EVA handles for easy grip with rubber gimbals.

Suggested Retail Price: $79.95 www .purefishing .com

Mimic Small Baitfish and Minnows with the Jackall Deracoup Tail Spinner

Molded with a true-to-life shad profile the Deracoup features a solid lead construction and its compact size allows it to be cast long distances. It has a premium rear Colorado blade attached by a ball bearing swivel that produces a bright flash and thumping attention-grabbing vibration and is perfect for both casting and/or vertical jigging from boat or shore.

Suggested Retail Price: $10.99 www .jackall-lures com

New Escort Shotgun PS Turkey Hunter

Available in 12-gauge, 20-gauge and .410 caliber it features Hatsan’s FAST one hand loading system and Smart Valve Piston technologies which will cycle 7/8 ounce 2 ¾” shells up to 3” full magnum loads. It allows hunters to mix heavy and light loads in the same magazine without any problems. It is available in RealTree® Timber and Mossy Oak® BottomLand camo and comes with three interchangeable chokes.

Suggested Retail Price: $399.99 www .escortshotgunsusa .com

Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Heavyweight

Hunting Sock

This Merino wool hunting sock is burley and protects your entire foot and leg for maximum warmth whether deer hunting, duck hunting, wading or on the water. Its moisture wicking properties keeps sweat off your feet and staying dry will keep you warm and is naturally odor resistant which will endear you to your hunting buddies and not alert game to your presence.

Suggested Retail Price: $33.99 www .darntough .com

Don’t Risk Cutting Yourself with a Dull Knife

A dull knife is a dangerous knife in that it can slip and result in a nasty cut. The Mycro knife sharpener eliminates this danger. The small (about the size of a thumb) Mycro knife sharpener features a lightweight aluminum construction that houses a carbine cutter suitable for all blade materials. A ceramic sharpener is housed opposite for more fine sharpening and honing needs.

Suggested Retail Price: $12.99 www .true .acgbrands .com

Easton Bowtruk: Ideal for All Archery Travel

The Generation II BowTruk roller bow cases are now available in three sizes to accommodate virtually any bow. Its fully TPU coated exterior fabric is long wearing and scuff resistant. Accessory and arrow compartments are now fully accessible from the outside making access to gear super easy and without having to open the main compartment. A double seatbelt system securely anchors bows, three internal pockets keep gear organized.

Suggest Retail Price: $499.99 www .eastonarchery .com

Antler King’s Trophy Deer Block Offers Long-Range Attraction

The Trophy Deer Block™ from Antler King is designed to draw in deer and give them the protein and fat they need to stay healthy. Featuring sweet apple flavoring, this year-round attractant is ideal for placing in front of game cameras, along trails, around hunting sites, by established mineral sites, and near any other areas frequented by deer. It comes in a 20-pound block.

Suggested Retail Price: $24.99 www antlerking com

Nukem Hunting Grab & Go True Timber Camo

Hunting Blind XL Now Available

The new, larger blind features and increased overall length and height offer hunters more concealment, the option to hunt out of a chair and even the ability to conceal two hunters. All Nukem Grab & Go hunting blinds are lightweight, low-profile, extremely maneuverable and designed specifically for mobile hunting. Constructed out of 150 Denier Nylon the blind weighs 3.5 pounds.

Suggested Retail Price: $129.99 www .nukemhunting .com

Waldrop PacSeat Provides Comfort and Game Packing Capabilities for Ground Hunters

Developed 20 years ago out of a need to hunt from the ground versus tree stands, the handcrafted in Georgia PacSear (available in standard and turkey models) offers sitting height adjustment both by adjusting the seat itself and well as the rear leg on a sturdy pack frame.. It weighs 4.8 pounds, has a sitting weight limit of 400 pounds with a game carry limit of 150 pounds.

Suggested Retail Price: $225.99 www .waldroppacseat .com 877.314.1237

Stay Warm While Fishing or Hunting in the Cold

If you are braving the cold in your boat (or hunting blind) it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of extra warmth and that is what the compact Heat Hog propane heater provides. It sports a push button ignitor, an adjustable heat angle, a curved plague for wider heat dispersion and runs on one-pound propane tanks Available in three sizes up to 18,000 BTUs.

Suggested Retail Price: starting at $99.99 www heathog com

Helpful Tips to Avoid Harvesting an Immature Buck

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

Alabama’s white-tailed deer season, one of the longest in the nation, is winding down. Some hunters are trying to finish filling their freezers with tasty venison, while others are holding out for that big buck that will likely be searching for does during the rut. Some hunters also may be looking for does for herd management.

If you’re among those searching for does, please follow our guidelines to ensure you don’t accidentally harvest an immature (button) buck.

Our Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division has some helpful tips to consider when making the decision on whether to pull the trigger.

Never harvest a lone antlerless deer. These are often immature bucks. Wait until several antlerless deer are in view before making a harvest decision.

Never harvest antlerless deer in low-light conditions, at long distances, or whenever a positive identification can’t be made.

deer are usually the first ones to show up in a food plot or wildlife opening

Always use binoculars when determining the age and sex of antlerless deer. Look for the telltale bumps on a buck fawn’s head, with the head also appearing flatter, less rounded.

Always give the animal the benefit of the doubt if there is any uncertainty regarding sex or age.

Young deer have short square-shaped bodies with short necks and less muscle development. Adults will have rectangular-shaped bodies with long necks.

Immature bucks are often more aggressive and tend to be the first antlerless deer seen in a food plot or wildlife opening.

With our long season and areas with late ruts, young deer can be a common sight at the end of the season, so be aware the deer that appears at first glance to be a doe could be an immature buck.

Visit www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/hunterresources and click on the link “Field-Judging Live

Immature

Photo by David Rainer

White-tailed Bucks & Does.

Since WFF started its Adult Mentored Hunting Program and Special Opportunity Area (SOA) hunts, our staff has discovered that people who haven’t grown up in Alabama’s hunting legacy may not have the same motivations to hunt as seasoned hunters have.

While many people who love the outdoors talk about the thrill of the hunt and the sense of accomplishment of harvesting an animal, those who do not have a hunting tradition are most likely motivated by the opportunity to harvest fresh, organic meat. For those people without a hunting background, it’s about being self-sufficient and providing quality protein for the family.

Hopefully, the late-onset hunters will experience the bounty of Alabama’s outdoors enough to develop an appreciation for the full hunting experience with the excitement of the pursuit and being immersed in God’s great outdoors. Then they will be able to mentor the next generation and develop their own family hunting tradition.

Late January and early February are usually the coldest periods in Alabama, and that means it’s time for some of those dishes prepared with delicious, nutritious venison.

VENISON CHILI

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 large cloves garlic, minced

• 4 large onions, chopped

• 2 large green peppers, chopped (optional)

• 4 pounds ground venison

• 2 six-ounce cans of tomato paste

• 3-4 cans diced tomatoes

• ¼ cup chili powder

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 4 16-ounce cans of kidney beans

• 1-3 dashes of cayenne pepper

• 1-3 dashes of garlic salt

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 teaspoon liquid crab boil (optional, but I grew up on the Alabama Gulf Coast, so we add crab boil to everything for an added layer of flavor)

Heat oil in a large stock pot with a heavy bottom and add garlic, onions and peppers. Sauté until tender. Add venison and brown for 10 minutes over medium heat. Add tomato paste, tomatoes, chili powder, salt, kidney beans, cayenne pepper and garlic salt. Mix together and then add bay leaves. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-3 hours. Serves 10-12.

SMOTHERED COUNTRY-FRIED VENISON STEAKS

• 2 pounds cubed venison steaks

• Milk

• 2 cup all-purpose flour, divided

• Seasoned salt and black pepper to taste

• ¼ cup bacon grease or oil (olive or vegetable), depending on how healthy you’re eating

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup coffee

• 1 cup extra long grain rice

If the venison steaks haven’t been run through a cuber/tenderizer several times, then pound each piece with a meat mallet. Dip venison steaks in milk and dredge in flour with seasoned salt and pepper already incorporated. Brown in a large skillet in grease or oil. Set steaks aside. Take remaining flour and add to skillet, stirring constantly until desired color is achieved. Then add water and coffee to desired thickness. Put steaks in a crock pot, pour gravy over the top and simmer on low.

FROM THE

While the venison is simmering, turn to the rice. When the rice is done, the venison will be ready. Spoon the venison and gravy over rice. Serves 6-8.

VENISON LASAGNA

• 1½ pounds ground venison

• 1 can/jar prepared spaghetti sauce if you’re in a hurry or make your own favorite sauce

• 1½ tablespoons of Italian seasoning

• 8 lasagna noodles, cooked

• 1 cup cottage cheese (substitute ricotta if you’re a purist)

• 3 cups mozzarella cheese

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Brown meat (if no fat was added to the ground venison, you’ll need about ¼ cup of oil in the skillet to prevent sticking) and drain. Add spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning and cook for five minutes.

Layer four strips of the cooked lasagna noodles on the bottom of a rectangular baking dish. Spoon on half of the meat sauce mixture and spread evenly. Spread ½ cup of cottage cheese, or ricotta, for the next layer, followed by 1½ cups of mozzarella. Add another layer of these ingredients and then top by sprinkling with the Parmesan cheese.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Serves 6-8.

Take advantage of Alabama’s liberal deer season and provide a great protein alternative for the dinner table. Visit Outdoor Alabama’s new Wild Eats page at www.outdooralabama.com/WildEats for more recipes.

Is Social Media the Demise of Common Sense?

Is social media good or bad for the future of hunting and wildlife conservation?

Social media can be a wonderful way to touch the masses with positive messages and documented scientific facts concerning hunting and wildlife management. But, it can also be a place for individuals to spew hatred and misinformation, and, regrettably, we see it every day on our social media accounts. So, I’d like to steal a quote from the great American philosopher Mike Tyson, “Social media made you all too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.”

Here is an example of a well-meaning post from a happy hunter that I saw last week that turned ugly quickly for no logical reason:

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

“I’m kinda hesitant to say this because it will put more people in the drawing but if you aren’t taking advantage of the Special Opportunity Areas the state provides, you are missing out. It is a great program and we have had a blast this weekend. I can’t wait to sign up next year.”

Within seconds of this being posted on social media, the haters started the assault.

“Is it fun? Yes. Does it open up doors to potentially losing public land? Also Yes. Everyone thinks it’s great until they turn your favorite WMA into an SOA and you can only hunt it when you get drawn!”

My response, had I chosen to waste time providing facts to someone not interested in facts, would have been, “Show me one WMA that has been turned into an SOA. Show me any article or quote by the state that says that is even a consideration.” One of the main problems with social media is that speculation runs rampant and facts are not needed to stir up fictional issues.

Another huge issue with social media is reading comprehension. Apparently, along with common sense, reading comprehension is something many folks simply have lost

the ability to use. Just prior to youth deer season, this message was posted on the WFF Facebook account:

The Bible tells us in Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” And Mark 12:31 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I was taught, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” by my mother, and I was taught, “It’s better to be silent and thought of as an idiot than open your mouth and remove all doubt” by my high school English teacher.

To me, this seems pretty straightforward. If you want WFF to post a pictures of your kids with their harvests during youth weekend, be sure they have on the appropriate amount of hunter orange and the deer has been properly Game Checked.

You’ll remember that regulation 220-2-.85, which requires 144 square inches of hunter orange to be worn during gun deer season, became effective in October of 1985. Also, regulation 220-2-.146, Game Check, became effective in June of 2016. So, this post was a gentle reminder of what needed to be accomplished, legally, for WFF to post a hunter’s picture on our social media.

Within minutes, this post was shared throughout the social media world and the insanity started, with a barrage of anti-government posts coming in:

“They worry about the orange but they sure don’t worry about doing there damn job when people call them”

“Please Mr. Game Warden let these kids have fun with their hunt! Don’t spoil it for them. “

“Let these kids enjoy the outdoors and spending time with their family… I’ve never heard of such nonsense when we were younger”

After comments like the ones above pour in a while, a couple of individuals will step up and try to reason with the group:

“ And we wonder why the country is in the state it’s in… no respect for the Law or common courtesy to say okay we can do that…instead tons of captain obvious comments and pushback towards the very people out there helping to make what we all love to do safer and better.”

Then the shots start firing toward the individual exhibiting co mmon sense. Never fear, when you think it can’t get any crazier, the “can’t understand what they read” people come out.

“Why even make a post like this Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division? I just went and looked at your page and saw several pictures without orange being worn. I guess rules only apply when you want them to. Just my two cents about this post that contradicts itself.”

Wow. Just wow. This individual was so anxious to give his opinion on the subject that he failed to realize the referenced pictures were posted during archery season. And all of you know, hunter orange isn’t required during archery season. I wish these were isolated exa mples that I really had to work hard to find, but that’s not the case. They come all too frequently.

All four of those examples of time-tested instructional wisdom seem to be lost on many of the social media warriors these days. In fact, I think many of these people revel in being the antithesis of what my English teacher taught me. I think as a country, we’d be much better off if people would abide by those principles. If they would, the Mike Tyson statement would be unnecessary. Unfortunately, Iron Mike’s comments are becoming more accurate every day.

Sight Fishing Reds From a Kayak

BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

Although catching redfish by any means is fun, a technique using nearly all of the angler’s senses and sight fishing is perhaps the most difficult yet rewarding way to put redfish in the boat.

By seeing the reds as they move in shallow water and then positioning the boat close enough to catch the reds is, well, great fun. One of the best fishing craft for this shallow water visual fishing method is a kayak. Stealthy, easy to get into very thin waters, and stable enough for standing to increase the visual lines of sight, modern fishing kayaks are great fishing boats for redfish sight casting.

When sight fishing for reds, anglers need to look for small movement in the water, a flicker of a fin above the surface or a wake pushed up by a feeding fish. Very rarely will the entire fish’s outline be seen. It’s very much like hunting. You’ll almost never see the entire outline of a deer in the woods. Instead there will be a flicker

from an ear or a small snap from a branch or a small movement of the tail. This kayak sight fishing and hunting are very similar. Both require stealth and silent approach.

A LOCAL KAYAK GUIDE’S THOUGHTS

Captain Scott Kennedy from Whistlin’ Waters

Guided Fishing in Orange Beach Al spends a lot of time sight fishing for redfish, and he has learned a great deal about the techniques and skills involved.

“I’m running the Hobie Pro Angler 12 which is about as stable as you can get in the kayaks. I’ve been in jon boats that are less stable than this kayak. So that allows me to stand up. One thing I’m actually able to do- I’ve got a 50 quart Igloo ice chest on the back of my kayak, and I’m able to stand up on it. When I stand up on that, I’m as tall as on any boat. So that is a big, big help being able to stand up,” Kennedy said.

This fine red was seen crashing shrimp at first light under a dock .

“My dream situation for sight casting is a nice full tide right at the start of the fall. The stronger the tide, the better. I prefer blue bird sky days with practically no wind- maybe just a slight breeze to keep the bugs off,” Kennedy said. “ I like to target marsh areas with a thick cover of submerged grass with drop-ffs on the edges of the flat and potholes in the grass are a nice bonus. Usually, the most productive waters for sightcasting are areas with clean water and a thick grass covering the bottom. I tend to look for the mouths of marshes and large grass flats.”

WHY KAYAKS ARE SO EFFECTIVE

Kennedy pointed out that kayaks are a great way to chase fish while sight-casting for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the presence of a kayak is almost non-existent to the fish. By putting out a lot smaller shadow, displacing way less water, and having less hull-slap, the fish aren’t near as spooky from anglers in a kayak. This allows you to get closer to the fish to make the best cast possible. Also being able to stand in a kayak is a must for sight-casting.”

“One of the most important parts of successful sight-fishing from a kayak is the ability to stand comfortably and having everything organized. A lot of the time, by the time you see a fish in a kayak, it’s within ten to fifteen yards, and you need to be able to place your paddle down, grab your rod and make the cast all without making any loud noises from dropping the paddle or picking up the rod. I like to have a belt clip paddle holder and rod holder with arm’s reach to increase my effectiveness,” Kennedy added.

Another advantage of using a kayak for sight-fishing reds is the lack of noise a kayak produces. Kayaks if handled properly are almost silent and this allows anglers to actually hear redfish a considerable distance away splashing as they chase food. By being quiet, anglers can quite often see and hear their quarry as it slashes and splashes in the shallows.

BEST LURE CHOICES

When sight fishing for redfish, although the fish are focused on their next meal, they are still aware of the world around them and anything which makes too much noise or acts in an unusual fashion can spook shallow reds. Lure selection for sight-fishing redfish needs to keep low-noise in mind. Big heavy lures that crash to the water when cast will often spook reds into the next county. Lures need to be quiet and subtle when cast to feeding reds.

A traditionally effective lure for sight fishing redfish is some sort of soft body lightweight jig. There are literally hundreds of different brands, colors, with and without scent soft body lures, and each sight fishing angler has favorites.

“My Number One bait for sight casting for reds is a Buggs Jig. I prefer the Permital Bugg and the Curtail Redfish Jig. They have a very natural presence while in the water and redfish cannot resist,” Kennedy. advised.

MISTAKES AND BEST ADVICE

“One of the biggest mistakes I believe people make while sight casting from a kayak is getting in too much of a hurry and spooking fish. The best thing you can do is slow down, constantly keep your head on a swivel, and hold out on blind casting and wait until you find the fish,” Kennedy. explained.

“My advice for a beginner to sight casting from a kayak is to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you get on the water. Pack light as you don’t need a whole lot of gear to sight cast. The biggest thing

is be patient! Sight casting isn’t always as effective as conventional fishing, but the satisfaction and rush from the fish eat can’t be beat,” he concluded.

Redfish will give themselves away when they are chasing bait on the shoreline

Gulf Coast Fishing Outlook

February can be a tough one. This is that time of the year when all four seasons can occur in any given week and the fishing patterns can change fast.

MISSISSIPPI

Speckled trout action in the rivers will begin to slow down a bit, especially during warmer weather patterns. Expect fish to begin moving out into the lower bays and bayous. Once water temps climb into the mid 60s, expect the majority of specks to be in open waters adjacent to deeper creeks and river

mouths.

Redfish and bigger trout will be moving out of the backwaters as the month progresses. These fish will move into open waters of the sound and out to the barrier islands.

This is a good time to use larger baits to locate fish. Larger profile, soft plastics like the Matrix Shad or Slick Lure and hardbaits like the Mirrolure 27MR and Catch 2000 will imitate the mullet, menhaden and croakers these open water fish prefer.

BY CHRIS VECSEY

Some great mixed bags are always possible through February! Photo courtesy Bout Time Charters

Sheepshead action will get better towards the end of the month as these fish begin to aggregate for their annual spawn. These fish will feed with less caution as they form larger schools around passes and larger structures. Fiddler crabs are still the top bait but plenty of convicts will be taken with both live and dead shrimp. With dead shrimp, it’s best to use them in small pieces.

To “fire up” sheepshead near piers and bulkheads, a shovel or garden hoe can be used to scrape barnacles, mussels and other shellfish and invertebrates from the structure. This will act as chum and can make a big difference in the success rate.

ALABAMA

Creek and river mouths will be busy places through February. Large schools of trout can be found in both the deeper interior creeks and outside on the adjacent flats. Warmer weather patterns will have these fish in open waters and around inshore, artificial reefs. A sure bet for these nomadic trout is a live shrimp, either freelined or under a popping cork. Many artificial lures will work too, with small, suspending jerkbaits being a top option along with twitch baits and small/mid-sized paddletails and flukes.

As with Mississippi waters, sheepshead will begin to stack inshore and huge concentrations will be found around the passes later in the month as they approach the annual spawn. Inshore rigs through mobile bay and the bridges along the ICW will load up with hungry sheepshead.

As water temps move into the low 60s, expect sheepshead to move into large schools near perdido pass and along the lighthouse and shallow rigs near the mouth of mobile bay.

Further offshore, its tuna time around the salt domes and oil/ gas platforms. Big, hungry, yellowfin tuna (along with blackfin and bigeye) will begin stacking on these offshore structures and gorging on schools of menhaden and other offshore forage. This is a prime time to take trophy-class fish in excess of 150lbs.

A big key to success with tuna is being in the right place at the right time. Subscribing to a satellite imaging service, like Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator, will keep you in the loop on where to go in terms of ideal water conditions.

FLORIDA PANHANDLE

Surf fishing will be one of the hottest options along the emerald coast this month. Big redfish, drum, whiting and some of the first groups of pompano, will keep rods bent along the beaches.

Ideal beach structures will be washouts (rip currents) and deep, nearshore troughs, especially areas where there is a color change. Pieces of shrimp, sand fleas and fish bites will get the job done

Sheepshead are a target here as well, but many will be treating them as a side dish for other nearshore targets.

Captain Brett Tennant with Bout Time Charters in Pensacola Beach, Fl. will be armed for sheepshead, but flounder will also be in focus.

“February is an excellent month for flounder. They will be along the same structures as sheepshead and redfish, but can also be taken around nearshore reefs. The flounder will be laying in the sand on the outside perimeter of the structure” Tennant said.

Tennant comes prepared with live bull minnows but also likes

to use small, cigar minnows which he catches around the same structures to be fished, using sabiki rigs.

There’ll be plenty of bottom fishing opportunities off the panhandle coast, but several species will be closed to harvest.

Tennant will focus his bottom trips around natural bottom areas where vermilion snapper and other tasty bottom fish will fill out a trip.

“I’ll focus on spots in anywhere from 70-200ft and use smaller pieces of squid and boston mackerel,” he noted.

Bluewater action will be possible depending on how close warm water eddies push in from the loop current. The Okaloosa County FADS will provide action with pelagic species like mahi mahi, wahoo and others if temps climb into the low 70s and above. Check with www.hiltonsoffshore.com to monitor water temps around the FADS.

Contact Information

Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator www.hiltonsoffshore.com

Bout time Charters

Captain Brett Tennant 850-380-1671 www.bouttimecharters.com

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook

BY DAVID THORNTON Photos by David Thornton

Winter weather brings special challenges to shorebound fishermen. In fact, most of the time February has the coldest air and water temperatures of the year. Even our native fish species are stressed whenever the water temperature dips into the 50s, as it may do this month. Though the average Gulf water temperature languishes in the low 60s, we can see it spike up or down 10 degrees from that. It all depends on what the temperature trends are each year. It is no more unusual to see snow and ice in February along the Emerald Coast, than to see flowers blooming and folks swimming in the Gulf.

February’s tides present fishermen with another set of variables to consider as they test the

waters for whatever might be biting. Our typical winter tidal pattern of morning low tide and a high tide in the evening persists most of the month. NEAP tide periods around the 10th and 23rd of February may slow feeding activity along the beaches. Having said that these may offer longer windows of opportunity to anglers fishing in or near the passes during weak tidal flow.

The stronger tidal flow during the weeks in between often bodes better for surf fishing because of the increased difference between high and low water levels. Afternoon incoming tides may bring in more and relatively warmer water than what is experienced along the beach in the early morning.

Generally speaking, the colder our water is, the fewer options pier and shore anglers will have .

Larger whiting are often caught from the beach piers in February

LIMITED WINTER OPTIONS

Generally speaking, the colder our water is, the fewer options pier and shore anglers will have. Fortunately for us, sheepshead, whiting and other fish in the drum family are more tolerant of low water temperatures. Still, colder water will inhibit their feeding activities which are controlled by their environment. Conversely, if the water is warmer than average we could see more activity from these species. Some years we have even seen migratory spanish mackerel appear along the coast piers in late February. It just depends on how things manifest.

Pompano are another indicator species as to whether or not we have an early spring. As the shallow surfzone warms, more pompano along with other fish, move into the region and become increasingly active mainly because their common benthic prey items are more active in warmer water.

Sand burrowing invertebrates like beach ghost shrimp commonly known as “sandfleas” (mole crabs), and coquina clams make up the bulk of the diet for pompano, whiting and other species in the drum family of fishes. One of the most effective bottom baits this month is ghost shrimp. Not usually available for sale, these soft-shelled saltwater crayfish can best be found in the shallow Gulf and back bay waters near the time of low tide. They are gathered (one at a time) with a device called a “ghost shrimp pump” used to suck them out of their burrows a foot or two in the bottom. A few dozen of these are usually sufficient for an angler to fish all day. And any left over can be frozen for future use with almost as good results.

A fish hook will easily tear through their soft body while casting though. So securing the bait to the hook with products like Magic Thread or Miracle Thread will practically assure it stays on the hook at least until it gets bit. That may not take long, as eventually the ghost shrimp juices leach into the water attracting hungry fish. Warmer water allows the scent of these potential prey items to be better disseminated through the water, which stimulates fish to feed even faster.

Fishbites in the blue packages (“Longer Lasting”) will stay on the hook for quite a while but this formula releases scent better in water above 75 degrees. The “Fast Acting” Fishbites in the red packages is formulated to release more scent into the water below 65 degrees.

Color and flavor preferences of the fish may vary from day to day depending on the conditions so having several different packs on hand to try while you fish can make a difference. I like to change baits until a particular combination brings me success. Plus networking with other anglers is always a great idea to get a better idea of what has (or has not) been working for them. Eliminating improbable baits is as helpful a starting place as avoiding fishing vacant waters in the first place. Look for sandbar drop offs where breaking waves may dislodge food items and push them down the slope into the trough four to eight feet deep where hungry fish are waiting. That is often the best location to place your bait.

The recreational sheepshead fishery represents the backbone of effort and demand for the wintertime live bait industry. These once lowly “convict fish” provide sport and food to thousands of visitors and locals alike. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs have been “go to” baits for sheepshead fishermen for decades. So the desire of an ever growing number of anglers to pursue sheepshead has bolstered coastal bait and tackle stores through the winter for years. Demand for these wild caught baits is almost always high. However, their availability is very dependent on the weather, as they are also coldblooded. Plus adverse weather conditions (wind and rain) will likely disrupt the ability of commercial bait catchers to do their thing at times.

Though it is unusual to catch sheepshead on artificial lures, it is good to know there are some viable alternative natural baits. Beach ghosts work well when sheepshead are schooled near the bottom. They will also eat hermit crabs

busted out from their shell. They also will dine on a variety of mollusks such as barnacles, oysters and mussels.

Still sheepshead are omnivorous, eating both vegetable and animal matter. So, they can be finicky feeders this time of year, especially when the water gets calm and clear. In these conditions, scaling down your terminal tackle presentation will often entice these wary gamefish to bite. They are scrappy fighters, especially on light tackle but the rewards of some tasty fillets are worth the chance and the effort to get there.

Bluefish and speckled trout (spotted seatrout) offer jetty and wade fishermen alternative types of fishing on artificial lures. Hard and soft mullet imitations can be quite effective on both of these species, plus a few others as bycatch. Look for bluefish in the early morning and late afternoon in rip currents along the beach or around rock jetties. They stage around the structure in hopes of ambushing passing mullet schools moving in or out of the bay. Speckled trout are most prevalent around similar structures along the Alabama and Mississippi coasts. They may also be found while wadefishing the back bays and in the Intercoastal Waterway. Look for feeding fish suspended in the current, or closer to the bottom when the tide is slack. That is when bottom bouncing “grubs’’ on a 3/8 ounce jighead will work best. Of course live shrimp drifted in the current should work great too, if you can find them.

Having fewer distractions this time of year makes it easier for determined shorebound anglers to choose which species and tactics best suit them as they venture forth to enjoy their great days outdoors!

Product Links

https://fishbites.com/saltwater/ez-baits/ https://atlasmikes.com/steelhead-accessories/atlas-miracle-thread/ https://atlasmikes.com/steelhead-accessories/atlas-magic-thread/

REGIONAL FRESHWATER

Fishing Outlook

BY ED MASHBURN Photos by Ed Mashburn

Anglers can find some good early spring fishing in backwaters of larger lakes and rivers .

FLORIDA WATERS

LAKE TALQUIN

Although the breeze can still be chilly on Florida waters, it’s not too long until the days get longer and the breeze gets warmer.

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, anglers 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 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

The spring-fed Wakulla River never gets as cold as other freshwaters of the region, and 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.

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

The most reliable lure for 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.

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

ALABAMA WATERS

LAKE EUFAULA

Early spring can present problems for anglers trying to find fish, but also, the early spring can reward those anglers who put in the time to locate fish.

Hawks Fishing Guide Service Captain Sam Williams tells us 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.

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

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

”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 and guide Jake Davis who has connected anglers with bass for years. He points out that this month is a good time for trophy hunters to make a run to the big north Alabama lake and spend some time casting to very big bass.

Davis says that big bass will be moving up into shallower water looking for lots to eat before they start their spawning work.

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, anglers 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 long enough to hold lots of bass.

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.

Davis advises crappie anglers to come to Guntersville in February because the slabs will be thick under bridges and docks, and they will be fat, dumb, and happy which means ready to bite.

Small jigs and live minnows will work for the bigger crappie at this time.

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,” said Captain Wayne Miller from 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. 877.314.1237

As February moves along, crappie will begin to prestage for spawning

Anglers should look for the bigger lakes with lots of creeks feeding into the lakes, and then work the creeks hard for bass.

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

WILSON/PICKWICK LAKES

Patience is a prime ingredient for early spring anglers on the big Tennessee River chain of lakes. Cold fronts can slow down a hot bite, and a warm spell can accelerate the bite.

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.

Long time guide captain Brian Barton said 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.

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.

Captain Lee Pitts is an old hand at fishing Weiss and gets excited when he talks about the fishing on Lake Weiss in February.

“February is when spring starts kicking in. Everything is heading to the creeks,” he 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.

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.

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,” he added.

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 shares 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 Roostertails 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 reminds us 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.

Dunn said 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.

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

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

www.pureflats.com

Mobile River

07:48 PM / 1.23 08:44 PM / 1.24 09:39 PM / 1.23 10:28 PM / 1.21 11:10 PM / 1.14 11:49 PM / 1.03 12:29 AM / 0.87 01:17 AM / 0.68 05:16 PM / 0.41 02:37 AM / 0.47 04:15 PM / 0.54 05:39 AM / 0.30 03:50 PM / 0.75 04:02 PM / 0.98 04:38 PM / 1.20 05:29 PM / 1.38 06:29 PM / 1.54 07:37 PM / 1.64 08:50 PM / 1.68 10:04 PM / 1.63 11:13 PM / 1.48 12:21 AM / 1.22 01:38 AM / 0.90 04:09 PM / 0.42 03:32 AM / 0.59 02:59 PM / 0.66 02:36 PM / 0.93 03:00 PM / 1.13 03:40 PM / 1.25 04:29 PM / 1.29 05:25 PM / 1.30

07:33 AM / -0.71 08:15 AM / -0.75 08:50 AM / -0.76 09:18 AM / -0.75 09:38 AM / -0.69 09:51 AM / -0.59 09:55 AM / -0.44 09:51 AM / -0.26 09:40 AM / -0.06 09:02 PM / 0.32 09:22 AM / 0.13

10:49 PM / 0.17 08:37 AM / 0.26

01:09 AM / -0.01 03:06 AM / -0.21 04:32 AM / -0.41 05:49 AM / -0.61 06:54 AM / -0.79 07:50 AM / -0.91 08:38 AM / -0.92 09:19 AM / -0.80 09:52 AM / -0.55 10:08 AM / -0.22 09:37 AM / 0.12 08:17 PM / 0.28 08:37 AM / 0.35 10:21 PM / 0.10 12:58 AM / -0.07 02:47 AM / -0.23 04:04 AM / -0.33 05:14 AM / -0.40

06:30 PM / 1.14 07:31 PM / 1.13 08:28 PM / 1.12 09:17 PM / 1.09 09:58 PM / 1.03 10:36 PM / 0.93 11:15 PM / 0.79 04:33 PM / 0.44

12:00 AM / 0.62 03:33 PM / 0.51 01:05 AM / 0.43 03:07 PM / 0.64 03:16 AM / 0.25 03:01 PM / 0.80 03:13 PM / 0.96 03:42 PM / 1.11 04:25 PM / 1.24 05:22 PM / 1.33 06:33 PM / 1.39 07:49 PM / 1.42 08:58 PM / 1.38 09:58 PM / 1.25 10:58 PM / 1.05

12:10 AM / 0.80 03:12 PM / 0.46 02:07 AM / 0.55 02:08 PM / 0.65 01:43 PM / 0.88 02:02 PM / 1.07 02:35 PM / 1.18 03:17 PM / 1.23 04:04 PM / 1.24

06:37 AM / -0.55

07:16 AM / -0.57

07:50 AM / -0.57

08:19 AM / -0.55

08:39 AM / -0.49 08:48 AM / -0.40 08:46 AM / -0.28 08:35 AM / -0.15 06:44 PM / 0.43 08:22 AM / -0.01 08:23 PM / 0.32 08:04 AM / 0.11 10:04 PM / 0.19 07:16 AM / 0.20

01:07 AM / 0.03 03:07 AM / -0.16 04:24 AM / -0.35 05:25 AM / -0.54 06:18 AM / -0.68 07:06 AM / -0.77 07:50 AM / -0.75 08:28 AM / -0.63 08:57 AM / -0.42 09:01 AM / -0.14 08:19 AM / 0.13 07:28 PM / 0.30 07:38 AM / 0.30 09:10 PM / 0.17 11:50 PM / 0.04 02:00 AM / -0.09 03:29 AM / -0.18 04:38 AM / -0.26

Perdido Pass

08:16 PM / 1.42 09:17 PM / 1.41 10:14 PM / 1.40 11:03 PM / 1.37 11:44 PM / 1.29 12:22 AM / 1.16 01:01 AM / 0.99 01:46 AM / 0.78 05:19 PM / 0.63 02:51 AM / 0.54 04:53 PM / 0.80 05:02 AM / 0.31 04:47 PM / 1.00 04:59 PM / 1.20 05:28 PM / 1.39 06:11 PM / 1.55 07:08 PM / 1.67 08:19 PM / 1.74 09:35 PM / 1.77 10:44 PM / 1.72 11:44 PM / 1.57 12:44 AM / 1.31 01:56 AM / 1.00 04:58 PM / 0.57 03:53 AM / 0.68 03:54 PM / 0.81 03:29 PM / 1.10 03:48 PM / 1.34 04:21 PM / 1.48 05:03 PM / 1.54 05:50 PM / 1.54

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 877.314.1237

07:37 PM / 1.03 08:17 PM / 1.05 08:55 PM / 1.04 09:29 PM / 1.02 09:15 PM / 0.97 09:19 PM / 0.92 09:47 PM / 0.83 08:32 AM / 0.23 10:21 PM / 0.71 02:01 PM / 0.39 10:55 PM / 0.57 11:37 AM / 0.53 11:16 PM / 0.40 12:27 PM / 0.69 01:20 PM / 0.85 02:13 PM / 0.98 03:05 PM / 1.07 04:07 PM / 1.13 07:12 PM / 1.19 08:04 PM / 1.23 08:54 PM / 1.20 09:51 PM / 1.10 10:51 PM / 0.94 12:18 PM / 0.30 11:53 PM / 0.74 12:42 PM / 0.45

01:00 AM / 0.54 01:12 PM/ 0.60 02:09 AM / 0.36 01:42 PM / 0.74 12:35 PM / 0.84 01:22 PM / 0.90 02:10 PM / 0.92 02:55 PM / 0.91

05:21 AM / -0.24

05:55 AM / -0.24 06:29 AM / -0.21 07:09 AM / -0.15 08:15 AM / -0.08 09:19 AM / -0.01 10:11 AM / 0.10 05:59 AM / 0.19 11:08 AM / 0.22 05:58 AM / 0.23 05:03 PM / 0.26 05:44 AM / 0.26 06:11 PM / 0.26 05:36 AM / 0.26 02:20 AM / 0.20 02:57 AM / 0.03 03:40 AM / -0.13 04:19 AM / -0.27 04:54 AM / -0.36 05:25 AM / -0.39 05:53 AM / -0.35 06:18 AM / -0.24

06:40 AM / -0.07 06:49 AM / 0.12

03:01 PM / 0.26 05:39 AM / 0.26

05:08 PM / 0.24 05:21 AM / 0.31 06:13 PM / 0.24 04:43 AM / 0.28

12:37 AM / 0.12 01:32 AM / 0.00 02:30 AM / -0.08 03:30 AM / -0.13

Destin East Pass

07:34 PM / 1.18

08:33 PM / 1.21

09:22 PM / 1.22

10:02 PM / 1.20

10:34 PM / 1.13

11:04 PM / 1.00

11:36 PM / 0.82

12:18 AM / 0.60

04:06 PM / 0.31

01:26 AM / 0.36

03:00 PM / 0.48

02:49 PM / 0.68 03:07 PM / 0.88 03:50 PM / 1.06

04:54 PM / 1.21 06:09 PM / 1.36

07:26 PM / 1.49

08:36 PM / 1.57 09:38 PM / 1.55

10:37 PM / 1.40 11:37 PM / 1.14

12:46 AM / 0.81

02:15 PM / 0.26

02:29 AM / 0.47

01:27 PM / 0.58 01:34 PM / 0.87

02:03 PM / 1.06

02:46 PM / 1.17

03:41 PM / 1.19 04:51 PM / 1.19

06:23 AM / -0.70

07:17 AM / -0.72

08:01 AM / -0.73

08:33 AM / -0.72

08:55 AM / -0.68

09:07 AM / -0.58

09:11 AM / -0.44

09:06 AM / -0.26

08:46 AM / -0.07

08:16 PM / 0.25

07:59 AM / 0.10

10:53 PM / 0.06

12:36 AM / -0.16

02:03 AM / -0.36 03:28 AM / -0.54 04:47 AM / -0.72

05:56 AM / -0.87 06:56 AM / -0.97

07:47 AM / -0.98 08:29 AM / -0.86 09:01 AM / -0.62 09:17 AM / -0.28 08:59 AM / 0.08

07:17 PM / 0.12 07:30 AM / 0.33 09:50 PM / -0.06 11:42 PM / -0.25 01:15 AM / -0.38 02:42 AM / -0.44 04:01 AM / -0.47

07:01 PM / 0.58

08:00 PM / 0.59

08:49 PM / 0.60 09:29 PM / 0.59

10:01 PM / 0.55 10:31 PM / 0.49 11:03 PM / 0.40 11:45 PM / 0.29 03:33 PM / 0.15

12:53 AM / 0.17

02:27 PM / 0.23 02:16 PM / 0.33 02:34 PM / 0.43 03:17 PM / 0.52

04:21 PM / 0.59 05:36 PM / 0.67 06:53 PM / 0.73 08:03 PM / 0.77 09:05 PM / 0.76 10:04 PM / 0.69 11:04 PM / 0.56

12:13 AM / 0.40 01:42 PM / 0.13 01:56 AM / 0.23 12:54 PM / 0.28 01:01 PM / 0.42 01:30 PM / 0.52

02:13 PM / 0.57 03:08 PM / 0.58 04:18 PM / 0.58

05:49 AM / -0.23

06:43 AM / -0.24

07:27 AM / -0.24

07:59 AM / -0.24 08:21 AM / -0.22 08:33 AM / -0.19 08:37 AM / -0.15 08:32 AM / -0.09 08:12 AM / -0.02 07:42 PM / 0.08 07:25 AM / 0.03 10:19 PM / 0.02

12:02 AM / -0.05 01:29 AM / -0.12

02:54 AM / -0.18 04:13 AM / -0.24 05:22 AM / -0.29 06:22 AM / -0.32 07:13 AM / -0.32 07:55 AM / -0.28 08:27 AM / -0.20 08:43 AM / -0.09 08:25 AM / 0.03 06:43 PM / 0.04 06:56 AM / 0.11 09:16 PM / -0.02 11:08 PM / -0.08

12:41 AM / -0.12 02:08 AM / -0.15 03:27 AM / -0.16

Navarre Beach

05:17 PM / 1.09

06:14 PM / 1.07

07:06 PM / 1.06

07:51 PM / 1.03

08:30 PM / 0.99

09:05 PM / 0.92

09:36 PM / 0.81

10:07 PM / 0.67

01:19 PM / 0.24

10:34 PM / 0.48

12:54 PM / 0.43

10:32 PM / 0.26

12:33 PM / 0.64 12:48 PM / 0.86 01:31 PM / 1.06 02:28 PM / 1.22 03:34 PM / 1.34 04:46 PM / 1.41 06:00 PM / 1.43

07:14 PM / 1.37 08:24 PM / 1.23 09:33 PM / 1.01 10:45 PM / 0.73 12:23 PM / 0.23

12:11 AM / 0.44

11:48 AM / 0.46 11:10 AM / 0.72

11:49 AM / 0.91 12:39 PM / 1.01 01:35 PM / 1.06 02:38 PM / 1.06

04:32 AM / -0.73

05:13 AM / -0.75

05:52 AM / -0.73 06:27 AM / -0.68 06:53 AM / -0.60 07:07 AM / -0.48

06:51 AM / -0.32 06:11 AM / -0.16 05:49 AM / -0.01 04:23 PM / 0.17 05:34 AM / 0.11 06:15 PM / 0.17 05:07 AM / 0.18 12:08 AM / 0.01 12:49 AM / -0.25 01:37 AM / -0.49 02:30 AM / -0.70 03:27 AM / -0.85 04:24 AM / -0.91 05:21 AM / -0.87 06:15 AM / -0.74 07:04 AM / -0.50 07:37 AM / -0.20 05:04 AM / 0.02 04:14 PM / 0.02 04:50 AM / 0.14 05:56 PM / -0.01 11:41 PM / -0.15 12:41 AM / -0.34 01:34 AM / -0.47 02:25 AM / -0.55

06:42 PM / 1.09 07:35 PM / 1.10 08:22 PM / 1.10 09:04 PM / 1.07 09:41 PM / 1.01 10:16 PM / 0.91 10:50 PM / 0.77 11:24 PM / 0.59 02:16 PM / 0.26 11:58 PM / 0.39 01:53 PM / 0.41

12:27 AM / 0.16 01:33 PM / 0.60 01:52 PM / 0.80 02:34 PM / 0.98 03:33 PM / 1.13 04:48 PM / 1.27 06:09 PM / 1.38 07:24 PM / 1.43 08:34 PM / 1.41 09:42 PM / 1.28 10:50 PM / 1.07 11:59 PM / 0.80 01:15 PM / 0.23

01:12 AM / 0.50 01:05 PM / 0.48 12:50 PM / 0.72 12:58 PM / 0.92 01:33 PM / 1.03 02:23 PM / 1.08 03:31 PM / 1.08

05:17 AM / -0.73 05:58 AM / -0.74

06:36 AM / -0.72 07:09 AM / -0.68 07:33 AM / -0.61 07:42 AM / -0.52 07:40 AM / -0.40 07:39 AM / -0.26 07:31 AM / -0.12 05:29 PM / 0.17 06:46 AM / 0.01 08:59 PM / 0.10 06:00 AM / 0.06

01:52 AM / -0.09 02:23 AM / -0.34 03:06 AM / -0.57 03:53 AM / -0.77 04:41 AM / -0.92 05:31 AM / -1.00 06:20 AM / -0.97 07:08 AM / -0.84 07:49 AM / -0.61 08:16 AM / -0.31 07:45 AM / 0.01 05:30 PM / 0.07 06:35 AM / 0.23 08:02 PM / -0.02 10:58 PM / -0.15

01:16 AM / -0.32 02:24 AM / -0.44 03:18 AM / -0.51

07:25 PM / 1.33 08:18 PM / 1.33 09:08 PM / 1.31 09:52 PM / 1.26 10:31 PM / 1.18 11:07 PM / 1.05 11:41 PM / 0.87 12:16 AM / 0.64 12:53 AM / 0.37 02:48 PM / 0.33 01:53 AM / 0.06

02:41 PM / 0.60 03:03 PM / 0.89 03:44 PM / 1.16

04:39 PM / 1.40 05:46 PM / 1.59 06:58 PM / 1.72 08:11 PM / 1.77 09:21 PM / 1.71 10:27 PM / 1.54 11:33 PM / 1.25

12:45 AM / 0.87 01:56 PM / 0.13 02:30 AM / 0.47 01:00 PM / 0.53 01:21 PM / 0.90 02:00 PM / 1.17 02:47 PM / 1.34 03:39 PM / 1.42 04:40 PM / 1.43

05:35 AM / -1.12

06:15 AM / -1.11

06:54 AM / -1.06

07:30 AM / -0.98

08:02 AM / -0.88

08:28 AM / -0.74

08:44 AM / -0.57

08:45 AM / -0.37 08:23 AM / -0.16

07:26 AM / 0.01

10:00 PM / 0.04 04:55 AM / 0.04

01:19 AM / -0.27

02:11 AM / -0.60

03:03 AM / -0.91 03:56 AM / -1.16 04:51 AM / -1.34 05:47 AM / -1.40 06:42 AM / -1.34 07:34 AM / -1.14 08:21 AM / -0.82 08:57 AM / -0.41 08:54 AM / 0.04

05:55 PM / 0.04 06:50 AM / 0.35 09:26 PM / -0.11 12:03 AM / -0.37 01:32 AM / -0.59 02:34 AM / -0.73 03:27 AM / -0.80

Pascagoula

06:14 PM / 1.72

07:11 PM / 1.74

08:05 PM / 1.75 08:52 PM / 1.73 09:34 PM / 1.68 10:16 PM / 1.58 11:03 PM / 1.43

12:01 AM / 1.24

01:16 PM / 0.72

01:02 AM / 1.01

01:20 PM / 0.95

01:43 PM / 1.20

02:11 PM / 1.43 02:48 PM / 1.63 03:46 PM / 1.79 05:02 PM / 1.91

06:12 PM / 1.98 07:20 PM / 2.00 08:25 PM / 1.93 09:23 PM / 1.76

10:18 PM / 1.51

12:39 AM / 1.20

02:00 PM / 0.73

02:13 AM / 0.93

12:05 PM / 1.00 12:37 PM / 1.28

01:13 PM / 1.48 01:50 PM / 1.60

02:31 PM / 1.65

03:25 PM / 1.63

05:33 AM / -0.19

06:12 AM / -0.19

06:50 AM / -0.17

07:23 AM / -0.12

07:50 AM / -0.04 08:12 AM / 0.06 08:04 AM / 0.19 07:45 AM / 0.33

07:57 AM / 0.48 06:58 PM / 0.62 08:08 AM / 0.65 08:58 PM / 0.49 10:37 PM / 0.29

12:07 AM / 0.08

02:26 AM / -0.14 03:37 AM / -0.36 04:32 AM / -0.50

05:26 AM / -0.55

06:20 AM / -0.48 07:08 AM / -0.32 07:47 AM / -0.06 08:10 AM / 0.26 07:13 AM / 0.56 06:29 PM / 0.54 06:53 AM / 0.74 08:04 PM / 0.42 11:04 PM / 0.28

12:20 AM / 0.14 03:17 AM / 0.03 04:03 AM / -0.04

Forrest Bain trying to stay warm showing off his trophy

Jeremy Enslen witha nice racked whitetail

Jason Hudson showing off a big mouth Striper

KID'S CORNER TROPHY ROOM

Conner lanham displaying his largemouth bass

Carson English with a 185lb, 9 point in South Mobile county Colt Martiniere with a speckled trout he caught on artificial.

Jac Chandler with a trophy Tom

Khloe Story and Julianna Martin

Kaylee Anderson with her first deer 8pt from Wilmer, Al

February Smith Lake Stripers

BY WILLIAM KENDY

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 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

Beanpole and the Campfire Ghost

The storytellers say she was beautiful to the point that the boys all figured she was above them. No one ever took her out or invited her to a dance.”

Beanpole stared into the fire as I talked, becoming mesmerized by the rhythmic flexing of the flames. With every flicker of the campfire, shadows moved and swayed behind us.

“Now her ghost haunts this campground.”

BY JIM MIZE

Sharing a hunting camp with friends teaches you a lot about them, sometimes more than you want to know. For instance, Ronnie camps with a pillow. He would probably get teased about it more if he wasn’t also an Army Ranger who moves without a sound and carries a long knife.

Beanpole is gullible. He believes in Bigfoot simply because he’s seen him in jerky commercials. And for some odd reason, he believes almost anything Ronnie and I tell him.

That’s a problem because of my bad habit; I like to pull pranks on Beanpole.

The three of us had settled into camp late in the afternoon, preferring to scout with our last hour of daylight rather than pitch tents and start supper. So we were doing a little catch up after dark.

I was organizing a makeshift kitchen, Ronnie was taking care of the tents, and Beanpole was gathering enough firewood to get us through the night. Since I was the first to finish, I moved on to task number two, the evening’s entertainment.

Ronnie surprised me as I was setting a mousetrap. The contraption popped, flew about a foot in the air, and fell at my feet.

“Dagnabbit, be careful about sneaking up on people,” I scolded Ronnie.

“Well, what are you doing?” he asked, settling down by the fire and stoking another limb into it, sending sparks flurrying. “I’m trying to get this mousetrap into the crackers before Beanpole gets back.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see,” I said, easing the mousetrap slowly down as if it were a vial of nitroglycerin. Closing the box top, I set it next to a stump that I figured Beanpole would eventually rest upon.

No sooner had I replaced the cracker box, Beanpole lumbered up, head cocked back, using his chin to stabilize the load of dry branches he’d scavenged from deadfall in the woods. Beanpole dumped it just beyond the fire ring and slouched into a heap by the fire atop the stump. He caught his breath for a second before speaking.

“Hooof. That was heavy. What’cha doin’?” asked Beanpole, as if he’d missed something monumental.

“Discussing the myth of the Campfire Ghost,” I popped back. Ronnie eyed me for a second, and then realized I was up to something.

“Yeah,” said Ronnie. “Catch Beanpole up to where we were.”

Beanpole wiggled like he was nestling in for a bedtime story.

“Well, I was explaining that years ago, a teenage girl was lost in these mountains. All anyone ever remembers about her is that she loved to dance.

“So she’s a good ghost?” asked Beanpole.

“Not exactly,” I replied. “The story goes that she dances in the flame, rhythmically swaying back and forth. But no camper or hunter ever joined her. Over the years, she got more and more upset, wanting to get even, because no one would dance with her. So after awhile she started taking people from around the campfire, dragging them in, never to be seen again.”

Beanpole visibly began to fidget. Despite being skinny as a rail, Beanpole had one habit as predictable as the sunrise. When he got nervous, he liked to munch.

I watched as he reached for the crackers.

“Many a camper has disappeared from this campground. The Campfire Ghost dances until she has you mesmerized, swaying, swaying. . .”

Beanpole opened the cracker box top.

“. . . swaying. Then as you are lulled into a trance . . .”

Beanpole reached down into the cracker box.

“. . . she reaches out and GRABS YOU!” I yelled.

“SMACK!”

A human explosion took place at the sound of the mousetrap triggering. Crackers flew like shrapnel. Beanpole’s arms and legs flailed as if fighting off a banshee. He balanced on that stump horizontally, unable to run as his feet raced in mid-air. His arms did windmills and he looked to be backstroking for all he was worth.

“YEOOW . . . she’s got me . . . she’s got me,” he yelled, waving one hand with a mousetrap gripping two fingers.

Finally, Beanpole flipped off the stump and skittered away from the campfire on his back, howls diminishing into a frantic squeak. Ronnie rolled over laughing, losing track of where he was until one foot hit the edge of the fire and lit a shoestring. He started hopping and smacking, making Beanpole think the ghost was after both of them. Beanpole broke into a run, crashing through the brush. Out there somewhere, he stopped, sitting huddled in the woods catching his breath, hoping the ghost was back in the campfire.

Slowly, the night noises resumed, an owl hooted, and another answered. I smirked and looked over at Ronnie, who was pouring water on his boot. “What do you think?” I asked.

Ronnie’s grin showed from across the campfire. “I never took Beanpole for such a dancer.”

“I’m not sure he is. But at the very least,” I added, “we broke him of eatin’ our crackers.”

“Beanpole and the Campfire Ghost” is an excerpt from Jim’s book, Hunting With Beanpole . You can find it on Amazon or order an autographed copy at www acreektricklesthroughit com

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