Coastal Angler Magazine | March 2023 | Greater Atlanta Edition

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A MODERN-DAY TED WILLIAMS

By A. DeGruchy

Major League Baseball’s JD Martinez has garnered a lot of accolades, including three Silver Sluggers, a Hank Aaron Award and MLB Player of the Year. e man is a vetime All-Star! What some folks might not know about the former Boston Red Sox turned Los Angeles Dodger is he’s also an avid sherman.

Growing up in Miami, he o en escaped to sh the Florida Keys. rough the years, that passion never faded. He now lives in Islamorada and spends the o season shing with Capt. Brandon “ e Bean” Storin.

Capt. Bean grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and has vacationed every year in the Keys since he was 5 years old. He shed with Capt. Jimmy Willcox, who inspired a dream to become a backcountry guide. In 2021, e Bean ful lled his dream.

Together, JD and Capt. Bean have made memories while landing some awesome sh. eir rst trip in the Islamorada backcountry produced JD’s personal-best tripletail. It was JD’s rst time tripletailing, and they were sight-casting buoys. Just like hitting a 95-mph fastball, timing and execution are everything, and JD made the perfect cast when they spotted a stud tripletail. Several runs and exhales later, Bean swooped deep and netted the 20-plus-pound

beast. It was JD’s rst, and it is a personal best that will take some work to beat.

Another epic adventure took place during a sunset black n tuna mission. Capt. Bean knew ns, and they used light spinning tackle to make it more fun. It didn’t take more than a couple minutes for JD to get tight on a monster n. All you could hear was the reel screaming, and the rod was doubled over the whole ght. It was JD’s personal-

full-grown one to boot.

On their most recent adventure, Capt. Bean and JD were bottom shing for mutton snapper when an unexpected bite inhaled a whole ballyhoo. It ended up being an almost record-breaking yellowtail snapper, which at 29 inches was the sh of a lifetime. Gray’s taxidermy commemorated the yellowtail to add to JD’s mount collection, along with the aforementioned tripletail.

JD is a good angler, and he is not the rst Red Sox slugger to nd a shing home on Islamorada. Ted Williams, considered by many to be the greatest hitter of all time, played for the Sox from 1939-1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, and he is also a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. Williams resided and shed in Islamorada for bone sh and tarpon with legendary Capt. Jimmy Albright. It is said he became as good an angler as any of the guides.

MLB and the Islamorada backcountry have a shared history. Capt. Bean and JD continue adding to the legends to this day.

Follow JD Martinez (@jdmartinez28) and Capt. Bean (@bnmbean) on Instagram. Some of their adventures are featured on YouTube at Bean Sport shing TV.

Noodling for Cat sh...what have I gotten myself into?

is past summer, I wanted to do something exciting and di erent with my friends for my “bachelorette” getaway. I always thought noodling would be a cool experience.

If you’re not familiar with noodling, it’s a technique anglers use to catch cat sh with their hands. In the lead-up to the spawn, cat sh nd holes in the banks where they will eventually lay and guard their eggs. It’s up to the angler to locate either a natural hole or a strategically placed box that a cat sh has decided to call home. e angler then sticks their hand into the hole, triggering the cat sh to chomp down on their hand and forearm. en, it’s a wrestling match to the surface.

e athead cat sh we pursued don’t have teeth, but they do grow large, with some sh reaching well over 50 pounds. It takes all your strength to get them out of their happy place and up to the surface to become sh celebrities.

Because it takes place during the spawn, this style of shing has become almost 100-percent catch-and-release for many noodlers. A er a few photos, sh are released safely to return to their holes and continue spawning duties.

When my two best friends and I le the familiar clear Florida waters for the beautiful state of Alabama, we had the goal to get one of these monster cats to bite... our arms. I’m not going to lie; I was a bit nervous getting on the boat. It was beautiful and peaceful on the river,

TO REMEMBER

By Deidra Thrappas

but the water is murky like chocolate milk and the banks are muddy. Shoes are highly recommended.

When I entered the water at our rst spot, it kind of hit me: “What have I gotten myself into?” But there was no turning back. Our guide located the wooden box he had planted earlier in the season and instructed me to hold my breath and lie on the bottom while slowly sliding my hand into the hole.

At rst there was nothing. en… WHAM! It was like a toothless gator grabbed me. I had been instructed to grab that sucker by its lower jaw with both hands and not to let go. So that’s what I did. A er a brief struggle, I had a dandy on the surface staring right at me! rough the day, we tried many holes, some empty and some with sh. Each time we stopped, the anticipation and excitement were the same as at the rst hole. It was a great experience, and I plan to go again soon. If you’ve ever thought of going noodling, I highly recommend it, 10/10.

e noodling season runs from midspring through the summer, depending on the location. Get online and nd a local guide for the area you’re interested in. Feel free to contact me with questions on Instagram @ get_outside_with_deidra or my husband, Capt. Jamie rappas @yellow_dawg_ shing.

Deidra and her husband Capt. Jamie rappas are co-publishers of the Volusia County, Fla. edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.

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A CHANGE OF PACE

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Today we are going to cruise past the shallow South Texas ats, through the pass, and nd some nearshore rocks loaded with huge legal Texas red snapper! What a di erence a few miles and 68 feet of water can make.

I typically make a handful of trips to the short rigs or rocks o the Texas coast each summer for a change of scenery. On the calm summer days, the mosquito eet (smaller bay boats) breaks the jetties and heads out for kings, cobia and red snapper. ese shallow-water snapper are typically in the 16- to 20-foot range. ey are tasty none the less, but nothing like what you nd close to shore in winter, as I recently observed during my rst winter o shore trip. Recently, we were in between cold fronts and had our rst sunny day in more than a week. Several days of windy, cloudy, cold, rainy days had me longing for some sunny rays. When my brother called and asked if I wanted to join him and his neighbor for some Texas red snapper, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! e photos he sent of the previous trip’s catch were the icing on the cake. e forecast called for 2- to 3-foot seas—which turned out to be less—70degree sunny temps, and wind at 6 knots from the east. is was a one-day window.

When we pulled up to a small set of rocks, there were two other boats there and four rods were doubled over! One of the boats was doing a bag check, and I watched him tossing and counting 15- to 20-pound snapper into the cooler. His count ended at 14, two shy of his limit… and they had two on the line. Keep in mind, at this time my personnel best snapper was about 8 pounds, and everything I was seeing was more than twice that size. e anticipation was high as I waited for the trolling motor to lock in.

Once the trolling motor settled into place, we pinned chunks of squid onto bottom rigs weighted with 8 to 12 ounces of lead and the fun began! It became a bit chaotic with doubles on while trying to coax a 20-pound snapper into an oversized net while still trying to catch one yourself.

It is hard to beat the drag zinging of a king mackerel or the Mack Truck power of a cobia during the calm days of late summer, but I might have to switch my snapper season from summer to winter! When the smallest winter ones are twice the size of your largest summer catch, it’s an easy switch.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures® and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

CHATTOOGA RIVER

Springtime arriving in the mountains of South Carolina brings a wilderness song of rejoices throughout the forest creatures. The warmer wisps of southern breezes start to whisk away the colder morning air, and the sun starts to peak over the mountain tops a little sooner each morning, and settle down over the western sky a touch later every evening. As these warmer breezes raise the temperatures with ease each day, brings the subtle warming of the mountain creeks, streams, and rivers. The winter grip is not always willing to let go to spring each year, as we have seen an occasional snowfall accumulation, although this is a rarity rather than a normal occurrence, and as for this year, no snow has fallen, at the time of writing this article. As far as winters go, this winter has been quite warm and blessed with plenty of

precipitation to keep all the waterways in great shape for fishing. The long-term outlook has the temperatures a bit warmer than normal and with slightly above average rain amounts.

As the warmer spring weather graces the mountains from the drab color of winter, the waterways start to awaken with the emergence of bug life in the hatches of many midge, mayfly, caddis, and stonefly. Hatches for mayflies occur after the nymph has reached maturity, and the bug breaks out of the nymphal shuck and emerges to the top of the water, where the fly awaits for its wings to dry, so it can fly off the water. At the start of the day of fishing using the nymph and a soft-hackle pattern for an emerger, of each colored and size appropriate mayfly will be essential. Great hatch days start with the weather temperatures starting in a range of the thirties to forties, and then warming to the highs being anywhere from the fifties and upward. Sunlight beam-

ing down will enhance the hatches to come to life on the river. Take time to stand on a high enough point riverside, by a calm pool (polarized sunglasses are a must) and watch the fish start to react as the bugs start their emergence to the surface. Observe also the subtle and acrobatic eating habits of the trout as the bugs helplessly slide down the river awaiting take-off.

Caddis fly emergers are also of great importance at this time of year. Fishing on the swing technique will aid in catching fish eating these emergers. Watch the water as double winged bugs start to skitter along the river surface and trout swipe to eat them. Having a dry

caddis on at this time with a dead drift and as the fly quarters down stream slowly lift the rod so the fly will gently bounce across the top of the water will entice even wary trout.

The exact size and color of flies is important, and we take care of making sure we are fully stocked on all hatches of the south here at Chattooga River Fly Shop. Guided trips are always a great outing, try our new three-quarter day trip with a great lunch provided by our inhouse chef. We hope to see everyone out on the water and let us all remember to bring out a little more than you walked in with and “Leave No Trace”

Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping

A friend told me about a husband and wife that were going fly fishing. As the wife got on the boat she said to her husband, “If I want any advice from you, I will ask for it.” At the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show last month, I was asking for it. I tried to get as many seminars and demos in as I could. There was a wealth of information and I figured, if there was at least one nugget, one style of teaching, or a bit of information that I could take away from it, then it was a success. Let me tell you... the show was a success.

Then while working at the Fly Fishers International booth as a casting instructor, I was able to take folks to a casting area and give tips, tricks, or lessons. I found that giving a pointer and just letting them work on it for a few minutes was

Meetup Organizer

key to them learning it. Explain and demo a concept and then let them feel it, practice it, get the muscle feeling and combine it in their brain. That seemed to help more than me constantly giving feedback as they cast. It takes time to learn something. For example, one of the instructors at the show taught me how to tie a perfection loop as a non-slip loop for a fly. I can tie a perfection loop with my eyes closed. But now adding a fly... that took practice. I went home and after practicing about 5 knots, I still suck at it. But I’m getting better each time I practice it. Maybe by next week, I will be able to do it well consistently.

My point is, fly casting, like anything else, takes some coaching and practice to get better. I thought I knew how to fly cast well until I

met someone that took the time to explain what good casting was and how to do it. Then I practiced and practiced. Still do. It’s good to be left alone to practice something

that’s new so you can focus on it. It’s also good to have someone with the knowledge, to watch and coach...then leave me alone.

JEKYLL AND HYDE

By Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters

Stream trout are just innocent victims of their March landlords (really riverlords). Our favorite flowage has a split personality. Mr. Hyde shows up as winter hangs around; the river is cloudy, cold, and catching frequent, icy rains or snow squalls. Hyde bullies past us with a bad attitude: raging, discolored, and cold, often under fifty degrees and sometimes flirting with that bonechilling forty-degree mark. It’s inhospitable for both trout and trouters.

In contrast, spring occasionally knocks on the river’s front door and guess who warmly welcomes us? Yep, the mellow Dr. Jekyll. Ole Doc flows past us clearly, leisurely, and warmly, with water temperatures nudging up toward that magic fiftydegree mark. We pray for that early indication of spring.

Smart March trouters will bring two games to the neighborhood before they knock on the condo door. If Hyde is home, we employ our deep dredging game with big, dark bugs. We’ll lead with a #8 brown Pat’s rubberlegs and drop a meaty nymph off the back. Aquatic macroinvertebrates (stream bugs) are all grown up by March and are ready to hatch in the next month or two. Bigger nymphs like size 12-14 hares ears, pheasant tails, Walt’s worms, and caddis larva match those stream bugs and can be spotted easily by trout in heavier flows. We also focus on pools and deep runs, those coveted flood refuges for our submerged targets.

If the snow leaves for the season and the sun shines, Dr.Jekyll may answer our knock. Then we’re on the lookout for hatching bugs on warm afternoons when waters flirt with fifty degrees. We’ll often throw a search rig of a big, fluffy dry and that meaty dropper (listed above) about 3-4 feet below it. If the dropper isn’t getting down, we’ll even add a small (#6 or 8) tin shot about six inches above it. March’s bug colors are as drab as the weather and foliage (brown and gray), so our favorite dries are #12-14 quill Gor-

dons, parachute Adams (try them with a dun-colored post!), and gray elk hair caddis. Be on the lookout for smaller (#18) blue quill mayflies, too. We’ll toss those dry/dropper rigs into the heads of pools, right below Rabunite “bug factories” (long, cobbled riffles), while occasionally scanning the surface for hatching bugs and telltale rings of rising fish.

Trek north to your favorite March trouting address. Size up that front door as you take a water temperature. If Hyde intimidates you, fend him off with a bobber and big shot and toss your winter dredging rig. But if Jekyll greets you with warm, open arms, reacquaint yourself with your dry/dropper rig and celebrate your spring homecoming. Enjoy the fact that it only gets better from here, as April and May’s topwater thrills are right around the corner! Stop in either UO store in Helen or Clarkesville and we can outfit you for your spring adventures.

When visitors head toward Blue Ridge, Georgia, bright signs located at major highway entry points are adorned with a colorful rainbow trout and proclaim Fannin County as “the Trout Capital of Georgia.”

Fannin County was named the Trout Capital of Georgia by official resolution in 2010 by the state legislature. Speaker David Ralston led the effort, following his heritage in the north Georgia mountains where dozens of the region’s best trout streams provide hundreds of miles of trout fishing access on both public and private property in Fannin County.

At the forefront of local troutfishing opportunities, the Toccoa River stands apart from all other local trout waters. The river forms the spine of the Fannin County trout fishery, collecting cold-water tributaries that flow north off a “triple point” in north Georgia, where the Eastern Continental Divide joins the Tennessee Valley Divide. At that point, the Toccoa heads up in adjacent Union County before crossing the whole of Fannin County, east to west, and leaving the state at McCaysville-Copperhill on the Georgia-Tennessee state line. There, the river name changes, and the Ocoee River continues north and westward where it is among the nation’s most-popular whitewater rafting rivers.

The Toccoa and several of its headwater tributaries stand high on the list of waters stocked with trout by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources/Wildlife Division. In cooperation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service/ Chattahoochee National Forest Fish Hatchery (located on Rock Creek Road in southeast Fannin County), the agencies in 2023 will stock more than 1 million trout in Georgia’s trout waters.

John Lee Thompson, GDNR trout stocking coordinator, confirms the Toccoa River will receive nearly 68,000 “catchable” trout (10 inches or longer) this stocking season, in addition to the 7,000 trout stocked in the delayed-harvest section of the river between Nov. 1, 2022, and early May. Thompson says the stockings overall will round out

at about 70 percent rainbow trout and 30 percent brown trout placed in the Toccoa River.

“The lower Toccoa is scheduled to receive 38,000 catchable (10inch) trout and 500 ‘big fish’ (12-inch) this year,” Thompson says. “We have strived in the past to have at least 30 percent be brown trout.” Brook trout won’t be among those fish, however. Thompson says “brookies” don’t do great in tailwater fisheries.

The upper Toccoa is scheduled to receives 29,000 “catchable” trout and “400 big fish,” Thompson says, “dominantly rainbows …” and the hatchery on Rock Creek is expected to have a low number of brook trout available to stock in the river and at its fishing events on hatchery grounds.

Stocked trout make up the bulk of catches made on the lower and upper Toccoa, but the recent showing of small, 4-inch brown trout may have led some anglers to believe the river is producing wild trout. Certainly, the upper river (and especially its tributaries) holds a combined population of wild, stream-bred rainbows, browns and brookies, but the lower river/tailwater is not recognized as wild-trout water.

“We do not consider the Toccoa tailwater a wild trout fishery. We have confirmed spawning activity,” Thompson explains, “but the recruitment, or the ability for these trout year-classes to persist, is not at the level needed to sustain a wild-trout population.”

Local fishing guides and anglers say, however, that trout redds – spawning sites – have been observed in the Toccoa tailwater during the fall of 2021 and 2022. In fact, GDNR reports approximately 2,800 of Georgia’s 5,400 miles of trout streams support wild-trout populations where trout reproduce. Brown trout spawn in the fall months when water temperatures drop back into the 50s, and local fishing guides believe those tailwater redds likely belong to spawning brown trout.

Thompson says those small brown trout reported in the tailwater in early February are among some 50,000, 4-inch brown trout stocked that month in the lower Toccoa at Tammen Park and Curtis Switch sites. Those were joined by 20,000 small rainbow trout.

“The ones that survive will mimic a wild trout population,” Thomp-

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

son points out. “We don’t expect high survivorship, less than 5 percent, but we do expect them to contribute to the fishery as forage.”

Those small trout that do survive and grow into larger trout will be sought by Toccoa River anglers, but they’re likely to be more difficult to catch than fresh-stocked trout placed in the river at varied intervals (depending on location)) during the stocking season -- March through October. Hatchery personnel stock at many sites (learn more at georgiawildlife.com). Some are deposited at roadside accesses; some are dropped from riverway bridges; and some are stocked at specific sites where public access is great and the fishing pressure can be heavy:

• Tammen Park – Blue Ridge

• TVA-Curtis Switch – Mineral Bluff

• Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park –McCaysville

• Sandy Bottom NRA – Fannin County

• Deep Hole NRA – Fannin County

• Highway 60 pool – Union County

Fishing tactics can differ between anglers fishing where trout are stocked and where they grow wild. At the most popular, heavily stocked fishing sites, anglers are likely using a variety of baits – kernel corn, soft dough-baits, salmon eggs, crickets, and red worms –fished tumbling in the current and on the bottom of slow pools, impaled on single or treble hooks in sizes 1016, unless those baits (and hooks) are restricted by local laws (learn more at georgiawildlife.com). Others may find more efficiency in casting small crankbaits, in-line spinners, spoons, and jigs in 1/32- to 1/8-ounce sizes with ultralight fishing outfits.

Similar tactics are used where wild trout are among the local fish population, but wild rainbows and, more so, browns are less likely to feed on prepared baits. Worms and crickets are hard for any fish to turn away from, but spinners, spoons and jigs represent fleeing or injured vertebrates attractive to wild trout. Those kinds of lures also invite “reaction” strikes induced by the lures’ flash, color and/ or vibration. Stocked fish will add to the action wherever they’re placed in waters with wild trout populations, but wild trout are bred in the stream/ river where they live, and are without doubt a more cunning, careful fish. Let’s not say, “They’re smart!” Rather, wild trout are “suspicious” and live to survive. Take care in presenting lures carefully and accurately, while limiting your exposure above the waterline. Long casts and casts into broken

water help you get “close” without revealing your menacing outline overhead.

Trout fishing in Fannin County is popularized annually in spring by the Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival (BlueRidgeTroutFest. com). The 6th annual “Trout Fest” takes place 10 am to 6 pm, April 29, in downtown city park in the historic district of Blue Ridge, the county seat of the Trout Capital of Georgia. Trout Fest gathers fishermen, river sports enthusiasts, and outdoor recreation fans and their families for fun, food, activities, entertainment, shopping, and recreational services, while increasing the public’s knowledge of trout and the cold-water conservation associated with Trout Unlimited, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Net proceeds of the all-volunteer, fundraising event support cold-water conservation, education, recreation, and community outreach programs funded (in part) by Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited #696 (go to: BlueRidgeTU. com) in Blue Ridge.

More than 4,000 visitors are expected to pass through the gates of Trout Fest ‘23. The event combines trout fishing and fly-fishing with services that engage local, outdoor-recreation resources in fishing, mountain biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, paddling, and boating. Local outfitters provide insights on fishing Fannin County trout waters, while guide services offer direction and instruction on selected destinations. Retail vendors present fishing tackle/gear/ accessories, wildlife art, outfitter gear and clothing, personal services/ product sales, and more. Local lodging operators present cabins for rent at waterside or with a mountain view. The return of the TROUT FEST ACTIVITY ZONE includes family fun on climbing walls, axe throwing, a trout-fishing pond and gem mining, while the event programs present fly-fishing/fly-casting instruction and insights for men and women, tips for the best trout fishing in the county, mountain bike demos, hiking/camping reveals, and paddling/ kayaking routes and risks. And staged concerts come to life from 3 to 6 pm at the TROUT FEST SOUND STAGE (bands to be announced) located adjacent to the TROUT FEST FOOD COURT where visitors will find food trucks, local craft beer and more. Learn more about the 2023 Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival at BlueRidgeTroutFest.com.

Forecast By:Will Harkins- Getfishingguide.com Williamharkins11@gmail.com

Lake Nottely: Lake Level _12 ft_ below full pool. , Temp: 49-52 degrees, Clarity: Clear

Who is ready for some incredible days on the water? March kicks off one of the best few weeks of fishing all year on Nottely. When the warm fronts come, so will the giant bass. March is all about the big females starting their trek out of the winter haunts and into the prespawn stages. Their primary focus is bulking up before the spawn, which bodes well for anglers. You have heard all winter to slow down and fish thoroughly. March is the time of year you want to lock a moving bait in your hand and get to work. Baits like a Spro RK Crawler and Bill Norman Middle N are two fantastic choices. Bass are primary baitfish oriented. However, in he early spring their diet shifts to the abundant crawfish meals. This makes

LAKE NOTTELY

reds and browns popular colors to use. A jerkbait is another favorite of mine. I throw it on a medium action, seven-foot rod with 10-12 lb. line. If a dreaded cold front moves through, or the sky is cloudy, the bass will move off a little deeper than they would be otherwise. This is when slowing down with a shaky head worm or jig would be beneficial. I like to look for the closest staging areas prespawn bass will be. This includes the end of a bluff or deep rocky bank, the outside corners of a pocket, or the mouths of the creeks. They need to have deep water access close by, in order to, go deep when the cold hits. Contrary to popular opinion, the biggest bass are typically the ones to move up shallow, first. Even on cold days, these lunkers will be sunning up shallow, scoping out areas for bedding, when the water hits 60 degrees. Of course, there are plenty of other species for anglers to target, such as crappie, bluegill, and stripers that are all coming alive at the start of spring! If looking for a true giant, email me!

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

MARCH – FISHING THE PRESPAWN ON LANIER

Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

Fishing during March can provide some interesting opportunities. The largemouth will soon spawn, and the spots will begin to stage in preparation for the spawn. The lake level is around full pool as we head out of February and the temperatures have been trending above normal so far this winter, which could mean an early spawn if this trend continues. The lengthening days, as we progress forward, will help to trigger the movement toward pre-spawn activities for both the spots and largemouth. If the weather remains warmer than normal, the faster these processes will develop.

Optimal Conditions

There are a few things to consider when fishing during this time of year. You will be fishing the prespawn in March, and maybe an advanced pre-spawn based on the weather, so let’s start with the end in mind and review the spawning habits of both the largemouth and spots. The largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-58 degrees. The spotted bass will spawn a bit later when the water temperatures reach 62 degrees or above. Typically, the fish spawn in “waves”, rather than all at once. After the first “wave” of fish completes their spawning routine, there will be fish in all stages of the spawn (pre, spawn, and post) for the next 3045 days, depending on the weather conditions and water temperatures. Further, it is important to understand that many fish that spawn in “waves” as mentioned above, do so during a favorable moon phase, given the noted water temperature requirements are met. The full and new moon phases often prompt fish to move into their spawning routine. Until those conditions are met, fish will be staging and feeding up in preparation for this process. So, where do we need to look?

Location

The largemouth in Lake Lanier tend to spawn shallower than do the spotted bass. The largemouth can be found bedding in creek pockets,

often in the back of these pockets, in a protected area. They will position themselves next to a piece of cover such as a blow down tree or stump for security and are often in 3 feet of water or less. Look around docks in shallow water for these fish as well as stumps and adjacent blow downs. The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, but often prefer a hard bottom type of area, such as one a clay flat can provide. And again, the spots will typically spawn deeper than do the largemouth and can be found in 6-15 feet of water and even deeper. Unlike most largemouth, many spotted bass will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. Until the time when the fish spawn in these areas, fish key features adjacent to these spawning areas. Secondary points and docks, often provide great staging areas for these fish and become a prime target this time of year. The spots will be in the same types of places to spawn and will stage in similar areas as well.

Lures and Presentation

Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish:

1. Jerkbait - A great choice as the water warms up though the 50’s. Work these baits around docks, points, and over humps. A Berkley Stunna is a good option. Experiment with cadence to find the right retrieve speed and pause cycle. The colder the water, the longer the pause.

2. GA Blade Shad Spin This bait in the ¼ oz size is an excellent choice to work in shallow creek ditches as well as in and around secondary points and docks. Experiment with trailer size and type. A Lanier Baits Jerk Shad is a good option for a trailer.

3. Crankbait – Excellent choice to cover water in the back of creeks

and pockets as well as around secondary point, docks, and flats. Try the Berkley Fritz Side crankbait or the Berkley Money Badger as they are good options to cover the varying depth ranges, until you find the best one for the day’s conditions. They offer many good shad and crayfish patterns from which to choose. And as always, make sure to visit our local treasure, Hammonds Fishing, to pick up what you need!

4. Worm/jig – Always an option in the springtime. A Georgia Jig on rocky/clay secondary points and around docks is always a good choice for spots or largemouth. If the fish are ultra-finicky, don’t forget the old Carolina Rig to present your soft-plastics. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a GA Blade Jig-head and worm combo, consider using

a lighter jig-head. I often choose a 1/8 oz head or lighter to target spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4-inch Berkley Hit Worm, as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more. I often work the bait slowly, in this situation, to trigger strikes.

While the winter to spring/early spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, it can be awesome if you remain versatile and open-minded in your approach. Use the tips and techniques noted above to guide your fishing during the spawn and you will enjoy some great success. For more information and access to a weekly video fishing report to which you can subscribe, please visit jimboonlanier.com. Stay in the know with Jimbo, every week! See you on the water! Jimbo is a Full-Time, YearRound Spotted Bass Guide on Lake Lanier. Contact him today to book a trip!

Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089

484.00 ( 2/6/23 ) ,Surface Temp 52-58, Clarity / Clear to slightly stained

February was as good as I’ve seen in a long long time for the striper bite . We had numerous days boating 45-60 stripers per boat per trip. They ranged from 4-12 lbs., and we were catching them deep. For the clients that wanted to planer board (which is my favorite way to catch them) the technique produced great results. They might not have caught as many but the quality was definitely a plus. Here we are March of 2023! This kicks off the trophy time of year and will last until summer. If you’ve never had the opportunity to fish for stripers, in March, on Lake Martin, then you must try it. For those who follow my post and articles, you have been reading about and seeing pictures of a lot of healthy size stripers here this winter. Healthy fat strip-

LAKE MARTIN

ers in the winter, solely means springtime trophy size stripers should be plentiful. People often ask us what size is considered a trophy striper “ my answer is simple “ a trophy is in the eye of the beholder (or in fishing terms - the angler). For those of us that have been doing this for years and years, I’d say 20 plus pounds is a trophy, with our largest to date (which is the lake record) being 52 lbs. that was boated in March a few years back and we are always proud to say our guide service caught it. Each year our clients haul in huge numbers of 20-45 lb. stripers. I could absolutely be wrong, but I’m predicting, this may be the best spring we’ve had in years for the upper end class size stripers. If your goal is to catch a huge striper, Lake Martin is the lake you want to fish. Sure there are a few other lakes that will produce a big striper every now and then, but it seems to me you see and hear of more 30

plus pounders being caught on Lake Martin than anywhere in the south . One of the biggest mistakes some anglers make is not being patient for the big bite. There is a lot to the saying it takes time and a lot of patience to land a big striper. If I was coming to strictly try to catch a big one, I would set aside a minimum of 3 days and just tell yourself, hey, I might not catch it this year but I’m going to put the time and effort in and do it in the time of year that I should (March,April & May) and I’m going to a lake (which is Lake Martin, Al ) that I know has a proven track record of big stripers . I think if you have the right guide, the right attitude, patience, and a few days to spend on the water you’ll have a better chance than someone that doesn’t follow these suggestions. I sincerely hope this is your year to have that “Trip of a Lifetime “ . This month concentrate on more of a top water bite in creeks, long shallow points and the river channels. My choice of approach would be live bait and planer boards, my presentation would be a little slower for the larger size fish and a little faster for the quantity bite .

Until next time be safe and enjoy beautiful Lake Martin .

ENJOYING EARLY SPRING FISHING

Dr. Andrew Cox

Some days in February brought a taste of spring to our area with air temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s and warming water temperatures. It was a welcome relief from the cold, wet winter weather. March will likely continue to remind us that spring is drawing closer. Though, we will likely experience some continuing cold weather as spring progresses, these early days remind us of what is in front of us. Other than possibly October and the first of November, the months of March and April are some of the best months of the year for outdoor activities in the South. Spring like weather can certainly result in some good fishing on area waters. If you can pick your days and be on the water at the right time of day, the angler can experience some good to excellent fishing. Anglers have been catching and can continue to catch hybrids and crappie. Some

anglers have been catching largemouth and spotted bass. On some waters, anglers can find an annual run of hybrids and white bass during this month, dependent upon water temperatures and conditions. As spring progresses into the month of April, fishing should dramatically improve.

Now is a good time to be on the water and to introduce a young person to the joys of fishing. I have been taking my grandson to some of the lakes and ponds located around West Georgia. The warming water can prompt the largemouth and spotted bass to come into the shallows along the lake’s banks. These fish can be located along banks that have riprap, rocks, or concrete along the shoreline, though they also can be found elsewhere within the lake’s shallows. Young people seem to enjoy their fishing experience, catching several

fish. These trips have the potential to introduce a young person to a lifetime of angling and enjoyment of outdoor oriented pursuits.

Hopefully you can take time to enjoy this time of year on the water. Maybe you can make time to introduce a young person to angling. This is the time of year that anglers can catch large fish; in some cases the fish of a lifetime. Young people can experience catching numbers of fish and larger fish that may whet their appetite for fishing during those times of the year where catching fish can be more sporadic. Stay safe and enjoy our area’s angling resources.

Author’s Note:Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. He enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout

using fly, baitcasting, and spinning equipment. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.

LANIER STRIPERS

The water temperature on Lanier has been hovering at the 50-degree mark for weeks. Once we get three days of sun look for the temperature to finally climb into the fifties. The water clarity has been clear on the south end, as usual, but with all the rain the back of the creeks definitely have some stain.

The stripers have been very deep up to this point. With that being said, look for the fish to move shallow in March. Freelines will become the primary tactic in March. We just have to have three days of sun. Rig up a Penn Fathom 15

Linecounter reel with 15 pound Trilene Big Game line, a Trilene 100% Flourocarbon leader, a Spro 80 pound Power Swivel, and a Gamakatsu 1/0 Octopus hook tipped with the herring. This setup is the Lanier staple. The Penn Fathom Linecounter really helps your success rate as you will know exactly how far back your baits are behind the boat. Start at 120 feet and make changes as necessary. A small split shot or an additional 30 feet of line

can make a huge difference from day to day. Pull the freelines at 1 mph across humps and points and in some cases over open water. It’s just hard to say which will be best this Spring.

If the fish move to the banks, keep a Penn Battalion 7’ medium light spinning rod paired with a Penn Clash spinning reel with light line on the deck. Tie on a Capt. Mack 1/4-ounce bucktail in white or chartreuse. Some days the buck-

tail outperforms live bait. Another option is casting MiniMacks or slow trolling MiniMacks with the trolling motor. You can troll the MiniMacks on the same Penn Fathom Linecounters you use for live bait. As you are trolling live bait, drop a couple MiniMacks close in behind the boat like a transom bait and you will boat some extra fish. The fish are getting bigger like old times so look for some better fish to show up soon.

Heron Outdoor Adventures

Stripers, Hybrids, Spotted Bass, Crappie Nature

Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673

Temp 54

CARTERS LAKE

Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973 lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Level full +/- 6 ft

Clarity 2 feet on surface

Almost spring. I’ve been hearing it for weeks, but March can be deceiving. Cold nights, still chilly water, and cold fronts still moving through can really turn the bite on and off. The best advice is to find a pattern that works for your style and stick to it. If you fish and don’t have any luck, don’t get discouraged, as the very next day that pattern might be hot again. The walleye are preparing to spawn and moving into those pre-spawn areas. These areas include the back of every creek, the rip rap on the dam wall, and in the river. Because these fish are stocked in various locations they also spawn in various

locations. This time of year, the fish are focused on spawning at night, so any feeding will usually happen right before dawn or at dusk. Because the spawn is their main focus, make your bait selections on the smaller side. Easy meals tend to get more attention than big ones this time of year. Slow moving, small to med size shad imitations are the way to go. Most of the fish we catch this month, unlike last month, will be males. The females won’t be super active again until mid to late April after they recover from the stress of spawning, at the end of the month. No matter where you’re fishing a few staple baits will help. These include original floating Rapalas dt6 and 10 crank baits, and 1/4 Oz. Jig n minnow rig. Fish slow and be very thorough. Remember, feeding isn’t their top priority right now, but they still must eat.

The striper bite has been good the last couple weeks. Live shad or alewives on 50ft down lines seem

to be producing fish. Early in the day, there’s a decent shallow bite, in creeks like Worley and Beach creek, pulling boards with slightly weighted lines approximately 50ft back. We’re also catching both stripers and hybrids at night throwing artificials on points and shallow water markers on the main lake or in the backs of the creeks in less than 25ft of water. This will get better as the month goes on and the 3 or 4 kinds of baitfish present in the lake prepare for their annual spawn. Sometimes, we get this early, by mid-March and some years, it’s not

until mid-April, but keep an eye out for it.

The spotted bass bite we are working on is an open water bite, targeting fish suspended, chasing bait balls. Spoons are my preferred tactic on these fish as they match the hatch perfectly. Krocodile spoons or Hopkins spoons are my first choice. I like the 1/2 Oz variety. Chrome, gold, or white have been the go to with various other colors producing as well. Look for big schools of bait over 100+ft of water as you will find schools of spots feeding near all of them.

THE HIDDEN GEM

By James K. Pressley, jameskpressley@gmail.com

Ok, let’s talk about Sinclair. Why have you guys down there been holding out on us? Admittedly, I have lived in the lake area now for 15 years and yet, I haven’t fished Sinclair since high school 30 years ago. I just don’t ever drag the boat down there. That, my friends is changing.

A little over a month ago, I started hearing about big stripers and hybrids being caught down there. So, one afternoon, my buddy Kevin Wahl and I packed up my 2000V Pathfinder and headed down. We spent a lot of time looking. We tried different spots. We went all the way from Little River boat ramp and RV Park to Crooked Creek Marina and a little above it searching. We ended up on the first trip finding good solid fish just above 441 under the power lines on the west side of the HWY.

Since then, I have continued to add spots and have success on the lake. Mark Smith, of Reeltime Guide Services, Kevin Harris of Go Fish Lake Oconee, a striper club member and myself all went down, right before Christmas and had a phenomenal morning catching tons of good solid 2-4lb fish on Capt. Mack Super Spoons. It was so much fun it should have been illegal! On my next trip, we spent most of the day trolling mini-Mack rigs and again, we caught several good solid fish.

Fast forward to last Saturday. Georgia weather is funny. A week ago, it was trying to kill us and was below freezing, yet Saturday, I could have worn shorts and flip flops! Kevin and I headed down once again. We started fishing around 11 am and had the first fish on by 11:15; a nice five-to-sixpound striper and we were on them the rest of the day! This was an epic bite, guys! In total we caught more than 40 fish that averaged three pounds and the biggest was 8.5 pounds. We caught all our fish trolling this time.

That same day Berry’s had a bass tournament on the lake. Matt

Henry and his partner weighed in 24.20 lbs. with a bass weighing 8.45 lbs. and another in the 6 lbs. range. The report I got was they had next to nothing at 11am and then the bite switched on. Guys, that is an incredible bag on the lake these days! I mean come on!!! According to Lake Country Fishing and Jim Lumpkin the entire field saw an increased bite and boated the majority of fish from 11 on.

Now what happened at 11? As best as we can tell GA Power started letting a TON of water out of Lake Oconee right about then and both lakes lit up! Jason Duncan of Duncan’s Guide Service was fishing Oconee and he had a phenomenal afternoon catching over 30 fish in the Richland Creek area. This is a controversial statement in some areas, but I am sorry folks. Both Lakes bite better when they are generating power or letting water out. Sometimes, that is just a few extra fish and sometimes you can watch whole schools move up in the water column and start crushing baits. That’s what happened Saturday.

Now here’s some tips as to where and how…

Where - Right now find clear water deeper than 30 feet. Try the areas around the mouth of Rooty and Nancy Branch to start with.

How- Spoons first and foremost. Capt. Mack super spoons, Cast Fishing 20g slow pitch jigs, and War Eagle spoons are my favorites. Jim Lumpkin was on my boat fishing with me last Friday and landed a good 6-pound hybrid on a Cast Fishing jig. Trolling, I would use Capt. Mack mini-Mack rigs of any colors, umbrella rigs, and believe it or not we even caught fish with down riggers pulling Berkley Flicker Shads.

Folks, in my own opinion Lake Sinclair is the hidden gem of Georgia. The hyrbids, whites and stripers are healthy, plentiful, and willing to bite! Get out there and catch them!!!

Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973 lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Temp 49, Level 19 ft. Clarity 10ft

The water is still cold, and the lake is still down 19 feet, plus every time it rains the lake gets a bad stain from the bank runoff, but if you time it right, the bite can be a lot of fun. There’s walleye scattered everywhere right now in the main river channel from point 5 up. These walleyes are on the move to the spawning grounds. It’s mostly a night bite, with the clear water, but on overcast or rainy days you can cash in during daylight hours. We are fishing spoons vertical or pulling crank baits near the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water. Look for a hard or rocky bottom in between mud banks and flats along the river. These are staging areas where the fish will rest along the way. These are the places to fish during the day. At night, look a bit shallower in the same general areas with jerk baits or a jig n minnow. Stick to the appropriate colors for the water conditions or glow in the dark after sunset.

March is a great month to catch the variety of bass in this lake. Largemouth are cruising the banks and the spotted bass are chasing bait up shallow early in the day, then suspending just offshore after that. Flukes and spoons will get their attention in either situation. I like a crocodile spoon in rainbow trout

color, or gold, on cloudy days. Later in the month, you can start searching for beds in Star creek, Green creek and around Morganton Point where I personally prefer to use trick worms whacky rigged. The bass bite should be in full swing by the middle of March as water temps start to slowly rise. The other go to bait, in March, is craw themed cranks . Deep, shallow, on the bottom or suspended a red craw colored crankbait is hard to beat on this lake when the crayfish are spawning . Norman little Ns and Rapala dt10s are my go to lures for March.

So, You Want To Be A Charter Captain?

By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell,

GA

One of my most enjoyable things to do is taking folks fishing. Seeing the smile on someone’s face when they hook into a fish…big or small…gives me a great feeling. It’s a lot of fun.

So maybe you’re thinking about becoming a charter captain yourself? I would highly recommend that. It’s a rewarding experience, and one of the best decisions I ever made.

But first things first. In most cases, you’ll need to get a Coast Guard Captain’s License, also called a 6-Pack license. This lets you carry up to 6 people on a charter. You’ll need to prove you have the required number of hours at the helm and have a current USCG Captain verify those hours and your capabilities. You’ll have to pass the Coast Guard in-person written test, pass a physical, get

drug tested and be subject to random drug tests, for as long as you hold your license. But that’s the easy part.

The hard part comes when you start running charters. And that means coming to terms with the fact that YOU are not going fishing. Your clients are. You are now in charge of hospitality, you’re the housekeeper, the service staff, the diplomat, and the get-it-done person. You must be very comfortable with watching other people hook fish and cheer them on. Remember, your job is to put the people on the fish, and their job is to get them in the boat.

The job can be extremely rewarding, and it can be extremely frustrating. For instance, watching someone pull the hook on a trophy fish is aggravating for both you and your client. But you

must maintain a positive attitude and keep their spirits up. So now, you’ve just become a counselor too.

There will be days when the fish just don’t bite. But your client may not understand that. They’re paying you good money to bend a rod. So, you have to be personable, humble, and not make excuses. That can be difficult…and yes frustrating. For me, there are many more good days than bad days. And a good day doesn’t always mean filling up the fish box. Most clients appreciate just being out on the water and seeing things they’ve never seen before. They want to learn, and they want to be entertained. Oh yeah, you must be an entertainer too. They want to have fun, and that doesn’t mean they have to pull in a fish every minute of the trip. It’s a balance between catching and all the other fun stuff you do between bites.

Oh, you’re also the safety director, the medic, maintenance guy, boat detailer, bait catcher, the clean-up crew and in some cases… the babysitter. At the end of the day, your client goes home…hopefully with a smile on their face.

But you still have a couple more hours of work to do before you eat dinner and get back up at 4am. You’ll re-spool reels, tie on new rigs, clean reels and rods, clean out coolers, clean the boat, refuel, and a few dozen other things. For me, that’s just part of the job, and I don’t mind doing it. The rewards far outweigh any frustrations.

So, if you’re giving some thought to joining the family of fishing guides, seriously examine all that goes into it, and make an informed decision. The world needs more passionate professionals to teach folks how fun fishing can be.Tight Lines and Calm Seas, Capt. Cefus McRae.

Forecast By: Shane Goebel

Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service

(828) 361-2021

Lakes Apalachia, Chatuge, Nottely, Blue Ridge and Hiwassee

February is in the books and it’s that time of year again. The time of year our mountain stripers become crazy active. The warm early spring days are what these trophy fish thrive on. Especially, the closer we get to April. March has historically always been an excellent month for catching some huge Lake Nottely stripers. So, get out of that cramped up house and get some fresh air while catching some nice trophy fish with us! March is probably one of our favorite months for fishing. With that said, give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and book those trips. Let us put you on some of the biggest fish the mountains have to offer. We are Murphy, NC and Blairsville, Georgia’s ORIGINAL STRIPER GUIDE SERVICE. Mention The Angler Magazine and get $25 off your trip.

Currently, Lake Nottely is 18 feet below full pool. Water temperatures have been in the low to Mid 40’s. Due to all the recent rains, water clarity is stained in the river and creeks, but clear towards the dam.

Striper fishing has been super out here lately. We’ve had a very successful January and February. Most of the stripers we are catching have been in the 15 to 35 pound range, and we’re averaging about 10 to 20 stripers a trip. The warmer water temps have played a big role on the increase in numbers this year. So, this spring should be amazing! This pattern should continue into the month of March and increase as the stripers start their prespawn. Continue the same techniques as the previous months, pulling planer boards with live herring and shad in the backs of creeks and around shallow, sloping banks. As you pull boards, it’s always a good idea to work

the banks by casting a Zara Spook or a Red Fin. As the sun comes up, turn your focus to fishing the mouths of creeks, as the stripers will follow bait to deeper water. With pre-spawn in mind, more and more stripers will start to stage in the mouths of creeks, in March. Keep an eye on your electronics for schooling stripers, and pay attention to where the bait balls are. I guarantee you, if you find the bait, the stripers will be close by.

One last note, the smallmouth and trout bite has been extremely good. We are catching some very nice smallmouth and trout on nearby Lake Apalachia, in the 4-5 lb. range. We are at least averaging 15 to 25 smallmouth and trout a trip. These trout and smallmouth have been feeding great. Down-

lining live bluebacks and lite tackle has been the best technique for catching a slew of these great fish in 15-25 feet of water.

March is a great month for catching a lot of huge trophy stripers on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and Blairsville Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee (Murphy,NC), Chatuge, and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Quality Marine LLC

6490 Bell Dr., Flowery Branch, GA 30542

404-402-3129 facebook.com/QualityMarineLLC

Quality Marine is a Mercury Repower and Service Center that specializes in service and repair on Outboards, Sterndrives, and Inboard boats. Quality Marine is the ONLY Mercury Repower Center on Lake Lanier. Operating on Lake Lanier since 2015, the Quality Marine team focuses on QUALITY service at competitive prices.

LAKE ALLATOONA

Joseph Martenilli 404-919-4918

There’s little doubt that March is the herald of spring here in Georgia, so let’s welcome it with many casts and tight lines. Lake Allatoona continues to shine as a gem here in North Georgia, and we are excited to share a little of what to expect in the next few weeks.

Linesides: The striped bass, hybrid striped bass and white bass have already developed mature roe. While the striped and hybrid are not selfsustaining, here on the reservoir, the white bass do successfully spawn, and we hope to continue to see them thrive. Once these water temperatures hit 60° +, spawn will be fullon for many species. Depending on mother nature, we may see these water temps and first runs begin as early as this month. It is a magical time of year!

Through February, most of the better fishing for line sides was midlake and south, starting around Stamp Creek, the dam, and Red Top State Park. South through the pass and all the way to Tanyard and Clark Creeks are producing fish. Many of these are found feeding deep on the established alewife and shad populations, and down lining baits from 30 to 40 ft down, has not been uncommon. Sure, there are times when they are pushed up into the flats but overall, they are staying with that deep bait line. When you find this, you will find fish this time of year. They may not always show themselves immediately on a down scan, but properly interpreted electronics can give you a good read of fish in the bait. If your bait is running 10 ft thick from 25 ft to 40 ft down, run bait at 25 and just below 40 - it’s been working great for us!

Naturally, there are days when all the good fish come on a free line so be prepared to have one or two of those in the spread to see what is working best on any given day. With the free lines, we have had pretty good success with shad and small rainbow trout, size 2-1 hook and maybe a size 7 split shot on 8 to 10 lb. test fluorocarbon setup. Lastly, planer boards have had their success, but still predominantly catching schoolies. For Allatoona, we are still using smaller baits as the larger baits have just not produced as well on Allatoona, for the linesides this winter.

There will be different patterns developing as spring progresses, but as we find ourselves in late February and into March, these patterns should hold true.

Crappie: The crappie are stacked! I do not say this lightly. These are not all slabs, let alone record size fish, but the 10–14-inch fish are in there. In a multitude of fishing and scouting trips, I’ve had some of my best crappie fishing already for this season and haven’t even gotten into long line trolling, yet this season. A tried-and-true pattern for me in any state. I’ve fished crappie with the basic float ‘n’ fly or cork ‘n’ jig. With my setup of light 4 lb. test, a balsa slip float and 1/16 oz. rubber bugs and even a quill with 1/80 oz specialty baits, we’ve been cooing these crappie on Allatoona since January. Fast forward to water temps getting in the high 50s and these fish are going to stack up in the mouths of the mid-lake and northern creeks where they will be staging to move into structure and lay some eggs. They stage for as many as 6 weeks here on Allatoona though there always appears to be a peak two to three weeks, determined by water temperature. Those bigger girls lay down a lot of eggs and already have proven genetics. If you catch a monster 16-20” black or white crappie, you did good. Personally, I like to let these go but I think keeping a record size fish alive if possible for an official weigh in and release would be ideal for a potential record crappie. We released 2 over l3+ last Feb/March. An 18” white-19 1/4” black, both swollen with life giving eggs. The long and the short of it– Harvest responsibly

and consider if it is ideal table fare or better to release.

Spotted Bass: These have been fun and cooperative all winter long. We have had the most fun and caught almost as many on a 3-in swim bait as we have on a live shad or any other bait. There are several combinations we like, but a quality 1/8 oz. swimbait head with the Cast Prodigy has been in our front line arsenal. When switching from finesse to fan casting or trolling for locating fish, the same baits bunched up on a good Hog Farmer A-rig and the Captain Mack’s mini have been crucial to our success. So many species and so little time to give each their due today, but as spring progresses, we will likely be sharing details on the other lovely species Allatoona has to offer. We hope this helps a little on your own excursions. Naturally, you are invited to reach out to us at 404-919-4918 to set up a fullservice Adventure on Allatoona and Carters this Spring. God Bless you and tight lines, friends!

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

OCONEE ON THE FLY-

WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO FISH LAKE OCONEE / MARCH 2023 FORECAST

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com

When, where, and how to fish Lake Oconee / March 2023 Forecast. Timing is everything, so I’ll start with when to fish Lake Oconee and the simple answer is now! The first week in March is awesome here. We write these articles ahead of time and as of this writing (February 9th) the fishing is good. I went with a friend on Tuesday, and we landed 12 fat hybrids in the afternoon flat lining near the mouth of Richland Creek.

Crappie: When – Many anglers love to fish the crappie spawn, but the guides and anglers that live here fish the pre-spawn. This means mid-February and early March. The venerable Doug Nelms says when you first see the Bradford pears bloom, go. Don’t wait till the Dogwoods bloom.

Where - The fish will be mi-

grating North. I usually start at the mouth of Lick creek in February. As we move into March, they will typically migrate above I-20. You will find them above the 278 bridge and above the Swords bridge. Look for the boats, there will be a bunch trolling. Feel free to join the flotilla, but be respectful and keep a good distance.

How - For trolling there are two main methods, pulling and pushing. A common pulling setup is trolling 8 or 10 rods out of the back of the boat. Use 6-pound test with a double jig set up. Use a 1/16th ounce curly tail jig (I like the June bug color) for the first jig and a 1/32nd ounce for the second jig. Pushing is a slower presentation but I believe you will catch bigger fish. Put 8 14- or 16-foot-long rods out of the front of the boat with 6

lb. test to a ½ ounce swivel sinker. Then tie a 6 lb. fluorocarbon leader to a 1/16th ounce jig. Here is a good place to get them (http:// www.jiffyjigs.com/products/). The black / blue/ black color pattern is popular here. Tip the jig with a minnow and drift SLOWLY, if your line is not vertical, you’re going too fast.

Hybrids / Stripers: When: – A key element to good hybrid striper fishing is moving water. Generally, if Georgia Power is going to generate it is in the late afternoon. Try to fish ahead of an incoming cold front. Also, fish 3 days before or 3 days after the new moon and full moon.

Where: - In years past I started at the dam. However, they seemed to have moved up lake since installing the supplemental oxygen line. Look from the jumping rock north to Great Waters and on the Richland Creek side look for humps north to the mouth of

Sandy Creek.

How - This time of year flat lining is my go-to method. I use spinning rods with 12 to 20 lb. test then put on a bead and swivel. I tie on a 2-to-3-foot fluorocarbon leader of 12 lb. test and a number 4 or number 2 circle hook. I crimp on one #4 sinker above the swivel but below the bead.

Forecast March 2023: The crappie bite will be strong, but the fish may migrate slowly north depending on how much rain we get. If we have 3 consecutive days of nice weather crappie fishing will be outstanding. Hybrids and striper fishing will be good on prefontal days and my bet is flat lining will be the ticket!

Final Words Please call 404-317-9556 or e-mail me at wmoore1700@outlook.com and lock in your dates well ahead of time to ensure you get the dates you want. Tight Lines, and God Bless.

WEST POINT LAKE

West Point Report: Water temps are mostly in the upper 50’s and low 60’s. The lake is stained and pulled back down about 4-5 feet.

Bass: Good. Expect big changes as we move toward and on into March. Warming weather and a stained lake should move many of the largemouth shallow, especially when we have a decent warming trend. You can expect the largemouth bite to continue to be good around any shallow wood or brush, rip-rap rocks or around shallow baitfish schools. Shallow-water baits such as ChatterBaits, square-bill crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps should work effectively. Spinnerbaits and jig ’n pigs are also producing some fish around wood

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

and rip - rap. It’s a good time to catch a big fish, even though the numbers are not that great early in the month. One of the main keys to this type of shallow fishing is to look for warmer stained water. A ditch or creek run sometimes helps to bring warmer water into an area, especially after a warm rain. Dark chunk rock and red clay retain heat and attract bass. Fishing for spotted bass can be awesome, as they will start to bed in March. Small crankbaits or Carolina rigged finesse worms will catch fish on almost any gravel bank.

Linesides: Good. The river run will start in March, and how good it gets usually depends on weather and water conditions. What you don’t want is really muddy and cold water below 50 degrees. I usually start out with cut bait, soaked in garlic spray, in water

temps around 60 or lower. Live shad will usually work better in water temps of 60 or higher. Start around Ringer Access, and follow the fish upstream as the water warms. Stripers, mixed with hybrids and white bass can continue to school on top, at times, in early spring as well. Expect the topwater fishing to be the best very early and very late or on overcast days. The schooling fish are typically less than 3 pounds, but there is some bigger fish mixed in. Gulls and loons are also still out there to help you pinpoint the schooling linesides. The mouths of Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee and Maple creeks have all been producing some fish. Downlining with live shiners will also work. Target drop-offs near the channel or the top of humps. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits, Flash Mob Jr Rigs, bucktail jigs and vertical jigging with spoons have also been producing in these same areas. The key is finding a little clearer water.

Crappie: Good. A few warm days in a row will drastically improve crappie fishing. Good numbers of slab size crappie are already

being caught in the shallows on minnows and jigs under a float, especially in the afternoons. Blowdown trees and brush piles in 3 to 6 feet of water are holding fish as well. Trolling for crappie usually kicks into high gear soon. Whitewater and Yellow Jacket creeks almost always seem to turn on this month. Some fish are being caught by drop-shotting minnows over or near deeper brush, as well. Expect the shallow bite to turn off in the event of an extended cold snap or get even better with an extended warming trend. Hopefully the water will clear up a little as we move into March. Trolling always seems to work better in clearer water. Overall, March is probably the BEST month for size and numbers of crappie. Expect many of the crappie to bed on the full moon in mid-March.

NOW IS THE TIME! Book your trip with me for the prime April, May or June striper season , email me now to insure your day!! Hudsonsprobass@gmail.com or visit my website LakeWestPointFishing.com for more info.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports: “Fishing has been good, We’ve had some crazy weather, It’s cold for a few days and then it warms back up and then drops a lot of rain, and then cools back down. But that’s your winters in North Georgia, which, all in all winter time is the best time to fish. You don’t have all the crazy boat traffic and it’s the time of year you get to learn more about the lake, and it lets you slow down and hone your skills. I like spending the extra time with my electronics looking around for new places to fish, finding

ditches, brush and drop offs around docks. We’ve been catching fish in the 12’ to 45’ range. We have seen some good groups of fish around off shore brush, and small pockets off the main body of lake. It seems the better bite has been on sunny days and most of the fish have been in secondary points and around brush. My wintertime baits are to always size down. We’ve been catching fish on Ned rig with small Trd, 3” swimbait on a round ball jig head, and dropshoting a 4.5” Roboworm. February is a month that I have caught some of my biggest fish, the reason is, you don’t know what kind of weather we might get. But in years past, if you have some nice warm days in February, it seems the Largemouth bass like to move up and feed some, so I would make sure to throw a swimbait, and A-rig around pockets and creek runs. Good Luck!

FISHING WITH MORE FRIENDS!

By Gary Turner

At 28 years old, my friend Danny had the first fish of his life on the line! These are the moments I love sharing with my friends. I’ve taught a lot of kids how to fish, and I’ve seen their happy faces when they catch that first fish. Seeing one of your friends that never caught a fish growing up about to land a nice fish is what it’s all about. I have probably said this before, but will say it again, you will reach a stage in your fishing life where it is almost as satisfying to see your friends catch fish as it is you reeling them in yourself.

My friend Matt and I were looking forward to our trip down the Toccoa River with Guide Joe Dipetro, but the weather had other plans and we had to reschedule. I also had a couple of trips lined up to go to Santee, and the weather wasn’t looking great for those either, but Capt. Dewayne has a cover over part of his pontoon that we can hide in while waiting on the bites, so fish on! Stacy, Danny, Rafi and I were planning on two days of fishing

Lake Marion with Capt. Dewayne, but, as luck had it, Danny and Rafi had some work they had to finish up on Wednesday and Thursday, so they would catch up with us Thursday night. Thursday night came and they were not there, so I called them. They were finishing up one more job. At 10 minutes after 3:00 in the morning they came rolling in. I welcomed them to the place we had rented, showed them the 3:00 a.m. tour and their accommodations, and I hit the hay. We were meeting Capt. Dewayne at 8:00 a.m., so Stacy and I headed to Loves at 7ish for some snacks, drinks and my breakfast of champions: two Jalapeno Cheddar dogs! Danny and Ravi rolled out to grab some McDonalds. We finished up and headed for the dock.

When we got there, Dewayne was unloaded and waiting for us. We all boarded his pontoon and took off out of Goat Island, in search of Catfish, Blue, Flathead, Channel, we didn’t care. I just wanted to see

these guys reeling some in! The day before when Stacy, Capt. Dewayne and I were fishing, we caught a bunch of nice fish including a 38-pound Blue, Stacy pulled in. We knew a front was coming but had high hopes that Friday would be as good as Thursday or better. Well, as most of us that fish frequently know, those fronts can be brutal on the fishing, and that was the case this time. We marked fish all over, but they were like little kids at the dentist, those mouths were shut really tight! The wind was blowing and it was cold, but we didn’t care, we just wanted bites. As the day went along, we started picking up a few fish. Rafi got the first fish, then Danny hooked up on his.

This was the first fish he had ever caught! He had been fishing before but never caught anything. It was so awesome to see him reeling in that first fish! Rafi and Danny both reeled in several nice Blue Cats that afternoon and now they are both hooked! After we finished fishing, we went to the Lake House in Summerton for dinner and then Danny and Rafi said they were gonna pack up and head home so they could work the next morning. They are half my age, but I can still remember the days I could do that! Dewayne wanted Stacy and me to go check

out some swamp with him the next morning, so we did. At the landing there was a curious little bait shop that had a sign that said “Knock Please”. When the little older man, 82, opened the door, he welcomed us into his neat bait-taxidermy shop . . . that’s a story for another time. Just let me say that was a very neat experience!

You can get more information on fishing with Capt. Dewayne Profitt by calling him at 740-4043900 or 803-478-6479. His website is TakinitEasyGuideService.com Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip. Whether with a guide or just on your own, GO FISHING!

I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on, but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you!

If you want to see Danny’s first catch or other videos I have done, check out my YouTube channel here https://youtube.com/@FishingWithGary.

You can reach me at gary@purgeright. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it , “Tight Lines and Squeal every time.”

Dave Ondrey with some slabs on Lake Eufaula Alabama.

Madison Baird with a bass she caught in a Jefferson Pond.

Ella Smith caught this nice large mouth bass on a farm pond in Oconee County.

Braeden Smith with a nice bass caught on a farm pond in Oconee County.

Dennis with a Hot Tuna!

Owen Parker with a nice bass from Lake Lanier.

Landon Glander with a nice bass on a cold January day!

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2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic Returns to the Tennessee River

The prestigious championship bass tournament—widely known as the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing”—will be held March 24-26 in downtown Knoxville and on the University of Tennessee Campus.

e Bassmaster Classic pits 55 of the world’s best bass anglers against one another for the title of Bassmaster Classic Champion. e Classic is a catch-and-release event, with bass being returned to the shery under the supervision of the TWRA.

Daily takeo s will be from Volunteer Landing on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville each competition day, and weigh-ins will take place in the ompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. e fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held Friday through Sunday, March 24-26 in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.

All activities and venues are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

B.A.S.S. PHOTO

COLOMBIA: A GOLDEN ERA OF FISHING BEGINS

By Riley Love

Twenty years ago, I wrote an article on the Golden Age of Panama shing. Long have anglers waited for access to the salt and freshwater environments of Colombia.

In 2016, a lengthy peace process was negotiated and a nal agreement for a cease re and cessation of hostilities between the government and militias. In truth, there are still areas of the country to be avoided and cocaine production remains high, but the political and drug-crime environment has improved enough to move Colombia nearer the top of the target list for angling. e country’s upward trajectory with new tourism outstrips its neighbors. e latest three trips we’ve taken to the country have been completely safe.

Fishing the Amazon and Orinoco River basins are “peacock bass trips.” It is a stunning shery, where you routinely encounter fellow anglers from the far side of the world. From there, these trips can be divided into peacocks and “what else.” In Guyana it was giant arapaima. For the last Brazil trip, it was big wolf sh. is venture was to the Guaviare River, massive itself, a tributary to the mighty Orinoco. It is hard to understand the size of these watersheds until you see them yourself. Our quarry here was payara, the vampire sh.

e dichotomy of life in the tropics is the wet and dry seasons. During the time of rain, the rivers swell from their banks into dense rainforest. Sitting in your boat, you listen to peacock bass bust prey far back in cover where no cast can go. e shing season is re ned to those months when the rivers shrink back into their skeletal forms and sh are targeted in remaining aneurysmal pools. But the payara have a need for speed. ey stack up in current and mouths of tributaries where more water ows. ere is something about going a er speed freaks… it presses my buttons.

Alberto “Beto” Mejia is the young progenitor of FISH COLUMBIA. He has developed lodges here, on the Orinoco and on the Paci c coast at Punta Ardita, just inside the Panamanian border. He is a stone-cold payara y sherman. is lodge is more rustic, and you really feel away from it all.

Peacocks and payara take ies very well, both poppers and streamers. For the conventional sherman, it’s a chance to use multiple baits and techniques. Very large topwater prop baits and poppers, big minnows at multiple depths. e Dramatis personae includes numerous others- pacu, sardinata, also the opportunity for multiple species of cat sh, some in the 400-pound range. Uraima falls in Venezuela was a specialized lodge for payara. is is o the list as a destination for various sordid reasons. I have bagged them across the frontiers of South America. Most run 6 to 7 pounds, and a very good one about 15 pounds. e sh on Columbia’s Orinoco run twice that size. I believe this is the best payara lodge on the planet.

For more information, go to www. shcolombia.com. For more from Riley Love, go to rileylove.com and nd him on social media @rileyloveauthor.

FastTrack™Angler 385fta

The Fastest, Most Stable, Best Paddling Fishing Kayak

The in atable shing kayak is super rugged and ready to take on hooks, ns, and rocks. Tough, fast, portable, and built especially for anglers. The patented NeedleKnife™ keel cuts through the water so you can paddle or motor your way to your favorite spot quickly and easily. The Angler 385fta is 12’6” x 36” fully in ated and holds up to 2 people or 635 lbs. of people and gear. Packs down to 36” x 15” x 20” to t in a car trunk, SUV, RV, any small place. Various seating and trolling motor options are available.

console or tackle bag. You’ll nd other uses as necessity dictates.

Soft Baits: You’re throwing away money if you sh so plastics and don’t use super glue. Most so plastics are designed for action rather than durability. ey’re disposable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the most you can out of them.

If you’re shing a paddletail, grub, eel, worm or any so plastic on a jighead, a small drop of super glue will extend the life of that bait inde nitely. Secured to the jig, it will never slide down to the bend of the hook like a loose sock. To a lesser extent, this trick works for bare hooks, as well. Forget multiple sh, a so bait can last multiple trips when it’s glued in place— barring, of course, interactions with toothy sh.

When it comes to sh with teeth, there’s no way to avoid rips and tears in your so plastics. Even toothless sh will beat up a bait with extended use. Super glue repairs slices and gouges in so plastics. e rigidity of the repaired area will a ect the action of the lure, but this can be a trip saver when you’re down to the last in a bag of that one color sh are biting.

Hard Baits: With hard baits, super glue is for on-the-water repairs. If the lip on your crankbait gets loose, a tiny dab of glue will hold it tight and keep your lure swimming true. If the screw eye comes out of your favorite topwater or swimbait, gluing it back will render it stronger than it was to begin with. Super glue extends the life of expensive lures that would otherwise be headed for the trash.

By CAM Sta

SUPER GLUE BELONGS IN YOUR TACKLE BOX

Just like pliers or a good knife, super glue is an essential item in your shing kit. ere are numerous practical uses for this stu in shing, and it’s also a catch-all tool. It’s like liquid duct tape. When you have it, there’s no end to the situations when it comes in handy. Here are a few good reasons you should keep a tube of super glue in your

Knots: e debate is ongoing on whether super gluing knots increases their strength. Most folks who do it are in the “it can’t hurt camp.” However, there are a couple situations when it just makes sense. Coating line-to-line connections that frequently run through the guides smooths the knot and protects it from wear. With braided line, good knots, and the right knots, are crucial. Even so, braided line can cut itself when knots shi and tighten under stress. A drop of super glue keeps knots snug and secure.

Miscellaneous: Super glue can save the day when an eyelet or rod tip comes loose. It’ll also keep you on the water when you cut yourself chunking bait. Glue the wound shut and keep shing. Save the emergency room for later.

For more tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

By Molly Kirk

GOLDEN BASS CAUGHT IN VIRGINIA

Virginia angler Jacob Moore was quite surprised when he reeled in this largemouth bass from the James River. Moore was expecting to catch a largemouth—he was targeting them. But he de nitely wasn’t expecting to catch a golden largemouth!

“I was out there practicing for a tournament, catching a bunch of sh,” said Moore, who works as an arborist and participates in local tournaments. “I was on the lower James near Chippokes [State Park]. When I hooked into that one, I thought I had a saltwater sh on at rst, but lo and behold, it was a largemouth! A very di erent largemouth, though. I haven’t seen anything like that before. I’ve seen bass with black spots, but I’d never seen an albino one.”

“Golden largemouth bass are extremely rare and most anglers have never seen them, let alone heard of them before,” said Alex McCrickard, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Aquatic Education Coordinator. “ e sh is a product of a genetic mutation that alters the skin pigments called xanthism. Yellow pigmentation dominates in xanthism, as you can see in Moore’s golden largemouth.”

Moore measured the sh at 16 ½ inches, took a few photos, then returned it to the water.

For more information, go to dwr.virginia.gov.

TIES STATE RECORD

This big Georgia sheepshead tied a two-decade-old state record for the species a er weighing in at 14 pounds, 14.37 ounces.

e angler, Ben Golden III, of Midway, Ga., caught his sh near the Sunbury community outside of Midway on Feb. 3. e catch quali es as a tie with the existing record of 14-pounds, 14-ounces set by Ralph White, of Rincon, Ga., in 2002.

“To be honest, I’ve been telling folks it’s been my goal to catch a state record for 10 or 12 years,” said Golden, who grew up in Midway and has been shing the Georgia coast most of his life. “I’m excited to say that I did it.”

Sheepshead are common around 7 pounds but can easily be found up to 10 pounds. ey reach maturity around 3 to 4 years of age and primarily live inshore, o en near rocky areas, docks, bridges or arti cial reefs, or other areas with barnacles.

Between 2017 and 2021, NOAA Fisheries estimates that Georgia recreational anglers caught an average of 490,197 sheepshead each year, with an average of 262,457 being harvested.

For more information on the Georgia Saltwater Game Fish Records program, visit www.CoastalGaDNR.org/SaltwaterRecords.