The Angler Magazine | January 2023 | Greater Atlanta Edition

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SPACE COAST

By Nick Carter

CHASING BAITBALLS

Winter is the best time to sh,” said Capt. Chris Cameron, “the only problem is the weather.”

Capt. Cameron is owner/operator of Fired Up Fishing Charters out of Cocoa Beach, Fla. He said it was tough to nd good weather windows this November and early December, but that o shore shing is primed to re o like a Space Coast rocket whenever conditions stabilize.

Winter on Florida’s Atlantic Coast can be spectacular because of all the migratory species that push down to overwinter in milder temperatures. King sh, cobia, black n tuna, sail sh and others are all hunting the reefs about 18 miles o Port Canaveral. e key to the shery is menhaden.

“ is time of year, you get these huge baitballs,” said Capt. Cameron, “and there are all these sh following the bait around. You nd sh where you nd ‘bunka’ congregating on the reefs.”

Cameron is a transplant from Long Island, New York, and even a er more than two decades living and shing Florida’s east coast, he still refers to menhaden as “bunka,” which is Yankee dialect for bunker, which is what they call pogies up where boats are winterized this time of year.

“On good days, when you can get o shore and the water is clean, we might catch a limit of kings, a couple cobia, a couple black ns and hopefully a sail sh,” Cameron said. Even with 2022’s tightening of cobia regs, that’s a fun and delicious mixed bag to ll the freezer.

At places like Pelican Reef and 8A Reef, where depths range from 75 to 85 feet, Cameron nds the bait and then goes to work slow trolling live baits on double-hook stinger rigs and 20-pound line and tackle. He said he pulls baits at about 1 knot, which allows them to swim along naturally.

“ e thing with slow trolling is you never know what you’re going to get,” said Cameron. “It could be a big king, a sail sh, a cobia or a shark.”

Pitch rods are kept ready in case a cobia shows up on the surface. Cameron said he’s learned from experience not to over-stimulate cruising cobia by throwing multiple lines at once. Usually, clients can convince cobia to bite with a one-two punch. ey keep a squid-tipped bucktail ready for a quick cast. If that doesn’t draw a strike, it allows time to slap a live bait on the second rig, which is a simple 5/0 circle hook.

Shrimp boats are another option Cameron seeks out this time of year. Although chasing them can be a bit of a time gamble, since they are usually 25 miles o shore over 200 feet of water, they can be extremely productive.

“If you see a shrimp boat o in the distance or spot one on the radar, it’s almost always worth a shot,” Cameron said. “When they dump their bycatch in the morning, it pulls everything up.”

Fishing shrimp boats can be short-lived, but

it can also provide fast action for the same species that come o the reef. For this bite, Cameron beefs up to 6500 spinning gear and 50-pound braid and 50-pound mono leaders. He keeps four pitch rods ready, two with bucktails and two with live baits, because the bite can turn into sight shing

in a hurry. Meanwhile, he’ll search with freelined pogies on a knocker rig.

Contact Capt. Chris Cameron and Fired Up Fishing Charters through their website at redupcharters.com.

By CAM Sta

Winter’s cold fronts consolidate wahoo to their preferred temperature ranges across their range. is makes them easier to target than at any other time of year. e following is a short list of very good destinations for wintertime wahoo.

San Salvador, Bahamas: Way out in the Atlantic in the southern Bahamas, the waters o San Salvador hold one of the best wahoo sheries in the world. Peak wahoo season is December through April, when hordes of ’hoos migrate to the area’s warm waters. e island might just be the

best place on the planet for a shot at a triple-digit wahoo, and the right conditions can yield fast action for 50-pounders, as well.

Within a short 10-mile run o the island, a seamount rises to 180 feet from 4,000 feet of water. is hump is a well-known feature, where wahoo congregate to feed on schools of small tuna. e remoteness of San Salvador keeps shing pressure in check, but it also makes this one of those bucketlist trips you plan ahead for.

Galveston, Texas: O shore humps out of Galveston, Texas also lay claim to some of the best wahoo shing in the world, and every winter anglers connect with giants. is shery, however, is reserved for anglers with the gumption to make 100-mile overnight runs to features like East and West Flower Gardens to catch the morning bite.

Windows of good weather and big, fast boats are a requirement to reach the shing grounds at the edge of the Continental shelf, where wahoo pile up with bait sh on steep depth changes of rock structure.

Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina: O the South Carolina coast, cooling water temperatures con ne wahoo to the warm water at the edge of the Gulf Stream. is makes them much easier to target than when they are spread out in summer.

Depth changes and structure at the edge of the Continental Shelf, combined with warm 70 to 80 degree waters of the Gulf Stream can be found 50 or 60 miles o the coast. ese structures hold bait sh in the temperature range where wahoo are comfortable. Covering lots of water with high-speed spreads trolls up the best wahoo of the year, every year.

Venice, Lousiana: It seems everything o shore of Louisiana is about the oil rigs, and in wintertime the oil rigs are all about wahoo. e key to nding wahoo on the rigs is nding the right temperature range, and the magic number is 60 degrees. Wahoo congregate and feed around the rigs where there is bait and water temperatures of at least 60 degrees.

One of the great things about Venice is there are deep-water rigs relatively close to shore at just 15 or 20 miles, which means it’s possible to nd a good weather window and go. e Louisiana coast also boasts some of the best catch rates for wahoo in the world, and 50- to 60-pound sh are the norm.

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GO GROCERY SHOPPING IN JANUARY

With grouper season over, it’s time to switch gears and concentrate on other species. is is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers. Depending on water temps, it’s also a good idea to keep a light line out for any pelagics that swim by.

I love yellowtail and a mangrove snappers, but I really like jolt heads, trigger sh, pinkies, black seabass and hog snapper. I treat bottom shing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. First and foremost, I don’t shop on every aisle of the grocery store. I go down the aisles that contain the items I really want. e best groceries come from di erent places on the bottom and from di erent depths.

Farther north up the Atlantic coast there are a lot of beeliners (vermilion snapper) taking the place of yellowtails. In this mix will be trigger sh, which I absolutely love! Beeliners and trigger sh have one thing in common: the largest ones of the school stay higher in the water column. is is why I like to sh a level-wind reel versus a spinning reel with small circle hooks for this style of snapper shing. I start dropping one “strip” of the reel

at a time until I get down to the sh. A “strip” is the distance of raising the rod up with your thumb o the spool, and putting your thumb back on the spool. Simply let your thumb o the spool and let it fall in 10-foot “strips” while raising the rod tip upwards. Count the strips it takes to get down to the bites. Four strips will be approximately 40 feet deep. Note where you feel the rst bite. is will usually be the largest triggers and beeliners in the school. If you stop getting bites or you’re only catching smaller sh, let this same tackle go deeper or all the way to the bottom. is is where you’ll catch the jolt heads, black sea bass, mangroves and hogs.

I use a two-hook “chicken rig” made of 50-pound uoro with small circle hooks and a 3-ounce bank sinker. I bait it with small pieces of squid. A small 2- or 3-ounce jig works with the same tackle as the weight instead of a bank sinker. is is especially e ective on large triggers. Just replace the treble hooks or single

J hooks on the back of the jig with small circle hooks and tip with a small piece of squid.

I could go on and on about this style of shing. e limits are pretty good and the reward comes at the table. It is a good time of year to take youngsters out, because this style of shing produces lots of action, and it’s not heavy-duty grouper shing. Little ones love a trip to the “organic grocery store.”

See more from Tim Barefoot at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com and check out a video explaining this style of shing at https://bit.ly/3YcVzV1.

Tim Barefoot

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY

OCONEE ON THE FLY-

USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com

In 2022, we saw some changes in the lake and in the tactics used to catch fish.

Stripers and Hybrids - This year the newly formed Lake Oconee Striper Club (https://www. lostriperclub.com/ ) was a great place to learn more about changing tactics and one that became popular was trolling Mini Macs. It’s basically a small umbrella ring. You can get them at Sugar Creek Marina. Troll them between 2.5 to 3 mph behind your gas motor or trolling motor. You can troll them under a planer board as well.

Georgia Power installed a supplemental oxygen line and diffusers at the dam to increase the dissolved oxygen. In the past we had a pump back bite at the dam but this year the fish were up from the dam near Riverbend. There was an early morning topwater bite and using a popping cork worked great. Another very effective technique

for the top water bite that fellow guide Mark Smith shared, was just casting a small buck tail jig. Many times, when fish are busting the surface, they are actually feeding just below the top.

Fly fishing – Oconee is a tough lake to fly fish and in the past the pump back bite at the dam provided the best opportunity for the fly fisherman. This year that bite at the dam never really happened. However, there was a topwater bite mid-lake when they were pumping. The lesson this year for me was using bigger flies and sinking line. The size of the shad and the increase in gizzard shad led me to try a 3-inch clouser on a 2/0 hook. I like the white and silver colors. This works particularly well fishing at night off docks with lights on.

Crappie – LiveScope and brush piles – Over the past few years fishing brush piles in the summer

has really taken off. The crappie guides focus on submerged trees and brush piles. The trick is locating the brush pile and positioning your boat so the customer can drop a minnow in an area often less than 4 feet in diameter.

Garmin LiveScope has changed crappie fishing! This is now available with Hummingbird and Lowrance. It allows you to see the image while the boat is not moving. You can see the brush pile, the individual fish, and your jig or minnow. There is a learning curve and if you are going to invest in this technology, hire a guide that uses it first.

January Forecast - Hybrids / Stripers

As of this writing (12/8) the spoon bite is on fire. Fish midlake and bring a stick with a rubber tip on the bottom. Tap the bottom of your boat and the sound wave will stimulate the bait fish and draw the hybrids and stripers in. Fish spoons straight down. If the bite is slow, try long lining bass minnows late in the day.

January Forecast Crappie –

The fish will be moving up the

lake from Lick Creek all the way to Sugar Creek and even as far as Blue Springs Marina. Pushing out of the front of the boat is a great technique for catching bigger fish. The setup is a 14-foot rod with a swiveled ½ ounce weight and a leader of 6 pound fluorocarbon to a jiffy jig tipped with a minnow.

Final Words -Please call 404-3179556 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. Remember to take a young person fishing when you go!!!

Hudson Witwer with a nice Oconee crappie!

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

THE CASTING CORNER VARIABLES IN A CASTING STROKE

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

As we learn to cast, there are several different ‘styles’ to choose from. Several different ways to describe what to do within a style. And there are many ways to deliver a fly to the target. With all the options, how do you decide what to believe or what to do when learning how to cast or cast better. There is an organization called Fly Fishers International that is very helpful in the process of learning fly casting. They have a general consensus based on science and years of study. Below is a list of 4 variables you will want to consider when you cast, and a brief description of how it applies when your casting distance changes.

Casting Stroke- Short cast, use a short stroke. Long cast, use a long stroke. Think of it like golf, short putt, short stroke.... What is a

short stroke? After the lift portion of a 20-foot cast, a short stroke is a hand travel of only about 6 inches. It’s much less than you would think. Keep that casting arc small as well. In a longer cast of 40-feet, the hand travel is still only about 12 inches. Going for 75-feet, that’s a whole different story.

Trajectory- The cast is generally directed up and back on a back cast, and down to the target on the forward cast. As the distance changes we still go up in the back and then we go out a foot or two over the target on the forward cast. Think about having a 50-foot stick on your shoulder and placing the tip of it on the target 10 feet from you. The back of the stick is way up. Then walk back 20 feet and keep the sticks tip on that same target. The angle of the stick is still up in

the back but it’s at less of an angle than before. That is the change of trajectory angle we speak of. We want the rod tip to go straight away from the target and back to the target at that angle.

Power- The power application should be at a smooth constant rate of acceleration to a stop. The variable is how much power, in that fashion, should be applied. Use the ‘stroke’ concept along with this and it makes sense. If we are only casting a short distance, we don’t need a lot of power. But if we increase distance, we need to not only lengthen the stroke but apply more power. Apply the increased power in the same fashion; An everincreasing speed up, and then stop the rod and let the line come off the

rod tip in the form of the loop.

Timing- After we stop the rod, we let the energy of the rod send the line out in the form of a loop. It takes time for the line to extend before we start the next cast. On a short cast it’s a quick cadence between strokes. As more line is extended, it takes more time for the loop of line to unroll in the air. We want to have the line extended without losing tension or falling too far. Watch your back cast.

No matter what ‘style’ of casting you want to use, the variables will always be necessary to adjust as the casting distance or circumstance change. I hope you check out Fly Fishers International for more insight into the casting world. Or even better, get a casting coach

for effective cold weather fly fishing, here in the mountains can differ in size and pattern significantly. Systematic approaches to various stream conditions can also help break the catching code. Frigid cold mornings aren’t usually a good time to be throwing dry flies that’s for sure. Before my first cast, on a winter’s day, I make sure I have my leader and fly selection tuned in for pin point presentations. Fishing the shortest leader possible will increase the odds of getting the fly close enough to a trout’s nose that he’ll take a swipe. It has to be long enough to reach the bottom of the pool easily and rapidly for a dredging presentation because that’s normally where the trout will be with 33 degree water. Czech nymphing is great for this. Icy water will normally have the fishes strike zone about the size of a ping pong ball, in other words that fly literally needs to almost bang that fish on the nose. A lot of times I’m just trying to get a reaction strike not a feeding reaction. Fly size can range from size 6 bounced streamers to size 20 midges. I will usually start with large flies such as a Wooly Bugger or Pat’s Rubber Legs, then hopefully finding the fish in the mood to eat a big bite and then work down from there. It’s a whole lot easier to land a big trout on a large sized hook than a teeny one. If that doesn’t work smaller nymphs or egg patterns or even a San Juan Worm or a squirmy might be the ticket. If I have to go even smaller Zebra Midges

or Rainbow Warriors get the nod. Swung flies such as soft hackles and small streamers or intruders can also be extremely effective in enticing a stubborn fish. A slow “static swing” as I call it can be just too much for a trout to handle. Making the fly easy to catch and easy to eat is a good way to look at winter fishing. The river sweeping of a Spey type presentation can cover every inch of water and get that fly in the magic zone effectively. Water conditions such as super clear clean water call for more natural looking fly patterns. When we have high or stained water it’s time to break out the bling. Brightly colored flies or the color white or even black can be more easily seen by a trout. Weighted flies are easier to get down quickly and stay there. You should be getting hung up every now and then to be sure you’re deep enough. If you are snagged every cast lighten up a bit.

The daily rise in the water temperature can fluctuate between three to four degrees if the sun is shining brightly, even on a cold day. The highest winter water temperatures on a nice day will usually peak out around two pm. That will probably enlarge the trout’s strike zone too, from a ping pong ball to maybe a soft ball making it much easier to hit the strike zone. Be sure to be there at the time of peak activity it may only last a couple of hours before the fish lock down. See you on the river!

Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly FishersMaster Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

WISDOM AND INNOVATION

By Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters

Flyfishing appeals to many trout anglers because of its challenges, from weather to water to effective presentation of the right flies. Some flyfishers subscribe to the DIY school and prefer to go it alone, while many others, like me, subscribe to the buddy system. We find more joy in sharing our experiences with and learning from friends. Within our buddy school, however, are generational differences, where retirees hang together, and young guns run toward their own cohort. I’m here to promote bridging that gap. Why? You’ll have more fun and catch more trout! How? It’s all about wisdom and innovation. Follow along with me. Wisdom is gleaned from experience, and gray-haired dudes and dames have a lot of that. In my first few decades of slinging the noodle rod, I learned valuable lessons from seasoned buddies like Rabunites Doug Adams and Bill Kelly and all-star trout addicts like Jimmy Harris and John McGarity. Those lessons would have taken me years to discover on my own. Their kind mentoring helped me to see, hear, and appreciate more about trout, their habitat, and their surroundings. I learned where wild river browns lurk, the season and time of day for prime bug hatches, the sunset joys of coffin flies, and the secrets to Yellowstone cutts. We found old moonshine stills and hidden short cuts to prime pools. The wisdom shared by those mentors is priceless. All young bucks and does should hang out

with the old herd bull occasionally. Bridge that generation gap and you’ll discover their old world, which will be new and exciting for you. You can laugh at their flip phone, but you’ll be amazed at their instream history lessons. Cherish that wisdom passed on to you and do the same for the cohort to follow.

There’s one knock on us old dogs, however. With five decades of flyfishing under my belt, I’m now a proud member of that AARP trout club. We’re just too comfortable and set in our ways. We think we know it all when it comes to our traditional methods and favorite trout places. We are stuck in that quicksand of tradition and lack innovation. And that’s where our younger generation of trouters can save a retiree’s day! Those TikTokers are on the hunt, blazing their own trails and testing new techniques. And they bring youthful exuberance to our highway commutes and stream hikes. Without my pup friends like Kyle Burrell, Daniel Rabern, Jake Darling, and Landon Williams, I wouldn’t have learned how to build a fly rod, tie the Oreck egg, throw a Belgian cast, fish with Euro methods, or toss Game Changers. Their innovative lessons have added great joy to my own trips.

Look around and grab a new friend or two. Catch a boatload of experience from the old dogs and a creel full of new tricks from the energetic pups. Wisdom, innovation, and a diversity of fishing buddies will net you much more flyfishing joy!

CHATTOOGA RIVER

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

The happy holiday season is now past, and the long winter nights have settled in for January. Great rains of December have filled the rivers and streams around us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop. River flows have been great, and the fishing has been even better. Many large fish were being caught throughout December, and the trend looks to continue through January.

Now, the winter fishing season is upon us, and it is time to layer up and catch big winter fish. At times, with the heavy rains, the rivers will take a few days to subside from extremely high levels and unsafe wading conditions. After this, the rivers will fish extremely well, with many large fish being caught. Do not let the cold weather keep you home, just dress appropriately and enjoy the rivers. We have found using the wicking base layers and the Redington I/O Fleece Pants to be very beneficial, to keeping warm while wading. Let’s not forget about top layers either. We recommend wearing a wicking base layer shirt, and then a fleece and an insulated coat depending on the daytime temperatures.

Many large fish are being caught using tandem nymph rigs, with larger nymphs as a lead fly and a smaller nymph as the trailer, tied off the back end of the lead fly hook. Casting these tandems slightly upstream, and

dead drifting these flies through the seams is essential. The seams are those areas between the faster and slower moving water. There are many flies to choose from, as the lead flies and as the trailers, we have a tremendous supply in stock, and don’t forget to check out our “hot list as well”.

As for the streamers, big fish are being caught as well. Casting out and across fast moving water, dead-drifting, and then a strip and pause back to you along the seam lines has proved to be extremely effective. Keeping the streamers low in the water column is also a key to success, as with the colder water temperatures the fish are holding low in the river. The use of a weighted leader or pinching on a piece of weight a foot above the streamer will help.

On warmer days, some dry fly fishing may be at hand. Don’t be surprised to see rises as the winter days warm from the early day cold to the 50’s maybe even 60 degrees and fish start rising. Pre-hatch fishing nymphs and emergers on the swing will be the key early and then switching to dry flies as the winter day warms.

If fishing in cold weather is not your cup of tea, join us for a flytying lesson inside our warm shop. We offer one-on-one fly-tying lessons for beginners, or to those that want to learn new ideas at the vise, just call for an appointment. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers and please don’t forget “Leave No Trace”!!

15544 Hwy, 515, Ellijay

THE GUIDE’S ANGLE

IT’S A HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR THE BROWN TROUT BELOW BUFORD DAM!

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service

It’s been 18 years, since 2005, that the Georgia DNR quit stocking brown trout in the 35mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River between Buford Dam and Morgan Falls Dam. The significance of these two dams is that neither dam structure can be breached by fish making this long stretch of river a legitimate “controlled environment”. This means all the browns that thrive in these waters grew from eggs that were deposited into gravel beds where they incubate and hatched in the late winter and sustain a wild population of fish. This is a testament of good water quality and progressive fisheries management by the DNR and NPS. This has been a long time coming, as GA DNR first documented natural propagation with the capture of young of the year, in Spring 1999, following a videotape filming brown trout spawning on a shallow gravel bar at Jones Bridge Park by the Chattahoochee River Keeper. Local fishermen had suspected browns were spawning successfully through the 70’s and 80’s but because DNR historically stocked browns and rainbows every year this was interpreted by scientists as “antidotal trivia” or just another “fisherman’s story”.

So here we are 18 years later with proof that brown trout are not just surviving but they are indeed thriving in these productive tailwaters with Atlanta looming in the background. The Atlanta greater metro population has grown from just over 1million in 1970 to over 6million in 2023. I am

optimistic, as a Fly-Fishing Guide Service business owner since 1994, that while it is a precarious future for trout, it is sustainable. With conservation groups like Trout Unlimited, Atlanta Fly Fishing Club, Ga Women Fly Fishing Club, Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, Chattahoochee Riverlands, Ga Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Lands, these nonprofits among others, help guide the growth of the region to protect public parklands and water. Thanks to the foresight of Atlanta planners like the ARC or Atlanta Regional Commission, the Chattahoochee for nearly 50 river miles has a protected watershed extending 5,000 feet on either bank of the river, where a Ga state law was created to protect Atlanta’s sole drinking water source. This River corridor maintains impervious to porous land surface ratios, so storm water and erosion is monitored by cities and counties to save taxpayers from having to pay more to clean the water for consumption. In 1978 President Carter helped to add the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to the National Park system with 10,000 linear acres of protected parklands with many river access points. Atlanta is one of three cities in the World that has a major population with a trout stream running through its boundaries! (The other two cities are Calgary, Alberta Canada with the Bow River, and Munich Germany with the Isar River.)

Lake Levels 484.00 (+ or -), Surface Temp 58, Clarity / Slightly stained Happy New Year from all of us here at Lake Martin. As you can see in our photos, we have been very busy with our charter service and no doubt boating as many stripers as you’d ever want to catch. Fall fishing in 2022 will go down in the record books as one of the best we’ve had in years.

Now for January, I think the bite is going to continue to be as good as it gets. Winter fishing on Lake Martin for stripers is known to be one of the best places in the USA to catch numbers and yes some very nice ones to say the least. This month we will, along with volume, start boating some really good quality stripers as well. If all goes well, we should start boating some 20-40 pounders this month. You never know for sure, but most years, January will start to pro-

duce some trophy size stripers here.

This time of year, I spend a fair amount of time in the larger creeks, pulling planer boards, searching for a trophy, for our clients. There’s not a creek on Lake Martin that will not be holding some stripers this month, so don’t think you have to zero in on any certain creek. I have caught stripers in them all in January. Being on the water 7 days a week, with clients, I’ll finally find 2 or 3 creeks that will be holding some of the bigger stripers and then I’ll concentrate in that area.

I always tell my readers and clients there’s never a bad time of year to fish; some months may be better than others and January is one of the better ones for sure. Purchase some good warm apparel (I personally wear Aftco - by far the best) and get out this month and try your luck at winter fishing. You may be pleasantly surprised how fun and productive it is!

Until next time stay safe and tight lines.

LANIER STRIPERS

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

After a very warm and wet December, it looks like Lanier is finally falling into the winter pattern. The lake is still down a few feet, but it has risen some the last couple weeks with the wet weather. Be careful of debris floating each morning. The back of the creeks have some stain and the water temperature is still in the low 50s.

This month’s report is more like a December report as opposed to a January report. Everything is more or less a month behind schedule. The baitfish are just now moving into the creeks in very large schools. Some of these schools are absolutely massive. On and off throughout the day the stripers will move through this bait and feast. You want to be waiting on the stripers with the traditional downline with blueback herring and rainbow trout. Trout are already being

used with success this winter. You will need the same setup for both baits, but you will need different size weights and hooks. Spool up a Penn Fathom II 15 reel with fifteenpound Trilene Big Game clear line paired with a Shakespeare striper rod. You can use this setup yearround for stripers. Tie a Carolina rig on the end with a Capt. Mack 2-ounce swivel sinker and 5-foot leader of 15-pound Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon and a Gamakatsu 3/0 octopus hook. If the trout are smaller, go with the 1/0 or 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook. On the herring, use the smaller 1-ounce Capt. Mack swivel sinker. Also, on the herring use a smaller size 1 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap hook and 12-pound Trilene 100 % Fluorocarbon. All these details are important. They will make the difference between fishing and catching. Drop these baits on top of the very large schools of bait and wait. If they are around, you will know within 15 minutes. If no luck, go to the next creek.

If you want to catch these fish on artificial lures. The spoon is a great choice. Tie on a Capt. Mack Super Spoon on a 6’6” Abu Garcia medium action rod paired with an Abu Garcia Revo X with 10-pound line and drop the spoon to the bottom and work it in a yo-yo type motion. Most of the bites will be on the fall of the spoon. The spoon bite is late this year. Target the bait in the ditches.

To find where these deep pods of bait are located first look for any birds like loons and gulls. The birds

always narrow your search. Now that you are in the right area, the proper electronics are crucial. On the Humminbird Solix, you can see these huge pods of bait and even see your bait swimming around on the hook around the schools of bait. During the Winter do not be afraid to fish in the middle of the day. Many times, in the Winter the best fishing is during the warmest part of the day. A win all the way around. No need to freeze at daylight. See you on the water. Capt. Clay

Carters has been fishing well. The walleye are not schooled up. They are in small groups holding near the bottom on points and humps. Look for them under spots and stripers, as well, feeding on injured bait fish. Early morning and just after dark are the best times or on rainy and overcast days. Various size spoons have been getting the job done as well as live bait. Camp Branch and area around the beach have been holding good numbers of fish.

The striper have been eating live baits on flat and down lines early in the creeks. Medium size gizzards, big alewives and trout

CARTERS LAKE

have all been catching fish. The fish seem to be scattered in all the creeks as there’s bait everywhere. We’ve been running 12-pound fluorocarbon and 2/0 circle hooks

with good success in most cases. There’s also been some nice walleye mixed in with the stripers as well as the ever-present spotted bass.

PLANNER BOARD

By James K. Pressley, jameskpressley@gmail.com

As striper fishing has gotten more and more popular, southern anglers are adding techniques and gear more common in the Great Lakes for salmon or walleye than below the Mason Dixon line. Planer boards, dipsy divers, down riggers, trolling weights are all items, 30 years ago, you would just never see here at Lake Oconee. I know guys these days using every one of them for our stripers and hybrids. But let’s talk about planer boards to start with.

Years ago, my father and I tried using these on our boat after watching a striper tournament on tv. If I remember right, we ended up frustrated and with a tangled mess and the boards probably in a tree. Now, all these years later, I am still learning how to use them, but with so many of my friends like Capt. Brandon Davis of Bent Rod Charters and Capt. Kevin Wahl of Wildside Charters, I am making definite progress. To help you guys join the planer board community, I am including a little how-to here. GearLine counter reels are not a must here but dadgum they do help a lot!

7’ Medium to medium heavy rods

Mainline 16-20 lb. mono or even go to braid.

Swivel - if you need to add weight to your bait this is a good way to get it down. Use bigger swivels for more weight.

Bead - Drop a bead on there right about the swivel. It’ll help protect your rod tips. Also, once again, it adds a little weight.

Split shot if needed or larger weights if you think it’s necessary. Honestly though, use weights sparingly. You want a truly natural presentation here.

Leader - Flourocarbon is a must here in many of our opinions. And run it long. I go shorter in cold weather to make the bait stay closer to the lead. However, Capt. Davis goes long. 12’ or so. He wants to make sure it looks as natural as possible.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

replicate it. Experiment with your speed and presentation but ALWAYS run a flat line out the back of the boat. When you can Capt. Davis recommends throwing a gizzard shad back there. It’ll help attract fish even if they don’t bite it.

Now I need to give some special thanks to several people.

Capt. Mack Farr, Capt. Brandon Davis, and Capt. Kevin Wahl (also known as The Porcupine of Lake Oconee), without these guys I wouldn’t have the slightest clue of what to do. Each of them answers my texts, calls, and messages about this stuff. So, when you need equipment or guides reach out to them.

Hooks - Now this is going to depend entirely on your bait. Threadfin shad are going to require a small hook. Something like a 2 or 4 mosquito hook. Gizzard shad might get you up to a #1 or even a 1/0. Blueback herring might be a #2 mosquito. If the fish start swallowing the hook this means, it’s an aggressive bite and unless you are keeping them switch to a circle hook to limit unintentional harm to the fish.

How to startStart with your first board. Run your bait to begin with about 30’ out then attach the planer. Let this run out to where you think the fish might be. This can range from just 10 yards off the gunnels to a ways out!

Drag - Don’t lock your drag down. You need it just tight enough to allow you to set the hook when the fish takes off. Often, they are going to hit this presentation and throw a lot of slack in the line. So, pay attention.

Speed - Capt. Barndon Davis likes to run his boards with the trolling motor and tries to stay between 0.7 mph and 1mph. Varying the speed to achieve depth and presentation.

Important tips: ALWAYS pay attention to where your bait is. Once you get a bite notice the depth, conditions, structure, etc. That way you can

Temp 51, Level -18 ft , Clarity 10ft

The warm weather we had in December kept the walleye bite solid all month. This has also kept the fish scattered vs stacking up like they typically do this time of year. There’s fish in shallow and deeper water. The smaller fish are up in the 20ft range roaming what’s left of the grass beds and the bigger fish are still holding in the deeper water in the 50ft range on rock. Both seem to be feeding more on blue gill and small herring than anything else so matching the baits is easy. We are fishing vertically and using sonar to locate fish laying on the bottom. Don’t spend too much time on fish that don’t react, keep moving till you find ones that do. As the water cools look for the fish to school, “stack up”, on the main lake points and feed there throughout the month.

The bass bite has been downright

ridiculous at times. On warm days the top water bite has been pretty good. There are also big schools of fish cruising the rocky drop offs looking to ambush schools of herring. They will absolutely destroy a 3/4oz spoon, live bait, or slow pitch jig worked right in the school.

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

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

It’s Boat Show Season!

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

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to start thinking about your on-the-water transportation for 2023. Regardless of whether you are considering buying a new boat, a used boat, or just sprucing up your existing boat, you have lots of options. With all the choices available, choosing the boat that’s right for you can be overwhelming and time-consuming. One of the best places to explore all your options is at an NMMA Boat Show, like the Discover Boating Atlanta Boat Show this month.

A boat show offers the opportunity to get up-closeand-personal with a variety of makes and models. Looking for a new bass boat? How about a wakeboard boat? A personal watercraft or a pontoon? They’re all there, and you can compare features, options, and pricing… all under one roof.

Perhaps you want to spruce up your current boat with new decking, or maybe you need to re-power with a new fuelefficient Honda outboard. It’s all there. Plus, you will find a huge assortment of accessories for your boat and your dock; from water toys to dock furniture.

What’s special about the early season boats shows, like the Atlanta Boat Show in January, is dealers are ready to ‘deal’. Many will have last year’s models that need to be moved to make room

for this year’s models. And many will have extra incentives like upgrades and great finance rates.

Now that I’ve got your wheels turning, here’s a couple things to consider while you are on your quest to achieve New Boat Nirvana.

First…your boat buying journey should be a fun one. But you’ll need to do a little homework before you start shopping.

1. Do your best to select the boat that’s right for you. Seriously consider how you’ll be using the boat. Fishing…or cruising? Or both? How many people will you typically have on the boat? Look at the capacity plate that tells you how many people it can carry and the maximum horsepower it can handle. Do you intend to pull skiers or water toys? If so, be sure you have enough horsepower to do the job. Unfortunately, I see a lot of new boat owners who are aggravated because they purchased an under-powered boat. You may want to increase the horsepower to the maximum shown on the boat’s capacity plate.

2. How well does this boat hold up over time? Every boat looks great on the showroom floor. But not all boats are built alike. While doing your homework, try to narrow it down to a couple brands and styles. Then try to locate that same model used boat for sale, one that’s around four or five years old.

See how well it’s held up over the years. Look at the wiring in the console, the hatch hinges, the gel coat, and upholstery. Essentially, what you’re looking for is just how well the boat has held up over the years. Does it look like a great boat that’s four or five years old, or does it look 20 years old? Quality does come at a price, especially these days. So don’t let a great price tag be your only deciding factor.

3. If this will be your first boat, or if you are moving up to a larger boat, then I highly recommend taking a Safe Boater Course offered by the US Power Squadron. You’ll get great information to help you be a better, safer boater. From how to safely operate your boat, to Rules of the Road, to dealing with emergencies on the water. And, by successfully completing the course, you could realize discounts on your boat insurance too.

So, kick off the New Year at the best place to explore all your boating options…the Discover Boating Atlanta Boat Show at the Georgia World Congress Center, January 12 - 15, 2023. And while

you’re there, come by the Fishing Center and see the new Wide Open II, my tricked-out ShearWater 270 powered by twin Honda 250’s. Buck, The Wonder Dog and I will be doing fishing seminars every day to help you put more fish in the boat. So, stop by and say hi.

Shopping for a boat can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Have fun, do your homework, and attend a boat show to find your new dream boat. There are a wealth of boat buying tips to get you started on the right path. Check out our downloadable Boat Buyer’s Guide at NutsAndBoltsFishing.com or visit DiscoverBoating.com.

Lake Nottely: Lake Level _14 ft_ below full pool. Temp: 50-53 degrees Clarity: Clear, slight stain upriver Bass Fishing: New Year, new opportunities, same goal: catch fish. The New Year brings to mind all the great memories of 2022 and the excitement of the new in 2023, new species, new biggest, new friends. Bass fishing in specific has been good to great on Lake Nottely when you’re around the fish. When you’re not, it’s as good as snow tubing without the snow. Most of the fish have made it to their winter homes out deep. I typically target ditch lines and deep rock this time of year. I focus my depth from 25-45 feet. The fish tend to stack up, so make multiple casts and presentations to an area after you get a bite. With the water at its

winter pool, it is easy to pick out the steep rocky areas by sight. The bigger chunk rock is usually better, especially on sunny days when it warms up. A couple of presentations will dominate the next month or two. These include a ¼ shaky head, a jig, a ½ spoon, and a crankbait (such as a Spro RK crawler). On sunny days, the fish will be more active, willing to eat a crankbait on the rocks or the spoon in the ditches. If pursuing the catch of a lifetime, there is a sneaky pattern I will run on certain days. The big largemouth will still come shallow even in the middle of winter. A glide bait or a Colorado blade spinnerbait dirt shallow in the creeks or sunbaked pockets can yield giant results. This takes patience and time, but they are there to be had. Of course, you have to be on the water to find out, so get fishing and have a happy New Year!

#godsgotthis

Will HarkinsGetfishingguide.com

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

FISH LANIER DEEPER IN JANUARY,

MOSTLY…

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

While the outside elements are not always favorable, January can offer some outstanding angling on Lake Lanier. Lanier offers some great winter fishing if you are willing to be outside in the elements and explore fishing outside of your comfort zone.

Before we get into fishing, please mark January 14th, 2023, on your calendar. This is the date of Jimbo’s Southern Fishing Expo! ONE DAY ONLY! Come and enjoy some incredible fishing tackle and service vendors for a great day of shopping, in addition to some awesome raffle prizes! The event will be held at the Forsyth County Conference Center at Lanier Tech, off Exit 13 on GA 400. Visit this web link for more info: https://jimboonlanier.com/ southern-outdoor-expo/

Now, let’s explore some fishing tactics with which you can approach Lanier in January.

Ditches

As we discussed in a recent installment, a ditch can be defined as a significant depression which offers a sharp depth change of 2 feet or more from the surrounding structure. Ditches can be naturally occurring or can be man-made. An example of a naturally occurring ditch would be a creek channel that feeds a pocket, cove, or creek arm. A man-made ditch could result from a trench that was dug during the construction near the lake. These features exist in many places on Lake Lanier, and they hold fish during the winter months. Ditches can be shallow or deep, and sometimes both depending on the length and location of the ditch. I shared a comprehensive article in December that focused completely on ditch fishing. If you missed it, take the opportunity to go back and review this information – it could continue to play a key role in January 2023. The lake is trending below full pool as we end 2022. Typically, when the lake is below full pool, ditch fishing is more productive.

Your Search

Use your Humminbird/Garmin

electronics to find creek arms or pockets just off the main creek channels that offer a deep vein extending back into the arm or cove/pocket. The farther the deep water extends back into the creek arm, the better for wintertime fishing. When you enter these areas and are searching for productive water, search for the presence of bait fish in and around the timber which you will find in the deeper water portions of the ditch. If you do not find bait, you will not find fish. Leave and check other similar areas. Also, look for the ditches that do have timber at the mouth. The presence of timber represents the appropriate depth for a potentially productive ditch. Also, key in on special features within the ditch, such as a point or secondary ditch that may intersect with the main ditch.

Technique

While our focus is on fishing deep, understand that a shallow bite often exists in these same ditches, even in the dead of winter. Often these shallow fish in the winter mornings are monsters. Try these areas with a GA Blade Shad Spin, Berkley Stunna jerkbait, or Berkley Moneybadger crankbait. Also, a Keitech swimbait on a ¼ oz swim head can be a good option. Your presentation speed with all the above should vary directly with the water temperature. The colder the water, the slower your presentation should be. Also, with the Shad Spin, crankbait, and Keitech, your bait should maintain contact with the bottom as much as possible. Begin your search shallow in the backs of the creek arm at daylight, this will be the warmest water in the lake and will often attract bait fish. Often the active fish will be in 15 feet of water or less right at daylight, so get out early and be ready for some action right away!

After the early morning bite, switch your focus to the deep areas of the ditch, generally 35-55 feet. Start with the first area of naturally occurring timber you find as you move from shallow to deep in

the ditch. An isolated tree can be excellent, but thick timber can hold fish as well. Obviously, the former is preferred, as the latter is normally more difficult to fish and potentially less efficient. So, if you can, find the more isolated cover when possible. The timber edges are often the most productive, so focus on those areas first. Cast and drag a Georgia Craw Bite Jig through the timber the same way you would work shallower cover. Slow and methodical is the key – you must develop a keen sense of feel as the bites are often very light. If the jig is not productive, fish a shaky head tipped with a Berkley General worm in the same fashion. Another option is to jig a GA Blade spoon vertically over fish you see on your Garmin electronics. A drop shot can also be an effective

presentation. Experiment daily as fish preferences change like the wind. Stay open in your approach and remain flexible.

We guide year ‘round on Lanier and would enjoy the opportunity to help you with your winter fishing. We can focus deep or shallow and help you learn the techniques you need to stay on fish all year! Give us a call and let’s fish!

Tight Lines and enjoy a great winter bite on Lake Lanier!

For more information or to book your Winter trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s Website: www.jimboonlanier.com www.jimboonlanier.com

Jimbo is a full-time, year round Spotted Bass Guide on Lake Lanier. Contact him today to book a trip! www.jimboonlanier.com

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

THOSE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Dr. Andrew Cox

As the New Year began, many of you probably made New Year’s resolutions. As we approach the last week of January or first week of February, for some of us, these resolutions may have fallen by the wayside. Our resolutions probably dealt with things that we really don’t enjoy or want to do. They are like a chore that must be completed. Resolutions may involve attempting to lose weight, stop smoking, drink more water or less coffee, or engage in more physical exercise.

Have you ever thought about changing the focus of your resolutions from things that you think you must do. You can change your resolutions to include something that you enjoy or to learn a new technique or skill. Angling could be a focus for future New Year’s resolutions.

Over the course of the angling year, you could commit to learning different angling techniques or using new or different lures. Maybe you would like to learn to use the Alabama Rig, perfect your spinnerbait techniques, take up fly fishing, tie some new fly patterns, perfect the use of bait casting equipment, learn to use swim baits or flipping techniques. You might like to expand your plastic worm techniques to include Carolina, Drop Shot, or Neko worm rigs or mastering plastic tube baits.

You can also expand your resolutions to sample some different angling waters. You could consider fishing that area of the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic coasts that you have always wanted to visit, this year. You could fish for trout in Alabama (you know that this is possible!), or fish wildlife refuges in Georgia, Florida, or North Carolina that you have read about. You could visit the various public fishing areas scattered around Georgia and Alabama or consider a float trip on your favorite river or that river that you cross frequently when driving.

My plan this year is to more frequently fish Alabama’s MobileTensaw River delta near Mobile, Alabama. I have talked to anglers that have fished this water, viewed

it from the Interstate 65 bridge, learned about boat access, and read about the area and techniques used to catch the various fish species found within this water. 2023 is the year that I will put all this study into practice.

What are your resolutions to expand your angling horizons? What new techniques do you want to learn or new waters to fish? Though over the years, I have not been a stranger to traveling some distance in order to pursue gamefish, I am always amazed at the amount of water with public access that I have not fished within our three-state area. Unfortunately, I have visited only a minuscule fraction of the public waters available for angling when you expand that list to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. What about Kentucky and Mississippi’s magnificent waters that are within driving distance? The list continues to expand.

When implementing these resolutions, you will be doing something that you enjoy, therefore increasing the probability that you will actually complete or participate in the activity. At the same time, you will be improving your angling skills and become a more versatile angler. Good angling adventures.

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.

LAKE NOTTELY STRIPER

Forecast By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service (828) 361-2021 Lakes Apalachia, Chatuge, Nottely, Blue Ridge and Hiwassee www.bigolfish.com

We want to start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Hopefully, everybody had a great Christmas and got lots of new fishing gear, lol. Now that January is here, it’s time to put all that stuff to good use. So, with that being said, January is a perfect time to get out there and catch some nice trophy stripers. Fortunately for you, we can help you score those monster North Georgia stripers. Lake Nottely is North Georgia’s hidden gem for catching some awesome stripers, and, as North Georgia’s #1 full-time guide striper service, we are here to help put you on some hardfighting fish. Guaranteed! Check us out on Facebook and you’ll see!

Currently, water temperatures on Lake Nottely are in the upper to mid 50’s and water levels are around 16 feet below full pool. Water clarity is moderately clear.

Striper fishing really has been excellent recently!! Just check out our Facebook page. We’ve been catching a lot of nice fish in the 15 to 30-pound range and a lot of them too. These fish for the most part are shallow and pounding baits on shallow flats in the backs of creeks. Pulling planer

boards and free lines early in the morning has been working great. Huge gizzard shad and blueback herring is always the bait of choice this time of year. It’s so stinking awesome to see a huge 30 pounder explode on a bait at the end of a planer board. It will definitely have you hooked on striper fishing once you experience this thrill. Back on track now, occasionally we’ll also pull small trout, as well. Also, look for these fish in deeper water schooled up. Especially on warm days. Our trophy striper season has been in full swing and these techniques will continue for the next few months.

January is a great month for catching a lot of schooling 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 fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee (in North Carolina), 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!

BASS: FAIR ----January is typically a slow month for bass fishing in general. The shallow bite for bass is only fair right now but could improve quickly in late January, especially with a warm rain and extended warming trend. Stained water, higher than normal lake levels and water temps in the low 60’s will turn things on quickly. Baits such as crawdad Shad Raps, Rat’l Traps and Chatterbaits will produce on these shallower fish. Try to fish these baits in coves and pockets with small feeder creeks or around schools of baitfish. Keep a jig or shaky head handy to pitch around any wood cover. Fishing riprap can also yield good results this time of year. The rocks warm quickly and retain heat. Yellow Jacket and Whitewater creeks

should continue to produce. ON THE OTHER HAND, a snow or ice storm in January could shut the shallow bite down completely! Water temps in the 30’s and 40’s make it super tough. If the lake stays cold and clear, go deep! Big schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers can be caught on jigging spoons, dropshot rigs and shaky head rigs on humps and drop offs. Target deeper offshore structures like brush piles and old roadbeds in 20-30 feet of water near the mouth of most major creeks for the best results.

LINESIDES: GOOD --- The downline bite with shad or bass shiners has improved as the water has cooled off and, in most years, stays good all winter. A 3/8 or 1/2oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and a number of other small shad imitators have been producing. The colder it gets the better the fishing usually is

(within reason of course). In cold water casting a bucktail jig becomes very effective as well. The mouths of most creeks anywhere south of the Highland Marina area all the way to the dam and Maple Creek have been holding fish. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Flash Mob Jr. Rigs also continues to produce some line sides in these same areas. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 30 feet deep, when they are not schooling on the surface. Expect the topwater fishing to be sporadic at best. It’s usually best very early and very late, or on overcast or rainy days. Gulls and Loons are here now, which makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers and hybrids. Keep your eyes open!

CRAPPIE: FAIR --- Try tight line fishing with minnows or a 1/16-oz. or 1/8 jig around bridge pilings, brush piles, and blowdowns in 15 to 20 feet of water. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels. Pitching or shooting deep water docks with small tubes or feather jigs around or under the docks can still produce this time of year. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee & Whitewater creeks are still producing some crappie. Spider trolling can be very effective in January. If January turns unusually warm and wet, the crappie can show back up surprisingly shallow very quickly!

Water Level 188.09 msl

Water temp 68 degrees

Water Clarity Good Stain

The water level is holding fairly steady, but the lack of rain has caused the river to drop below 189.00 for a few weeks. The unseasonably warm winter has kept the water temp up for this time of year. This has kept the shallow bite active longer than usual. The bite continues to be extremely slow. It takes work to cause the bass to want to eat your offering. Texas rigs, swim jigs and slow-moving chatter baits are getting a strike. Carolina rigs worked on the first drops on the river and creek ledges are also working. Dead sticking the soft baits on the bottom has become a good choice to get a hit. The bass seem to be running at the boat with the bait, so keep a close eye on your line movement. The hardest hook set is when they are coming to you. If you reel down on them too fast, they will feel it and drop the hook. If you set up with too much slack, it will result in a wimpy hook set and they will probably jump off as you lift them into the boat. Jigging spoons in larger sizes work where you find deeper fish holding near cover. You may need to work on them for several minutes to get them to hit the spoon.

The soft plastic colors that have been working are black with chartreuse tail, watermelon candy, watermelon red and June bug. Use a white trailer on your jigs and chatter

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

LAKE CHATUGE

bait. Dipping the tail in J.J’s Magic chartreuse is a good idea, the garlic odor makes a difference.

Crappie are on the drops in trash piles eating minnows and there are a lot of night fishermen using lights under the bridges and causeways. Panfish are still on the shorelines in this warm water eating worms and crickets.

Catfish are always a lot of fun on jugs baited with cut bait or stir fry strips. You can also go bottom fishing for the cats using night crawlers to draw in some big ones.

Go to www.alclassic.com and sign up for our newsletter. We are planning something new and exciting for our March 18th, 2023, event. It was the old Easter Seals Tournament. We will be known as the “Lee King Memorial Alabama Classic Bass Tournament”. We have always held these events to raise money for Neimann-Pic Disease research to find a cure for these terminal children. We have moved the October tournament back to September 16,2023 to get ahead of hunting season on both sides of the river. Please pray for us and consider fishing these two events to support our causes. We also support Darby’s Warrior’s where we take post 9/11 combat wounded and PTSD heroes hunting and fishing to acclimate them back into civilian life.

Enjoy some great time outdoors with your family. Memories are made during these great times that will last for generations.

Pray for all our uniformed men and women and their families, as they suit up every day and risk their lives for our safety. Pray for one another also.

Level: 7’ Below Full pool. Temp: 56-58 degrees. Clarity: Clear Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports: “ Fishing is good, the lake is down at winter pool and we’ve been having some colder weather which has helped the water temperature come down. I’ve not seen a lot of bass breaking first thing in the morning, but at midday once the sun gets up you will start seeing the bait fish get more active. I would recommend always keeping a topwater tied on and on the front deck. I like throwing a Berkley Cane Walker, Strike King sexy dawg jr, and Lucky Craft gunfish. With the lake being down you can get way off some of the clay points on the main body of the lake and see fish stacked up in 12’ to 25’ before it drops off to deeper water. I’ve been targeting these fish with a dropshot, using a 6” Roboworm or switching it up with a 3” minnow bait to try and match the Herring that they’re feeding on. You can also catch some on a Ned Rig, jig, and shaky head. This time of year is an excellent time to start using small swimbaits. I like throwing a Strike King 3.25” Rage swimmer on a 1/4 oz to 5/16 oz VMC swimbait hook. If there is some wind you can also throw a spinnerbait or a crankbait in a 200 or 300 series size to match the bait. This is a great time of year to take a little time and work on your

electronic skills. If you have any of the forward-viewing sonars now is time to check out your settings. If you set it up right, you will be able to watch a jerkbait or crankbait come right over the brush pile or school of fish. Once the water temps get down to 55 degrees, it’s a good time to drag the A-rig back out. It’s amusing to watch on the Garmin LiveScope. You can watch the fish chase it and you can also pause it and watch them run into it on the screen. Good Luck

God Bless & Good Fishn’ Capt. Sam Williams Hawks Fishing Guide Service 334 355 5057

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

BUCKET LIST

By Gary Turner

First off, let’s recap. 2021 was rough for my Bucket List, but I checked off the Sailfish! I ended up catching seven before the year was out. Thank you, Capt. Jimmy Dean! In 2022, I got on a fishing roll. With Capt. Johnny Stabile’s help, I checked off the Big Tarpon in Biscayne Bay, under the skyscrapers of Miami lights. We also went to the Everglades to check off Oscars, Bullseye Snakeheads, and several other species that weren’t even on the list. Here’s to hoping 2023 continues to be great for my fishing life! Now to the list, by the way, there is no rhyme or reason for the order.

1. The Swordfish. Still at the top of my list. I am going to try hard to get this one checked off this year. I have a couple of possibilities I’m working on.

Catching the next couple of fish on my Fish Bucket List will depend on whether I make it back to Alaska

to fish in the summer or not. I did make it back in 2022 and took five friends with me. We fished until we couldn’t fish anymore, but still didn’t get these checked off.

My hit list for Alaska still includes:

2. The Salmon Shark. The smaller cousin of the great white, is an apex predator of Alaska, like the grizzly. I plan to go out of Resurrection Bay in Seward, in hunt of the salmon shark. As of right now, I don’t have a captain selected for this, so if you have a recommendation, kindly email me the info. At up to 1000 pounds and 10 feet in length, this fish will be a worthy opponent. They average more in the 200-300 pound and 6–8-foot range.

3. The Halibut. A 300 pound or bigger halibut to be exact. This will also most likely be out of Seward, Alaska since I have several friends who fish out of there for halibut. It may take several years to find

this fish, but every halibut is an adventure. I love fishing for them there and out of Homer, Alaska. Back to the Lower 48 list:

4. The Snakehead, northern species. Why? Only because I have never caught one and like a good Pokémon Go player, I need to catch them all! Or at least one of every species that is big enough. I think Pennsylvania is where I plan to look for these fish.

5. The Sturgeon. This one is new to the list (as I check some off, I add some new ones ). This fish will require some travel, but it will be worth it. After watching Ty Kleeb’s (TyPigPatrol) video, I decided that it looked like a fish I wanted to catch. I know my friend Brent Riddle caught one a few years ago, and he said it was awesome.

6. The Giant Alligator Gar. This is a trip I have talked about for years and just haven’t been able to pull off. Dawson Hefner and I have talked about fishing for the giant alligator gar, so I just have to get out to the Trinity River and make this happen. Dawson regularly guides people to catch monster gar. Maybe this will be the year!

7. If I get back to Brazil, the Redtail Catfish is on the list! We tried to get one when I was there last September but had no luck.

8. The Bluefin Tuna. This one may be on the list for a few years, but it is getting more and more thought. My friend Mitchell Vandiver has been telling me about catching tuna at the Prince Edward Island area, PEI as they all call it. The more we talk about it, the more I think that one is going to move up the list. My other choice of locale may be North Carolina if I don’t make it to PEI this year.

9. The Goliath Grouper. I would like to just manage to reel him up and take some awesome pictures and release him back to his deep retreat. Again, this is a Florida trip for me. I have several friends that want to do this too, so it should be a great trip when we pull it off.

10. A Musky, I have never even seen a live musky! I saw the lures they have in Bass Pro in Illinois, and I was like “What are those giant lures for? Musky, wow they must be BIG!”

11. Jaguar Cichlid. They are just a cool looking fish and so they made the list. I actually have a separate cichlid list and an invasive species list I’m working on too.

12. Last, but not least, Bluegill - not just any Bluegill, one over 3 pounds. I hope to travel to Lake Havasu, Arizona with friends this summer to check this off the list. That’s my list and there are a ton of other fish to catch out there. If you have time, email me, and tell me about your list for 2023.

I want to also thank some people who make my fishing better! Troy Soukup at the Happy Hooker; Damon Melco at Xtreme Bait Tanks, David Ashby at Bottom Dwellers Tackle, the people at Columbia Sportswear, and my captain and fishing friends Dewayne Proffit, Santee, SC; Joe Dipietro, McCaysville, GA; Jimmy Dean, Daytona Beach, FL; Eric Crowley, Ellijay, GA; Chad Smith, Eatonton, GA; and Capt. Johnny Stabile, Pompano, FL. Make 2023 your best fishing year yet!

Please check out my YouTube channel: Fishing With Gary. If you want more information about fishing, you can reach me at gary@ purgeright.com. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

“Tight Lines and Squealin’ Reels put a Smile on my face every time.”

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

LAKE ALLATOONA

Forecast By: Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918

Winter is here, so bundle up and let’s go fishing! While DecemberJanuary rains are the norm, and levels may rise and fall, we shall see what the good Lord brings forth and just fish on with a thankful heart. This much we know – the winter fishing on Allatoona will provide plenty of action for the dedicated fisherman. The stripers, hybrids, spots, crappie, catfish, and white bass are biting pretty good right now. While the fish can sometimes have a little lockjaw during barometric pressure changes, persistence will pay off, and hopefully, you can find what they like on any given day. There are good concentrations of bait and fish (all species) from Bartow Carver to Kellogg Creek and all the way along the main channel north to Little River. These heavier concentrations of fish will begin to spread out in many areas, and we can typically start finding great fish in the cleaner water closer to the

dam. Every stretch has its own holding and transition holes, but overall, you will be working the channels for locating the fish. Down-lining and free-lining small threadfin or gizzard shad and even some trout or minnows should produce. Through December, fish were still keying in on the smaller young of the year. We still like to pull a big bait or two when committing to a stretch. With winter patterns, there are days that pulling the big baits will get the big bites. Pulling a medium to large gizzard shad 15-20’ behind a planer board can often be the ticket. The threadfin shad and alewife are thick in places along with the small gizzards in the mix. You must be prepared to cast your nets a little deeper for the bait or simply pick them up at your favorite bait shop. Minnows are also a hearty bait and can be dynamite. Trout can be a great winter bait, as well, and there will be days you wish you had thirty or so for a trip because that is what the fish really want on that select

winter day. Trolling has been effective, especially when you find a hole or channel ledge holding fish. Get that artificial school of shad down to them. Mini-Mack’s and Hog Farmer A-rigs at 100-125’ back and 2-3 oz. Umbrella rigs at 60+ feet back might be a good starting point. The sweet spot for trolling these is typically just under 3 mph, however there are days that you need to just slow it down and 1 mph on the trolling motor might be the ticket. Coming into January we will continue scouting the effectiveness of Bomber longA’s and similar baits for the deep holding fish that are triggered by such a presentation. Casting the smaller A-Rigs into these same fish- holding holes as well as working an area fan-casting spoons, rigs and crankbaits can be very productive when the fish are active. Vertical jigging a flexispoon or similar spoon might just trigger the bite even when a slow rolling shad might not. We suggest keeping a rod with a topwater or spoon at the ready for any topwater activity. There have been several Januarys where we have seen sustained topwater action for up to an entire hour. We welcome you to enjoy a lovely

Lake Allatoona striper, crappie, bass, or catfish Fishing Adventure with us. We are a full-time guide service, and we fish year ‘round to keep our boats on the pulse of the fish. Should you live in the area or plan on visiting, please feel free to contact us directly via phone at 404-919-4918 or through any of our main channels to discuss your ideal trip. We wish you and your family a very blessed and Happy New Year!

Thirteen-year-old Gavin Gipson caught this pretty Smith Creek brookie, thanks to flyfishing lessons from Uncle Ken.

Unicoi Outfitters staffer Ben Smith landed this trophy brown trout from a small wild trout stream in North Carolina.

Teague Chitwood with the bass he caught while fishing a pond with his nephew William. Todd Sparger with a nice largemouth bass.

Todd Sparger with a 22-pound Red Fish.

Hudson Witwer with a nice Oconee crappie!

Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts, sports bu s, adventure seekers, and water lovers. From exemplary fishing for striped bass, or a trophy largemouth bass, to our hiking trails and water activities, along with scenic outdoors where you can catch a glimpse of white tail deer and gators, Berkeley County has activities to fit all visitors and families.

Learn more about Berkeley County at: exploreberkeleycounty.com

NEW HOOK DESIGN ALLOWS FISH TO RELEASE THEMSELVES

Researchers have designed and tested a new style of hook that takes catch-and-release to a whole new level. ese “bite-shortened” hooks are intended to allow sh to “release themselves” without being handled by the angler.

Dr. Holden Harris, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station, was the mastermind behind the study. In his write up on Hook Line & Science, a North Carolina Sea Grant blog, he promoted the bene ts of e cient de-hooking and minimal handling of caught sh to considerably improve chances of survival for released sh. e hook he tested is a modi ed jig, which researchers clipped at the point, so that this “bite” portion of the hook—the business end— was reduced in length from 15 mm to 10 mm. e simple modi cation just clipped the barb and vertical length beyond the bend of the hook before it was re-sharpened. Harris tested it against a standard jighead as well as a jighead with the barb led down on 150 spotted seatrout. ey went shing with all three jigheads, reeled in the sh and then allowed the sh to op around boat-side until they either did or did not come unhooked.

“We found promising results for the bite-

HARRIS

shortened modi ed hook, which enabled anglers to land 91 percent of hooked spotted seatrout and then release 87 percent of those sh without direct handling,” Harris wrote. “In comparison, the self-release success rates were 47 percent using barbless hooks and 20 percent using standard, unmodi ed hooks.”

Additionally, Harris found that smaller seatrout were able to “self-release” at higher rates than larger ones.

Coastal Angler contributor and seatrout-on-

arti cials guru Michael Okruhlik has written on his use of barbless hooks when targeting pods of trout crashing bait. He said the ability to quickly and safely release sh without taking them out of the water allows him to get back in the action faster.

Maybe anglers would use a hook designed to let sh come unbuttoned?

For a video of this hook modi cation, see https://youtu.be/VC23oNikyc8

PHOTO BY DR. HOLDEN

Every year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces. It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial. But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece.

Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown.

Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Wear the Evergreen Diver for 30 days. If you’re not completely happy, send it back for

Amonster gold sh aptly named “Carrot” has been making the rounds on social media recently a er the sh was caught from a trophy carp lake in Champagne, France. UK angler Andy Hackett caught the nearly 70-pound bright orange sh from Bluewater Lakes, a heavily managed, privately owned pay-to-play shery that boasts of carp weighing heavier than 90 pounds.

Carrot seems to be somewhat of pet, but not the type you’d keep in a sh bowl. She is a crossbreed between leather carp and koi, and was stocked in the lake 15 years ago to give anglers an interesting sh to pursue.

“I always knew e Carrot was in there but never thought I would catch it,” said Hackett. It took him 25 minutes to reel in pot-bellied carp, which o cially weighed an astounding 67.4 pounds.

Carp caught at Bluewater Lakes are handled very carefully with a strict catch-and-release policy.

For more record sh, visit coastalanglermag.com.

TIPS FROM A PRO

THROW A LIPLESS CRANKBAIT FOR WINTER BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Some cold but very fun shing days are ahead, and a Trapstyle bait is my absolute favorite way to sh this time of year. Typically sh group up in winter, and whether that be bait sh or bass, there are opportunities that make lipless crankbaits absolutely deadly!

rowing a lipless crank around areas where sh are chasing bait or where they are grouped up has caught lots of bass and some big ones. Even casting this bait as a search bait can work wonders. ere are so many options for lipless cranks that it can get confusing. I’ve experimented plenty, so I hope this article helps.

Traps range from ¼ oz. up to 1 oz. in weight, and every size can be used di erently. I pick sizes depending on the depth I’m shing or the depth of the structure, and I also consider the natural bait that is prevalent in the area. If you’re shing shallow or around tiny bait sh, a ¼-oz. size will be the best bet. A ½-oz. is usually my goto. It’s great for the mid-range depths of 5 to 10 feet, and it imitates a range of bait sh sizes.

A ¾-oz. is a bit bigger, and I don’t throw it as much, but it certainly has its place in 10 to 20-foot depths.

Remember, you can always vary your retrieve to get these baits higher or lower in the water column.

Color is another key factor. Ninety percent of the time, I sh a bait sh color. Whether it’s a shad, shiner or bluegill pattern, natural colors always work for me. I also throw orange or red a lot in winter. ese colors imitate craw sh, and they work where craw sh are prevalent. Match your bait color to the forage in the lake.

e last factor for lipless baits is sound related. ey come in silent, multi-rattle or single-knocker versions. I go silent for very clear water and heavily pressured sh, when appearing natural is important. e multi-rattle baits make a lot of noise, and the commotion draws strikes. My go-to, though, is the one-knocker style. is sound is unique and a little deeper pitched. I feel like sh, over the years, have become accustomed to the loud versions. I nd the single-knocker gets a few more bites in most situations.

With treble hooks, rod selection is important. You just reel into the sh when you get a bite, and this means your rod needs a solid backbone to drive those hooks and also a good amount of tip for keeping sh on during the ght. My go-to rod is a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4 Medium Heavy Moderate. e 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5:1 is a perfect reel for this application. I sh 15- to 20-lb. Seaguar Invizx line, depending on the structure I’m shing.

I hope these Trap tips help you put a few more sh in your boat this winter!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.

RECORD LONGFIN TUNA LANDED OFF NEW JERSEY

ANew Jersey angler eked out a new state record for albacore (long n) tuna in October when he boated a 78-pound, 2.4-ounce long n that bested the previous 1984 record by 3.4 ounces.

Matthew Florio, of Brick, N.J., is a commercial scalloper and he was shing with the rest of his scalloping crew aboard the Luna Sea at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon, the largest known underwater canyon o the east coast of the U.S. ey were at least 75 miles o shore and chunking for yellow n tuna, which is a technique that involves cutting up a bunch of butter sh and throwing them overboard before following up with hooked chunks of butter sh. e crew was already having a good day with yellow ns when Matthew hooked into his big albacore. He battled it in with a Kevin Bogan 30 Stand Up rod and a Penn 30 reel loaded with 60-pound mono lament. e sh measured 48 and 3/8 inches long and had a girth of 37 inches. e previous record was a 77-pound, 15-ounce long n caught in 1984 by Dr. S. Scannapiego in Spencer Canyon.

For more record sh, see coastalanglermag.com.

DO BIG LURES = BIG FISH?

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Now that Jack Frost has bay temperatures thoroughly chilled, only diehard lure chuckers will be found stalking the ats. Most of us have one thing in mind this time of year, catching a trophy trout. Here is how I approach my quest for that dirty 30-incher.

When water temperature stabilizes in the COLD range, all the migratory forage ees for warmer pastures. e bays are le with larger mullet as the primary food source for prized speckled trout. is is the time of year that I pull out my larger lures. is could be a longer length, a wider pro le, or both. is doesn’t have to be a 12-inch lure that is no fun to cast all day, but I do upsize from my typical 3- and 4-inch lures that I use most of the year. We have all seen a 25-inch trout with a 15-inch mullet in its belly, so they will eat something huge, but giant baits aren’t as fun to sh.

My con dence lures this time of the year are typically a 4-inch wide-pro le slow-sinking lure or a 5-inch bulky body paddletail. Since plastisol is buoyant, the bulky lure will have a slower sink rate, which I prefer under most conditions. e

slower sink allows for dual bene ts this time of year. Logically, the slower sink rate matches the slower mood of a cold sh. Also, I spend a lot of time targeting sh over shallow grass in knee-deep water. A slower sink rate keeps my lure in the strike zone longer before it disappears into the grass.

weedless hook. Depending on the conditions, I might go weightless or with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jighead. e weedless version keeps me out of the grass, it lessens the opportunity for my cold, less-dexterous hands to be impaled by a hook, and most of all, it does less damage to the trophy sh that I am targeting.

Areas I target will be near deeper water, have so er bottom, have visible forage, structure and hopefully be lowertra c areas. While planning trips, I take into consideration moon phase, current conditions and recent conditions when determining where to sh.

I have never caught a trophy trout by accident. I don’t know if that is lucky or unlucky, but every trout I have landed over 27 inches was on a day when I set out speci cally targeting larger sh. Case in point, if you want to catch trophy trout consistently, you must make the e ort to target them, sh where they live and be attentive to details. I know numerous anglers have caught large trout with no e ort, but most don’t catch two.

The Return of a

I t my 5-inch rattling paddletail with a

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®.

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.