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EDITOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794 BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (407) 960-2340 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Ed Gocher • (305) 587-9101 • ed@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Flaitz • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Mike Weber • (414) 531-4172 • mikew@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com OKEECHOBEE : Ken Gabryel • (863) 532-3671 • keng@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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Catching Winter Cobia In The Keys By John Steinhorst
F
ebruary through April offers some of the most productive fishing of the year in the Florida Keys. An amazing variety of migratory fish species travel to the Keys as cold water temperatures push them south in the Gulf of Mexico and on the east coast. The most convenient place to base a Keys fishing adventure is directly out of Marathon, which comfortably rests in the middle of this tropical island chain. Marathon encompasses a unique collection of islands, creating the ideal boating and family destination with access to both ocean and gulf waters but far enough from the crowded streets of Key West. Capt. Chris Morrison, a 20-year Keys veteran who guides out of Marathon, enjoys hooking excited anglers up with these hungry migrating species, which include record-breaking cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, trophy sailfish and several species of jacks. Versatility is the name of the game, and options are abundant. Most often the best plan is to just decide where you want to fish, from the immense Gulf or blue ocean waters to the many reefs and wrecks surrounding the islands. Then be ready for anything when you get there. There are several techniques that work for each species, and Morrison utilizes a wide variety to keep his 8
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Temple Fork Outfitters’ Gary Loomis Inshore boat, although cobia sometimes swim with bull sharks and rays. Start drifting live shrimp back Series rods bending and his clients smiling. Live bait and jigs are most productive to with light monofilament leader and small hooks, ensure positive results. Pinfish and live shrimp and you are bound to get action from one of are among the easiest to obtain, since most local several species of snapper. If you start getting bit bait shops carry them. Deep jigs, such as butterfly off clean, add a piece of leader wire and you will types, and ¼- to 1-ounce bucktails are essential likely get hooked into a cero or king mackerel. to carry in your arsenal. For catching cobia, If you decide to fish the bay or gulf side of the present the pinfish on ocean-side wrecks and Keys island chain, you might want to anchor reefs as well as Gulf waters from 15 to 100 feet in 10 to 15 feet of water and hang that chum using the same rig for grouper down deep. Limit bag for landing Spanish mackerel. Head out to is one per person with a 33-inch size minimum. deeper Gulf waters and expect more cobia, king On sunny days, Morrison likes to spot cobia mackerel, and goliath and gag grouper. The with his polarized sunglasses from the tower of wintertime fishing action in the Florida Keys will his SeaVee boat above the reef line or in blue be sure to heat up your reel. If you need an expert light-tackle fishing water when a color change edge is present. When you see a cobia on the surface, cast the bait in guide, Capt. Chris Morrison has guided anglers front with no weight and at least 60-pound to more than 100 world records and received monofilament leader. Wire is usually necessary a Lifetime Achievement Award from the on your jigs as king, Spanish, and cero mackerel International Game Fishing Association. Visit are numerous throughout these prime fishing www.captchris.com for more info. grounds. John Steinhorst has contributed to many If you do not have a guide, the reef line on the ocean side from 25 to 40 feet is a good place publications during the last 20 years and can to start. Anchor and hang a chum bag over the be contacted at www.JohnSteinhorst.wix.com/ IslandMedia. side with ground-up frozen baitfish. Chum brings the For more Cobia fishing in the Keys, go to party to the back of your COASTALANGLERSALTWATER.COM
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Captain Fantastic.
How have so many of Marathon’s light-tackle guides achieved super-hero status? Because whether it’s tailers in the shallows, migrating tarpon out front or snook and redfish out back, our professional captains come to the rescue by putting you onto some amazing angling action. fla-keys.com/marathon 1.800.262.7284 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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RodsandReels Product Review AVET REELS SXJ 6/4 RAPTOR Since 1999, Avet Reels has been bringing to the market revolutionary reel designs that set the standard for performance. Their innovative SXJ 6/4 Raptor lever drag casting reel features Avet’s patented dual carbon fiber drag system, which produces twice the drag of the original Avet reels. The powerful system features adjustable strike pre-set and a strike stop button to prevent accidental advancement. The reel’s one-piece frame is precision machined 6061 T-6 marine grade aluminum with stainless steel components and is anodized for superior corrosion resistance. An offset machined handle arm reduces center-line profile and cranking wobble and is capped with a comfortable soft-touch handle knob. The two-speed transmission has a user-friendly shifting mechanism. Avet’s silent dog and gear anti-reverse system and M.C. Cast adjustable magnetic anti-backlash cast control system, both patented, are some of the most innovative and reliable in the industry. The SXJ 6/4 Raptor has nine stainless ball bearings, an alarm clicker and a light, narrow spool designed for optimal jig casting efficiency and less line leveling on the retrieve. It’s proudly made in the U.S.A.
CANYON REELS EX-80 TWO SPEED TROLLING REEL In case you hadn’t heard, Canyon Reels has redesigned its powerful EX-80 Two Speed Trolling Reel to give anglers the edge when pulling spreads for huge fish. The original EX-80 was extensively tested and matched up very well against the giants off the Northeast coast. When the captains made suggestions, Canyon listened, and the result is an even better EX-80, which features multiple upgrades that make it smoother, and easier to use. The EX-80 is a monster reel. It boasts a max drag of 105 pounds at strike and more than 155 pounds at full drag. A pre-set feature allows for accurate drag settings with an easy one-touch shifter. Upgrades include additional harness lugs that provide better balance control, an all new double drag system for drag runs that are even smoother than the original, and an oversized T-bar handle for additional cranking power. Several other improvements have also been made to increase the durability of this already remarkable reel. The end result is an incredibly smooth and user-friendly reel with the power to stop any fish in the ocean.
WWW.AVETREELS.NET
WWW.CANYONREELS.COM
ENIGMA HPT TITANIUM CASTING RODS
JP ROSS BEAVER MEADOW
Enigma Fishing is raising the bar on performance, while lowering the price point. Every aspect of their HPT Titanium Casting Rods were designed with extreme attention to detail. These high-performance tournament level rods are designed with premium, ultra-light Japanese Toray Carbon proprietary blend blanks. The HPT rods were designed and tested with input from professional anglers such as three-time Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, Aaron Martens. Enigma Fishing has customized and precision balanced each individual HPT rod to be ultra functional, exceptionally beautiful and tailored to exacting actions and specifications demanded by today’s tournament anglers. All rods feature premium American Tackle components, including the multiaward winning MicroWave Line Control System, which increases casting distance and accuracy. The blank-through reel seats offer finger-to-blank contact for unparalleled sensitivity and incredible ergonomics and palmable comfort, while further reducing weight as well. Premium cork grips balance out each rod perfectly! Enigma Fishing’s new HPT series features a sleek black rod blank, cork handles, stylish purple wraps and chrome accents. Delivering technique-specific performance second-to-none, the all-new HPT series raises the bar for all others!
WWW.ENIGMAFISHING.COM
MUD HOLE TURNKEY INSHORE ROD KIT
The JP Ross Beaver Meadow is a fly rod meticulously designed to fish the beaver dams and plunge pools of small trout streams where an 11-inch fish is a trophy. That’s not to say this rod can’t handle an 18-inch brown on big water, but blue lines are where it shines. It is a short, sensitive rod with the feel needed for the gentlest of nibbles but enough power to reach out 50-plus feet with a hopper-dropper rig. The Beaver Meadow is available in a 5’ 2/3-weight, two-piece and a 6’6” 2/3-weight four-piece for fishing small streams with wet flies and dry flies. The 6’6” also has the ability to cast medium weighted streamers. The 7’6” 4-weight four-piece, the 7’9” 3-weight fourPhoto by Draper White piece, and the 8’0” 5-weight four-piece all have the shorter length required for tight quarters but the backbone to land larger fish and cast streamers and multi-fly rigs. JP Ross rods are custom-made by hand in Upstate New York. Each rod is made to order, so the details are exquisite, and components can be customized from the grip and reel seat to the guides and thread color. The Technology used to achieve this awesome balance of sensitivity and power is breakthrough technology, the joining of carbon fiber and fiberglass that JP Ross calls Carbon Silica Hybrid interface. It makes a beautiful casting and wonderfully sensitive rod.
WWW.JPROSSFLYRODS.COM
Mud Hole Custom Tackle is offering amazing value with its inshore fishing rod building kit. This turnkey kit includes everything you need to build your own custom inshore trout and redfish fishing rod. The kit features the extremely popular and versatile SJ842 rod blank. This 7’0” medium-light power rod features a fast action for throwing soft plastics and topwater lures at wary flats fish. Along with the blank, the kit includes a matched guide set, handle kit and everything from the CRB Wrapper, a CRB rod dryer and ProPaste and ProKote Rod Finish along with all the tools needed to build your own custom rod. This is a great set for the avid fisherman who wants to take his or her fishing to the next level. To get started custom building your own high quality rod, visit www.mudhole.com and check out all our Turn Key Kit options or simply Google: Mud Hole Turnkey.
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RodsandReels Product Review OKUMA KOMODO SS BAITCAST REELS
The original Komodo 350 size baitcast reel has been the recipient of tremendous accolades. It is considered an extremely tough reel and an excellent value. For 2017, the Komodo family welcomes the Komodo SS, featuring a new 450 size and stainless steel drive system. The Komodo SS is built around a heavy-duty stainless steel main gear, pinion gear, drive shaft and spool shaft to deliver an internal foundation of unrelenting strength and corrosion-resistance. Komodo SS reels use rigid, machined aluminum frame and spool, aluminum side plates, high-output Carbonite drag system capable of a maximum drag output of 30 pounds, and updated 6-pin Velocity Cast Control System. Performance features include six or seven (depending upon size) stainless steel High Performance Bearings, plus roller bearing, for outstanding corrosionresistance. The synchronized level-wind system does not disengage for casting, which allows it to maintain alignment at all times and eliminated drag pressure spikes when using braided lines. Bait clickers are standard on all models. The Komodo SS series includes two sizes, 350 and 450. The 350 size includes a 6.4:1 gear ratio and maximum drag output of 25 pounds. There are four models in the 350 size. The 450-size Komodo is available in a 6.3:1 gear ratio and a hyperfast 7.1:1 ratio. Komodo SS series baitcast reels are covered by the Okuma 3-Year Limited Warranty.
WWW.OKUMAFISHING.COM
UGLY STIK BIGWATER SERIES Ugly Stik has refreshed its iconic Bigwater series with all-new Ugly Tuff saltwater guides and an updated look. Beginning with Ugly Tech construction, the Bigwater series maintains the toughness for which all Ugly Stiks are known. One-piece Ugly Tuff stainless steel guides eliminate insert pop-outs and provide durability and corrosion resistance for those harsh saltwater applications. The Bigwater series retains the traditional Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for more strength at the tip of the rod. Comfortable EVA handles and conventional reel seats give anglers a non-slip, comfortable grip no matter the conditions. The fly, standup, downrigger/dipsy diver, surf, spinning and casting models have also been upgraded to include a standard seven-year limited warranty. Four Bigwater spinning combos and two trolling combos for downrigger applications are also available. The combos feature a graphite spinning reel, available in sizes 50, 60 and 70, and have a durable aluminum spool. The reel featured on the Bigwater downrigger combos is a size 30 line counter round reel with a metal handle and power knob.
PENN SLAMMER III The Penn Slammer III, which won Best of Show in the saltwater reel category at iCast 2016, is the reintroduction of the heavy-duty reel that has become trusted by charter captains around the world. Slammer III reels feature a new IPX6 Sealed System, which keeps water out of the gear box and drag system in heavy spray and sea conditions. An updated Slammer Drag System now utilizes a proprietary Dura-Drag material. With the computer-controlled CNC gear technology system, the precision brass main, pinion and oscillation gears are individually machined for exact tolerances to provide the smoothest operation. Eight models of the Slammer III are available, ranging in size from 3500 to 10500 models. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1 with 37 inches of line retrieve on the smaller reels to 4.2:1 with 43 inches of line retrieve on the largest. Maximum drags start at 30lbs in the smaller models and run to 60lbs on the largest. The oversized reel handle grip gives the angler added control during the fight. The 3500 Slammer III is the smallest of the family weighing 13.9oz while the 10500 weighs 43.1oz.
WWW.PENNFISHING.COM
DANCO BAIT STIK Danco’s Bait Stik is the original rod and reel combo developed specifically for catching bait with a sabiki rig, and it is still the best. The rod in this combo is 7’3” and features two-piece construction with an extra-hard phenolic tip for superior strength and extreme sensitivity. Comfortable EVA grips and a gimbal butt with cover means anglers will be yanking bait from the water with ease. Anyone who has ever tried to store a sabiki rigs knows the frustration of attempting to keep them from becoming a tangled mess. With the Bait Stik, that is not a problem. While not in use, the sabiki rig can be safely and conveniently stored inside the rod, which is a huge plus. The combo comes with either a casting or spinning reel. The spinning reel comes with an anodized aluminum spool, a graphite body and rotor and an oversized eggshaped knob. The casting reel has an aluminum body and side covers, brass gearing and a star drag. Catching bait has never been so easy. When the bait tank is full, rinse everything down with fresh water, store the sabiki rig in the rod and forget about it. Look for the Danco Bait Stik in your tackle store.
WWW.SHAKESPEARE-FISHING.COM
OCEAN 2 RIVER TOURNAMENT COMBO
ZEBCO BIG CAT SERIES Zebco is launching an impressive offering of beefedup rods and reels called “Big Cat” to accommodate serious value-minded anglers who passionately pursue catfish. The spincast reels are built with a titanium nitride plated stainless steel spinnerhead to add durability and reduce friction. Big Cat XT conventional-style reels will likely be the top pick for the most avid trophy hunters from the Mississippi River to Santee Cooper and all waters in between. Two conventional reels will be offered. The Big Cat XT 30 conventional trolling reel will hold 455 yards of 30-pound test. The Big Cat XT 350 round baitcasting reel holds 200 yards of 20-pound test. Worth noting is that a headlamp handy for nighttime catfishing will be free to consumers who purchase rods and reels within the very affordable Big Cat and Big Cat XT series.
WWW.ZEBCO.COM
Ocean 2 River (O2R) Tournament spinning combos are designed to perform to the exacting standards of serious tournament anglers while standing up to the grueling conditions and treatment offered up by hard-core fishermen in the marine environment. The IM-7 fast action graphite rods come with Seaguide Atlas Performance aluminum oxide guides, comfortable cork split grips and a graphite reel seat with a cork inlay and cushioned stainless steel hoods. These rods combine strength with sensitivity and excellent casting power. They are available in medium and medium heavy weights to suit a range of line and lure weights. The reels feature a solid aluminum frame, graphite side covers and rotor and a double anodized aluminum spool to stand up to the saltwater environment. A 5.1:1 gear ratio is suitable for fishing a wide range of lures all day long without wearing out the angler’s wrists and hands. Stainless ball bearings and a comfortable oversized T-knob provide for longer casts, smoother drag runs and comfort while fighting fish. Look for the O2R combo and other fine Danco products in your tackle store.
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ON THE COVER
RHODAN INTRODUCES 72” SHAFT GPS GUIDED TROLLING MOTOR
Editor’s Note:
Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE The Florida Keys, Marathon
FREE
BIG BEND EDITION
The February edition of Coastal Angler Magazine features a cover image of Capt. James Platt with a 35-pound cobia he landed onboard a SeaVee boat about 10 miles out from Marathon’s Tarpon Creek Marina on the ocean side of the Florida Keys. The photo was provided by Capt. Chris Morrison of Keys Light Tackle Fishing Charters, who Local was fishing with Platt when they caught a limit of cobia, along with king mackerel, mangrove snapper and grouper. Morrison uses medium-heavy, Gary Loomis-designed Inshore Series rods from Temple Fork Outfitters along with 30-pound test Cortland Master Braid line to handle cobia and many species he targets in winter months. Home to the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge, Marathon is a group of tropical islands perfectly situated in the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. This ideal boating and family destination offers easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, Everglades and Gulf of Mexico waters for an amazing diversity. Wintertime in the Florida Keys means anglers see large numbers of migratory fish such as cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, wahoo, sailfish and blackfin tuna pushed down from colder northern waters. Marathon is an excellent destination to base your Keys vacation for an unforgettable adventure. See writer John Steinhorst’s article on winter and early spring fishing out of Marathon in this month’s issue. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 265
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Ice Fishing On Golden Pond, New Hampshire
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION
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This month’s cover image for The Angler Magazine was taken by Chuck Fritz on the ice at Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire. Old Timers might remember the 1981 movie “On Golden Pond.” It was filmed on Squam Lake, and the most interesting storyline in the film had to be the cantankerous Local character Norman’s obsession with catching a humongous rainbow trout named Walter. Squam Lake looks a lot different with a layer of ice over it than it does in the movie, which was shot in the summer. The fishing is still good, though. Just ask Tim Moore, the ice fishing guide who was photographed for the cover with a pretty yellow perch he caught through a hole in the ice. The ice fishing season on Squam and nearby Lake Winnipesaukee generally runs from January through March each year, and anglers target giant white perch and lake trout as well as smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish and yellow perch. If there’s anyone out there who knows where Walter is hiding after all these years, it has to be Tim. See Tim’s story inside this months issue and check out his website at www.timmooreoutdoors.com. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264
F R A N C H I S E
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MERCURY MARINE’S VESSELVIEW MOBILE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
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ercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile app is now available for free download on the App Store and Google Play in North America. Available for iOS and Android mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, the VesselView Mobile app instantly provides users access to their boat’s SmartCraft digital data in the palm of their hand. The product recently won a prestigious IBEX innovation award. The VesselView Mobile module, which is needed to fully utilize the app, is available for purchase at participating Mercury Marine dealers, from the VesselView Mobile app or on www.vesselviewmobile.com. The product is compatible with all Mercury SmartCraftcapable engines built since 2003. One module supports single through quad engine applications. SmartCraft is a fully integrated suite of digital technologies, including marine gauges, sensors, vessel systems and computercontrolled features, giving users a higher level of control over their boat’s propulsion and electrical systems. Now, with Mercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile, users can see SmartCraft engine data right on the screen of their mobile device. The app also includes useful new features such as Fuel Information, Maintenance Reminders, Mapping, Performance Summary, and Fault Code Diagnostics. VesselView Mobile makes preparing for and spending a day on the water easier, safer 14
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and more enjoyable by letting users perform the following functions from their mobile device: • Connect to the SmartCraft data network in your boat from your iOS or Android mobile device via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0) • See SmartCraft engine parameters like engine hours, fuel burn, water temperature, battery voltage, RPM, etc. (parameters available are specific to each engine family). • Get fault code diagnostic information so you know and understand if that fault is something to be addressed when you return to the dock, or is more urgent. • Fuel Management provides accurate fuel usage data along with fuel remaining plus indicates time and distance to empty when the user enters fuel added via the app. • Locate your nearest Mercury Marine dealer • Get points of interest information for your body of water, including fuel and restaurant locations, and more • Record a moment on the water for future reference • Access checklists associated with your boating lifestyle • Get maintenance reminders and access historical maintenance information logs. Mercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile app also provides users with a Web-based account that gives them and their preferred dealer app and module will be on display at the 2017 an even deeper connection to their boat. The Miami International Boat Show.
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Core Concepts Make
Ice Fishing Easier By Tim Moore
S
pending hours on a frozen lake isn’t easy. Your body works overtime just to stay warm. Then, add the activity level that often accompanies ice fishing, such as drilling or chiseling holes and chasing tip up flags, and it can be downright exhausting. The degree of difficulty extreme cold temperatures add to fishing is what keeps most people from trying ice fishing. While there is a ton of gear designed to make ice fishing easier, core concepts, such as efficiency and mobility go a long way to make ice fishing easy enough for even the most warm blooded people. When you strengthen your core muscles with exercise, you train the rest of your 16
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muscles to work in harmony, which leads to better balance and stability. The same can be said for ice fishing. Exercising core concepts on a regular basis not only improves technique and lure control, but ice fishing actually becomes easier. The hottest new lures and trending techniques might catch a few fish, but they do little to improve your ability as an angler, especially when everything is frozen. Efficiency is arguably the foundation of any core. A highly efficient ice angler accomplishes more tasks in a shorter amount of time, and therefore catches more fish. Being efficient means eliminating unnecessary steps. Fewer steps means more time fishing, and more time fishing means more fish caught. Every second you spend with your line out of the water is time spent not catching fish. Efficiency begins off the ice. There are many things you can do before you leave your house that will make you more efficient. Start by leaving equipment and lures you won’t need at home. If you’re going fishing for panfish and you have larger rods mixed in with panfish rods, you will have extra gear to deal with on the ice. It doesn’t seem like a big deal until you’re fishing in subzero temperatures and the rods you need get tangled with the rods you don’t need. Rigging multiple rods with different lures before you leave your house will also reduce steps on the ice. Then you can cycle through pre-rigged rods rather than tie new jigs in the cold, wind or snow. Have you ever seen the deck of a tournament bass angler’s boat? They have many rods rigged with different lures so they don’t have to re-tie while they are fishing. The same goes for ice fishing, especially when it’s freezing out. The work you do at home pays off on the ice, but there is more you can do while fishing to make things easier, such as putting gear back in its place when you’re not using it. Then when you want to move you have less equipment to put away. Sometimes we are so
excited to get fishing that we tend to lay gear on the ice when we are done using it rather than put it back where it belongs. By the time we decide to move there is gear all over the place, which makes moving harder. The Godfather of modern ice fishing Dave Genz always says, “If it’s easy you’ll do it.” Focus on ways to make everything easier and you will be more productive. The little things add up. Just as backpackers try to shave ounces off their packs to make hiking easier, successful ice anglers are always trying to shave off unnecessary tasks to make fishing easier. The equipment you use also contributes to your efficiency. A Vexilar sonar flasher removes a lot of the guesswork. Figuring out if there are fish under you and their depth could take hours without a flasher. A sonar flasher is easy to use. It will instantly show you the entire water column including the bottom, your jig, and anything else that shows up under you, such as a fish. All in real time! Clam Outdoors makes a number of items specifically designed to make certain tasks easier on the ice. Prices range from a few dollars into the $1,000 range. The simple lowcost products often make a big difference. The Clam Can allows you to carry bait in your pocket. Not a big thing, but it makes a huge difference when it’s cold. Rod Slicks keep ice rods from getting tangled, and Fish Trap shelters get you out of the cold quickly and allow you to move around easier. The parts all have a sum that equals success. Mobility is another important core element of ice fishing. Mobility allows you to cover more water, which allows you to put your lure in front of more fish. Think of ice fishing the same way you do when open water fishing. We rarely head out onto the water and cast in the same spot over and over again. Ice fishing is no different. Every hole you drill is a cast. Make more casts and you’ll catch more fish. If you make a lot of casts in an area and don’t catch anything, move to another area and repeat. Give yourself a time limit, and don’t stay in the same area if you’re not catching fish. Ice Fishing doesn’t have to be cold and difficult. Core concepts that make ice fishing easier also make it more fun. Establish a routine and it will become second nature. By constantly thinking of ways to strengthen your core, you make ice fishing easier. Before you know it, you will be catching more fish than ever before. And who doesn’t love catching more fish? Tim Moore is a full-time licensed fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns Tim Moore Outdoors and the New England Ice Fishing Academy. For more information visit www. TimMooreOutdoors.com. For more Tim Moore, go to
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12/15/16 1:24 PM
15TH ANNUAL SAVANNAH BOAT SHOW IS MARCH 3-5
SOUTHEAST
fishing experts are on-hand for seminars and demonstrations. The show also features boats overlooking the Savannah River and other maritime displays and exhibits. In its history, the show has held shag contests, seafood festivals, live music and other family entertainment. It’s one of the few winter boat shows in the country fortunate enough to have a waterfront view. Whether it’s sunny or inclement weather, there is something interesting for everyone at the Savannah Boat Show. The Savannah Boat Show was launched in 2003 at the Savannah Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island by JBM & Associates, long-time producers of the Charleston Boat Show. Since then it’s become a coastal empire tradition and boating and fishing enthusiasts make this an annual outing with family and friends. Each year, the region’s best boat dealers showcase their new products and services to kick off the boating season. It’s one stop shopping at the Savannah Boat Show, with boat manufacturers on-hand to answer questions, along with financial and marine insurance companies to assist with everything necessary for life on the water. LOCATION Savannah International Trade and Convention Center 1 International Drive Savannah, GA 31402
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he Savannah Boat Show, now in its 15th year, is located on Hutchinson Island, Ga., overlooking the Savannah River on the South Carolina border. This show’s strength is its location. Two hours north of Jacksonville, Fla. and two hours south of Charleston, S.C., it is a natural magnet for attracting boating enthusiasts and exhibiting companies from all three states and beyond. The show primarily showcases powerboats. Savannah, like Charleston, is on the coast, which makes it a strong saltwater fishing location. Each1year, Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page
HOURS Friday, March 3, 2017 Noon to 6:00pm Saturday, March 4, 2017 10:00am to 6:00pm Sunday, March 5, 2017 11:00am to 5:00pm TICKETS Adults: $8.00 Children 4 to 12: $5.00 Children 3 & Under: Free Seniors (65+) & Military: $5.00 Parking: $5.00 or take the River Street Ferry for Free
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GEORGIA
WILD AND CRAZY FEBRUARY
By Jimmy Harris
I
f you’re like me and have traditionally spent a lot of time outside in February, you’ve already got a pre-conceived idea of what to expect. What I typically advise clients who are coming from out of state to fish with us here in Georgia is to be prepared for absolutely any kind of weather. It’s good advice wherever trout live across the Southeast. The fishing will be great and the crowds will be small, but the weather is totally unpredictable. Bring plenty of layers of clothing and adjust as necessary. Snow events are most likely to occur in February, as are ice events. Snow is good. Ice is bad! My advice is, if it’s snowing and not hazardous to drive, go fishing. Something about the barometric pressure just really turns the fish on, kind of like me. During snowy weather, I’ll eat two bowls of chili, three pieces of cornbread and a big warm piece of apple pie all under the notion of preparing my body for the storm. And that’s what the fish are doing. We really have had some epic fishing days when it’s snowing. My good friend and guide Henry Cowen tells
me the stripers on Lake Lanier are the same way. If you like dry fly fishing in winter, February is your month. Good hatches of blue winged olives and midges happen on a regular basis, so don’t leave home without those patterns. If there’s no surface action, you simply resort to your typical winter strategies of dredging with an indicator. You’ll know when it’s time to change. Now for a reality check. If you look at the historical data for February weather in north Georgia, you’ll swear they’ve mixed it up with another month. Average daily lows run from 34 to 40 degrees and the highs are 54 to 60! Does that sound like winter to you? More like spring? Problem is, we don’t go fishing on the averages. You’ll also find that the record low in February is -9 degrees. Now I’ve been fishing on days when the air temperature was in the single digits, but I don’t have to do that any more. That’s a young person’s game, and I wish them all the luck in the world at it. It was fun when I was doing it, and the fishing was pretty darn good. I recall a day when every rock in the river had a shelf of ice around it. The water as clear as glass and a trout was under almost every one of those ice shelves. You had to drift a Bead Head Pheasant Tail right in front of their noses and watch for the take, but they would take it, and I had a blast. You can, too. Just dress warmly, and by all means, don’t fall in! For more trout foshing in Georgia waters, go to
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1/17/17 12:55 PM
COLD WATER CRANKIN’ FOR BASS
By Randy “C-note” Cnota
I
f you’re the type to leave the comfort of a warm wife and bed early on a winter morning to go chase little green fish, then we have something besides insanity in common. Getting bass to bite in cold water can be a daunting task at times. With that notion, I automatically go into search mode. I think most anglers would agree that the best search bait for bass is a shad- or crawdad-imitating bait that wiggles, dives, rattles and vibrates. Crankbaits offer all this, and they cover water quickly and efficiently. A bass’s metabolism slows in cold water, but this does not mean they don’t feed. Quite the contrary… bass are opportunistic creatures that will eat when the opportunity presents itself. Even in the coldest waters, a bass will move with lightning speed to crush a crankbait when the presentation convinces the fish
it’s looking at a feeding opportunity. Weather is the biggest factor to consider this time of year. Cold fronts can kill any bite you have going, but after a few days of stable weather, it can be great even if water temps haven’t warmed. In most lakes, bass have the option to move deep during winter’s chill, but this doesn’t mean all of them do. Between the shad die-off and crawfish molt, there’s plenty of food for winter bass both shallow and deep. Find the bait, find the bass. If you were to peek into my cold-water crankbait box, you’d see a variety to cover multiple depths, water conditions and cover. If it’s a lake with shallow grass, I’ll rip a lipless bait through the grass before moving deeper with a flat-sided crank like the Spro Little John or a Norman DD22. In very clear water, it’s hard to beat a Rapala Shad Rap to get finicky fish to eat. This tight wiggling rattle-free balsa bait is hard for bass to resist. I use both shad and crawfish colors for stained and clear water conditions. When ripping a bait through grass, I use a medium-heavy action rod. A 7’2” stick has enough length and backbone to rip a bait free from the grass… a technique proven to get violent reaction strikes. If I’m working over rocks and wood, I prefer a longer medium action rod with more give in the tip for decreasing snags and keeping fish buttoned up. When casting balsa baits, I opt for a light action rod with a very forgiving baitcasting reel, or I’ll use a spinning rod and light line to cast these featherweight lures. In most all of these applications, I spool up with Seaguar InvizX 100% fluorocarbon line. Occasionally I’ll use braid in thick grass, but even then I use a fluorocarbon leader. To get a bait as deep as possible, don’t be afraid to use 8-pound test, but 10-pound test usually works best for me. It’s cold outside and spring is a long way off for the die-hard bass angler. So get out of your warm bed and get your crankbaits in that cold water to see for yourself how effective they can be this time of year. Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For More fishing with Randy ‘C-Note’ Cnota, go to
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1/17/17 12:55 PM
Chasing Big Bulls In BC By Cam Sigler Jr.
B
ack in 2014, I went north of the Canadian border to fish for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout with Gordon Silverthorne, who owns the Kootenay Fly Shop in Fernie, British Columbia. This area west of Calgary is littered with good waters. I have taken large groups up to fish the Elk and surrounding rivers with him. It was on these trips that I found myself focused on catching bull trout. Big bulls on a fly became my quest. I had caught many, up to nine in a day, but had yet to break the 27-inch mark. Bull trout are in the char family with brook trout and Dolly Varden. They range from northern parts of California and Nevada in the south to the Northern Territories of Canada and East to Montana and Alberta. They can grow in excess of 40 inches long and to weights heavier than 30 pounds. They migrate up and down systems based on food sources and into feeder creeks to spawn. They typically inhabit waters that stay under 59 degrees and are one of the most sensitive of the chars, requiring pristine waters to thrive. They are recognized as endangered in most states and protected in most systems in the provinces. A bull trout of 12 pounds might be 10 years old. I was back in Fernie in 2015 chasing trout with a few friends. As usual, we had good fishing for beautiful cutthroats, but I was chasing bulls. We spent a few days on the Elk River and caught a few bulls longer than 20 inches, but not in great numbers. My attention turned to a small pristine river south of Fernie called the Wigwam. In the past I had sent anglers from my groups there, but because of limited daily access, I had not fished it myself. Access is difficult. From the parking area, it’s 800 feet down to the river. It’s a hang-onto-trees steep. It reminded me of some streams I guided in Alaska, cold and clear enough to see pebbles 20 feet deep. The first hole was full of bull trout. After many casts, I landed one longer than 30 inches. As a group, we
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caught many cutts that averaged about 16 inches and juvenile bulls of the 19-inch variety. In conversation, Gordon spoke of the nearby Kootenay River bull trout fishery and about setting up an operation there. The Kootenay is a glacial-fed river formed by runoff and feeder streams primarily out of Kootenay National Park above Cranbrook, Canada. I told him to count me in for an expedition that fall. It didn’t happen because of a landslide in the river’s headwaters that blew the river out for an entire season. It’s tough to fish a fly without visibility. Because of water levels and clarity, the window for fly fishing the Kootenay is about six weeks in fall, if you are lucky. I finally got my chance to fish it in late October of 2016. Author Tom Boyd, who is writing a book on all the char species, and I made the 6-hour drive north from my second home in Washington to a tent camp Gordon and big-game outfitter Eric Grinnell had erected on the river. The camp was great, complete with a stove in every tent and a generator for lights. It was located a good distance between put-in points, and we saw only four other boats over three days. The four of us had a terrific time. We saw a few deer on the river and kept an eye out for grizzly and black bears but saw no evidence of them. I did wake one night to the sound of wolves howling in the distance. Water levels dropped over the three days we fished, and the water cleared even more. The weather was clear and cold. The fishing is primarily from 16-foot boats with outboard jet pumps. The river is braided and skinny in places, so the driver must pay attention. It is glacial fed and there are quarter-mile log jams on the banks. When this river is running 15 feet above the level we fished at, it must be roaring. This is a 7- to 9-weight show with sink tips. I have caught many bulls dead drifting a rabbit strip or synthetic-based fly that swims with this method. This trip, stripping seemed to work the best. We
were on the tail end of the kokanee salmon spawn. Once spawned out, these landlocked sockeye salmon float downriver, and the bull trout key on the spent fish. So we threw lots of 10-inch flies. Bull trout are very aggressive and opportunistic. They have to be in these systems. Bulls can move daily, but once we found them in a section they readily took most flies we threw. Bull trout, like many trout, like structure. Snags, logs, and big rocks in the river often hold them. I caught the biggest fish of our trip on the last cast of the last day in a tail out. It topped 29 inches and took a crawfish pattern I tie for smallmouth. We caught a few juvenile bulls in the 19-inch range and a few cutthroat, but our average bull trout was about 23 inches. I saw a few fish that were clearly bigger than our biggest catch. My guess is there are bulls in the Kootenay pushing the 40-inch mark. The largest we heard of on a fly weighed about 30 pounds. The bull trout fishery in the U.S. and Canada is fragile. I suggest chasing them sooner than later. If you decide to fish the Kootenay next fall, look for the guy holding up the 35-inch fish. Hopefully that’s me, as I will keep going back. For information or to set up a trip, contact Gordon Silverthorne at info@kootenayflyshop.com.
For more Bull Trout Fishing in BC, go to
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1/18/17 2:08 PM
A WINTER WADE
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik • Photo Courtesy of My Coast Outdoors
A FLY FISHING
s we idled away from the dock on a mild mid-winter morning, we all anticipated that telltale thump of a solid wintertime trout. Although the fall and winter weather had been mild, the big trout had already started finding their way to the normal winter feeding areas where we hoped to intercept them. Armed with slow-sinking soft plastics, we were confident we would be giving our cameras a workout on this trip. As we quietly drifted into our first and what would be our only stop of the day, we noticed a lone angler had beat us to our target area. Showing him the
CHOOSING A SALTWATER FLY ROD
C
hoosing the right fly rod is a personal choice. There are so many rods and various rod actions (fast, moderate, tip flex, full flex, slow etc.) that selecting a rod can be very confusing. It’s confusing to me, and I live a breathe this stuff! Rod Length: 9 feet or Shorter? In most saltwater fly fishing situations the 9-foot rod is standard. It provides enough length to keep a back cast off the water, to pick up fly line off the water to redirect a cast and is the best option for making longer casts. However, in recent years many companies have developed wonderful fly rods that are much shorter and can cast with the best 9-footers on the market. The new short rods are 7 to 8 feet in length and have a moderate (slow) action. The combination of a shorter rod and slower action make these rods a deadly tool when casting larger flies and poppers at close range. Fly fishing for redfish, baby tarpon or other fish that hold tight to cover does not require long casts. And when making short cast, the short rod is a more accurate tool. The Grip And Feel Find a fly rod that feels good while you’re holding it. The feel can be the difference between casting the rod well and not. I have picked up some very high-end rods with grips that felt like tree trunks. I believe a grip with a narrower diameter is best because it allows you to feel the rod load much better. Rod Guides The guides on a fly rod are an important part of the overall
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courtesy he deserved, we anchored up short of the sweet spot and made our first wade out deeper. We pecked away at some mediumsized specks and kept an eye on the lone angler who we felt had the upper hand based on location. We watched him land one trout before he boarded his skiff and slowly idled out of the area. Although we had more action in deeper water than he had up shallow, we still decided to ease into our original planned area as the rising sun increased the water temp on the shallow flat. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the baitfish became more active and helped fine tune our target areas to cast. The water here was shin deep and clear with the bottom structure composed of soft mud with abundant grass and potholes. Using a white, slow-sinking paddle shad, I was slowly swimming it across the flat, pausing to let it slowly descend, and then I’d continue the retrieve and repeat. On one pause, I felt that telltale solid thump and then listened to the drag scream after the hookset. They were here! This was our first solid fish of the day, a thick-shoulder 6-pound trout. After a quick photo and release, we continued to ease down the shoreline sight casting to potholes or mullet. The next strike was hit and run, with the fish staying low and burning drag. After spinning me around a few times, I landed a solid upper-slot red. After several hours on this wade, I finally saw what I had been looking for, fleeing mullet at the edge of a pothole. A few cranks of the reel handle and I was hooked up. Not what I anticipated, but it was a medium-sized trout. I made a second cast to the same pothole, reeled my lure to the far edge and as soon as it paused it was inhaled! This trout sent foaming water sailing through the air while shaking her massive head. She tail walked four times before I had her close enough to verify her true size. The icing on the cake, an 8-pound trout in clear shin-deep water on a south Texas grass flat. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com. For more wading in the Texas winter waters, go to
PEACEFULWATERS.CO performance. Many rods today are equipped with flexible snake guides, better known as REC Recoil guides, that are lighter than standard snake guides. These REC guides allow the rod to flex between the stripping guides’ footings for a more efficient transfer of energy during the cast. These REC guides add to the rod’s casting performance, creating greater line speed. Another added bonus to these REC guides is they will bend and not break if bumped on a boat rail. Rod Action Rod actions vary greatly. It’s kind of comparing apples and oranges. Some anglers prefer a fast action; some prefer a moderate action. There are benefits to both, but for the beginning or intermediate fly angler, a moderate action rod is the best choice. A moderate action rod will cover a wide spectrum of casting situations and is easier to cast and cast efficiently into a stiff wind. These rods also load a fly line using more of the fly rods taper, making it easier for the angler to feel the rod load. You can always purchase a fast action rod down the road as your skills progress. Rod Balance So, now that you have picked out that perfect saltwater stick, ask yourself… How does it feel in my hand? Is the rod tip heavy? Is the rod butt heavy? Does the rod feel too heavy overall? Too light? These are all question that need to be answered. The best rod is the one that feels well balanced from tip to butt. Balance the rod on your index finger at the top of the full wells grip. A well-balanced rod will balance evenly on your index finger. This is a fly rod’s sweet spot. It will be the optimum place for the thumb of your casting hand every time you cast.
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Atlanta/N. Georgia/ Lake Country February 2017 PUBLISHER: Bob Rice CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Nick Carter Henry Cowen Dr. Andrew Cox Capt. Jake Davis Jim Farmer The Fish Hawk Ronnie hall Jmmy Harris Capt. Cefus McRae Chris Scalley Gary Turner Noey Vineyard O'Neill Williams Rene J. Hesse Jimbo Mathley James Bradley David HulseY WAYNE WOOTEN Steven king ryan kennedy jay striker
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FEBRUARY 2017
ATLANTA 1
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
Wintertime Fly Fishing
Contributed by James Bradley As we move into February, our streams and rivers up here in the Southern Appalachians should become the coldest of the year. Extreme cold water and trout usually do not go hand in hand. What I mean by that statement is trout simply slow down. Several things take place when water temperatures get down around the 40-degree mark. First, trout are cold blooded creatures, and cold blooded creatures become whatever the environment is. So, that fish in 40-degree water is 40 degrees. Think about how you would feel in an environment such as this. It’s surely not like that spring day with the sun on your back. Trout will change how they behave compared to 50-degree and warmer water temperatures. They will be more inclined to find good holding water that still has some current. Keep in mind, the current is what will bring them food. Trout will use larger rocks for cover, but any logjams will offer better cover and habitat. Look for deeper water and especially anything at three feet or deeper. If you know where a spring comes into the stream you are fishing, ground spring water will be warmer than surface water. I know we are talking about wintertime, but keep ground springs in mind for the hot summer months as they will then be cooler. These are all keys for locating wintertime trout. Trout feed when there is food to be eaten, but the amount depends
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on their size, availability of food and the water temperature. Water temperature affects their metabolic rate and their desire to eat. When the water is cooling off day in and day out and the temperatures gets down to around 45 degrees, trout will need less food. Doesn’t mean they stop eating, but just not as much. Once the temperature reaches 40 degrees, trout become fairly lethargic. A good friend of mine says you just about have to hit them on the nose to entice them to eat. If water temperatures reach the 35-degree mark, it is possible that death will occur. Just as trout slow down on falling temperatures, the opposite will usually occur on increasing temperatures. I do not know the number of times I’ve been asked over the years what is the prime feeding temperature for trout. All I’m going to say is 55 degrees is almost magic. Carry a thermometer to check the water temperature. Keeping a daily track of water temperatures can help lead you to success on the water by learning how trout react as temperatures fall or increase. It seems I say this a lot but “Don’t be shy with weight. Many trout will hug the bottom of the stream during the wintertime since it has the least current and they can almost sit there effortlessly. Continue to add weight to get your flies down to the proper depth…the bottom!” Reel ‘Em In Guide Service is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide
based out of beautiful Ellijay, Georgia. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. Their Special Use Permit for Guiding allows them on the Chattahoochee National Forest,
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
February Fly Fishing Report Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com This past December and into the first week of January was milder than previous winter weather we had in past years. This led to January fishing extremely well. February, however, is one of those months where anglers have to be really serious if they want to catch some fish on a fly on any of our North Georgia lakes. Water temps MAY bottom out (4546 degrees) during this month, and the fish feeling the cold water will be extremely lethargic. However, with any luck, if we continue to see a more mild winter, then February can continue with the great fishing we had in January. Small baits are still the choice meal for striped bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass. It is important to be able to offer these baits to the fish using a slower retrieve and allow the baits to sit in the feeding zone for a longer period of time. That is the KEY to feeding the fish! How do we do this you might ask? Well, the answer is to carry a fast sinking line that has a sink rate of about 6” per second. The fish will be found in the 15’ to 30’ range over a 40’, 50’ or even 60’ bottom. A fast sinking line can get you into the strike zone by using what we term the countdown
method. The countdown method basically means we dump out a cast and let the line sink into the fish’s feeding zone. Simply put, if the fish are bunched up in the 15’-20’ range under your boat, then we allow the line to sink 30-40 seconds. A short but quick series of strips followed by a 3-5 second pause will allow your fly to stay in that feeding zone which in turn should elicit a strike. Small flies like a Somethin’ Else or even a 2”-3” Clouser (tied with a hot pink fluoro fiber throat) will be all you need to catch winter stripers. This is when your electronics will play a big role in helping you find and feed the fish. Fishing without a fish finder means you are fishing blind. These electronics are your underwater eyes and are the key to success. Also, let the wildlife help you find the big schools of threadfin shad which hopefully will lead to finding big schools of stripers. A greater blue heron sitting on a bank, a kingfisher diving in a cove, terns & gulls flying in circles around a specific area and diving every now and then to grab a shad will be the best signs to finding fish. For conventional anglers a .6 FlexIt spoon will also help catch these deep fish. If the fish are not feeding near the bottom when you find them on your fish finder, try dropping a ¼ ounce bucktail jig with 8-pound test on these fish. Again fishing slow is the ticket. Use your senses to help locate and feed these wintertime fish as that can help turn a day of lemons into a day of lemonade. However, with the warmer trend, it is possible that our back of the cove feed on the banks may still be going strong. It is simply all about water temperatures this time of year. If the temps hover around 50 degrees, then the surface feed should still be on. You just need to prepare for both! Dress warm, fish slow and show lots of patience. Those are the keys to success in February. What comes after February is trophy time, See you on the pond!
Matt Strohmeyer with a fly-caught winter caught striper on Lanier
Trout Scouting
Contributed by Capt. David Hulsey International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001
February is a great time to lace up the old hiking boots and hit the trail in search of new trout water here in the mountains. There’s not too much of a chance of overheating or sweating while pulling up the steep parts of the trails. No big timber rattlers or sneaky copperheads to deal with or run from. I don’t like running but will if necessary, and I really can jump if needed. Snakes aren’t on my top 10. The leaves are off the trees and getting a look at the creek from the trail without actually having to slide down the mountainside to get a closer look is great! Carrying a small set of binoculars will aid in this and also taking a look at the unusual stray bird or for deer antler sheds. Getting a good topographic map of the area is required along with proper clothing and the skills necessary to possibly spend a very cold winter night in the woods if you get hurt or lost. Take a buddy with you. Finding likely looking streams on the map isn’t that difficult. One of my high school buddies and I spent about 5 years trying to fly fish every piece of wild trout water in Georgia
“February is a great time to lace up the old hiking boots and hit the trail in search of new trout water here in the mountains.”
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so many years ago that I just don’t want to think about it. We caught and released thousands of trout and logged a few thousand miles, but had a ball doing it. Winter was our favorite time to trout scout as we called it. Combining looking for deer and bear sign for next fall and turkey sign for the spring with fly fishing isn’t a bad way to burn up a few days of one’s life. Of course, truck scouting is fun too. Riding around in a pickup truck on the National Forest roads glassing the streams along side the old logging rail lines that ran up almost every stream is good stuff too. It’s an easier way to stay warm too. Take notes as you go. A big beautiful plunge pool below a waterfall is a great place to fish along with dark under cut banks or slots between the boulders that you know will hold fish should go on your to-do list. If you find some good stretches of water, keep them under your hat. Telling folks about a little creek teeming with fish is a sure way to inflict harm to the fishery. Please practice catch and release and use artificial lures or flies. These little guys have a hard enough time as it is.
FEBRUARY 2017
ATLANTA 3
1/17/17 6:33 AM
Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
The Guide's Angle
Lake Allatoona
Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service
Warmest Place to Trout Fish This Winter!
The fact that 2016 is the warmest year in the Georgia record books may prove to be good for trout below Buford Dam this winter. Most southern tailwaters that support trout are known for warmer water temperatures in the winter months due to the warmer layers found within the thermocline. Typical freestone trout streams are adversely affected by cold winter air temperatures which slows fish activity. Since tailwater rivers are warmer during wintertime, these mild temperatures create the ideal environment for trout and other aquatic critters such as macro invertebrates.
Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson First Bite Guide Service 770-827-6282 eidson6260@att.net www.firstbiteguideservice.com Lineside fishing is good! The schools that have had been feeding are even feeding stronger and are eating shad, trout, shiners and small bream fished on downlines, freelines and planer boards will all get you bit right now. The bite is nothing like it is in the summertime, but compared to the last two months, it is on fire. Mid lake - north has been fishing best for my guides, but I bet there is a good
bite on the south end as well. This bite is running about four weeks late due to the warm weather. The umbrella rig bite is probably the best overall bite if you’re looking for hybrids and stripers, but look for these fish to be on the smaller size. This week I have been pulling my rigs 75-80 feet behind the boat on a 16-20 bottom. These fish are on the move, so make sure you cover a lot of water. I have caught fish as far north as the S-turns this week all the way south to the dam. Topwater bite is good. I have seen more topwater action this week than I have seen in months. Fishing is fixing to break wide open.
“Topwater bite is good. I have seen more topwater action this week than I have seen in months. Fishing is fixing to break wide open.”
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1/17/17 6:33 AM
Local Rivers & Fly Fishing Chattooga River
by Karl Ekberg Chattooga River Fly Shop www.chattoogariverflyshop.com 864-6382806 The weather at times seems like winter has set in here on the rivers around us at Chattooga River Fly Shop, and other times it feels like spring is here. We have received some winter rains throughout the past month, which have brought the river levels up greatly at times. After heavy rains, be sure to check the river gauges to make sure of safe wading levels for your fishing trip. The safe zone for wading the Chattooga River is a water level height of 1.50 feet or below and a flow of 350 c.f.s. (cubic feet per second) or below from the gauge located at Burrell’s Ford Bridge on the USGS Water site. This site also will show rainfall amounts and water surface temperature, all of which update hourly. At levels higher than the above mentioned, fishing becomes tougher, and wading becomes more dangerous. During higher water conditions after the rains and colder temperatures, drifting nymphs low, slow, and deep has been the trick. Lengthening leaders to allow your nymphs to get deeper is a key as well. Using a two nymph rig has proven quite successful. The use of a very heavy nymph as a lead fly and trailing a smaller nymph is very beneficial. Flies of choice for the lead nymph have been the Tungsten Golden or Black Stone, Bead Head Twenty Incher, Skipper Stone and Pat’s Rubber Leg. For the trailer nymph, try a UV2 Fuzzy Bug Dark Stone, Rainbow Warrior, Gabriel’s Trumpet and Caddis Larva. At times a pinch a weight may be needed as well, so try putting the weight an equal distance between the lead and trailing nymphs
to get them down in the water column to the fish. With the colder water temperatures, the fish will be holding in the depths of the river. The use of streamers at this time of year is equally rewarding. Fishing streamers one must remember that with the cooler water temperatures, the small baitfish are lethargic as well. Casting your streamers slightly upstream, letting them fall in the water column and twitching them through the drift will be successful. Also, after the drift and twitch, a slow pulsing retrieve can be very beneficial. The use of a sinking leader to keep your streamers down or a pinch of split shot a foot above the streamer may be necessary. Streamers of choice have been the UV2 Rice Krispy, UV2 Count Chocula, and the UV2 Special K of the “Cereal Killers” series, Trevor’s Sculpin and Sculpzilla. With winter temperatures, layering your clothing is important. The use of wicking base layer is very important to having an enjoyable day on the river during the colder months. Wearing cotton or denim jeans holds the moisture against your body, which cools you down quickly while standing in the water. Save your jeans for after your fishing trip and casual wear. After a wicking base layer like the Sonic Dry, the use of a pair of micro fleece or Versipants will add some insulation from the cold. Let’s remember not to let yourself get too cold while fishing, and a walk along the river bank for a few minutes to get the blood flowing back through your lower extremities will help you warm up quickly and provide a much better day while on the river. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers, and let’s remember, enjoy the beauty of our greater outdoors.
“During higher water conditions after the rains and colder temperatures, drifting nymphs low, slow, and deep has been the trick.”
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
The Casting Corner Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
Roll Casting Tips The roll cast is important to learn and practice. Knowing several uses will make you a better fly fisher. Here are a few thoughts on when and how to use it. Something as simple as walking up to the water with fly in hand and no line extended out of the rod tip can be an issue. A flip of the line in the water, wiggle the rod tip side to side, and a few roll casts can get several feet of line out. You may use a roll cast to make a forward cast in an area with little room for a back cast. You can use it to lift a sunken fly before starting your back cast. It also allows for slipping a little more line into your system and a false cast before starting the casting sequence. It’s also a great way to release a snagged fly. Make sure you cast the loop past the fly, let the line sit on the water and then snatch it back so the line tension pulls from the opposite direction of the eye of the hook. All of those techniques make use of the water tension to load (bend) the rod. That water tension is a curse or a gift to a fly caster. Like the wind when casting, learn to use it to your advantage. A roll cast is just a forward cast with a different back cast. The more line you can get behind you in the form of a ‘D’ or ‘V’ loop, the easier it is to make the forward cast. Moving fast in the back cast portion of the roll cast is rarely a benefit. Starting with the rod tip low, bring it up and slightly outside your shoulder with a constant rate of acceleration until you stop. Slow down and focus more on the placement of the line in the water column and proximity of the
fly in relation to your position. The fly should be about a rod length in front of you and only a few feet off to the side of your casting shoulder. Get as much line behind you as you can. Then, make a normal forward cast. Try to make the line go out and over the target, not around as a ‘roll’ cast would imply. Since the forward cast is the same, don’t forget you can add a haul to accelerate the line if you would like. The same principal applies to false casts as a roll cast; short cast - short stroke, long cast long stroke. One of the nice things about a roll cast is that the ‘timing’ variable is less important on the back cast. You can pull the line into position and form the ‘D’ loop and stop (unless you have a heavy fly) and then look back and see if you could reach your arm/hand back further without getting in the trees to aid on a longer cast. There is one sidebar on this last comment, and you can test it by standing several feet from a wall with your back to it. If you bring your rod tip back a foot from the wall, stop and start the forward cast, your rod tip will hit the wall. Even if you did not go backward with your hand or rotate the rod back, there is a movement of your rod tip backward as your hand goes forward. I bring this up, because on the stream, if you bring your rod tip back as close to the trees before starting your forward cast, you will get hung up. Try it out, practice the different type roll casts, (forward cast with a different back cast) and enjoy your time on the water.
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FEBRUARY 2017
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Fly Fishing & Local Lakes lake lanier striperS Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 February is still cold, but spring is around the corner. Look for several patterns to be important in February. If the water temperature continues to be in the forties like expected, look for the umbrella rig to be the key pattern. Gear up with seven foot medium light Shakespeare Tiger Rod paired with a Penn Squall 30 reel and spooled with forty pound Trilene Big Game or 130 pound braid and a Captain Mack 3 ounce rigged umbrella. The Captain Mack Umbrella Rig comes ready to fish. Be sure to check out the videos online for more details on how to pull the U-rig. Most of the time, pull the umbrella rig at 3 mph across humps and points. The stripers will be tight to the bottom most days. Also, be sure to purchase a Jerry Hester umbrella
rig retriever. If you are fishing deep enough, you will snag the bottom at some point, and the retriever is a money saver. The Capt. Mack Umbrella Rig comes with chartreuse trailers or white trailers. Be sure to buy additional six inch trailers in chartreuse and white. The stripers tend to pull them off at times. Also pick up additional Capt. Mack Umbrella bucktail components to replace any jigs you break off. Toward the end of February look for the largest stripers of the year to start showing up. The first warm spell at the end of the month will increase the water temperature, and the larger fish will begin to prepare for the spring spawn. Late February and all of March are arguably the best six weeks of the year to boat a trophy striper. The metabolism of the spawning stripers will increase, and they will be hungry. Put a herring out on a freeline out over the open water and you may boat a 30 pound plus striper. A freeline is nothing more than a Spro 80 pound
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swivel, a 6 foot leader of fifteen or twenty pound Trilene 100 Percent flourocarbon and a Gamakatsu 3/0 Octopus hook. The ideal setup for the freeline is a seven foot Shakespeare Striper Rod spooled with 20 pound Trilene Big Game on a Penn Squall 20 Linecounter reel. Stripers are a saltwater fish and the Penn Squall is made for the task of
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larger fish. This big fish fishing is some of the most relaxing fishing of the year. This pattern will produce low numbers, but the size will make up for it. Personally, this time period is one of my favorite of the year. Knowing you have a good chance at a trophy fish makes everything more exciting. See you on the water.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts
Cold Weather, Cold Water Crappie Contributed By: Wayne Wooten Now that the air and water temperatures are in the 40’s and the crappie are lethargic, it can make for a long day of not catching many fish. Here are some tips I learned from Crappie Country owner and tournament angler, Mike Bridges. On a recent trip with my brother-in-law, Ben, the air temperature was 45 degrees, water temperature was 46 degrees, misting rain and a northeast wind at 5 MPH. We located fish on each side of a 17 feet deep creek channel at about 12 feet with a large school in the channel at about 15 feet. We were long lining Crappie Country Hot Grubs (curly tails) on 1/16 ounce jigs running about .9 MPH. The bite was very slow, and we were getting short strikes about 90% of the time. After about an hour of this I decided to call Mike and see what we could do to improve our hook up ratio.
Mike told me that when the crappie are cold, they don’t chase the bait, but mainly turn to a scent bite. He said “tip the bare jigs with minnows, let it sink and reel very slowly through them, or troll feathered jigs such as Sugar Bugs tipped with minnows at about .4 MPH”. After this conservation, we bought some minnows and rigged our rods both ways and started trolling. Since my boat will not run slower than .9 mph I would start and stop the motor to run at about .4 MPH. We did catch a few fish this way, but it was very slow. I decided that since the speed wasn’t consistent we would anchor and try casting bare jigs tipped with minnows into the fish. This did work better than trolling. Using these methods improved our hook up ratio, even though the bite was slow, we were
now catching fish! The next time you run into this kind of conditions, try these methods, and I am confident you will catch more fish. In addition to catching crappie, here is what happened to me. While casting the jig and reeling slowly, I got hooked up with what I thought was a very large bass or catfish. I could feel what I thought was its head shaking vigorously while it was peeling line. Keep in mind I was fishing with 6 pound fluorocarbon, 6’ 6” light rod
and had set the drag to light to try and land this monster. This went on for about 15 minutes, and the fish finally wore down and came to the surface. Ben had the net ready, and when he saw the fish, he laughed and said, “It is a huge carp and it is tail hooked, no wonder it took so long”. What I thought was its head shaking was the tail powering the fish away! We weighed the fish at 16 pounds, and we then released it. I was hoping for a monster bass, but the fight was fun even though it was a carp!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Lake Blue Ridge Smallmouth and Spotted Bass By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021, 1-844-4-ANGLER
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Even in the dead of winter, this beautiful 3,300-acre body of water produces some awesome trophy smallmouth, and February is a great month to hit the water. Currently, Lake Blue Ridge is 24 feet below full pool. Water temperatures are in the mid 40’s. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and stained in the creeks and rivers. We have been catching a lot of smallmouth and spotted bass all over the lake, with the majority of our smallmouth being caught in the Toccoa River area. Target these fish off rocky points, ledges, and shallow humps around the lake. Also, focus on working the banks that the early morning sun hits first. We’ve been pulling planer boards with live blueback herring early. It’s also a great idea to set out a couple of free lines 100 to 120 feet behind the boat while you pull
planer boards. When the sun really comes up in the mid-morning hours, we’ll switch to down lining live blueback herring. Most of our fish have been caught in the 30 to 40-foot range. This really seems to be the best technique for the larger smallmouth but not until the sun really gets up. Look for large schools of smallmouths in the Toccoa River and Star Creek area. Live bait seems to be the key out here lately, but a jigging spoon and shaky head can’t be ruled out this time of year. Although the weather may be cold, February is a fantastic month for catching some very big fish on this lake, so dig out your long johns and winter coats and give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call. Let the area’s #1 guide service put you on some of Lake Blue Ridge’s best trophy fish. And, for all your live bait and tackle needs, go check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing. Now bundle up, hit the water, and go “get your fish on”! Good luck!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts lake seminole
by Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com 850-264-7534 Water temperature: 66 degrees, lake level: 2 feet above full pool, clarity: Chattahoochee Arm –muddy, Spring Creek – clear, Flint River – stained. Bass fishing has been excellent. The bass have grouped up in schools all over the lake as they have been feeding up for the winter. With the mild winter we have had, the lake still has an abundance of grass which has made the conditions perfect for a vibrating lipless lure like a Strike King Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2-Tap in Chrome/Blue fished along the grass lines in 8 to 10 feet of water. To find the bass, I like to fish parallel down the grass line at a fast pace until I catch a couple and then slow down and work the area more
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methodically. Spinnerbaits have been very productive because of the grass. A good one to try is a Strike King Premiere Plus Spinnerbait in 3/8 ounce double willow in Blue Shad color for clear water and a Chartreuse for stained to muddy water. The reason I like these spinnerbaits is the head designs will come through the grass efficiently. The stripers and hybrids have been biting really well on Lake Seminole with some over the 20 pound range. I’ve been using an SK Tour Grade Titanium Umbrella Rig, loaded with 1/4 ounce swimbait jig heads rigged with Swim-n-Caffeine-Shad in Pearl White successfully. The crappie have been bunched up in 8 to 10 feet of water and are biting extremely well on jigs and minnows. To schedule a fishing trip or to get up-to-date lake conditions, please give me a call at (850) 264-7534 or email me at paultyrefishing@yahoo. com. Let’s go fishing!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts lake lanier STRIPER Forecast By: Steve Scott http://TeamLanier.wordpress.com In late December, we experienced “slapping” stripers stunning our large gizzard shad then coming back for the bait, but not always. My challenge was to get these fish on the first go-round. I decided to use a stinger but not in the usual way. Normally, I would place the treble hook end into the bait either behind the top fin or in the bottom, but this time I decided to try it “loose”. The thought here was if the striper slapped the bait he would get hooked anyway. January water temperatures have been 44-48 degrees in the main lake. Methods used have been flat lines, planer boards and downlines in water temperatures greater than 44 degrees. Having a spread of 4 to 5 flat lines out of the back of the boat has been successful using various lengths weighted and unweighted. Planer boards have been used in the backs of the creeks right up against the banks with the baits six feet behind the boards to prevent snagging on logs and blowdowns. Planer boards were also used along clay banks and over points and humps. Downlines were used in 10-20’ depths in the backs of creeks. We looked for diving birds and were ready to drop downlines
when we moved into these areas. Stripers won’t wait for you to get ready. My February log tells us that the water temperatures should be around 46 degrees throughout this month. Methods to use should be weighted flat lines with medium to large gizzard shad 100-135 feet behind the boat and trout 80-100 feet out on planer boards weighted with a #7 split shot using a short leash of 8 to 15 feet behind the board. This way your bigger baits will not try to go under logs and get hung up. Prime time should be between 10am and 1pm. Umbrella rigs should be used on underwater humps near River Forks, and downlines should be used north of Browns Bridge at 45-50 feet deep. If south of Browns Bridge, the back of Flat Creek is a hot spot if water temperature is above 46°. Keep a log to recall your catching experiences for next year. Have a plan. If what you are doing is not working, change your presentation often. You can find a multitude of fishing information on Lake Lanier by going to http:// FishingLanier.wordpress.com. It covers fishing clubs, bait and tackle shops and guide services. TIP OF THE MONTH: When fishing an area with many boats, leave. Too many pings from sonars affect fish. My fishing logs and methods can be found at http://TeamLanier.wordpress. com or call me at 404-273-3481.
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Contributed By: Dr. Andrew Cox Professor at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. andrewtrout@aol.com. I have been fishing all of my adult life and a good portion of my childhood and adolescent years. Over these years, I have developed new angling skills. These include various applications of fishing plastic worms and other plastic baits, using tubes, improving use of spinning and baitcasting equipment, mastering fly fishing and using GPS technology more effectively. At my stage in life, I did not think that there were many other angling techniques left to expand my fishing arsenal. I have tended to focus upon improving my skills in using existing fishing techniques. Recently, I have been researching and experimenting with the float and fly technique and the use of tightlining with weighted jigs. These fishing techniques originated on the waters of East Tennessee. These techniques are especially suited for fishing deep waters during the cool fall and winter months. It seems that the colder the water, the more effective float and fly and tightlining are in catching fish. In my travels through Tennessee, Kentucky, and western North Carolina, I note that these waters are similar to those found in north and central Alabama as well as north and middle Georgia. All of these waters have ample rocks, rock ledges and bluffs, and steep shoreline banks. In addition, I have always enjoyed fishing leadhead jigs and also tie my own handmade jigs for use on both conventional and fly equipment. Accordingly, using float and fly accommodates the use of some favored lure types and existing skills in using spinning and fly equipment. Use of the float and fly as well as tightlining jigs required some outlay in new equipment, a pastime that I have shown little restraint. Purchase of a long 9 or 10 foot sensitive spinning rod, some three way swivels, and weighted floats improved my technique. I also purchased some specialty float and fly and tightlining jigs from some fishing supply outlets that specialize in tackle sales and dissemination of
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information on float and fly and tightlining angling methods. Technology has definitely impacted angling and the rapid dissemination and acquisition of new angling knowledge. Some Google and Yahoo searches yielded much written information on tightlining and float and fly. I particularly enjoyed accessing the forums that provide a wealth of information on these angling methods. There are also assorted videos that provide visual descriptions in setting up and fishing these methods. I mastered many of my prior angling skills over the years through trial and error, observing other anglers, and asking questions. With technology, the essentials of learning new angling methods can be easily mastered and in a fraction of time to that required in the “good old days” prior to the Internet and similar technology. I have been able to transfer the former East Tennessee float and fly and tightlining techniques to the waters of West Georgia and East and Central Alabama with some ease. Using float and fly in particular, I have been catching largemouth, spotted and hybrid bass with some frequency on my home waters and in areas of my home waters that I have not caught fish for some years. I believe that with continued practice, float and fly and tightlining jigs may become my “go to” angling techniques particularly during the winter months. I certainly plan to keep a fully rigged float and fly rod and reel in my boat’s rod box. Who said that an old dog cannot learn new tricks? Technology makes learning these new methods much easier. Good fishing. Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@ aol.com. FEBRUARY 2017
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Early Pre-Spawn Bass on Lake Lanier Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com The early pre-spawn on Lake Lanier can be a fantastic time to catch a huge spotted or largemouth bass. The fish have been lethargic due to the colder water, and biologically, they are triggered to begin feeding in preparation for the arduous spawning process that will soon follow. Typically, the largemouth females emerge from the deeper water first. What triggers this move to shallower water? Where will these big fish emerge? How do you catch them? These are all excellent questions the answers to which we will explore in detail in this month’s article. Optimal Conditions: The biggest factor in the bass beginning their trek shallower is the steady lengthening of daylight we experience as the calendar progresses forward. The longer days are nature’s signal to the bass that it is time to start focusing on the reproduction cycle. This integral need will also trigger a feeding urge. Ideally, from a weather standpoint, look for a 3 or 4 day period of stable weather accompanied by a warming trend. The trend upward in temperature does not have to be huge, just a degree or two in surface temperature can make the difference and trigger the fish to move shallower. Once the warming trend begins, the fish will move shallower to feed in waves. Location: Fish travel much like we do – on “highways”. Fish highways include areas like the main river channel, creek channels and ditches within or near those channels. The bait and fish move methodically along these paths and look for cover to which they can relate for food, protection and often in the case of the bass, ambush opportunity. Understand that fish are not going to randomly appear. They travel these “highways” as we have discussed and seek likely stopping points along the way. 1. Creeks: As I pursue the ditches and channels within the creek near areas that I have been catching fish, I look for likely stopping points; a secondary point with deep water close by, for example. Other viable locations include: deep pockets with a small flat or ledge near the 14 ATLANTA
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point of entry, small bays, or “guts” that receive all-day sun and are located right next to the creek or river channel. Boat docks located over or near a channel bend or creek channel ditch in deeper water can be excellent choices too, particularly if the area in which the dock is located receives all-day sun. Also, focus on pockets that are protected from a north wind; northern pockets. 2. Main-Lake: The main body of water can also be an excellent location to target early pre-spawn bass. When fishing the main lake during the early pre-spawn period, I like to focus on points and humps that are near the main river channel and offer sharp contour breaks and therefore ease of access to feeding flats or ledges within these areas from deep water. Obviously, cover in these areas will provide an ambush spot for these pre-spawn monsters, so a wellplaced brush pile can improve your results! Lures and Presentation: Now that we have explored the timing and areas of pursuit of early pre-spawn bass, let’s examine some possible lure choices and techniques to catch these fish. In selecting and working a lure, remember that the water temperatures are still traditionally cold during the early pre-spawn period, and therefore, the fish’s metabolism is reduced. The fish will move slower, and so should your lure presentation. As far as lure colors, I tend to stick with natural colors in the spring as I do all yearlong. Green, brown and white are generally found somewhere in the lures I am utilizing in the spring. If you are not getting bit, switch colors or lure type. 1. Jerkbait – One of my favorite early spring lures. These lures mimic expiring baitfish and represent an easy meal for lethargic bass. I prefer a deeper-diving model such as the SPRO McRip in early spring. Work these lures in the areas mentioned above with a very slow cadence. Offer small twitches or short pulls of the jerkbait followed by LONG pauses. Vary your cadence until you find the right combination; let the fish tell you the way they want it and
stick with that retrieve. 2. SuperSpin – This can be a very productive lure in the early pre-spawn period as well as throughout the spawn and into post-spawn. Work the lure by slow-rolling the bait in the likely areas we have discussed. In most cases, maintaining contact with the bottom is important. I prefer a boottail trailer this time of year. It imparts more vibration in the lure and allows you to work the lure more slowly 3. Crankbait – The Rapala Shad Raps are great choices in the early spring. If the fish are not shallow on the flats and I am unable to get bites with the shallow-running models, I will switch to a medium depth crankbait, such as one of the SPRO Medium Divers. If this fails, I will probe the deeper depths on the ends of flats, points and humps with a deep runner, such as a SPRO Little John DD. Work these baits slowly and attempt to deflect the bait off of cover or the bottom as much as possible. 4. Worm/jig – When all else fails and when the fish are bottomlocked, do not ignore the Picasso Shake E Head/worm combo and Chattahoochee jig. Drag these baits in likely areas very slowly, imparting periods of motionlessness on the bait. Often, bites will occur this time of year when you are simply allowing the bait to remain still following a slow
drag or slight hop. Early pre-spawn is a great time of year to fish. Often, this is the time when you are most likely to catch the bass of your life! See you on the water! For more information or to book your trip, contact me at 770-5427764 or www.jimboonlanier.com
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Local Lakes & Forecasts FISHING RODS 101 – Making the Right Choice By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series
Selecting a rod is all about picking the right tool for the job. What makes one rod better suited for a style of fishing over another? To answer that question, you need to understand a few basic rod characteristics. Rod manufacturers use all kinds of terminology to describe their rods beyond the model number. There’s Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Heavy and on and on. Then there’s the lure weight and the line weight. It’s enough to make you want to go back to the good old cane pole. So, let me try to sift this down to a few simple concepts and explain the nomenclature that’s shown on the side of the rod blank. Before you step foot in the tackle store, your first task should be to decide the fish you’ll be targeting and the line class you intend to use with your new rod. Rod, reel and line all need to match up to have a ‘balanced’ outfit. Now you can narrow down your search on the rod aisle. When you’re looking at rods, in addition to the line class rating, you could also see three other descriptors on the side of the blank;
Rod Power, Lure Weight and Flex. Rod Power: This is a rating that refers to the ‘power’ of the rod and its ability to function properly with a given line class. This is usually noted just above the grip, as Light, Medium, Heavy, etc. What it boils down to is how much ‘beef ’ the rod has, as in how much pressure you can put on the fish in combination with the line class the rod is rated for. If you’re fishing in heavy cover and need to get the fish away from the grass or rocks quickly, then you need a rod with a lot of power, or backbone. On the other hand, too much power combined with light line will either snap the line or pull the hook from the fish. A word of caution here…with the popularity of braided lines, there is a tendency to use line classes that are way over the limit of the rod. Lure Weight: This refers to the
lure weight the rod is designed to cast most efficiently. Most of the time, this is rated in ounces. A light spinning rod for bream or mountain trout could be rated at one-eighth to one-quarter ounce lures, while a surf casting rod might be rated for threequarter to two ounce lures. Again, you want to try to match the rod to the size and weight of the lures you’ll be using. Rod Action: Some manufacturers will use Light, Medium and Heavy to describe Rod Action, as well as Rod Power. That’s kind of confusing. Action typically refers to where the rod flex is located… in the top 1/3 of the blank (Fast)…in the middle of the blank (Medium)…and Slow which means the rod flexes throughout the entire blank from tip to grip. The Fast action rods typically have the greatest flex at the upper portion of the blank, and are pretty stiff throughout the rest of the rod. Fast action rods are great for pitching heavy lures, topwater plugs and where you need lots of backbone to help set a hook in a tarpon’s hard mouth, for instance. Medium action rods are what
you’ll find as the predominant big box store rod. They’re good allaround rods, and you can cast plugs, work crankbaits, troll and even fish live baits with them. Their flex starts at the tip and stops about half-way down the blank. Slow action rods have a nice parabolic bend throughout the blank, almost all the way to the grip. They are usually all fiberglass construction, and they are great live bait rods. Their flexibility helps prevent pulling the hook in tender-mouthed fish like crappie and speckled trout. For fishing with live baits, the flex in the rod lets your baitfish move around with less effort, and the game fish can take the bait without ‘feeling’ the rod. If you’ve ever thrown your minnow or shrimp off the hook on a cast, it’s possible the action is too fast. In your quest for the perfect rod, there are a lot of variables that come into play, including personal preference. There are myriad other factors that go into how a rod is made and how it fishes, like construction materials, number of guides and guide placement, length and so on. But that’s fodder for another article. For now, these basics of rod label lingo will hopefully get you started down the right path to finding the rod that’s perfect for you. Tight lines and calm seas.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Jackson Lake
By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com
Water temperature: 48-55 degrees, water level: full pool, water clarity: stained. The bass are still being caught on many different baits. The best pattern right now is cranking any kind of structure that collects heat. The early morning bite is slow due to the overnight cool temps, but you can still catch them. Just fish the areas that will get the first bit of sunlight. A #5 Shad Rap in crawfish is a go-to bait this time of year, as the bass roam rocks seeking heat and food. Concentrate on depths of 2-8 feet when throwing the Shad Rap. If the water appears to be more muddy than stained, just switch to a brighter color and continue the same pattern. If shallow water isn’t your cup of tea in the winter time, then you can also catch bass deep. Your electronics will play a huge role in locating the deeper fish. In idle ditches, channels and offshore humps, mark the fish and choose your bait of choice. A Fish Head Spin will catch these fish
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Full Service Boating And Propulsion Facility as well as a Flex-It spoon. The spoon will catch them being fished vertical, but the bite will be slow. Once you fire up the school you can vary them quick. The Fish Head Spin can produce them just as good. Casting beyond the school and a slow retrieval is working best. Till next month, don’t let cold keep you from enjoying our great sport. Just bundle up, learn how to use your electronics and have fun. Remember to take a child fishing so they too can enjoy the outdoors.
lake Oconee CRAPPIE by Capt. Chad Smith smithsguideservice31@yahoo.com (706)207-2411 Crappie fishing has been slow over the last few weeks! Best technique has been long line trolling the channels pulling double 1/8th and single 1/4 ounce heads .7-.8mph. Acid rain and junebug/chartreuse have been the best colors. Look for the crappie fishing to pick up with all the warm days we are expecting over the next few weeks! Mouth of Sugar Creek has been also holding fish as well as between the bridges in Lick Creek, up Richland Creek, and Rocky Creek. Fish double 1/16th at .8mph running the same colors as mentioned above. Look in the 1822 foot depths and expect those fish 16 ATLANTA
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to be hanging close to the bottom. You want your baits running just above the fish. Let your baits clip the bottom and then speed up just to where the baits aren’t bumping anymore!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts lake lanier spotted bass
Lake NOTTELY STRIPER Forecast By: Ryan Coleman LanierSpots Pro Guide Service 770-356-4136
By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021, 1-844-4-ANGLER February is an exciting time of year for some huge Lake Nottely stripers. Lake Nottely is North Georgia’s hidden gem for some great striper fishing, and February has been known to produce some big ol’ fish. Currently, water temps are in the mid 40’s to low 50’s. Lake Nottely is slowly rising due to the recent much needed rains and is now up to 14 feet below full pool. Most of the lake is moderately clear and stained in the creeks and river. Fishing has been average to good for this time of year. We’ve been catching some great stripers lately, and the trick is keeping up with a couple of different winter patterns. Knowing these patterns will most certainly help you land some nice fish. These fast moving stripers are always on the go chasing bait and warmer water. Because of this, we’ve been utilizing some different techniques. At times the fish are shallow and pounding bait on the banks and shallow humps in the mouths and backs of creeks. Pulling planer boards early in the morning has been working great for these guys. Make sure you stagger your baits behind your planer boards. I like to run my bluebacks and shad about 15 to 20 feet behind the board closest to the bank and a little further out on my inside boards. Pulling free lines around 100 to 120 feet behind the boat while trolling your planer boards also works great. Other days we are catching our
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stripers 30 to 40 feet deep in little schools in the mouths of creeks and along the main river channel. Down lining live bluebacks will be your best technique for these deeper fish. Also, cloudy overcast days have been producing better fish than bright sunny days. We’ve also been catching some nice spotted and largemouth bass out here. The spotted bass have been schooled up on shallow points and flats around the mouths of creeks. The majority of these nice bass have been caught on our down line bite around 10 to 20 feet deep. Although the weather may be frigid, February is a fantastic month for catching some big fish on this lake, so dig out your long johns and winter coats and give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call. Let the area’s #1 striper-guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy fish during the fishing trip of a lifetime. And, for all your live bait and tackle needs, go check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing. Bundle up, hit the water, and go “get your fish on”! Good luck!
Surface temps are 49-50 degrees and the water is clear. The lake is down now 11 feet below full pool and has slowed its rate of fall a good bit. Fishing has been very good over the past few weeks and as long as the water temps stay close to 50, I don’t see it falling off very much There has been a good deep and shallow bite on Lanier in the past few weeks. There are a good many fish up shallow on rock that can be caught on jerkbaits and worms. These fish are in the 6-15 foot range and prefer a slow presentation. We have been dead-sticking a worm rigged on a jighead on these big rocks for some very good catches over the past two weeks. Earlier in the day, I have been pausing a deep
jerkbait over the rocks, and they will come up and eat it. The ghost herring colored jerkbait has been excellent over the past week. As for the deep bite, I have been working either a jig or worm rigged on a jighead out in the timber edges in 35-45 feet of water. With the level being down, the timber edges are a little shallower this year, and the fish have just moved up to them. I have been marking a lot of fish on the graph and just dropping down to them. My best bite has come on a 3/8 ounce SpotSticker Casting Jig in either Green Craw or Brown/Olive. We have been working the jig out in the timber for the bigger fish. Early in the day, there are some fish in the backs of small pockets and creeks that you can catch throwing a Pearl Underspin with a Superfluke Jr or pearl swimbait body around in 10-20 feet of water. This bite usually lasts about 2 hours then fades out into deeper water. Good luck out there to everyone.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Know What’s Growing in Your Pond Contributed By: Steven King sking@ilmenvironments.com Knowing what types of aquatic vegetation are growing in your pond and how to properly manage them is essential to having a healthy ecosystem that fish will thrive in. There are so many different types of aquatic vegetation in the Southeast that it can be hard to properly identify everything. Many of these plants can be harmful to a fishery. Being able to determine whether a plant needs to be completely removed or just maintained is key to a healthy ecosystem. Even the beneficial plant species can easily grow out of control and take over a pond if not maintained properly. Managing a plant species consists of various chemical treatments to control growth and manual removal methods. There are many species that require specific chemical combinations to effectively maintain a healthy pond environment, which is why it is important to know exactly what species you are dealing with. What are the benefits of having and maintaining a healthy aquatic plant population? 1). Plants provide cover for small or newly hatched fish to hide from predators. 2.) Plant growth attracts all sorts of insects and invertebrates that fish feed on. 3). Provides cover for spawning fish. 4). Gives fish shade relief from the sun. 5). A better environment for recreation/ fishing. 6.) Plants raise the dissolved oxygen levels by releasing oxygen into the water through photosynthesis. What is the right amount of plant growth to have? There is no correct answer to that question because every pond’s ecosystem is different. Determining a management plan depends on what type of plant species are present, the structure of the pond and what fish species that call the pond home. A rough rule of thumb
to use is to have no more than 3040% of the seabed with some type of vegetation growth. How do you tell which plants are bad to have in your pond? Getting a lake management specialist to come out and inspect your pond is always the best solution. There is also literature and online resources at your disposal. One example of a plant species that is quite common in the Southeast and can be detrimental to an ecosystem if it gets well established is called Giant Lyngbya. This plant grows more aggressively and can completely take over an entire pond or lake in a short period of time. Giant Lyngbya is by far one of, if not, the hardest aquatic plant to control, and once it does get established, there is virtually no way to completely remove it. There are ways to reduce and control its growth, but the correct use of mechanical removal and the right chemical combinations must be used or you could be making the problem even worse. This plant is essentially the equivalent to a lake management horror story. Giant Lyngbya gives off toxic gasses that smell like sewage, virtually nothing will eat it and it has no ecological benefits. This plant will get so thick that it often makes fishing impossible, and can develop new resistances to herbicides year-after-year making different combinations needed to consistently keep it under control. This plant is just one of many examples of how important it is to know what you have growing in your pond and being able to identify these problem species early on before the problem gets out of control to where the ecosystem becomes unhealthy. To contact ILM for any of your lake management needs, please call Steven King at 678-207-7631 or send an email to sking@ilmenvironments.com.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Throw It Out and Reel It Back or Just Do Nothing
hours with many doubles. That was for a television show, and that exercise usually cuts your catch in half with all there is to do to make it look natural. I caught three that weighed a total of over seventy-five pounds on the first three casts. Throw it out and reel it back. Travis and I visited Cajun Vista Lodge a couple of falls ago. I fished with Captain Wayne, and using Road Runners with light colored swim tails that come in the package, caught plenty of representative redfish. We fileted them for dinner that night at the lodge. I believe Road Runner calls that size a Salt-Runner. Anyway, redfish love them. No longer a rookie in fishing for northern pike since he has visited with me to Carroll Lake Lodge several times, Travis caught his largest pike last time up, a forty-eight incher.
Good grief! What bait or lure is that? It’s a Road Runner. Ever used one? Bet you have and not even known it. A Road Runner is a brand of lures that will catch bass, crappie, stripers, walleye, northern pike and a bunch of other critters from freshwater, and then redfish, sea trout, blues and more from saltwater. It’s a funny shaped painted lead head jig with a little spinner on the bottom. You can vary the sizes, colors and trailers to make it what you want. Good. Ok, so what’s the point here? Doing nothing? When’s that? From late December through February, an angler can catch buckets of crappie from underneath the major marina docks on the reservoirs across the South, East Coast and Midwest. In most states, the limit is liberal, up to 35 to 50 per day. The crappie will gather there by the thousands. Doing nothing? Just rig up to three or even four tiny 1/64th ounce Road Runners in bright colors on a single light action soft tip rod with 6-pound test line and drop it down to the giant schools of crappie and do nothing. Think about it. Test yourself. Put a Road Runner on a light action rod and hold it still in the water where you can see it. Is it still? No, it’s kind of just vibrating. If it were a minnow, it would not be scurrying around hopping and darting in the frigid winter temperatures. So, drop it down on the ‘Christmas Tree Rig’ I described and you’ll get bit. In this case, less is more. When one bites, leave it down a few counts and others will get aggressive and bite another of the jigs. So why not use minnows instead? You don’t need to spend the time rigging the minnow on the hooks. You’ll catch plenty without the trouble of minnow managing. Before I go to something else, here’s a tip to double your catch doing this wintertime jigging. Tag your Road Runner with something stinky. It’ll permeate through the water level where you’ve located the crappie, help hold the fish at that level and
depth and encourage the bite. What to use? I like either tagging the hook with a piece of leach or a mealworm. Action is not required, only the smell. Pick up a few little Fisher’s Choice cans of the stinky stuff and you’re in business. Another thing, keep your noise down to a minimum. Don’t jump up and down on the dock celebrating your catch. It’ll spook the school. See? Doing nothing with the bait will work. Ok, what else? Road Runners for northern pike and walleye. Yes, but this time, since northern pike are so aggressive, all you do with your Road Runner is cast it out and reel it back. Northern will follow it in and bite it at the boat, so don’t give up on the cast until it’s over. Walleye will compete for it when fished down in those deep summertime holes, and it’ll work even better if you slow it down and add the leach for smell. The little spinner below the jig head is an attractor, and the trailer in your choice in colors will match the baitfish in the waters where you’re casting. Be sure and use a wire leader or those toothy thieves will cut you off every time. Stripers? Absolutely. Cast it out and reel it back. Just locate the depth of the school, and there you are. When you have them on the surface feeding, you’ll hook up three times to one over a surface bait. Need a bigger bait or profile for redfish? Use a big Road Runner with a large curly tail trailer. My goodness, the number of reds caught on a jig with a trailer on the Gulf Coast yearround would sink a battleship. Again, cast it out and reel it back. Mr. Red will get it. I fished with Eddie Woodall at Full Net Charters December a year ago, and using Road Runners tagged with extra-large curly tailed plastics, we caught 25 huge reds in two
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Combination: Road Runner with large gold spinner to match the color of the yellow perch baitfish, swim tailed trailer, wire leader, throw it out and reel it back technique. Maybe if you want to turn your fishing into catching sometime, stock your tackle box with Road Runners in a multitude of colors and sizes, cans of Fisher’s Choice leaches and mealworms that were once alive but now aren’t, and don’t try to overdo the presentation. Give it a try. References; www.neworleansfishing. com, www.carrolllakelodge.com, www.fullnetcharters.com.
1/17/17 6:34 AM
Local Lakes & Forecasts lake nottely STripers
Forecast by Jeremy Seabolt lakenottelyfishingcharter.com 706-994-8649 Water temperature is 47-51 degrees. Up until we had the cold and snow come in, we were catching fish in the morning pulling planer boards up on the banks mid-way up in the creeks. Fish are still feeding on large herring and shad pulled 30 to 50 feet behind the boards and 75-100 feet back on free lines. Once you get on the fish, you can catch 6 to 8 fish before they move on out of the creeks. Around 10am or so, the stripers have been stacking up on long points. Once you find them, you can catch them on down lines dropping them 15 20 feet deep, or you can take bucktails and jig them. We also have an ok u-rig bite pulling the rigs 75 100 feet back. We have even been getting 2 at a
time on the u-rigs, but large herring and shad are still producing the best for me. Going on into February, I see a herring kill happening again this year, so you should be able to catch fish on jerkbaits or a Redfin by jerking it and making it look like a dying herring. The sea gulls are starting to get up here now and have been seeing them from point 5 to the dam. If you see them diving, throw bucktails and hold on. You can also pull live herring around where you are seeing them dive and pick up some nice fish. Gray cove and Conley have been my best two creeks for fish in the last few weeks. Don’t forget, if you need large herring and shad, Paradise Bait is the go-to place for large bait. Until next time, stay warm and happy fishing from Lake Nottely Fishing Charter.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Cloud Fishing
Contributed By: Noey Vinyard
From Pathetic to Paradise.The Story and Animals of the Thirty Covey Rescue Reserve If you are like me, when those commercials come on of the abused and neglected animals, the channel can’t get changed fast enough. I see enough of it in my everyday life, and I don’t need to be reminded by the wellmeaning people that produce those commercials. But most people that read this column are animal lovers and probably like to imagine that all animal rescue organizations are places where abused and neglected animals can go live in peace for the rest of their lives. Sadly, the truth is I have never seen one of those places until now, and it is owned and operated by two very special people. The first time I met René Kemp I was actually trespassing on his property. In fact, the very first time I saw him I had just jumped his gate and had barely time to turn around before he pulled up in a golf cart. I was looking at his face and he was not happy I was there. Fortunately, my arrival was not totally unexpected as a friend of a friend kind of thing had told me the place needed help, and although I had officially retired, curiosity got the best of me, and I went by to see what he had going on. It was a meeting that would
change the course of my life. But at that particular moment he was not happy to see me, and my instincts told me it was because he was protecting something. Since my intentions for being there were good, I approached him with body language that says I was there in peace, and once I told him who I was, he shook my hand and greeted me. But the smile on his face did not reach his eyes yet. Whatever was here meant a lot to this man, and my instincts told me it had nothing to do with materialistic things. After the initial uneasiness, he realized why I was there and gave me the windshield tour of the most beautiful 120 acres I have ever seen. But it was not until we got to the last part when his smile finally reached his eyes. He and his wife Holly had built an animal rescue Paradise beyond anything that I could ever dream of, and probably what all the animal lovers out there would like to think rescued animals end up at. The couple had not taken on animal rescue as a hobby, it had become a way of life. They built the kind of place that eases the conscience of animal lovers. A place where horses who had been left to starve have not only been
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nursed back to health but provided an absolute horse heaven to live out the rest of their lives. They have acres and acres of pasture to graze in when they feel like it. In the summer they have an enclosure, for when they feel too hot, they can come in and get misted with water. In the winter they have stalls and blankets, and it’s kept warm and completely free of the harsh winds of winter. And there is a whole lot more here than horses. There are goats that have more things to climb and play on than many playgrounds. There are two pigs that sleep in straw thick enough to completely cover them as do the goats. But even that is not enough. In fact nothing on the place is just enough. Warming lights and draft free enclosures are standard issue here. There are also nine dogs including Festus who has taken to this place like a fish to water, and five cats to include one named Pinball who has actually taken up residence with me and Festus. The eight dogs that live in the house with René and Holly are a mixture of this and that but include four rescued pit bulls. You would think that a house full of dogs like that especially with the pit bulls thrown in would be chaos, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s the small things I look for and the fact that after the initial greeting from all the dogs, they all found a place to snooze, telling me that these dogs were not only cared for but are loved and given attention as all things here are. And the dogs are not kept in cages, do not need to be separated
and have complete freedom to run the entire reserve or sleep on any piece of furniture they so choose. I spent one night and needed nothing more to come out of retirement, move here and take my place with these people who have dedicated their lives to not only rescuing animals, but to see them live their lives out in comfort. None of these animals will ever be re-homed. In the upcoming months you will hear these animal stories, but unlike the commercials, I will not break your heart with their past, rather you will get to meet all the different personalities that live here. I will also give you the names of some places that if you truly want to help rescue abused and neglected animals, there are a lot of people who could use your help, even if it’s just pushing a wheelbarrow or using a shovel. In return, they will let you pet, feed and love all the animals you care to. And what will truly blow your mind is how much love these animals can give back to you. We as people have failed miserably as it has always been our responsibility to care for domesticated animals. The one thing that the three of us here have in common is we get paid absolutely nothing. We have tapped into what these animals give back. The golden rule here is animals come first in all ways. And don’t worry readers, Festus and I and now Pinball are still here in the mountains with you. So stay tuned, as there actually is a place where neglected animals live out their lives the way their original owners should have made it. See you next month.
been caught this way. Look for these fish to continue this pattern for the next few weeks. Walleye: The walleye bite is in full swing. We have been fishing night crawlers on the bottom as well downlining blue back herring. Most of the walleye seem to be holding on a 25 to 30 foot bottom and rising to the 15 foot depths to feed on points. Positioning the boat over the fish is
very critical. Walleye are not very aggressive and take several seconds to catch the bait sometimes. This can be tough in the winter on the northern lakes in the wind. Just remember walleye are very bottom oriented fish and only travel just a few feet off the bottom to feed. The trolling bite will be picking up in the next few weeks. We will be dragging an array of colorful crankbaits. Good luck!
Water temperature: 46 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: clear. Bass: The spotted bass bite has been steady the last few weeks. Most of the big fish are deep hanging out over a 35 to 40 foot bottom. We have been catching most of the bass on under spins (Super Fish white 1/2 ounce tipped with a white fluke). This is a tough technique to learn but produces some really nice fish. Try casting out away from the boat in the 20 foot range and slow roll this lure back towards the boat keeping it at this
20 foot depth. The fish will rise off of that 30 foot bottom to eat the bait. The key is maintaining that 20 foot depth. We have been working long main lake points and ditches in the backs of creeks. Don’t be surprised if you catch a monster spot! The spots should continue to hold over deep water over the next several weeks occasionally coming up to the surface mid-day chasing herring. Trout: The brown trout seem to be plentiful this year. The trolling bite has really taken off. We have been trolling gold Johnson Spoons between 10 feet and 25 feet deep, maintaining a speed of 2.5 mph to 3 mph. Keep an eye out for surfacing fish and have a Mepps Super Rooster in white ready to cast. Some of the bigger brown trout have
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Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Lake MARTIN Forecast By: Capt David Hare 256-401-3089 Alex City Guide Service For most of us this month kicks off the crappie season. By the end of the month you will have to hunt a parking space at most ramps around Lake Martin. I’m saying this based on the weather and water temps being what they have the last several years. Our crappie guides were out scouting on another lake and boated 48 in 4 hours, and based on that, Lake Martin is on schedule to be turned on by the time you’re reading this or just shortly after. Although you can catch crappie on all areas of our lake, most of our crappie guides will be targeting areas from Midway Island north to above Camp Asca and everything in between. When you’re out searching on your own, do not overlook the creeks. If you have never done a crappie trip with us, then you’re missing out. We use the latest and greatest center
console boats with plenty of room for you and your family and have more rods out than most people own. It’s crazy catching when the bite is on and the guides know how to keep you on them once they locate them. Give it a try. I think you will love our way of fishing for them. Stripers are likely to be most anywhere in February. I will be in most cases carrying clients for the biggest trophies that Alabama has to offer which is on Lake Martin, and springtime is an awesome time to get you a wall hanger. Planer boarding is one of the most popular ways to fish this month and for the remainder of the spring. We will be using several different types and sizes of bait. I love using big bait and getting that topwater action when these trophy stripers chase these baits to the top, blowing them slam out of the water! It’s as exciting as fishing gets. Even though you may have some very
stained areas in February, you can always find fishable water on Lake Martin with its 880 miles of shoreline and 44,000 acres of fishable waters. Striper fishing has really gotten popular over the last several years, and with that comes the pressure on these fish making it tough for some folks to catch them on a consistent basis. So if you are one of these people, you need to hire a guide and fish with them a few times a year to learn techniques and some areas that produce catches. Even guides have tough days at times, but if you pick a
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guide or even a friend who has been doing this for years and years, they can and will get you going down the right path, which in return makes for more happy fishing days! Don’t forget to continue to fish under the birds and gulls this month. If you see us at the ramp and have any questions, we will try and answer them the best we can, but nothing takes the place of some oneon-one action in our boats, so keep that in mind the next time you’re coming to Lake Martin. Tight lines and stay safe.
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Contributed by Chad Smith chadsmithguideservice.com (706)207-2411 Lake Sinclair is stained up the rivers to clear by the dam, and water temps are ranging from 49-52 degrees! Expect the water temps to spike during the warm afternoons we are having at the moment. Crappie fishing is good to great most days for numbers! Backs of creeks and long coves with 20-25 feet of water have been holding the best numbers of crappie. The back of Rooty Creek as well as up Little River and Buck Creek has been holding the majority of the crappie! Expect the crappie to move shallower in these same areas as the warmer afternoons heat the coves and backs of creeks a degree or two. There are some good quality crappie mixed in with the smaller crappie so you will have to weed through them. Double 1/16th and single 1/16th with a #4 split shot running .7-.8 mph in the mornings, then same heads but speeding up to 1 mph and going
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Contributed by Chad Smith chadsmithguideservice.com (706)207-2411 Catfishing for big fish is great at the moment! We are boating 15-20 fish each trip with at least 1 fish over 20 pounds! Trolling using planer boards as well as verticle drifting and Santee drifting are all working running .5-.7mph! Best baits have been big cuts of crappie and cut gizzard shad. Change your baits every 30 minutes to keep fresh scent in the water. 2024 ATLANTA
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25 foot flats around the lake have been best! On warmer days the big fish have pulled up on the high sides of the big flats searching for bait that also has pulled up in the warmer water. These fish have been very aggressive trying to rip rods out of the rod holder! If you want to catch a winter time trophy give me a call at 706-2072411.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Heat Up Your Wintertime Bass Fishing with These Hot Spots
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Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com Fishing in the winter can be tough on anglers, not only dealing with cold outside temperatures, but also having to find fish in cold and at times unstable water conditions. There are four reliable patterns I choose when fishing in the winter, and they are roadbeds, points, and riprap and many times in that order. Do you want to know why? Well, it’s because they are bass magnets when it’s cold. Roadbeds: Are some of the most overlooked places that anglers miss when bass fishing. If anglers would take just a little time locating a bass magnet like a roadbed, they would find that fish are there and many times are big and not pressured. When fishing roadbeds, I try to focus on any irregularity that shows up on my electronics. It may be a rock pile, a ditch with stumps, etc., but if you find something different you will find fish hanging around it. Bass use roadbeds as a migration route to and from different access areas. Locate roadbeds on a map, and if they are close to a channel or other structure, be sure to fish them because you can really whack them. My favorite baits for fishing road beds are Rapala deep diving crankbaits and the Fish-Head Spin, as they allow me to cover the entire water column effectively. I then back them up using a Carolina Rig with a Trokar hook with a standard soft plastic. Points: Main lake points are the second stop on the list as they are yet another piece of structure that will be holding fish in the winter. When fishing points, I try to locate the points that run a long way out from the bank and into a drop off. This
allows me to use many different presentations and gives bass the ability to move up and down the water column easily, I usually start out using deep diving crankbaits if the point is deep, because I want to stay in contact with the bottom as much as possible. Using big baits is also key to fishing wintertime points, because bass need the assurance that the bait it chases to eat is worth the energy spent doing so. Slow rolling big spinnerbaits over points in the winter also get the nod. I trick out my Rapala Terminator spinnerbait by painting the entire bait white, blades and all. Riprap: Riprap holds bass in the winter, and it is the third stop on my list. Riprap exists to do one thing, and that is to retain the earth from moving. However, the added benefit is that it becomes a bass magnet for bass anglers. Riprap holds all of the micro and biological food sources that attract baitfish and provides shelter, so when there is bait, bass won’t be far away. When fishing riprap I always start on the west side of the lake because it will warm faster, because the sun is rising in the east. I start out throwing a crankbait parallel to the bank and work my way off the bank getting deeper and deeper to locate the active zones. I look for some type of change in the riprap because bass are usually attracted to it, so I try to be sure to hit the corners of the riprap as bass use it as an ambush points. When fishing in the winter, don’t overlook some of the best bass locations on the lake. Road beds, points, and riprap could be the best way to break down a lake in the winter and start catching fish faster. Thanks for taking the time to read and check me out at www.jaystriker. com. Striker Nation, I’ll see you on the water.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts lake lanier crappie Forecast By: Dan Saknini, Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. www.laniercrappieanglers.net Water temperature is 48 degrees in the lower parts of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee. If you go above Laurel Park on the Chattahoochee side or north of Thompson Creek on the Chestatee, you will notice that the water is more stained as you get into the “S” turns. Also, the water temperature drops a few degrees at this point. The river channel docks with warmer water temperatures at 46 to 48 degrees will be your best options. The bait is between twenty and thirty feet deep, and the fish are holding on the deeper docks. Our dock shooting technique is producing well. We’ve been catching better quality fish on the Chattahoochee side of the lake, however if you want to catch greater numbers, the Chestatee side of the lake will be your best option. The bite is starting deeper at fifteen to twenty feet, but it is amazing how quickly the entire school will shallow up if they decide to feed, sometimes up to eight feet below the surface.
The best advice is to pay attention to your Humminbird, noting the depth the fish are suspended and work the jig directly above their heads. The way the eyes are positioned on the crappies’ heads, they are always looking up. Therefore, if the jig is below them, it is difficult for them to see and respond to it. Jiffy Jigs in a variety of colors and hair jigs are working well, but the soft body Bobby Garland Jigs tend to skip the water easier. This will assist you in getting your jig all the way to the back of the dock when using the shooting technique. My preference, however, is still the darker color jigs right now. The fish are holding tight to the structure and it is very critical to keep the jig in their strike zone. With the colder temperatures, their metabolism has slowed and they are not willing to chase your jig. You will also notice that the color of the crappie has turned to pale white, which is an indication they have gone to deeper pockets. The females have begun to develop eggs and you will see their bellies starting to become distended, even though the spawn is still a good distance away. The bait will lead you to the fish, so pay attention to your graph. Threadfins are the bait of choice for crappie. Stay safe on the water and wear your life jacket!
Lake chatuge
Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice.com 706-455-2323 The water temperature: cool 50-52 degrees, lake level: 7.1 feet below full pool, water clarity: clear. The lake level has been holding at 7 feet below full pool, and water temps have dropped into the low 50’s. The Float n Fly bite has kicked in. Target rocky points and deep bluff banks. I use bright colored flies on cloudy days and natural darker colors on sunny days. The jig bite has picked up around docks and on
long points using 3/8 ounce PB/J and 3/8 ounce green pumpkin. We’ve also been catching some fish on Strike King jerkbaits and A-Rigs around docks and in the back of pockets and flats. The Fish Head Spin and Flex It spoon are catching fish out off long points. The striper and hybrids have been coming up blowing bait out of the water. There has been some good spotted bass mixed in with them, so keep a fluke and a Strike King Sexy Dawg tied on for those long casts. If you’ve never fished the Float n Fly, give us a call. You don’t know what you’re missing.
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ATLANTA 27
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Wall of Fame Win A Free Angler Magazine Cap! A Angler Magazine cap will be given away each month for the best reader submitted photo!
Ed Beatty with a nice December striper from Lake Martin fishing with Capt David Hare. Luke Baggett hooked this monster bass in the Hamptons pond near Lake Lanier fishing a hollow body frog near some grass.
WINNER!
Garrett Cox from the Bass Cats Fishing Team with a huge Seminole bass fishing with Paul Tyre.
Young Conner Franklin with a pretty Lanier striper caught with Catching Not Fishing.
Ashley Fulton with a monster buck she took in Canada. 28 ATLANTA
FEBRUARY 2017
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Jimbo Mathley took third place with a 18.65 pound sack at the Hammonds Tournament on Lake Lanier..
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1/17/17 6:35 AM
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A DREAM WEDDING
By CAM Staff
From left, Capt. Kevin Rose and Capt. Judy Helmey officiated and witnessed the wedding of Erin Bodnar and Casey Maday, of Des Moines, Iowa, aboard the Miss Judy Too before catching a pile of fish for the reception.
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ove and the smell of sheepshead were in the air on Jan. 6 aboard the Miss Judy Too out of Savannah, Ga. It was a dream wedding for bride Erin Bodnar and groom Casey Maday, of Des Moines, Iowa. The couple got hitched while bobbing over an artificial reef off the coast of Georgia with captains from Miss Judy Charters officiating and witnessing the event. “It was a grand day for a wedding and fishing,” wrote Capt. Judy Helmey in a special edition of her weekly fishing report. She added that it was a, “one fiddler one fish kind of a catching deal.” And it’s a good thing the bite was so hot. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and the crew burned through 267 fiddler crabs to boat this mixed bag of sheepshead and black drum. They were on a mission, because fish is on the menu for the couple’s wedding reception back in Iowa.
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CASTING DISTANCE POWER AND REEL SETTINGS
By Tobin Strickland • Photo Courtesy of Lews Reels
O
ne of the first things any angler can improve to catch more fish without getting new gear is to increase his casting distance. The first adjustment to make is the “spool tension” knob on the right hand side of any baitcaster. With the lure just hanging from the end of the rod tip, first tighten the knob, then release your thumb and slowly unscrew the tension knob until the lure just begins to fall. On the left side plate, you’ll see the centrifugal brake external setting. If you are new to throwing a baitcasting reel, start with a setting of about 4-6. If you have an internal centrifugal brake, set at least two brakes “out / engaged.” If you want to cast far, you have to make a powerful, rod-loading, casting stroke. It’s compact and uses 2 hands. It’s not a big one-armed cast. Tighten the spool tension knob about a quarter turn and practice casting hard. Once you’re throwing your hardest without backlash, slowly begin loosening the settings and feathering the spool edge a little. Slowly adjust the centrifugal brake setting looser, one click, or one brake, to maximize cast distance. Then slightly re-adjust the spool tension knob. In the end, I find that I can still adjust slightly lighter and manually feather the spool edge with the thumb. This is where you’ll get your longest cast distances. Cast hard my friends. Tobin Strickland (aka TroutSupport) is a field staff angler for Lews Reels.
ATLANTA FLY FISHING SHOW IS FEB. 3-4
W
all-to-wall displays of the newest fly rods, reels, boots, waders, clothing, flies and fishing watercraft, will greet visitors to the inaugural Atlanta Fly Fishing Show Feb. 3-4 at the Infinite Energy Center, 2029 Satellite Rd., Duluth. Parking is free. In addition to the sold-out aisles filled with merchandise, lodges and exotic destinations, show visitors can view continuous fly-tying demonstrations, how-to-do-it seminars and hourly audio/visual presentations ranging from brown trout in Patagonia to Alaska’s Kenai River. Casting demonstrations are scheduled by Lefty Kreh, Gary Borger, Bob Clouser, George Daniel, Simon Gawesworth and Joe Humphreys. Tying Classes will be offered for an additional fee from experts like Blane Chocklett, Kevin Arculeo, Jason Randall and Henry Cowen. For space availability and enrollment in tying classes call (814) 443-3639. Fly Fishing Show admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days. Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under 16 in uniform. Active military with an ID are $10. Film Festival admission is $15 or $10 with paid admission to the show. For a list of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars and demonstrations, visit flyfishingshow.com/atlanta/ or phone (814) 443-3638.
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FEBRUARY 2017
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BY JAKE DARLING, UNICOI OUTFITTERS
Black Caddis Dry Hook: #14-18 dry fly hook Thread: UTC 70, black Body: Black Superfine dubbing Rib: X-Sm wire, black Hackle: Black (neck cape hackle) Wing: Elk hair, natural During this month, many tailwater streams will begin to have black caddis buzzing around on warmer days. These hatches often happen during the afternoons, and have great potential to force many fish to the surface to feed aggressively. The black caddis hatch is a very fun hatch to fish due to the larger size of bugs that usually come off. Most days a #14 or 16 will do the trick on many tailwaters, making it much easier to spot your fly on the water. Make sure to have plenty of black caddis in your box this month, because you are definitely going to be seeing them. Contact Jake Darling at jake@unicoioutfitters.com.
KICKING FISH TAIL WITH CAPT. JUDY
I
By Capt. Judy Helmey
Bill Hunter, his son Dallas and Dallas’ grandfather Al Hunter raced the rain back to dock after a good trip with Capt. Matt Williams.
t had been dry in coastal Georgia until then that line of storms we had been watching last month, when the rains came. This was now upon us. We all rushed up from the winter’s unseasonably warm, yet wet, dock and the Hunter fishing team got in the weather didn’t do anything to hurt the car with a bag of fish fillets. Off they went to fishing. find another adventure! Capt. Matt Williams of Miss Judy Inshore, we are still catching the Savannah Charters took Bill Hunter, his son Dallas, slam, which is redfish, spotted sea trout, and and his father Al out and they had a great flounder. We are also catching sheepshead, time. It wasn’t the perfect weather day, black drum and a few whiting. The best bait either. Early in the morning, we were all for all these fish is live shrimp, but if you can trying to decide whether or not Capt. Matt get them, mud minnows will work. For those should leave the dock. The winds were fish that prefer to eat something wrapped in a howling and there was a strong line of shell, purple-back fiddlers are going to be your showers moving in from the northwest. best bait. As soon as I talked to Bill, he decided to The artificial reefs are offering short boat go. It does seem that every time Bill leaves rides to big fish. They continue to amaze me the dock the winds are howling. It is his for sure! There is plenty of catching to be signature weather event. had if you just keep looking. We are catching Here’s how it went: After departing sheepshead, black drum, flounder, black sea with Capt. Matt, they searched for the bass, ocean perch, triggerfish and trophy perfect spot, which was somewhere out redfish as well as other bottom biters. The best of the wind. Capt. Matt found it and they bait to use on the bottom is squid. I have never caught quite a few fish, with young Dallas met a fish that didn’t like this stuff. I guess you catching the biggest redfish. I was watching could call it the universal bait of all times. the weather from the house and Matt was keeping an eye to the sky. After taking a Miss Judy Charters has been operating quick look at the radar on their phones, it out of Savannah since 1956. See their website was time to make a run to the dock, where at www.missjudycharters.com and be sure to I met them and took a few photos while check out the Inshore School dates. Capt. Matt hurriedly cleaned the fish. To learn more about Miss Judy and the History of Georgia Fisheries, go to As he was finishing up, we all felt drops of rain and
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WILD TROUT ON THE EAST FORK PIGEON RIVER, N.C. (An excerpt from Flyfisher’s Guide To North Carolina & Georgia) By Nick Carter
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t its top end, high in the Shining Rock Wilderness halfway between Brevard and Waynesville, N.C., the headwaters of the East Fork of the Pigeon River are about as pretty a place as I’ve ever been. I don’t know if she takes me seriously, but I told my wife I want my ashes scattered up a particularly beautiful and hard-toget-to tributary of the East Fork. I see it as a parting gift to my brothers, who will likely be tasked with the mission. Hopefully they’ll take their 3-weights and put the urn in the rear pouch of a fly vest. Tumbling from more than 5,500 feet of elevation from Black Balsam knob, Yellowstone Prong, the creek’s largest high tributary, and the East Fork itself offer close to 8 miles of wilderness trout fishing in some of the most picturesque gin-clear plunge pools and brawling pocket water anywhere. Along with East Fork tributaries, there are untold miles of water worth exploring for native brook trout on the river’s upper end, which is accessed by relatively short hikes from several locations off the Blue Ridge Parkway. A word of warning, though: these flows are steep… you-might-need-a-rope steep, and it’s a long way to help if one were to get into trouble up these prongs. Even those in relatively good physical shape will find fishing these waters to be grueling. On the lower end of its publicly accessible waters, the East Fork is flatter and much larger than it is in the brook trout waters above. The terrain is not nearly as treacherous, and with the influx of multiple
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tributaries, it has become a small river by the time it crosses off the eastern edge of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. A trail gives the only viable access to several miles of river before it begins to parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway. This stream appears to receive surprisingly light fishing pressure. There are a lot of backpackers and waterfall watchers who use the area extensively, but I guess most anglers don’t typically go this far into the woods to catch small trout. Although the majority of the rainbows and browns you’ll catch on dries and droppers in the pocket water will range from 6 to 10 inches, there are some bruisers hanging out in the deeper holes. These deep holes are plentiful, but the bigger fish are notoriously hard to fool. Take a few minutes to stop and watch one of the large plunge pools on the river just upstream of the trailhead. In clear water, you’ll see the smaller fish first, feeding high in the water column. Look a little longer and deeper, and fish 14 to 16 inches or longer will make themselves visible hanging near the bottom. Flyfisher’s Guide To North Carolina & Georgia is 218 pages of extensively researched information on the area’s best trout fishing. It includes more than 40 full-color maps, photos, driving directions, GPS coordinates and tips and tactics. It is available on wildadvpress.com, Amazon and at fly shops, and signed copies are available by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.
SWEET STICKS:
RODS FOR KAYAK FISHING By Paul Lebowitz
I
n nearly 20 years of kayak fishing, I’ve seen the boats radically change. These days they are purpose-built for angling, and much more stable and forgiving. On the other hand, the thinking on what makes a good kayak rod has scarcely evolved. There’s been little need. For most applications, off-the-shelf gear made for the general fishing market works fine. A standard bass or flats quiver will suit you well whether you’re fishing from a ’yak, a powerboat or the shore, although the adjustable butt of Manley Rods’ offerings is a nice feature. It’s only when you get to big game that the need for specialized kayak sticks is magnified. Let’s cover the big exception: the rod tip. When landing a fish from a kayak, you’d do well to have some glass for shock absorption. High-sticking is almost inevitable. Most big game kayak anglers fight their fish while sitting. An intermediate length butt is an advantage, something on the order of 12 to 13 inches, about 2 to 4 inches shorter than normal. That’s just right for tucking into your belly while seated. A strong backbone is a plus for easier fish management, particularly when the battle is in its closing stages. Rod length is a matter of preference. It’s nice to have enough reach to get the tip around the bow, but it isn’t strictly necessary. If you’re hooked up and you point your rod tip at the bow, the fish will pull the kayak around to face it.
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UNDER THE SEA
r spread SPEARGUN SELECTION
S
SHERI DAYE
peargun selection is one of the most hotly debated topics on spearfishing forums. Fortunately, there are many great brands nowadays – such as Wong, AB Biller, Riffe, Hammerhead, Cressi, SEAC, Mares, Rob Allen, Koah, Mako, JBL and more. Over the last century, spearfishing equipment has evolved from very simple muscle-powered slings and polespears, made with wood and rubber bands, to the modern-day spearguns equipped with a trigger mechanism and more exotic materials. Interestingly, slings and polespear are making a comeback—but that’s a topic for another month—so let’s concentrate on how to select a modern-day speargun. If you walk into your local dive shop, you will notice there are two main categories of band-powered spearguns: the American style, usually recognized by the wood stock, and the Eurogun, which has a tubular shaped barrel and a rear handle. The Eurogun originated in Europe where most spearfishing is freedive-only, fairly deep, and for small, easily spooked fish. Hence these spearguns have a low-profile, streamlined design and thinner shafts. If you are diving in similar conditions, the Eurogun style might be for you. On the other hand, if you want a sturdy, durable and easy-to-load gun that will handle bigger fish, you might lean toward the American/wood-style gun. This is also the style used for big powerful tuna guns, because they can be ballasted and accommodate up to six bands. There’s also a hybrid design, which incorporates the best elements of both with wood stock in the back and a carbon fiber tube in the front. Once you’ve chosen between styles, the next question is length. Most Eurogun sizes are 90 to 160 centimeters, and most American guns are between 36 and 65 inches. So, with the conversion from centimeters to inches, they have pretty much the same length range. If you are diving in low visibility or hunting in rocks like they have in California or Rhode Island, you would choose a shorter gun. If you are hunting spooky fish in clear waters like mutton snappers in Florida, you would opt for a longer gun. If you are just getting started and expect to dive in variable visibility, 130 centimeters or 50 inches would be a good medium length for an all-around reef gun.
Sheri Daye hunts with a Wong Hybrid Speargun. Photo by Joe Marino.
Here are some additional tips: 1) Join a local spearfishing club and learn from the more experienced people. Observe what equipment they use and ask for advice. 22) Shop at a dive store that caters to spearfishing. They carry more choices and have experienced personnel to help you choose. These include Austin’s in Miami; Florida Freedivers in Palm Beach; James & Josephs in San Diego, Calif.; Freedive Shop in Sacramento, Calif. and more. 3) Check out the custom-gun builders. There are some high-quality builders who will work with you directly, give you advice, and design it to your specs—such as Wong Spearguns from Hawaii or Sea Sniper from California. Most importantly, you should pick a style that suits you and the conditions you dive in. Chances are you will get hooked and add more spearguns to your arsenal in the future! Follow “Sheri Daye” & “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” April 22-23, 2017 – Ft. Lauderdale - Instagram and Facebook.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER THE REBIRTH OF 8- TO 10FOOT BASS RODS BRANDON LESTER
E
ver since I can remember, there has been a rule in B.A.S.S. tournaments barring the use of rods longer than 8 feet. To my knowledge, it is because Dee Thomas and other Californians were using 10-foot and longer rods for “flipping” when the technique was first invented. Evidently the powersthat-be back then didn’t like this new way of fishing, so they banned the use of long rods. At the conclusion of 2016, B.A.S.S. decided to change this rule and allow us to use any rod up to 10 feet in length. Bass fishing has evolved
they fight. The extra rod length will help keep the line tight during the fight, giving the fish less opportunity to escape. For the small wooden crankbaits, the longer rod gives control over how deep the bait dives. Hold the rod tip up, and the bait dives shallower. Stick a couple feet of the blank in the water, and it runs deeper. Add longer casting distance and you will be hitting depths never before achieved with some baits. A longer rod will also be beneficial for flipping and pitching. We all know what
tremendously in the past several years, and there is no doubt this rule change will be another big breakthrough. Will long rods become the norm in everyone’s boat? I don’t think so, but I believe these rods will have a time and place in bass fishing. I have been busy building and testing a few of these longer rods with the guys at Mud Hole Custom Tackle. We’ve made encouraging findings. The first long rod I built is a 8’6” medium power spinning rod. I wanted a rod to cast small, wooden crankbaits on light line for more distance. I also wanted this rod to act as a drop shot rod for open-water smallmouth fishing. Although I don’t see myself using this rod all the time for drop shotting, imagine a scenario where you are casting a drop shot in current and need that extra length to control the way the line drifts. Also, anyone who has ever fought a river smallmouth knows how hard
happens when we set the hook on a 12-inch bass with a 7’6” rod, well imagine what will happen when you set the hook on one with a 9-foot flipping stick. We’ll be jerking 3-pounders out of the thickest cover! When that 10-pounder bites, she might not be the one that got away anymore. There might be cases where a long flipping rod is more efficient, as well. The technique of flipping, as it was done originally, by stripping line through the guides and never using the reel, will probably come back to light because we can now use a rod long enough put a bait where it needs to go. I will be building a long flipping stick before the elite series heads to Lake Okeechobee. What better place to try it out than the land of the giants? Keep tabs on 8-foot-plus rod building by visiting www. MudHole.com, and hit me up on Facebook with any questions.
Get more tips from Lester at
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at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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ackle geeks have climbed high rungs of reel optimization for decades. Their basic game remains the same today: super-tune fishing reels by adding premium components and applying best cleaning and maintenance practices. But better materials and technology have elevated expectations of what fishing reels can be made to do. Russ Lane, who has earned six appearances in the Bassmaster Classic, took his habitual tackle tinkering to high-tech heights several seasons back. Lane today replaces standard reel parts with premium components that extend reel life and enable spools to spin at dazzling RPMs. What’s the fisherman’s takeaway after these reel transformations? The clearest advantages are longer casting distances, better control, heightened casting accuracy, and improved feel and sensitivity. Some premium reel components—strikingly colorful multi-textured reel knobs and anodized star drags and cast control caps, for example—can practically turn reels into showpieces, too. “Fishermen can’t believe what custom components can add to a reel’s capability,” said Noah Arroyo, owner of Off the Hook Reels. “And some fishermen are just as attracted to the unique colors and finishes you can bring to a reel and the rich look of premium parts.” Consider replacing standard reel parts with these upgrades: • Ceramic bearings – Ceramic bearings or ceramic hybrid bearings (the latter feature ceramic balls in a stainless steel or plastic cage) can elevate reel performance dramatically. Ceramic bearings can range up to 60 percent lighter than stainless steel bearings. They generate less heat and lower vibration levels, too, reducing friction as the spool revolves. Spool RPMs may climb dramatically, extending casting distance and improving accuracy by reducing the effort required to execute a cast. They also possess five times the life expectancy of stainless steel bearings. The one downside is that they produce a very audible hum, a turn-off to some anglers. HawgTech promotes its ABEC-7 hybrid bearings in nylon cages as allowing “a more free spinning bearing that also runs quieter.” • Carbon Fiber Reel Handles – Lightweight carbon fiber reel arms are
the most common reel upgrade. The difference in weight and sensitivity from conventional reel handles is discernible. They also give a sleek, skeletal look to the reel. • Winn Reel Knobs – Reel knobs made from Winn’s patented WinnDry polymer deliver the same all-weather “tacky” feel and security that Winn grips bring to fishing rods. “The Winn knobs available from HawgTech are so good, your grip never slips even when hands are wet or coated with fish slime,” said Arroyo. Two of Lew’s Best of Show awards at ICAST 2016 featured fishing reels with Winn reel knobs. HawgTech offers these knobs in several bold colors. • Anodized Aluminum Star Drags, Cast Control Caps – Colorful anodized aluminum can give a reel an “auto show” glow. You can go with matching or complementary color options for star drag controls, cast control caps and related parts. Maintenance steps: Of course, flashy parts alone won’t optimize reel performance. Make sure the internal workings of your reel are flawlessly cleaned and lubricated, too. “You have to optimize everything when you super-tune. Polish and clean ends and shafts and pinion gears,” said Arroyo. “When you do and then add your ceramic bearings and premium parts, you really end up with a great piece of machinery.”
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TAUTEN LINEWELDER Sick of having to learn and tie complex knots? The Tauten LineWelder creates a weld that is actually stronger than any knot. The device creates a “sleeve” of thermoplastic polymer around both ends of a looped line, holding the loop in place without bending or weakening the line. Knots weaken the line, and most lines’ strengths are rated with a knot, so using a Tauten LineWelder in place of tying a knot lets you get a connection that’s stronger than the advertised strength of most lines! The process is quick, easy, consistent and doesn’t require you to tie complicated knots. It’s perfect for new fishermen or veteran anglers who don’t want to bother with finicky knot tying. Just loop the line in the device, pull it taut and push the button to create a weld. This device can help fishermen who don’t want to tie complicated knots by removing the need entirely and allowing anglers to focus on the sport they love. The LineWelder works best on 10- to 12-pound-test monofilament nylon and fluorocarbon lines and 10- to 50-pound-test braided lines. Using an experimental technique, it can even join braided lines with monofilament nylon or fluorocarbon leaders to eliminate the need for a swivel. Accessories to weld a wider variety of lines are currently in development and will be available in the future. Visit tauten.com for more information and to see videos of the LineWelder in action. The Tauten customer service staff is always eager to answer any questions, so don’t hesitate to contact them.
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UR-Cut
Fillet Knives
The only custom moldable handle fillet knife.
Ergonomically perfect. Virtually non-slip. Unmatched comfort. Unmatched control. Takes minutes to do.
UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXSTEEL, super-sharp edge, and just-right flexibility that you are used to with Dexter... 1.Dip handle in boiling water for 2 minutes. 2. Dip in cold water for 1 second. 3. Grip and form handle for 10 seconds. 4. Put back in cold water for 10 seconds and your done.
DEXTER UR-CUT FILLET KNIFE Dexter UR-Cut Fillet knives are the only fillet knives that allow you to custom mold the handle to your hand. UR-Cut provides the ultimate in comfort and control and is virtually non-slip in your hand. It’s simple and takes only minutes to customize UR-Cut to fit your hand. First, grip the handle and determine your grip position, paying attention to your thumb position. Dip and completely submerge the handle in boiling water for 2 minutes. Make sure the pot is deep enough so the handle does not contact the bottom or the sides of the pot. Then dip in cold water for 1 second, grip, squeeze, and hold the handle for 10 seconds. Dip back in cold water for 10 seconds and let cool. You now have a custom fillet knife, molded to fit your hand. Just like other Dexter knives, UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXTSTEEL blade, with super-sharp edges that are easy to re-sharpen and have just-right flexibility. UR-Cut fillet knives are made in the U.S.A. and are available in 6”, 7” and 8” lengths. Available at your local and online retailer. For more information and to view all Dexter fishing knives visit dexteroutdoors.com.
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dexteroutdoors.com
NEVER WAX AGAIN! RESTORE AND PROTECT YOUR BOAT Poli Glow does what wax can’t! As seen on Ship Shape TV
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“Recommending Poli Glow is a no brainer.” - PRACTICAL SAILOR, the #1 consumer resource of the U.S. boating industry
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THE ONLY LURE WITH THE PATENTED
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• Jet Trail • Action Lip • Rattle Chamber • Works with all predatory fish 386•310•7165 • Designed and tested by fisherman PiranaFishingLures.com
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FISH & FISHING
A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN
A
small sign on the corner of my attorney’s desk warns his clients to “Assume Nothing.” That caveat is just as valid on the water as it is in the practice of law. If an angler does not start catching fish within minutes of arriving at a spot, he begins to assume that his quarry must be elsewhere. The assumption, of course, is that he has chosen the right bait or lure and presented it in a natural and appealing manner to a fish that is ready to eat. A fish’s behavioral patterns, honed over eons, follow very specific guidelines with few deviations. Anything that differs from the norm instinctively alerts a fish that something may be amiss and it thinks of its own safety first. Regardless of size, a predator does not expect to be charged or attacked by its prey no matter how small the prey is in relation to the predator. That’s why a 3-inch fly made of feathers can spook a 100-pound fish. And remember that fish do not feed constantly for a variety of reasons. Most species use tidal currents, water flow, or the neck of a funnel to their advantage as they search for food. They either hold facing the current, swim against the flow, or work across it. Whenever you present a bait or lure, it should be upcurrent from where you expect the fish to be so that your offering appears to go with the flow. That tenet even applies when you are casting to a cruising fish. The more natural the presentation, the better the chance of a strike. Your quarry automatically measures energy tradeoff. The idea is to exploit each situation so they will expend the least amount of energy for the value received. That translates into the fact that they frequently refuse to chase a bait or lure very far before turning away. An ambush feeder merely wants to dart out, grab its prey and return to its lair. Bottom denizens follow a similar practice. If your offering isn’t close to the sea floor, it’s difficult to get them to swim toward the surface to get it. Successful bottom bouncing starts upcurrent and allows the bait to drag along in the productive zone. Once it sweeps above the quarry, the potential for getting a strike diminishes rapidly. Water temperature enters the energy tradeoff equation. In cold or even cool water, fish react sluggishly because the water temperature slows down their metabolism. It might even force them out of their usual lair in search of warmer water. In those situations, choose baits or lures that are easy for a fish to catch and slow down the retrieve or the trolling speed. And remember, in cooler water it takes fish longer to digest food so they feed less frequently. Those who catch fish consistently study and comprehend the basics of feeding strategy. You can be sure that the behavioral patterns of each species are not about to change. That puts the onus on you to modify your tactics until you uncover the combination that works. Before you abandon a spot because you think it doesn’t hold fish, make sure you have explored the full gamut of options. If you do make any assumptions, convince yourself that a fish is looking at your bait or lure right now. The results might surprise you.
For More Mark Sosin Visit
CAMFISHING.COM Fishing Lights Dock Lights Flounder Lights 785-621-2646
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NEW INTERLUX MICRON WA BOAT PAINT Micron WA (Water-Activated) is the newest addition to the AkzoNobel’s Interlux industry leading Micron Technology product range. It is a showcase antifouling paint that offers long-lasting, multi-seasonal protection in a water-based formulation. Micron WA combines powerful antifouling performance while reducing impact on the environment, leaving a smooth, clean hull. This paint is ideal for cruise, power and sailboats and suitable for all waters. Using a novel paint technology called Water Activated Matrix, Micron WA delivers a crisp, vibrant color and uniform appearance to provide a striking, attractive finish, while at the same time efficiently releasing the active ingredients to deliver powerful antifouling performance. More information is available at: www.yachtpaint.com/usa/diy/ products/antifouling/micron-wa.aspx
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LIMIT 800-4 purch Offer prese
Cus
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SU
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4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNING WATTS 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS GENERATORS ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY
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comp at
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SUPER COUPON Customer Rating Weighs 73 lbs.
185 99 $
20"
94 $269.99
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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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