FREE
GREATER ATLANTA AREA EDITION
GEAR Guide Cold
weather Bassin'
VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 274
F R A N C H I S E
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RADAR
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RezBoostTM beam sharpening displays higher resolution targets, similar to those from a large open array antenna.
DRS4D-NXT & DRS6A-NXT Doppler Solid State Radar Experience The
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THE NEXT GREAT GREAT THE NEXT
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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
Anglers Wanted Dear Reader,
FLORIDA
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 • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com EMERALD COAST/DESTIN/PENSACOLA : Scott Risher • (850) 428-0996 • srisher@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@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 Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@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 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
SOUTHEAST
ATLANTA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Jane A. Redden • (205) 725-9616 • jane@coastalanglermagazine.com Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA : Gregg Thompson • (864) 542-3112 • gregg@theanglermagazine.com WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • kenny@coastalanglermagazine.com
NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT/RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com
GULF COAST
GALVESTON/MATAGORDA/UPPER COAST : Chanci & David Mowry • (713) 446-7395 • chancim@coastalanglermagazine.com • davidm@coastalanglermagazine.com MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com NEW ORLEANS : Dr. Dave Dunaway • (225) 400-8156 • nola@coastalanglermagazine.com
GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com
INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2017-2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
Coastal Angler Magazine and its freshwater component The Angler Magazine are both part of a unique franchise publishing model developed 10 years ago by duplicating the working elements of the local Coastal Angler Magazine that had been publishing since 1996 in Melbourne, Fla. Today, there are more than 30 franchise locations throughout the Continental U.S., Costa Rica and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We are now one of the largest, most widely read outdoor publications in the country. Guess what? We’re not done yet. Our goal is to have more than 100 franchise editions throughout the U.S. and abroad. We’ve tweaked and refined our systems over the last 10 years, and now we are ready to continue our expansion.
Let’s Grow Again! If you (or someone you know) loves the outdoors and would be comfortable running your own business, please contact us for more information about joining our franchise team. Best regards,
Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com
1-888-800-9794
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Marine Wintertime Blowout $209* mon
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www.factorydirectmarine.com *payments calculated at 180 months for well qualified buyers with 20% down. Please note: Prices do not include freight, dealer make ready, and rigging. Pictures may not reflect actual unit and/or available inventory. Price and payment do not include sales tax or fees. Not responsible for typographical errors.
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WE BUILD FUN INTO 26 FEET OF PURE EVERY NAUTICSTAR! FISHING JOY SPORT THE ALL NEW 265XTS DECKS
Step up to NauticStar’s biggest bay boat, the all new 265XTS – Xtreme Tournament Series. The carefully designed hull and deck is optimized for performance, functionality and fishability that will give you capabilities never before seen in a bay boat. Inshore or offshore, the STAR Performance hull is designed to minimize draft for skinny fishing and provide a forgiving ride through tight open chops and coastal swells. Check out all the incredible standard and innovative features of the 265XTS on our website.
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Researchers Embark On $10 Million Gulf Red Snapper Study By CAM Staff
W
ith the ongoing debate over red snapper population estimates in the Gulf of Mexico, researchers from the University of Florida have received a $10 million grant to hopefully settle the dispute and determine what the snapper population actually is. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service and Sea Grant are funding the study, which will be conducted over two years by UF associate professors Robert Ahrens and Will Patterson along with researchers from other institutions from around the Southeast. Currently under a federal recovery plan, the Gulf red snapper fishery has been considered overfished since the 1980s by the federal government. Under the recovery plan, coastal communities and businesses, such as charter boat operations and all the others that benefit from money spent by anglers, have been hurt by extremely limited opportunities to harvest this important recreational and commercial species. All the while, recreational anglers and biologists with Gulf state wildlife agencies have been pointing to flaws in the formal stock assessments. And the structure of the allowed catch has created a rift between recreational and commercial fishermen. Over the vast Gulf of Mexico, it will be one of the largest and most ambitious fish studies ever conducted, and even with $10 million in funding, there are those who doubt the study will achieve its goal of a population estimate with a coefficient variation of 30 percent, according to a UF release. Meeting the requirement would require numerous supplementary samples until the numbers contract into the accept-
Jeff and Payton Oney caught their limit of beautiful Gulf red snapper as well as red and gag grouper and other reef fish while fishing off Anna Maria Island with Capt. Larry McGuire and Show Me The Fish Charters. able range of variance between locations. Researchers will use methods beyond catch data in their study. Remote operated vehicles, camera sleds, acoustics and divers will play a role in producing the estimate. Researchers will also be capturing some fish and taking fin clips to develop genetic tags to be used in future estimates. Along with the snapper study, there is excitement over additional information that can be gathered in a study of this size. The distribution and size of other reef fish, as well as the invasive lionfish are of particular interest.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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GEAR GUIDE Beach Marine Products Bay Buddy Bait pens by Beach Marine Products are not your average bait cages. Built by engineers and hard-core anglers, every care was taken to design bait pens that are rugged, durable, convenient for the angler, and stress-free for the bait. They feature a sloped-bottom design and industry-changing false bottom, making recapturing your bait easy. Heavy duty aluminum construction with zinc anode assures a durable product. All hardware is stainless steel and doubled up. The pens are powder coated with no sharp edges to injure or red nose baits. Large oversize doors allow access for cast nets and large dip nets. Beach Bait Pens come in many different shapes and sizes. Their smallest pen is the Bay Buddy, which is ideal for holding shrimp, crabs and multiple species of live baitfish. The Bay Buddy is 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep.
beachmarineproducts.com
Kaku Kayak Wahoo 10.5 With the release of their new Wahoo 10.5, Kaku Kayak is building on its reputation of excellent stability and performance with a more compact boat that retains all the features and performance of the larger Wahoo 12.5. The Wahoo 10.5 tracks extremely well for a shorter kayak, is easy to stand in and responds to tight turns easily. It has all the features of its older brother, the Wahoo 12.5, with plenty of gear tracks, a raised aluminum seat and integrated mounting for the Power Pole Micro. It is also rudder ready and comes standard with a great looking deck pad. It is an extremely versatile fishing kayak that offers a stable, roomy platform for standing to cast or sight fish. There is also plenty of storage in the bow hatch, rear tankwell and a rear day hatch.
kakukayak.com
Wilderness Systems Kayak Krate Wilderness Systems has built a reputation for producing some of the finest fishing kayaks available. The fishability of their boats is improved with a unique and useful line of accessories designed to help anglers fish harder and more efficiently. The Wilderness Kayak Krate is the ultimate tankwell storage option. The Kayak Krate sophisticates tankwell storage with superior function and a sleek look that make storing and accessing gear hassle-free. An open main compartment accommodates larger gear and tackle boxes and features removable dividers. Smaller items can be stowed in the secondary lid storage. Functional and durable inside and out, the Kayak Krate is blow-molded, water resistant, is easily lashed down and comes with four rod holders.
wildernesssystems.com
Tsunami Forged 12 Lever Drag Reel Tsunami recently introduced its new FORGED 12 lever drag reel. It’s a larger and more powerful version of the popular FORGED 10, and it’s perfect for jigging, bottom fishing and live baiting. The Tsunami FORGED 12 is built to catch the strongest saltwater game fish. Its powder-forged frame is lightweight and precision machined for braided line tolerances and strength. The hardened high-precision stainless steel 4.3:1 ratio drive and pinion gears are strong, tough, and operate smoothly. The completely disengaged “floating” spool rides freely on two shielded stainless steel ball bearings mounted to a spool shaft, giving the FORGED extreme free-spool and maximum castability. The instant anti-reverse bearing, along with two failsafe backup dogs, ensure strong, sure hooksets with no line loss. That is when the smooth, powerful carbon fiber drag comes into play, giving you all the fighting control you need. Look for Tsunami’s FORGED 12 online and at your favorite sporting goods retailer.
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biminibayoutfitters.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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GEAR GUIDE Vexilar FishPhone Vexilar has launched a game changer in the underwater camera market. The FishPhone takes Vexilar’s proven Fish Scout camera technology and uses an innovative new WiFi transmitting system to send high quality video directly to your smartphone or tablet. FishPhone turns your smart phone or tablet into a fully functional underwater camera monitor by creating its own 100-foot WiFi hotspot that can be shared with friends or kept secure. The FishPhone works anywhere in the world, and you don’t need cell phone coverage to use it. The free software app works with both Android and IOS systems. The FishPhone comes with a unique holder and battery pack system that makes it easy to carry and manage 50 feet of cable. The camera used in the FishPhone system is a Sony Color/ B&W camera that automatically shifts from color to black and white when light conditions are limited.
vexilar.com
Native Eyewear Eddyline Native’s Eddyline model features a wood Trilaminate construction with silver polarized Reflex lenses. These shades are ideal for inshore adventures since they weigh less than an ounce, and their eight-base curvature fits your face perfectly while blocking side light with thicker temple arms. All Native Eyewear lenses are polarized, impact and scratch resistant, include Cushional non-slip nose and temple pads and come with a limited lifetime warranty. Whether you’re hitting the backcountry or going to the inlet, you need a pair of Natives!
Nativeyewear.com
Dexter SOFGRIP Knives Dexter has been famous for their SOFGRIP white-handle knives for years. It’s a handle other companies try to duplicate but can’t match. The handle is soft to the grip, ergonomically perfect in your hand, and the patented textured pattern makes it slip free. The blades are made of DEXSTEEL, a high-carbon, high-alloy stain free steel that is ultra-sharp out of the package, holds its edge and can be easily re-sharpened. Dexter has been manufacturing knives in the U.S.A. for nearly 200 years. They offer proven quality, proven designs and proven reliability. That’s why Dexter is the No. 1 choice for fishermen. The SOFGRIP comes in a large selection of designs and sizes.
dexteroutdoors.com
Phenix Rods RTS Inshore Whether you’re fishing the flats for trout and snook or pulling big reds from the mangroves, Phenix Rods’ new RTS inshore line has the power to deliver. Super light weight and sturdy, RTS rods feature a T-40 carbon fiber blank with Phenix’s own Nanolite resins that produce excellent sensitivity, while retaining the backbone to fight big hard-pulling reds and snook. The RTS series utilizes the new Phenix Essex T-Ring premium carbide guides with Ring Lock to FrameLok technology and premium high density EVA and cork blend grips, with a carbon reel seat. The RTS series, meaning “reds, trout and snook,” promises to be the lightest, most sensitive inshore rod on the market. It offers 5 casting and 5 spinning models to fit your needs.
phenixrods.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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8 CIGARS
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YOUR PERSONAL LIFEGUARD...
ALWAYS ON - NEVER INTRUSIVE
FREEDOM WITH SAFETY The MOB+™ is a life-saving device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill switch, and stops the engine should you fall overboard. Connect up to 4 people at the same time.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT FELL MARINE MOB+ WIRELESS MAN OVERBOARD SYSTEM
Fell Marine has developed a man overboard system that promises to replace the traditional kill-switch lanyard. The MOB+ Wireless Man OverBoard system is an innovative, ABYC compliant, life-saving safety device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill-switch lanyard, and stops the engine should you fall overboard. But its capabilities extend way beyond that. Up to four xFOB’s can be connected to the xHUB at the same time, with one unit acting as the captain’s stop unit, and the additional three as alarm units for passengers. The system consists of an easy to install xHUB (mounted on or near the boat console) and a wearable xFOB. The two communicate wirelessly with each other and stop the engine when the xFOB is submerged in water or is beyond range of the xHUB. The xFOB can be worn on your wrist, around your neck, or clipped to your PFD using xBAND or xTAG accessories. The waterproof xFOB has more than 300 hours of battery life and is powered by an easy to change standard coin cell battery. The xHUB connects to your boat power (12V-24V) and to your engine-stopping system. The system is intuitive and easy to use, and it is compatible with all major outboard and most sterndrive engines.
WWW.FELLMARINE.COM
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Center sp By Matt Jorn
“I
’ve heard people say ‘A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work,’” said Master Capt. William Mendoza with his trademark wry smile, “I’m not really sure I know the difference.” Capt. Mendoza is a Costa Rica-based charter captain with 30 years of experience. Since 2009 he has run over 250 trips a year on the Wanderer for the FishingNosara team from his home port on the north Pacific coast, making him the busiest charter captain in all of Central America. This area has become a hot spot for anglers because of the nearby bluewater and virtually non-existent commercial pressure; in fact the Costa Rican government has mandated that all commercial fishing must be done at minimum 60 miles from shore. The main fear of men like Captain Mendoza is: will this fishery last? Many have heard stories of Cabo Blanco, Peru and its famous “Marlin Boulevard”. In the 1950s this area produced the most granders in the world, including a 1,560-lb. black marlin catch that is still the world record. Now Cabo Blanco is a ghost town, due to human conceit and greed.
The argument still rages as to why. Some say it was overfishing of the apex predators like marlin and swordfish by sport-fishermen, while others maintain the government opened up the feeder fish, mostly sardines, for overharvesting. Let’s look at the problem from both ends of the food chain. The Costa Rican government enforces their 60-mile line vigorously and is very strong against unlicensed commercial operations. These efforts maintain a healthy number of feeder fish. At the apex level, the preservation of billfish has been spearheaded by groups like the International Billfish Foundation and the IGFA. Costa Rica has also taken the lead in this effort by prohibiting sportsmen from removing billfish from the water (no hero shots allowed) and by banning the sale of meat from marlin and sailfish. “The advantage of catch-and-release billfishing is mainly economical,” noted Capt. Mendoza. “Essentially, we want to create a market where these apex predators are more valuable swimming in the ocean than they are on the scale at a fish market.” On average, a full day of marlin fishing costs $900 and provides renewable income for the captains and mates. Conversely, the value of the same fish at an unlicensed fish market can be as low as pennies per pound. Charter fishing lies somewhere in between the bottom-line driven world of commercial fishing and the fun-loving experience of recreational fishing. “A good charter trip should be fun, productive and educational, especially for novice anglers,” said Capt. Mendoza. “These trips can bring together multiple generations, as fishing tactics are handed down from grandfather to father, father to son.” Capt. Mendoza knows all about that. This season, his 22-year-old son joined him in the mate position on the Wanderer to continue the family legacy. By operating under common-sense regulations, the fishing in Nosara should stay strong for generations to come “The ocean provides me with a livelihood, and I want to protect her the way she’s protected me. My idea of a perfect day is catch billfish, get a nice photo, set it free, and get the lines back out there again. Clearly that’s not a bad day at work.” concluded Capt. Mendoza.
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SOUTHEAST
By Randy Cnota
W
inter along Florida’s Forgotten Coast has a much different meaning for anglers than it does for anglers up north. For Virginia anglers, to “winterize a boat” describes a storage process they perform; for us, it means to fill the bait box with live shrimp. Sure, we get our fair share of cold snaps, but that just helps us plan our most productive fishing days. Simply put, winters here are mild and the fishing never stops! Don’t let the strict Florida harvest regulations fool you; if
you’re looking for great tasting fish to eat, you’re in luck! Red grouper have been making a great showing lately and are often very close to shore. Black sea bass are extremely plentiful and very easy to catch. Sheepshead, speckled trout and many others provide inshore anglers lots of action, and all these species mentioned here (and this is just a few) make fantastic table fare. For those looking for a big fight, redfish will be running the surf chasing bait in huge schools. Find the birds, and you’ll find fish that are willing to bite just about anything you throw at them. When throwing lures or live bait to these schools, it’s not uncommon for everyone on board the boat to hook up at the same time. Typically, these are not small fish, but rather big bull reds that will test your tackle. For catching reds within the slot limits, our bays and creeks still offer excellent opportunities to harvest these tasty fish. For freshwater fun, the Apalachicola River will be loaded with hybrids and stripers chasing abundant shad. The lower end of the river will have a mix of largemouth bass hanging around with the speckled and white trout that find their way into the warmer fresh waters. Deep bends in the lower stretches of the river load up with a variety of species that are easy pickings with artificial baits, but live shrimp is always your best option. There’s no need to suffer from cabin fever this winter. Get away from the cold and come chase fish here in Franklin County, Fla. The many fishing options available here will ensure you have a great time regardless of the weather… just be sure to pack your sunblock, short pants and sunglasses. For a complete list of rentals, charters, supplies and more visit www.floridasforgottencoast.com.
Your fish is waiting. Florida’s Forgotten Coast
Boaters and mariners will find something to love in Franklin County. Carrabelle features deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater rivers. Plan a kayak or day sailing eco-adventure from Apalachicola or St. George Island. Eastpoint and Alligator Point offer direct access to the best inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast. Bring your own boat or rent one here; there’s no better place to enjoy Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information.
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Georgia’s Record Blue Catfish
A Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
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
new state record blue catfish was recently confirmed by Georgia WRD. The 93-lb. monster was hauled from the Altamaha River in October and smashed the previous record of 80-lb., 4 oz., which stood since 2010. Richard Barrett, of Axson, Ga., caught the big cat using a live channel catfish he had caught earlier as bait. It was the only state record fish caught in Georgia in 2017, and Tim Bonvechio, with Georgia WRD, aged the fish at 14 years old. Barrett’s fish was enormous, but blue cats can get much bigger. Back in 2011, a 143-pound IGFA All-Tackle World Record blue catfish was caught on Kerr Lake in Virginia.
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BLUE RIDGE
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
F
or the first time in its five-year existence, the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will be held below the Mason-Dixon Line—at Lake Chatuge on the Georgia/North Carolina border. The championship will be held Sept. 20-23, 2018, and will feature the 50 top-ranked Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, based on Angler of the Year points earned during the nine-event Elite season. The 2018 Classic Bracket tournament will be held Oct. 23-26, also in north Georgia, at 3,200-acre Carters Lake near Ellijay. The 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest tournament, one of the nine regular-season events of the Bassmaster Elite Series, will be held May 17-20 on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. “The AOY Championship is one of our three “majors”—along with
Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest and the GEICO Bassmaster Classic— that pay out $1 million or more and have developed a huge and loyal following,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “This year’s championship was super exciting in that Brandon Palaniuk didn’t wrap up his AOY title until the very last day of competition.” In addition to the $100,000 prize that goes to the Toyota Angler of the Year, the contestant who weighs in the heaviest total catch of the event will receive $25,000. The rest of the $1 million prize fund will be awarded to the top 50 pros based on their final standings in AOY points. The event also determines at least 36 qualifiers for the Classic from the Elite Series. The AOY Championship will mark the first time for a professional Bassmaster tournament to be held on Lake Chatuge, a 7,500-acre Tennessee Valley Authority impoundment, but it hosted Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship tournaments in 2013 and 2014. Weigh-ins and other activities will be at the Towns County Conference and Recreation Center in Young Harris, Ga. The four-day Classic Bracket tournament provides one final opportunity for one Elite angler to qualify for the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Conducted entirely in front of Bassmaster LIVE cameras, the Classic Bracket follows a catchweigh-release format. Anglers compete head-to-head, trying to compile a heavier five-bass catch than their opponents until only one is left standing. Qualifiers are the first eight anglers in AOY points below the cut to the Classic. Jacob Powroznik, an Elite Series angler from Virginia, prevailed in this year’s Bracket to earn an invitation to the 2018 Classic, to be held March 16-18 on Lake Hartwell at Anderson, S.C. Carters Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment of the Coosawattee River in Gilmer and Murray counties in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia. With a maximum depth of 547 feet, it’s the deepest reservoir in the state, and one of the most scenic. For more information about these and other Bassmaster tournaments, visit Bassmaster.com.
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PUBLISHER: BOB RICE A FREE PUBLICATION THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY B & B PUBLISHERS P.O. BOX 766 MADISON, GA 30650 706-614-8231 WWW.THEANGLERMAGAZINE.COM REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS IN ANY FORM IS PROHIBITED BOB RICE, PUBLISHER THE ANGLER MAGAZINE FISHING, BOATING, CONSERVATION “FIND YOUR OUTDOORS HERE”
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
January Fly Fishing Report In years past, January normally could be a very iffy month on all our area lakes in North Georgia. But over the past 2 years, January continues to prove to be a very fishy month for fly fisherman who target stripers throughout the winter months. Here lies the problem that anglers may face on any given January. If the water temperatures continue to hover around 50 degrees or go just a tad lower (into the high 40’s), fishing will probably be very good, and we will continue to see fish feeding near the surface and on the banks for a few more weeks. If however, we get a colder than normal spell and the water temperatures drop into the mid-forties, the fishing will shut down quicker than a New York minute. Since we had a fairly warm fall, the likelihood is that January fishing on all our area North GA lakes will continue to be great! While our fishing got off to a fast start this fall, we are hoping we can keep the momentum going. It is best to start looking far north in all the area lakes as the shad migrate north and especially into the backs of the coves looking for warmer water. As the surface water temperatures drop, the shad will go to the backs of the cove seeking to find the warmer water temperatures that the afternoon sun throws off into the shallows. A slight spike of one degree is all that the shad require to make them happy. Stripers will come calling for an easy meal as the shad are more lethargic in the morning after a long night of the waters cooling down. Mornings can be exceptionally productive as the stripers come searching for an easy meal in the skinny water. Small flies and intermediate fly lines are called for in this instance. Anglers need to just find the coves that are stacked with shad. During low light levels in both the AM and PM there is a good chance you will find stripers blowing up on the surface and running shad up and onto the banks in fear of their lives. It truly is one of the most compelling of all the feeding frenzies anglers will see on a lake. These stripers are easy pickings too! Anytime you toss flies to shallow 2 ATLANTA
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FULL SERVICE OUTFITTER feeding fish, your chances of hooking up are greatly increased. If you do not find fish in the backs of the coves, then you need to look at the mouths of the coves for large schools of fish bunched together in about 15-25 feet of water. These schools of fish will have your fish finder looking like spaghetti. Now is the time to employ a fast sinking line and use a countdown method in order to elicit a strike. Most sinking lines will sink at a rate of 6” per second. That means if you see fish 15 feet down on your fish finder, you need to allow your sinking fly line to go down for 30 seconds in order for the fly to reach the feeding zone. Our most effective flies will still be the Something’ Else as well as a small Polar Fiber Minnow. These two patterns tied 1 ½” to 2” in length will out fish all other artificial baits you can throw. Another pattern you can count on in January is dock light fishing. While most sane anglers prefer to fish lights in the spring and fall, inthe-know striper anglers can wear out fish on dock lights either after dark or in the wee hours of the early morning. Dock lights are also full of fish and are an effective way to catch some January stripers. Dress warm, bring a thermos of hot coffee or cocoa and go have a ball in our North GA winter wonderland. Happy New Year to all our Angler Magazine readers. Hope to see everyone at the Fly Fishing Show @ Infinity Center the first Friday and Saturday in February (2nd & 3rd). We will be giving seminars and tying flies all day long! See you on the pond!
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing Cold Fishing Tactics
Contributed by James Bradley www.ReelEmInGuideService.com (706) 273-0764
As I write this article in early December, Old Man Winter has arrived with vengeance. I currently have over 8 inches of snow, and they are calling for 3 to 5 more inches of the white stuff overnight. This is by far the biggest snow I have seen this early in many decades. Let’s examine some ways to improve our odds for hookups during the month of January. First, many anglers simply stop fishing this time of year due to the cold weather. This is a plus for those of us that are resilient enough to get out and brave the cold to fly fish. Less anglers on the streams mean less pressured fish. This is usually a bonus to those that venture out to wet a line! Winter trout may not be as eager to attack your fly compared to the spring or fall. They will become somewhat lethargic as the water temperatures near the 40-degree mark or less. The game changes to our favor if we become patient, persistent and use a little finesse. You do not have to be streamside at daybreak. Wait until later in the day to arrive so the water has had a chance to warm a degree or two. We typically look at 11 am to 4 pm as the better times to be on the water. The radiant heat from the sun can even produce hatches this time of year with black caddis and winter stone flies. Use double rigs if the stream regulations allow it. An anchor fly, or the heaviest fly, should be the bottom fly and tie off a smaller fly or egg pattern about 8 to 12 inches above using a triple surgeon’s knot. Think of this rig as a dredging rig. If it does not reach and bump the stream bottom you probably will not be catching many fish. Add enough weight to force this rig down to the bottom as this is where the trout will be holding. The weight should be added just above the bottom fly. A dredging rig is not made to be cast 30 to 50 feet. A dredging rig being cast this far is sure to leave a mark or damage your rod
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tip if it hits it! Using this rig, you should keep your cast short and only 10 to 20 feet. Your cast should be more like a gentle lob using only enough power to get the rig out in the current. Maintain a good drift, mend if necessary, and learn to high stick by keeping as much of the fly line off the water as possible. If you are unable to high stick, use a strong indicator like a ½” or ¾” Thingamabogger. Again, we’re looking to get this rig down to the fish as fast as possible. Be persistent in covering the water thoroughly. Tighten those presentations or drifts down to 6 inches apart. Remember, lethargic trout aren’t going to move much to eat. The old saying “you have to hit’em on the nose” will be your ticket to success. One other tip to try if you are covering the water thoroughly without any takes, add a twitch to the rod with a tight line to slightly jerk the flies during the drift occasionally. This has been known to cause a reaction strike at times. Reel ‘Em In Guide Service is the only Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide in North Georgia’s Historic High-Country region. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. They have permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and operate float trips on the Toccoa River in GA and the Tuckasegee River in NC.
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Gift Certificates
JANUARY 2018
ATLANTA 3
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
The Guide's Angle
CHATTOOGA RIVER
Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service
Feathers or Fins Anyone?
January is usually a time to hibernate for most folks with indoor activities like fly tying, cooking or reading your favorite sportsman’s magazines. With our mild climate at this latitude here in Georgia, mid-50’s Fahrenheit is not uncommon, so heading to the river mid-afternoon is a great way to get outside during the most pleasant part of the day. Because the Chattahoochee is a tailwater stream, temps are consistently uniform in the low 50’s Fahrenheit with surprising fish and bug activity with some of the best dry fly action of the year. Instead of sleeping in on these colder winter mornings, maybe you should try some waterfowl hunting before you go fishing. Again, back to our southern latitude situation in the Peach State where ducks that migrate from up north finally arrive to Georgia in January. We shot a wood duck last year in Hall County that was banded in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and two years previous, we harvested a banded mallard from Minnesota! So if you have a bad case of cabin fever this winter, a sure remedy would be a “Blast and Cast” day outside this January. I promise you will sleep well that night.
The holidays have passed, and we hope everyone enjoyed time with their families! Now the winter fishing season is upon us, and it is time to layer up and catch big winter fish. At times with the heavy rains, the rivers will take a few days to subside from extremely high levels and unsafe wading conditions. After this, the rivers will fish extremely well with many large fish being caught. Do not let the cold weather keep you home. Just dress appropriately and enjoy the rivers. We have found using the wicking base layers and the Redington I/O Fleece Pants to be very beneficial to keeping warm while wading. Let’s not forget about top layers either. Wear a wicking base layer shirt, and then a fleece and an insulated coat depending on the day time temperatures. Many large fish are being caught using tandem nymph rigs with larger nymphs as a lead fly and a smaller nymph as the trailer, tied off the back end of the lead fly hook. Casting these tandems slightly upstream and dead-drifting these flies through the seams is essential. The seams are those areas where the water is moving quickly and the area
of the slower moving water meet. There are many flies to choose from as the lead flies and as the trailers, and we have a tremendous supply in stock. Please check out our “hot list as well”. As for the streamers, big fish are being caught as well. Casting out and across fast moving water, dead-drifting and then a strip and pause back to you along the seam lines has proved to be extremely effective. Keeping the streamers low in the water column is also a key to success, as with the colder water temperatures the fish are holding low in the river. The use of a weighted leader or pinching on a piece of weight a foot above the streamer will help. On warmer days, some dry fly fishing may be at hand. Don’t be surprised to see rises as the winter days warm from the early day cold to the 50’s maybe 60 and fish start rising. Pre-hatch fishing nymphs and emergers on the swing will be the key and then switching to dries will be the key to success. If fishing in the cold weather outside is not your cup of tea, join us for a fly tying lesson inside our warm shop. We offer one-on-one fly tying lessons for the beginner or to those that want to learn new ideas at the vise. Just call for an appointment. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers
ALLATOONA
Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson First Bite Guide Service 770-827-6282 eidson6260@att.net www.firstbiteguideservice.com The lineside bite is getting better. The fish are holding in the same locations and have started eating a little longer in the morning time. The north end of the lake is still producing some nice stripers along with good numbers of white bass. The bigger stripers are eating gizzard shad fished on planer boards and free lines both right at sunup and again at sundown. Look for these fish from Little River up to Fields Landing and as far south as Kellogg Creek. 4 ATLANTA
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The hybrids and white bass are really starting to school and blowing up all over the lake right now. We have seen some big schools breaking the surface from the Dam to the S-turns. These busting fish will eat almost anything you throw at them. Trolling is good, so pull umbrella rigs 60 to 120 feet behind the boat at speeds between 2.4 to 3.1 miles per hour. Remember, first bite Guide Service gift certificates make great gifts. Call 770-827-6282 for details.
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12/13/17 9:50 AM
Local Rivers & Fly Fishing THE KIM AND LIN LOGAN TEAM DOUBLE THEIR SALES IN 2017 “Our target was to hit $40 million,” says Kim Logan, co-owner of the Kim and Lin Logan Real Estate Team in Greensboro. “We intended to double our sales from the prior year, and we did it. I’m really proud of everyone. We worked very hard.” When it comes to industry knowledge, hard work and determination, Kim and Lin Logan could teach the class. In fact, their system puts them in a class by themselves. “There are no individual agents here,” explains Logan. “We all work toward one common goal and are a true team.” This team atmosphere, she says, is where the Logan crew breaks away from the rest of the pack. Great customer service, which is the perpetual mantra of the real estate industry, is often interrupted by the individual nature of each agent to compete against another for leads. Under the Logan umbrella, buyers agents and support staff work collectively toward a shared objective. “The agents and staff dedicate themselves to long hours and weekends. They’re not only co-workers, they’re people I love and respect. The team’s spouses and families give up a lot as well, so Lin and I
S
wanted to be sure they are included in all the celebrations. When we met our $40 million goal this year, we took the team and their spouses for a week vacation to Rosemary Beach in Florida.” “We’ve welcomed several newcomers to the agency this year,” adds Logan. “Each one brings a unique set of skills to round out our customer service agenda. My daughter Madison came on board with a marketing degree from Georgia Southern. Her personality and dedication to the clients has pushed our ability to service our clients to the next level. Also coming to us this year is another buyers agent, Lisa Phillips, a true “people person,” whose willingness to please and experience with building homes has been a wonderful asset to the team. Tracey Buckalew is our new Marketing Specialist. She has an extensive background in writing/editing as well as newsprint, magazine and web design. She brings a designer’s flair and an editor’s eye to the team, and is working to expand and streamline our already extensive marketing program. Additionally, we also welcomed Rebekah Coker to the team to help ease the workload of our busiest buyers agents,
FIRST ROW, L to R: Pam McKinley, Kyle Griner, Terri Griner, Kim Logan, Lin Logan, Traci Nelson BACK ROW, L to R: Tracey Buckalew, Rusty Ledford, Maddie Ledford, Gordon Deeds, Angela Deeds, Gail Watkins, Mark Watkins, Lisa Phillips, Keith Phillips Traci Nelson and Terri Griner. These two, whom we affectionately call TnT, are taking the Milledgeville area by storm.” A good balance of skills, hard work and commitment builds a good team. They play off of one another’s abilities and contributions, building a united, harmonious relationship focused on reaching a common goal. Doubling your sales in the first year of business? That’s not a good team, that’s a GREAT team. “I searched my heart and talked
to God a lot before we started this venture,” Logan confides. “I felt like He told me to “take the risk,” and I listened to Him and started my own company. I think we are rewarded when we listen to God, and I attribute our success to Him. We’ve built this business with a foundation of good hearts, hard work, and outstanding customer service. How can we lose?” To contact The Kim and Lin Logan Real Estate Team, call 706-338-0757 or visit the website at www.kimandlinlogan.com
fishin’ for a good realtor?
LAKE OCONEE & LAKE SINCLAIR Kim 706-338-0757 | Lin 770-846-2700 KimLoganKW@gmail.com | www.KimandLinLogan.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
LOC_ATL_JAN_2018before swaps.indd 5
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ATLANTA 5
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
Casting Corner
Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
Combining Casts If years ago I watched an old guy fly fishing on the Chattahoochee. I was a bass and saltwater fly fisherman at the time from the Midwest and Florida. I didn’t know much about trout, much less fishing for them or special casts to catch trout. The old guy would cast towards the target across stream and then sweep his rod tip straight upstream while his line was in the air. I would cast across the current and point my rod at the fly. He was catching fish. I was not. He told me what he was using, so I started using it (A Hare’s Ear Nymph). Well, he caught some more fish and I didn’t. He was trying to coach me. He would make a cast and sweep his rod upstream at the end and then look at me. He was trying to tell me to use a reach cast to give the fly a neutral drift. I didn’t get his drift. Years later I hope to be the old guy that helps someone catch more fish. We often want a neutral drift on a fly, or maybe time for the fly to sink before having the current put tension on the line and start to bring the fly up in the water column. By using the cast described above that the ‘older wiser gentleman’ used, you can achieve that. Combine it with a nymph rig type cast and everything comes together. Consider this. What happens when you have a 3 fly rig or a nymph rig that has several weighted flies and you try to do a normal over the
head cast? It usually ends up getting tangled unless you use a large loop or an oval cast also known as a constant tension cast. Let me describe the Oval cast. The Oval cast will be normal in the lift off the water, but the mechanics change on the rod tip travel and power application. Rather than bringing the rod tip straight away and then back to the target after making the lift, swing the rod tip in an upwardly traveling, rounded position in to the back. When you are in the back cast position, don’t wait for the line to fully extend. Keep the momentum going and bring the rod tip forward to the target. Slow things down with the heavier rig, and it will keep the line from hinging and doubling over. Now that you know the Oval cast and the above described Reach cast, go ahead and combine them. The launching of the line to the target at the end of the oval cast will send the line toward the target. Once the line is on its way, you will not change the upper/fly leg of the loop by reaching the rod tip upstream. It will only change the bottom/rod leg of the loop. You are placing it upstream and allowing time for the fly to drift naturally and or sink to the desired level. If you want to learn more about the casts, check out Fly Fishers International. They are the internationally recognized authority on fly fishing.
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Local Rivers & Fly Fishing
New Year Fishing Resolutions Contributed By: Jimmy Harris
www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Helen, Georgia
Rule number one for New Year’s fishing resolutions: obey all resolutions! All that garbage about how difficult it is to keep New Year resolutions is only there to discourage you or make you feel like it’s impossible to keep them. But as anglers, we have a special talent the normal people don’t have; when it comes to fishing and accumulating the things we need for fishing, we’re hard to hold back. Look at it this way; we’re the Roquan Smith of the resolution game. Show us a fishing opportunity and BAM, we’re on it. And why not? Look at the opportunities we are faced with. Just in the month of January, the angling opportunities in North Georgia and surrounding areas are everywhere. Here’s an abbreviated list: • Obviously, trout fishing and Delayed Harvest steams in particular. Remember, there are over 4,000 miles of designated trout waters in Georgia. Since trout are a coldwater species, winter is actually some of the best fishing of the year. Drop us a line, call or stop by the shop and we’ll be happy to point you toward some awesome fishing on uncrowded streams! • Lake Lanier stripers. When they’re running the banks after the shad which are looking for warmer water over shallow red mud banks, there isn’t much that’s more exciting. If you want to tangle with one of these wolves on a fly, get in touch with Henry Cowen at www.
henrycowenflyfishing.com • The bass fishing on the big lakes can be very steady now. The fishing will be deeper, down in the ditches, on rocky points and near timber. Spoons, jigs and my favorite conventional rig, the shaky head rigged finesse worm, can make your trip successful. • One of my favorite winter fishing trips is for shoal bass. Fly fishing for them in January isn’t so hot, but conventional gear can score well if you know where to go and how to fish for them. I’m convinced a new state record shoalie can be caught in the dead of winter. To learn more about this great fishery, get in touch with Jake Darling at Unicoi Outfitters. He can put you on them! Whether you’re wading a trout stream or blowing up and down Lake Lanier looking for stripers, the key to having a great day on the water in January is to dress for the weather. The technical clothing out now is nothing short of phenomenal. Don’t rely on that old fleece vest you got free when you ordered office supplies 5 years ago. Layer up with good undergarments, shirts and pants that don’t fit too tightly and a jacket with windstopper technology built in. You’ll be amazed how comfortable you can be. Of course, if we’re catching fish hand over fist as can happen, we don’t pay much attention to the cold, do we? Get out there this month and I hope you see me when you get there!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE LANIER STRIPER Forecast By: Steve Scott http://TeamLanier.wordpress.com/menu With a milder winter forecasted for 2017-2018 by the meteorologists, we’ll need to be vigilant in our search for stripers. The air temperature effect on the water temps all over the lake has become our biggest concern. Blueback herring will remain in their comfort zone of 50-65 degrees, so targeting temps close to the 50 degree mark should get you near the stripers. Loons and gulls diving also were a good indication of the presence of bait as well. While we did find some stripers, they were smaller and ran mostly in large schools being from a different year class producing smaller stripers and in greater numbers. Instead of finding them either below Brown’s Bridge or up north in the rivers by the end of the year, they pretty much remained scattered from north to south. December’s water temps averaged in the mid-fifties rather than the mid to upper forties as in previous years. Now that January is here, we
should expect water temps to drop to the upper forties, which is good for us because we can now get back to our traditional search patterns we have used in past years. Methods to try are downlines from dead center in creek channels to large bays in the creeks a couple of cranks up from the bottom in 40 to 70 feet using bluebacks or dollar bill sized shad from River Forks to Gainesville Marina and in Sardis and Gainesville Creeks. Others areas to try would be over and under bait balls in 4 Mile, Orr, Mud and Flat Creeks; umbrella rigs south of Brown’s Bridge over 25 foot main lake points; planer boards and flatlines north of Browns Bridge dead center in creek channels; up north either beyond Toto Creek or Don Carter, using inline planer boards and unweighted flatlines in shallow water; put bigger baits close to the bank on a short leash five to ten feet from the board; umbrella rigs on points and along rocky shorelines 25 feet down, from Gainesville Marina to the River Forks area. Tip of the month: Split your sonar frequencies on two panes (one on 83 and one on 200); 83 to find targets and 200 to get details. For more information visit TeamLanier.wordpress.com/menu.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts
Another Crappie Story
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 brotherin-law, Ben, the air temperature was 45 degrees, misting rain with 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 when 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 it 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
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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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Don’t let the wintry cold air stop you from hitting the water. Lake Blue Ridge is a go-to lake when the outside temperatures drop. The cooler water really gets these North Georgia smallmouths fired up. These hard fighting bass will surely warm you right up. Currently the lake is down 12 feet below full pool, and water temps are at 52 degrees. Water clarity is clear on the main lake and slightly stained in the creeks. The smallmouth and spots have been feeding strong. There has been an excellent early morning topwater bite all over the lake. Work rocky points, ledges and shallow areas that have been holding bait. These guys have been hitting just about anything you can throw at them. Spooks, Torpedoes, jerkbaits and buzzbaits have been some big producers. Live bluebacks on planer boards and weighted free lines have also been working well. The fish should move deeper through mid-day. Try down lining bluebacks and large bass minnows to hook up with the larger smallmouths and largemouths that have been clinging on the bottom of
points. Now that the water temps are getting cooler, the walleye are starting to come up from the deeper water column. These Lake Blue Ridge walleyes will head out of the channel toward the river and shallow ledges. Look for these fish in the 20 to 30 feet range. Good December techniques to target walleye are slow trolling jointed Shad Raps and live bluebacks. With walleye being so sensitive to light, the early morning and dusk bite is going to be your best chance catch these boys. Remember, January is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy smallmouth and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Blue Ridge’s best fish during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Chatuge, and Nottely. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts FISHING OASIS ON 340+/- FEET OF RIVER FRONTAGE
JACKSON LAKE
As the day goes on and the water begins to warm, target docks using a worm or jig. This time of year you can count on not having to cycle through baits to figure a pattern Water temperature: 56-60 de- out. The river is stained and will grees, water level: full pool, water warm quicker. The bite seems to be best on the main lake this time of clarity: clear/stained. The bite is tough as the bass are year. adjusting to the weather change. Don’t let the cooler weather Early in the morning start with and tougher fishing keep you at square bill crankbaits around rocks, home. Prepare for the cooler days rails, boat ramps and isolated wood. and hold on tight because you can Change your cadence up to find load the boat with some quality what they want for that particular fish. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. day, as it changes. Ifservice, you are getting out how exceptional paired with the Sotheby’s hung up on the wood cover, switch Thanks again for allowing me anyear to be a part results! of a great to a spinnerbait. The spinnerbait is other d advantage, will truly bring you extraordinary producing some quality fish, but magazine, and I look forward to another great year they are few and far between. By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com
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Local Lakes & Forecasts The Coal Rig By: Ryan Kennedy YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing Instagram: ryankfishing ryankfishing@gmail.com Well folks, it’s January and Christmas time has come and gone. For an avid outdoorsman this means all sorts of things including starting on a massive to-do list. First things first, if we got all those fancy new lures in our stocking, it is imperative that they are assigned to their new cozy home sitting pretty in a Plano 3700 box and ready to rock n’ roll on the next trip. Sounds pretty simple right? Wrong! You see it just like I see it. This is the reason why you shop for your own tackle and talk to yourself when you need expert advice. Of course, no matter how much thought you put into your 12-month long wish list adding all the details down to the manufacturer’s description of the lure, you still ended up with “what looked pretty” in the store. Don’t freak out just yet. Hopefully somewhere in that bag full of goodies there’s a little white sheet of paper that some call a receipt, but we’ll refer to it as redemption. That’s right, it’s not just a reminder of how much money all your new gear cost. Instead, it’s a ticket to a refund on a gift card that gets you the freedom you really wanted for Christmas. So, go ahead and throw your Mighty Bite Minnows back in the bag and let’s get to rolling on down to the tackle shop or wherever all the “undesirables” came from. A hundred beeps and scans later, and you’ve got your hands on more store credit for fishing gear than your wife lets you see all year.
Now sure, you could be at home packing up the rest of the Christmas decorations OR you can spend all day in paradise re-buying all of your Christmas gifts. I think we’ve got an obvious winner here. So, grab a cart, and get to rolling! Now hold on there, Chief. Make sure you keep an eye on that basket, because last I checked you are only through 2 aisles and have managed to be about a dollar shy of busting that gift card limit. Just see how much cash we are working with in the billfold and we’ll keep on trucking along. See? No charge on the credit card so no one will know besides you and the Ol’ Fat Green Mistress at the lake. The day goes on and you’re ready to get all your new goodies packed into the boat back at home, so you can hit the lake bright and early the next morning. What a great day right? SNAP! Wake up, Hoss! Nap time is over; so, brush the chip crumbs off your shirt and get out of that recliner. I’m sure you had a great dream about that “what if ” Christmas that led to you being all alone in the fishing section with money to blow on anything of your choosing. That’s a good one. Now go get that coal out of your stocking. You’ve got to get that thing drilled out for some hooks and a line tie. I know, I know; you thought this Christmas was going to be different, but who says you can’t catch one on the Coal Rig? Here’s hoping Santa likes you a little more next year. Tight Lines!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE NOTTELY STRIPER 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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January is here and so is the cold weather, but this Blairsville, GA lake is more than ready to cater to your new Christmas fishing gear. Lake Nottely offers up some great wintertime fishing, and January can be an exciting month to catch North Georgia stripers. Currently, Lake Nottely is down 17 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and slightly stained in the creeks and in the Canal Lake area. Water temperatures are still in the mid 50’s. Fishing here has been pretty good lately. We are still averaging 6 to 10 nice stripers a trip with a lot of great spots to add to that number. We’ve already had several big fish in the 20 to 30 pound range. Most of our fish are being caught early in the morning on planer boards and free lines in the mouths of creeks. We’ve also had an incredible bite with weighted free lines once the sun gets up. This is pretty typical for this time of year as the fish look for slightly deeper water as the day progresses. In the upcoming month, look for stripers to be searching for warmer
water, especially on cold sunny days. You can catch these fish in the backs of creeks, around shallow humps and in the river. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and gizzard shad will be your best technique for landing these wintertime monsters. Keep an eye out for seagulls and schools of baitfish. It’s not uncommon to see stripers crushing bait right under those birds. I like to cast a Red Fin or a Fluke right into these guys for some nice topwater action. January is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers and bass on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake Blue Ridge. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
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Water temperature: mid 50s, lake level: 6 feet below full, clarity: clear/light stain. After a few cold snaps, the lake is fishing like it should be. Striped fish are scattered and can be caught any time of the day. Flat lines, planer boards and balloons are the best way to start a day. Pull the creeks from the back to the mouth. I like to zig zag in and out of the shade and sunlight line. I try to pull at a little above 1 mph and will slow down or stop when I mark fish. Work the banks, and if you mark bait, make a few passes around it.
Spend more time fishing and less time running around looking for fish. We have been seeing the most action in the 20 to 40 foot zone in the creeks and 30 to 50 feet on the points. It’s a pretty typical winter pattern for Carters. Live trout are the way to go this time of year. I like to have a variety of sizes on the boat. As far as the spotted bass are concerned, you can slowly move around the points looking for them on the sonar and drop a live trout on them and almost guarantee a bite. Also, jigs and spoons will get bit when fished vertically. White, silver and chartreuse are the artificial colors I like in winter. Stay warm and we will see you on the water.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE ALLATOONA STRIPER/HYBRID
Lake Allatoona will be down 17 feet and holding in January. Despite the water being at its lowest level, the striper and hybrid still like to feed this time of year. With Allatoona about 2/3 it’s normal size, both bait and gamefish will be concentrated into a smaller, easier to fish version of the lake. Both the condition of the water and the patterns of the fish are very dynamic this time of year and are greatly influenced by temperature and precipitation. Prolonged cold spells will drive bait and fish down below 30 feet. Heavy rains will cause the entire Etowah side of the lake to muddy up. Effective techniques and locations will vary based on these influences. There are copious amounts of baitfish in the lake this year, so finding bait shouldn’t be a problem with good electronics. The new MEGA imaging units by Humminbird are
some of the most detailed and easy to dial in fishfinders on the market. You should be able to scan vast stretches of water to eliminate dead zones, while finding out where the striped fish are feeding. Downlines will be the prominent technique from now until March. The depth to fish, however, can change on a daily basis by changes in weather. The baitfish could be in the top 15 feet of water for a few days and then move below 30 feet overnight. If the water remains in the 50 degree range, threadfin will be your best baits, but if it dips a few degrees below 50, gizzards, shiners and small trout will be the ticket. Target points, humps, channel bends, and in some cases, suspended fish over water as deep as
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their heads. Dragging U-rigs will produce plenty of fish and can pay off big time even when the live bait bite is off. Keep a keen eye out for surface feeding and have a casting spoon, Rooster Tail, small bucktail jig, or popping cork and fly/Foley spoon setup ready to go. Hint: Cold water kills, so remain vigilant and stable while in the boat. If you’re bored and trapped inside, join the discussion on Facebook in Shad Man’s “Catching and Keeping Shad” group as well as the new Striper Soup group titled “Bait Tank Talk and Trade.”
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100 feet. The seagulls will be your best friend in January-February. Schooling fish, both on the surface and in the murky depths, will also be susceptible to the artificial bite. Vertical jigging can be superb on Allatoona. If you find a good concentration of threadfin, chances are they will be starting their winter die-off. Some will be picked off by gulls, but many will flutter down into the mouths of spots, whites, hybrids and striper under the school. Use a .6 ounce Flex-it, Capt Mack, or similar jigging spoon on a sensitive rod and lower it onto
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE MARTIN Forecast By: Capt David Hare 256-401-3089 Alex City Guide Service Surface temperature: 60 degrees, lake level: 484(full pool 491), clarity: clear to lightly stained. Another year is behind us and overall, 2017 was a good fishing year, and even though August and September were very tough, the other 10 months were really good. The hurricanes and etc, etc, hurt us those 2 months. October, November and December were awesome. My predictions (which I have over 30+ years to predict from) for January has always and should continue to produce good quality stripers along with several trophy stripers. One of my best trophy days in January produced 4 monsters in 2 &1/2 hours of fishing with the smallest being 29+ pounds and the largest being 40+ pounds. It was very cold and overcast and we caught every one of them with live bait on top. This past January (2017) my clients were boating 30-65
fish per trip, which include not only big nice stripers, but spotted bass as well. Once again as in December, in January you will be able to catch stripers in both deep water as well as shallow water. A lot of times, my bigger fish come from the shallowest waters, so I do spend time in creeks as well as long, shallow points, and what I call under water islands or humps that are shallow this time of year . As I do and you also should, pay a lot of attention to the sea gulls, and you too will find the fish. Just this past week, I had several sea gulls all around the areas I was catching fish. Adjust your tactics or approaches as needed to trigger a hook up. Once you get that striper hooked up, (if you have other fishermen on the boat) don’t race it to the boat. Enjoy the fight and have your buddies to do exact same thing you just did to trigger the other fish to bite, because in January, if you hook up one striper, there are plenty more with it! Don’t be surprised this month to have fish hooked up on every lure or bait you have in the water all at the
The Contanza boys from Montgomery with their December catch same time. January also brings on the boat shows that Alex City Guide Service has been long time exhibitors at. This is a perfect time to see all the new electronics, boats, motors, etc., for 2018, but most of all, it’s a good time to come by our booth and meet us or get your questions answered or just say hello! Both Atlanta and
Birmingham shows are on the same dates this year beginning on January 18th thru the 21st, and yes, we will be at both shows with several of our guides manning the booths. In Atlanta, see us at booth # 14, and in Birmingham see us in our new location booth # 2. Happy New Year, and as always, contact me at 256-401-3089.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts ,
EN FISHERM R O F E C INSURAN ISHERMEN BY F
Who Is It? by O’Neill Williams
Instead of the usual selfaggrandizing garble of advice as to current fishing conditions and how to make the best of it, let’s have a little fun with an interesting set of brief personal biographies and see if you know who these people are. Want to play? Born in October of 1940 in Lynchburg, Tennessee, he planned to become a doctor like his father and grandfather before him, but changed his mind after happening upon a grisly motorcycle accident in the early 1960s. He then turned his focus to competing in bass tournaments. A fishing lure manufacturer in Winter Haven, Florida, that sponsored him for bass tournaments, suggested he should start a TV show to promote the product. The program originally began on an ABC affiliate in 1968. Who is it? Bill Dance. Too easy huh? Let’s continue. Fishing in 291 bass tournaments, his career includes the following achievements – 19 tournaments won, 9 B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year titles, nearly 100 Top Ten finishes, and 25 appearances in bass fishing’s world championship event, the Bassmaster Classic. He has a record 19 second place BASS finishes. He was the first professional bass fisherman to be inducted into all three Halls of Fame. Stick with me, it’s gonna get harder. Just couldn’t resist including Roland Martin. He was a star high school athlete in track, basketball, and football and received a college scholarship for football at Ole Miss. Graduated from college in 1973, but injuries kept him from considering a professional football career. In 1983 he started Spartan Archery in the back of his dad’s boat dealership. In 1986 he designed his own camouflage patterns by trying to simulate the bark from an oak tree in his parent’s front lawn. His sports achievements have earned him several recognitions. In 2012, he was inducted into the University of Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements both on and off the field. Who it is? Bill Jordan. In the area 18 ATLANTA
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of Columbus, GA, it’s pronounced Jerdan. He was born in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania in 1902, He worked as a glue maker for the Chrysler Company in Detroit from 1929 – 1933. With a partner named Chuck who had worked at the same plant, they put together $1,200 to open an archery business in a garage in 1933. In 1947, he and his wife moved to Michigan, where they lived in a tent along a river to keep their expenses down. His company became the most famous in the archery business. He is the foremost member of the Archery Hall of Fame. Who is it? Fred Bear. Too easy again huh? Well, the next one isn’t. Born in Saskatchewan, he was formerly an All-American swimmer and played on the National water-polo team during the 1980 Olympics in Russia. He is considered to be one of the world’s foremost experts on the Ethnocentric Folk Art forms from Western Canada and is an avid collector of Tribal art and artifacts from around the world. Currently his hunting show on Outdoor Channel is the number one highest rated. Jim Shockey! Surprised? A graduate of Auburn University, he had the vision of building the sport of bass fishing to its rightful place in the first rank of American sports. He is the Godfather of modern competitive bass fishing. Surprisingly, he is the founder of the Whitetail Institute of North America distributing more than five million pounds of proprietary Imperial Whitetail Clover seed and other forage seed formulations, and publishes Whitetail News magazine about deer hunting and deer management. Ray Scott. Had some fun with this? I have. Interesting how and when some of the giants of the outdoor industry became famous. Now you know. I’m inviting you to telephone my radio show on Saturday mornings on WSB AM750 and tell me about other people’s stories you have found interesting or encouraging.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts JANUARY ON LANIER – DEEP AND SHALLOW
Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com Many anglers underestimate the viability of winter fishing. While the outside elements are not always favorable, January can offer some outstanding angling on Lake Lanier. Let’s explore some tactics with which you can approach Lanier in January. Ditches: As we discussed in a recent installment, a ditch can be defined as a significant depression which offers a sharp depth change of 2 feet or more from the surrounding structure. These features exist many places on Lake Lanier, and they hold fish during the winter months. Given the low water levels so far this year, I anticipate the ditches to remain very significant features as we head into January. I shared a comprehensive article in December that focused completely on ditch fishing. If you missed it, take the opportunity to go back and review this information as it could continue to play a key role in January this year. Your Search: Use your Lowrance HDS electronics to find creek arms or pockets just off of the main creek channels that offer a deep vein extending back into the arm or cove/ pocket. The farther the deep water extends back into the creek arm, the better for wintertime fishing. Search for the presence of baitfish in and around the timber which you will find in the deeper water portions of the ditch. If you do not find bait, you will not find fish. Also, look for the ditches that do have timber at the mouth. The presence of the timber represents the appropriate depth for a potentially productive ditch. Also, key in on special features within the ditch, such as a point or secondary ditch that may intersect with the main ditch. Technique: While our focus is on fishing deep, understand that a shallow bite often exists in these same ditches, even in the dead of winter. Often, these shallow fish in the winter mornings are monsters. Try these areas with a SuperSpin, SPRO jerkbait, or SPRO crankbait. Your presentation speed should vary directly with the water temperature. The colder the water, the slower your presentation should be. Also, with the SuperSpin and the crankbait, your bait should maintain contact 20 ATLANTA
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with the bottom as much as possible. Begin your search shallow in the backs of the creek arm, as at daylight, this will be the warmest water in the lake and will often attract baitfish. Often the active fish will be in 10 feet of water or less right at daylight, so get out early and be ready for some action right away! After the early morning bite, switch your focus to the deep areas of the ditch. Start with the first area of naturally occurring timber you find as you move from shallow to deep in the ditch. An isolated tree can be excellent, but thick timber can hold fish as well. The timber edges are the often the most productive, so focus on those areas first. Cast and drag a Chattahoochee Jig through the timber the same way as you would work shallower cover. Slow and methodical is the key. Develop a keen sense of feel as the bites are often very light. If the jig is not productive, fish a Picasso Shak E Football head tipped with a finesse or trick worm in the same fashion. Another option is to jig a spoon vertically over fish you see on your Lowrance electronics. A drop shot can also be an effective presentation. Experiment daily, as fish preferences change like the wind. I guide year ‘round on Lanier, and I would enjoy the opportunity to help you with your winter fishing. We can focus deep or shallow and help you learn the techniques you need to stay on fish all year! Give me a call and let’s fish! For more information or to book your winter trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s Website: www.jimboonlanier.com
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Local Lakes & Forecasts The Angler’s New Years’ Resolutions Dr. Andrew Cox Many people make New Year resolutions during the holiday season. Research demonstrates that most people do not follow through with these commitments. Typically, we resolve to lose weight, exercise more, have a better diet, spend more time with our families, be more proactive in completing things or similar resolutions. Some of us resolve to increase the amount of time engaging in leisure activities and down time from the stressors of our daily lives. This may include resolutions involving fishing or other outdoor activities. Some resolutions to consider and follow through with in the new year could include the following: • Engage our own children in more fishing time or take a young person fishing. This will get them away from their electronic devices and spend time outdoors. Remember to be patient; young people will make mistakes, particularly if they do not fish that much. Reduced time spent on the water may be required as children and youth may become bored or distracted. We are developing the new generation of anglers and want to develop an interest in angling rather than turning it into something “boring” that they likely will not engage in again. • Related to the above, spend family time fishing. This promotes more time together as a family, where everyone focuses upon a mutually activity. Other things can be incorporated within the fishing event such as camping, cooking out, or playing other sports as a break from fishing, particularly if the fishing is slow. As individuals we may resolve to spend more time fishing during the coming year. Some things you can do to promote this resolution include: • Plan and place fishing trips on your schedule. Plan ahead to have fishing become part of your routine, rather than simply occurring as a random or spontaneous activity. In this way, you will actually have more fishing time occur over the course of the year. • Do you have bucket list angling 22 ATLANTA
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trips in mind? Is there a particular locale that you desire to fish, an out-of-state fishing destination, or fishing in another country? Now is the time to plan these adventures as travel, lodging, and financial planning are likely to be required. • Is there a new angling technique that you desire to master this year? This may require targeted practice, time spent on particular waters, or purchase of specialized equipment. Such requires planning and resolve to incorporate the practice of this new technique over the course of your fishing day or time spent on the water. Like many anglers, I have a list of angling related New Year resolutions. I am currently involved in planning an annual trout fishing trip to the Green River in Utah. Over the last few months, I have also been planning a trout fishing adventure to the Patagonia region of Chile for the upcoming year. The planning process requires attention to details such as coordinating lodging, fishing guides, and travel connections. Rather than letting those New Year resolutions fall by the wayside, do something each day or each week towards putting those angling dreams into action. Paying attention to fishing related activities on frequent basis will increase the odds that the desired fishing activity will occur rather than going onto the back burner and becoming next year’s resolution. Good fishing and be safe. 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. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE LANIER STRIPERS Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 January is here and the winter bite is in full swing. The stripers are following the bait into the creeks. The north end and the south end are both great. Birds and loons will continue to be a big help. If the birds are in an area, the bait is nearby almost every time. The good news has been the type of bait. This year it has been herring and trout. Herring is catching the most fish, but the trout are catching the bigger fish. Freelines with
balloons and planer boards are being the best for the trout. The herring can go on the downline or freeline. The water quality is great right now, so be prepared for all techniques. If you see fish up shallow, be sure to have a spinning rod like a Penn Battle 3000 rigged up with no more than 10 pound Trilene Big Game. Most of the time, a small 1/4 ounce Capt. Mack or 1/4 ounce Spro Prime Bucktail will do the trick, with white being the dominant color here on Lanier with the clear water. As a whole, fishing should be great this month, plus no crowds. What more can you ask for? Time to go catching.
LAKE BURTON
Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 53 degrees, lake level: 6 feet down, clarity: clear Bass: The bass bite has been decent the last few weeks. We have not been catching many numbers but have been catching some quality fish! We have been starting the mornings off fishing shallow around the creek ledges. These spots have been producing some nice largemouth and some 5-pound spots. We have been throwing 6 to 8 inch hard swimbaits. The color hasn’t seemed to make much difference. We have also caught some nice bass on white Super Rooster Tails while trying to catch brown trout. Working the spinners with a reel and pause technique has been productive. The water temps
should drop quickly over the next few weeks. The spoon bite should pick up in the mouths of the creeks and on a 30 foot bottom on the main lake points. Brown Trout: The trout have finally rebounded. These fish seem to be midway back in the creeks on an 18 to 25 foot bottom. We have had good success trolling Loco Spoons #3 and #4 at a speed of 3.5 mph. Slowly trolling night crawlers on a crawler harness is a very effective way of catching these trout this time of year. This technique also doubles as a great way to catch a walleye. I typically troll the crawler harnesses on the down riggers set at a depth of 10 to 18 feet. Trolling at speed of 1.5 to 2.4 mph works best. Maintaining speed this slow this time of year can be difficult. Try using the wind to your advantage. These techniques should continue to catch trout and walleye for the next few weeks. Good Luck!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Where to Find Big Bass in River Systems
is timber and laydowns, the thicker the better. Not only will bass be there but an abundance of small baitfish will be holding there out of the current. When fishing structure Contributed By: in the river, you have to fish/pitch Jay Striker really close to structure and make www.jaystriker.com several casts to the same area. Where the fish set up: I can remember the day just Understanding where the fish set like it was yesterday. Years ago, my up on a river is important for you partner and I were heading out to to be able to catch them. In a river a tournament on Lake Wheeler in system, fish are more predictable, AL and neither he nor I ever fished especially in swift current, be it this lake before. When we arrived at natural or man made by a dam. the lake, we quickly realized that the I tend to look for areas that cause lake was nothing like we see back a break in the current. Anything home. The location that we decided where a fish can hide behind to put in was a place where the are areas I want to cover. Some water was really flowing as the dam examples are laydowns, rocks, was just up the river bit. We headed docks and breaks near oxbows and out to go explore this lake for some your chances of catching fish is undercut banks. When casting to practice in hopes of catching some greatly increased due to the fact good fish. bass expect their prey to be washed As we stopped at our first spot, I downstream. There will come a realized I had to stay on my trolling time when it is very hard to fish motor because the current would upstream, so you will still need push you away from whatever it is to face the current but pull out you were fishing. This went on most from the bank and be prepared to of the day with little results, and we make quick, short casts toward the realized we needed to re-think how structure you come across using this river fishing is supposed to be you trolling motor to assist in drift done. I started doing some research control. and found that several key factors Types of cover and structure: such as boat positioning, types of When fishing large river system cover and structure to target, and lakes, it is important to note that where the fish set up in the river the fish in the river, especially up systems were some of the factors I’ll the river, will not leave the area, as share with you. they are used to their environment. Boat positioning and Control: These are called “resident fish”, When positioning the boat for meaning that very little if anything bass fishing while in swift current, will cause them to move out of their it is important to put the nose of areas. These fish just move around the boat facing against the current. from ambush point to ambush This will allow you to have better point. Here are some of the things I control and make an accurate cast. focus on when up the river. Riprap One of the most important factors is the first thing I look for in a river to consider is ensuring you have a system lake, because it provides the powerful trolling motor, as when natural attraction for bass to find you first start to learn to fish high ambush points and current breaks. current you will most likely spend Most times the riprap will have a a good bit of time trying to control small eddy just outside the current Atlanta’s Source for the boat. Point the boat upstream as where fish will hold. The next target
targets in the river, be mindful that you may only get a few casts at a piece of structure before possibly drifting by it. You have to be focused in order to develop the right patterns. Fishing rivers is a bit different than fishing the normal lakes that don’t have a system that generates current. Just know that when you do fish a swift water situation, remember that some of the things that can be done is maintaining boat positioning, understand the type of cover and structure to concentrate on and remember the way that fish set up, and you can make a really good day up the river. Remember if you are a veteran or a law enforcement officer, let’s go fishing. Please contact me at jaystriker@jaystriker.com.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts LAKE SINCLAIR Forecast By: Ken Sturdivant ken@southernfishing.com Lake Sinclair is down 1.4 feet with the water clear and the temperature in the low 60’s. Bass fishing varies on a daily basis, depending on the weather, current, moon phase and the fish. A lot will change over the coming weeks with the cold weather. Once the weather settles, the fishing will be better but expect the fish to move deeper. Water temperatures will be critical. Find the warmer waters. Zoom Super Flukes are best early except for a couple days after each new cold front. Most fish are coming from any type cover in the coves and
creeks. Don’t waste much time in areas with little or no shad present. Grass can be the best cover on days when the lake is a foot or less below full pool. On a spinnerbait use a trailer hook for a higher hook up percentage. If fish are still missing the bait, downsize the bait or find a comeback lure. Try a small Fluke, Rapala or weightless worms. Fish the lake’s docks on the sunny banks early. On the docks, try a Zoom 6 inch Dead Ringer for more active fish. If the fish are inactive, use a finesse worm with an eighth ounce weight and fish real slowly. Good colors for both are June bug, green pumpkin and red bug in clearer water.
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478-521-6103 acsofga.com Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice. com 706-455-2323 Water temperature: 53-55 degrees, lake level: 7.5 feet below full pool, water clarity: clear. The water temp is finally dropping. This is my favorite time of the year to fish. There are so many ways to catch fish in the winter that you just have to choose one or two and just go with it. I’m starting the morning out throwing a Strike King KVD jerkbait and a Float-N-Fly, I will also keep a Strike King Sexy Dawg tied on for any breaking fish. It’s hard not to use a Flex It spoon when you find fish on your electronics along with a dropshot. If you’ve not tried the Ned rig, it’s a new way of catching fish with a slower approach. Roboworms and Z Mann baits have some nice colors for this rig. Two other lures I’m throwing once the sun gets up is the umbrella rig and a spinnerbait. A jig in pb/j or green pumpkin works well around docks, brush, points and
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rocky banks. If you fish all year like I do, you get tired of fishing the same way and with the same types of lures all year, so I guess that’s why I love throwing the Float-N-Fly. It’s a different way to catch fish, and I tie my own flies. It’s been a great year on the water. Check out our website and get your loved one or fishing buddy a gift certificate and receive $25 off your trip. Happy New Year.
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Local Lakes & Forecasts
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LAKE LANIER CRAPPIE Forecast By: Dan Saknini, Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. www.laniercrappieanglers.net Water temperature is in the mid-fifties and dropping. So far, we have been enjoying moderate temperatures for fishing, and as a bonus, this past Sunday we had a Super Moon. That means that the moon was 7% larger and 16% brighter. A combination of full moon and above normal water temp resulted in a really strong bite. If the water temperature drops significantly with the approaching cold weather, the bite will slow
down until the fish adjust, after which it will pick back up. The upside of cold weather is that the bigger fish tend to move to docks with structure, which will hopefully bring them out of hiding. Submerged stand-alone brush piles in fifteen to twenty five foot depths should continue to be your main target. Your downscan will help you find the brush piles and let you determine the depth of the fish suspended on the brush. If you want to fish the south side of the lake, Four Mile Creek should be high on your list. If you enjoy trolling, try long lining or tight lining as they are also effective methods this time of year. Stay safe on the water and wear your life jacket!
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Local Lakes & Forecasts The 2018 Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show Docks Jan. 18-21 Marking 56 years as the Southeast’s premier boating event, the 2018 Progressive® Insurance Atlanta Boat Show® makes its return Jan. 1821 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta for four days filled with beautiful boats and gear, great deals, educational and DIY seminars, and a whole lot of fun. From the most seasoned sailors to amateur anglers, there will be something for everyone at this year’s Show, including access to the nearly 500 boats that will fill the exhibit hall. Attendees will also have the chance to win a free half-day pontoon rental while they shop the best in fishing and watersport boats, yachts, pontoons, paddleboards, kayaks, personal watercraft (jet skis) and more, along with an extensive array of gear and accessories. “The Atlanta Boat Show is one of the biggest in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and we draw over 20,000 people each year to come see the latest and very best in boating,” said Show Manager Kevin Murphy. “Georgia is home to more
than 325,000 boats and has an annual economic impact of around 3 billion dollars each year. We can’t wait to show off all the great boats and new products at this year’s Show!” With the region’s top boat dealers all under one roof, show-goers can take advantage of the best deals of the year, and have a new boat ready by spring just as temperatures start to rise. Among this year’s many features are the Let’s Go Fishing Center’s Big Bass Tank for live fishing demonstrations. Come down to perfect your cast and see the very latest in boating and fishing technology. And as your mind starts to think about warmer weather and getting out on the water, remember that life on the water has many health benefits – like boosted immunity, stress reduction and cardiovascular health – so what are you waiting for? Start making plans to be on the water this summer. Also at the Atlanta Boat Show, guests can take a ride on the Sailing Simulator, used to get a feel for the wind and waves while on land, take
part in boating DIY workshops at Fred’s Shed, educational seminars on safety, sailing and boating 101, and take part in special promotions and guest appearances. Even the youngest boating fans will enjoy hanging out in the Kids Zone. Tickets to the Show are $14 and youth 12 and under get in FREE (when accompanied by a paid adult). You can get $2 off tickets purchased online before Jan. 17. All active military, law enforcement personnel and firefighters will receive one free ticket with valid ID. For Show tickets, times and more information, visit AtlantaBoatShow.com. Be sure to follow
the Atlanta Boat Show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ AtlantaBoatShow for updates, boat displays and features, and giveaways. Mark your calendars and set sail for the Atlanta Boat Show Jan. 18-21, 2018! WHEN: Jan. 18-21, 2018 Thursday-Friday, Jan. 18-19, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. WHERE: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C, 280 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30314
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Local Lakes & Tournaments LAKE OCONEE
Ken Sturdivant ken@southernfishing.com Lake Oconee is full with the water temperature in the 50’s. The weather will slow the fishing until the cold front passes. Find the shad and this is when the Lowrance Structure Scan Side imaging technology can play a major role in successful fishing or not. Baitfish move into the creeks and bass follow them. Bass fishing is fair. Small crankbaits fished around docks and wood structure will draw a strike. Most of the fish are in the 5 to 10 foot water column. There are a lot of fish in the middle of the coves in the middle of the lake. These fish are not relating to anything, so they are hard to target. They can be caught with a crankbait fished from the 10 to 15 feet of water depth. They will show up on your Lowrance. When you see them, you
can target them with a crankbaits as well as spoons. There is still a buzzbait bite on sea walls and rip rap from the 44 bridge to river bend. Striper fishing is good to very good. The fish are starting to show up all over the lake. The water quality is good everywhere. The fish are from one end of the lake to the other. Use your Lowrance to locate the schools and you can catch them with spoons and live bait. We have been using bass minnows, but shad will also work. This is some of the best fishing of the year, so don’t miss out on the great fishing right now. Crappie fishing is good. The fish are still on the submerged timber from 5 to 15 feet deep. Use your Lowrance to locate the trees with the most fish on them and then drop live bait or jigs into the top of the tree. Long line trolling will also produce good numbers when you troll over the timber. The timber in Sugar Creek has been the best producer in the last few days, you can also find fish between the bridges in Lick Creek.
6 AM to 6 PM Monday Thru Sunday
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Local Lakes & Forecasts
Have a Blast at a Boat Show
coming to a town near you. Come see us in Atlanta this Jaunary, or go to DiscoverBoating.com and click
on the Boat Show Finder to have a blast at a boat show near you. Tight lines and calm seas.
By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series
It’s January. The winter doldrums are setting in. You’ve resolved to hunker down and endure the cold while waiting impatiently for spring to arrive. You’ve put all your fishing gear in the closet, and you’re thinking there’s not a lot of fun stuff to do on these cold, dreary days. Wrong. For me, January marks the beginning of Boat Show Season, and the show that kicks off the year is the Atlanta Boat Show at the Georgia World Congress Center January 18 – 21st. If you’re in the market for a new boat, or just want to check out all the new big boy water toys and related gear for the coming year, a boat show is a great way to put those wintertime blues on the back-burner. Maybe you’ve decided it’s time to buy a new boat, or perhaps you want to retire that old clunker, or step up to a larger boat. If you need to revitalize your existing boat with a new motor or accessories, you can find everything you need right there. At a boat show, you can compare models, features and prices, all under one roof. You can ask questions of manufacturers and dealers to help you make an informed decision about which boat is right for you. Boat shows are also the place where you’ll find excellent deals. Often, dealers will have a few ‘carry-overs’…previous year models with full warranties, and they need to sell them to make room for the new models. There’s usually extra special pricing on
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those too. You might also find other incentives like extended warranties, no-cost add-ons, and special package deals. Beyond the sparkle and shine of hundreds of new boats, you’ll discover a plethora of boating accessories, water toys, and all manner of gadgets, do-hickeys, and cool contraptions to enhance the time you spend on the water. The Atlanta Boat Show even helps you learn how to maintain and repair your motor, get rid of electrical gremlins and more at the Fred’s Shed seminars. All in a hand’s on, interactive environment. There’s also plenty of stuff to capture the attention of us anglers too. You’ll find an assortment of fishing boats from kayaks to bass boats to offshore center consoles. There are fishing tackle vendors and the highly acclaimed Let’s Go Fishing Center staffed by local fishing guides and fishing clubs who can answer questions about fresh and saltwater fishing. The Fishing Seminars provide local insight on what’s biting, where to go, and how to catch ‘em. The Nuts & Bolts of Fishing gang will be at the Atlanta Boat Show with the new Wide Open II, a tricked out 2018 Crevalle 24 Bay. And just maybe, if we are lucky, Buck the Wonder Dog may be able to make an appearance. Come on out, say hi and take a tour of this awesome fishing machine. So don’t hibernate this winter. There’s probably a boat show
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Local Lakes & Forecasts Cloud Fishing
A Blink in Time
Contributed By: Noey Vinyard
When I first started writing this month’s column, I had no idea I would be doing it with a heavy heart. Cathryn Berryman, a treasured friend of mine passed away this past week. I first met Cathryn when we were doing horseback rides in the mountains, and I knew from the first time I met her she was special. Working as a trail guide is hard work with long, hot days in the summer and bitter cold days in the winter. You could always count on Cathryn to have a smile on hand, ready to cheer you up. The world lost one of those rare, truly good people who made everyone she touched better for the experience. I don’t know why her life was cut so short, but the following moment in time, that I was blessed to observe is dedicated to her and her family. It has been a fairly mild winter so far this year, and Festus and I were taking a moment to soak up Mother Nature’s warmth. In other words,
Festus and I were daydreaming. She had given us a gorgeous blue canvas in the form of a North Georgia sky without a cloud in it to get lost in, and I was going on in great detail to Festus about how nice it would be if he would use my belly as a pillow BEFORE he stuck his head into the creek. Then I first saw the big red tailed hawk. He came in low over the tree tops, and I smiled to myself as he was close enough to see the markings on his feathers. It was then that I noticed that he was not alone. A kestrel was close behind, and I don’t know what had transpired between the two before I saw them, but it had gone way beyond words, and the Kestrel was having his say. If the bigger bird was worried, it didn’t show in his slow and fluid movements. The red tail was easily three times the size of the smaller raptor. Hawks are masters of the wind, and
he seemed to almost tease the other bird as he showed no effort staying just inches ahead of the screeching ball of fury. The kestrel’s wings worked furiously to keep up with the hawk, and while far nimbler than the larger bird, his aerial maneuvers were of no use against the hawk’s sheer speed. Finally, the red tail tired of the game, and that is when Mother Nature let me see one of those things that touch your very soul. The red tail banked hard left so sharp that even the nimble kestrel had trouble following. He made one back to the right in an effort to find what he was looking for. He was trying to find the thermal, updraft coming off the ridge, and when he did, his wings opened like a child’s kite. When he hit the sweet spot of that updraft, he did what hawks do best, he soared. Once he caught the thermal, the smaller bird never had a chance. His wings are built for agility, and try as he may, he could not keep up with the bigger hawk. I stood and watched as that beautiful bird went from being close enough to count every feather to
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completely gone from sight in three blinks of an eye. And he never flapped his wings, not once. I am saddened by the fact that I will never be able to share that story with my friend, but as kind as her soul was, I know she is in a better place. As I write this, I count myself lucky not only for witnessing the hawk’s beautiful flight, but because I was able to call Cathryn Berryman my friend. You will be missed my friend.
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JANUARY 2018
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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!
Jake Chapman with a 13 pound striper caught on Lake Nottely with Big Ol Fish Guiding Service
Ali Green caught this huge rainbow on the Soque fishing with guide Stefan Manole with Unicoi Outfitters
WINNER! This massive 26.5 inch spawning female brown was caught by Adam Hoar with Reel Em Guide Service
William Pettit from Greensboro travelled to Wisconsin to take this huge buck!
Charlotte Cunningham caught this big striper aboard Catching Not Fishing
Nick Wigley caught this big striper fly fishing with Cohutta Fishing Company Brittney Adams with a big catfish caught on Lake Eufaula
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Augusta, GA (706) 738-4536
387 Highland Ave. Augusta, GA 30907
Savannah, GA
(912) 349-2352 24 Drayton St Savannah, GA 31401
By Patrick Sebile
I
n the early 1980s, I enjoyed fishing at mid-day on Fridays. I grew up in southwest France, in the Bordeaux region, where my mom was a baker. On Fridays she would go to farmer’s markets to sell her pastries, so she would not be home for lunch. My school schedule included a break of three hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which was enough time to ride my bike to a nearby pond and fish with a telescoping rod that fit into my schoolboy’s satchel next to a small lure box that held my treasures: a couple of Rapalas, some Mepps spinners and a few of my own homemade jigs and poppers. As an 11-year-old boy, these few hours of fishing were worth much more than a mid-day meal. One day in particular, I remember peddling as fast as possible, dropping my bike against a bush, stringing my rod with a steel leader and a lure and hurrying down to the bank to cast. I remember the weight on the line that stopped my retrieve. I set the hook, and the fish started fighting. It was a good one! I landed a 6- or 7-lb. pike and was as happy as a boy can be with thoughts of how proud Mom would be as she cooked it for our supper. I had no cooler, no bag, just my school satchel, which held the school books my mother had covered in plastic sheeting to protect them just in case I decided to do something like fold that pike up and stuff in my satchel. The bag itself was made of green U.S. Army canvas and decorated with KISS and Van Halen patches. I thought it was a very cool satchel, and surely we could just throw it in the washing machine. A little soap and water would fix those book covers. Problem solved. I biked back to school, where my pike was supposed to remain hidden in my satchel for a few hours until the end of the school day. The trouble began back in the classroom. One of our classmates complained that her calculator was missing. Our teacher assumed one of the children had taken it and began a systematic search of all our satchels. “Not that! Not today!” I remember thinking. As she searched and cleared each satchel one by one, I prayed she would find the calculator before it was my turn. The closer she got to me, the more I shrunk into my seat. At one point she made eye contact with me and must have seen the panic in my eyes. “Sebile, open your satchel,” she said. I remember shaking my head and pleading with her, “No ma’am, please don’t…” She snatched my satchel and opened it wide to reveal an indescribable mess. All my classmates gathered around, laughing out loud at the crazy fisherman. I had never before experienced such deep shame. The human brain is a fantastic thing. All that remains of that the horrible feeling I had back then is a funny story of who I was then and who I am remain: a passionate angler.
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JANUARY 2018
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(An abbreviated excerpt from “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia”) By Nick Carter
A
s a trout fishery, Amicalola Creek west of Dawsonville, Ga. is perfectly suited for a delayed harvest section. The original intent of these very popular fisheries was to create wintertime fisheries in streams that grow too warm for trout during the summer. For most of its length, from its highest public access point at Wildcat Creek Campground to its junction with the Etowah River, Amicalola is not great trout habitat. In Dawson County, it’s on the southern edge of Georgia’s trout waters to begin with, and its impoundment in Fausett Lake upstream of Dawson Forest WMA does not help the situation. So the potential for reproduction and holdover fish in Amicalola Creek is not great.
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As a hatchery supported fishery, however, it’s a pretty good stream. Amicalola receives a steady almost year-round flow of hatchery fish from the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. The DH section is heavily stocked in the winter months, and regular stockings begin in March and last into the summer. During the DH season, Nov. 1 through May 14, thousands of trout are stocked into a roughly 2.5-mile stretch between Steele Bridge Road and the Georgia Highway 53 bridge over Amicalola Creek. Around these two bridges is where anglers will find most of the fish late fall through early spring, especially after a recent stocking, but foot access by gated WMA road as well as a streamside trail offer access to less pressured fish and water. With catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial-only regulations, many of these fish stay in the creek through the delayed harvest season. Early on in the season and when there has been a fresh stocking, anglers can have banner days with the standard DH fare—bright and flashy nymphs, streamers, egg patterns and San Juan-style worms. But like all the DH streams, it does receive some fishing pressure. Successful tactics transition to more natural ones as the fish grow wiser. Amicalola Creek is quite large through the DH stretch. Deep holes and bedrock ledges characterize the fishery. Through shallower areas, systematically picking apart the ledges, seams, runs and other holding areas from bank to bank before moving upstream can produce fish many anglers miss as they plow ahead upstream making long, cross-current casts. The deep holes can also be extremely productive during the winter when fish are hugging the bottom. Use enough split-shot to get your offerings down to the fish, and adjust depth according to the water you’re fishing. For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of all North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@gmail.com.
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FLY FISHING
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inter is a very important time for the southern California saltwater fly fisherman. This time of year means transition, and with this transition comes the seasonal migration of Pacific bonito to the nearshore waters off southern California. Although SoCal has a yearround population of bonito, many of the fish who take up residence here from early fall and through winter are the larger pelagic bonito that trek to our coast from southern waters. These fish can range in size between 5 to 15 pounds and are probably the hardest fighting fish readily available to fly fishermen off the southern
can be put in the path of the moving fish. The fly tackle best suited for bonito fishing includes 9-foot, 6- to 10-weight rods matched with a good directdrive saltwater fly reel with a minimum of 120 yards of 20to 30-lb. Dacron backing. In terms of fly lines, a shooting head with a built-in running line in weights of 175 to 350 grains will work best. Tippets should be 8 to 12 pounds, and abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon works wonders on leader-shy fish. As for flies, Clousers, Deceivers, Crazy Charlies and any anchovy pattern in sizes
California coast. These fish are found both inshore and offshore, however, most of the offshore bonito are in 30 fathoms (150 feet) or less. When fishing for openwater bonito, the angler’s best approach is to look for birds and schools working along current or temperature breaks. Once these areas are found, look for bonito chasing anchovies or sardines near the surface. Bonito can be very shy, so cutting the engine and sidling up on the fish is very important. Once the boat is in position, a 40- to 80-foot cast placed to the outside edge of the schooling fish is best. The angler should make sure the fish are moving either toward the skiff or in a crossing direction so the cast
8 through 2 will do the trick. Color is an important factor, so match the fly color to the color of the bait being taken. Green/ white and blue/white are great choices, however, chartreuse/ white is always a great attractor color. Fighting a bonito once it is hooked is an exciting and sometimes exhausting experience for the fly angler. Because the bonito is built like a mini rocket, it will make some amazing runs and will usually take line well into the angler’s backing. It’s worth a trip to southern California where fly anglers can take part in the famous bonito run.
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n their profession, surgeons require the most accurate and precise cutting tools. Professional taxidermists figured out long ago that a scalpel is the best tool for carefully cutting through all kinds of fish and animal hides. Now sportsmen can enjoy the same level of precision in knives designed to be taken into the field or out on the water. Havalon has revolutionized the market for sportsmen’s knives with surgical-edge technology redesigned for use by hunters and anglers. And they know their business. Havalon’s parent company, Havel, provided surgical cutlery to doctors and hospitals long before they brought them to the outdoors market. What Havalon dreamed up was a line of high quality folding and now fixed-blade knives that feature replaceable surgical-quality cutting edges. Whether gutting and skinning game or filleting fish, sportsmen can now enjoy the advantages of a scalpel edge in the field. And the easily replaceable blades not only ensure the knife will be scalpel sharp and ready for use without any sharpening, it opens up the opportunity for one knife to serve many purposes by switching out the style of the blade. Need a fine-bladed fillet knife that doubles as a limb saw and game-skinner, Havalon has you covered with products like the Havalon Hydra Kit, which includes 17 blades in seven different styles to fill all your needs with one tool. The latest innovation from Havalon, which every angler should have in the arsenal is the Havalon Talon. Set to hit the market this spring, the Talon is the first high-quality, surgically sharp, longest lasting replaceable fixed blade knife system. The Talon provides a firm, safe grip on heavier, stronger, larger sized
versions of the company’s already proven fillet blades, as well as a few new ones. It is the most versatile and sharpest “in-the-wild” quick-change cutlery set there is. A military-grade polymer handle has many functional features, from a Easy-Clean opening chamber to a super easy, strong and safe Quik-Change II Thumb Release Blade System. Within a water resistant roll-up pack, the Talon Fishing Pack includes the Talon handle, a serrated blade, two 5-inch fillet blades and a 7-inch fillet blade. A separately sold 9-inch fillet blade is also available. Professional captains, guides and outfitters have already discovered the benefits of using surgical-grade cutlery in the field and on the water, making Havalon a staple in the market for serious outdoorsmen. Which leaves the question: Why wouldn’t you want the most precise, accurate and versatile cutting tools in your pack or on the deck? Check out all the innovative tools Havalon has to offer at www.havalon.com.
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UNDER THE SEA 18
King of Sling – Art Pinder
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n the spearfishing community, there is one man everyone agrees deserves the title of “legend.” That is Art Pinder. Art was born in Miami in 1929, the fourth of five children. He looked up to his father and older brothers and wanted to follow in their footsteps. His father was an outdoorsman and worked his way up to captain of the Miami Beach lifeguards. Naturally, the children grew up around the water, and they learned to hunt at a very young age with homemade equipment. Their slings were different from modern spearguns, and consisted of a free-flying shaft inserted into a cylindrical wooden “shooter.” Similar to a slingshot, the shaft was powered by pulling a band back and letting go. This primitive form is making a comeback, and is the only allowable method of spearfishing in the Bahamas. The Pinder brothers dove and speared at a time when the ocean was considered mysterious and dangerous. The brothers dominated and won every tournament. Meanwhile, Art worked as a lifeguard and crewed for big-game fishermen such as Walter Clay, Bob Stewart and Tommy Gifford. He later served in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed at the Carysfort Reef Lighthouse. In the water, Art accomplished feats that might never be duplicated. He slinged a 7-foot sailfish, a 135-pound cubera snapper and a 584-pound Goliath grouper. Outside of spearfishing, he was credited with saving many lives, including a challenging rescue of 23 people whose boat had capsized in rough waters. As Art became known for his spearfishing achievements, opportunities arose. He appeared in magazine and TV ads for liquor companies even though he didn’t drink. He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955 and was featured in a three-part series. His most uncomfortable assignment was modeling Jantzen bathing suits. They paid more in one day than he got in a whole month of lifeguarding, so he put up with the embarrassment. He did
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several shoots with Frank Gifford (NFL MVP), Bob Cousy (NBA MVP) and Ken Venturi (golfer). Art wondered why they picked him alongside these sports giants, though he did believe spearfishing combined the best of many sports. It required strength and coordination, involved body contact with 300-pound fish, had danger and excitement—all set against a backdrop of unimaginable beauty. In later life, Art became a pilot, a professional captain and a business owner, and he never stopped Above: Even later in spearfishing. I had life, Art Pinder could the honor of diving capture fish like a with him in his 20-year-old. Photo by sunset years, when Chad Carney. he could still capture Left: Art Pinder fish like a 20-yearappeared on the cover old. Art passed away of Sports Illustrated in 2014 at the age of in 1955. 84 and is survived by his loving wife, Alice. Rest in peace, Art. Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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Tips For Winter Fishing BRANDON LESTER
S
ome people don’t go fishing when it’s cold. That’s a huge mistake. Some of my most memorable days on the water have come this time of the year. If you outfit yourself properly, it will increase your winter fishing success astronomically. The Proper Gear First, dress properly. Layers are important, but don’t bulk up so much that it affects your mobility. I start with thermals, both the shirt and pants. My next layer is jeans and a thick hooded sweatshirt. I sometimes add a fleece jacket and then put on an outer-layer suit. You want a suit that blocks the wind and is waterproof. There are a lot of good Gore-Tex suits on the market. Headgear is also important. A fleece beanie and a neck gaiter make all the difference. A good pair of thick socks, boots and a pair of gloves, and you will be good to go. Last winter, a friend and I went fishing when it was 12 degrees. We caught 19 smallmouth. It was
cold, but we were dressed properly and had the lake to ourselves. Use Proper Equipment Fishing tackle needs to be finetuned for winter. First, I use Winn grips on all the rods I build. Most gloves have a sticky grip material on the palms. When that material meets the Winn material, it gives you unbelievable grip on your rod; it does the same for bare hands. Winn also has a new product called Winn Reel Sleeves. They are made of the same great grip material and slide over the handles of your reel. When it comes to finicky fish in the winter, you can’t afford for your hand to slip off the reel for a split second. I will have Reel Sleeves on every reel I own for the 2018 season. Check out all the Winn products and custom rod building materials at www.mudhole.com. Winter is a great time to learn how to build your own rods for 2018.
Get more tips from Lester at
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FISH & FISHING 22
Words Of Wisdom MARK SOSIN
D
id you ever wonder how leading charter captains produce consistent catches on a daily basis in heavily fished waters. I asked a long-time friend of mine who chartered for years out of a center console, and I think you’ll find his answer of interest. By the way, his methods can be adapted to any segment of coastline and a wide variety of species. Success centers on three primary approaches. You must constantly cover the maximum amount of water with your baits. They must be fished in a totally natural manner. And, baits must be kept in the productive zone or proper depth as long as possible. One way of doing this is to fish two or three baits from a kite or two kites. By using small weights in a corner of each kite, you can keep them spread so that they do not tangle in the air. For the starboard kite, the weight goes in the upper right hand corner and just the opposite for the port kite. Assuming the seas are moderate, start by positioning upwind from the spot you want to fish. By working the engines between neutral and reverse, you can back into the wind when necessary to keep the boat at a predetermined depth. This allows the baits to hang directly below the kites and look natural. Currents will push the boat over new areas. While the kites are flying, this skipper streams a couple of flat lines 50 to 125 feet from the boat. Finally, he works two more lines, one at a depth of 50 feet and the second at a depth of 75 or 80 feet. Rougher seas dictate the use of sea anchors and they also make sense when maintaining a specific depth is not paramount. A single sea anchor tied off midships will keep the boat broadside to the wind or current. One off the bow and a second off the stern is an even better setup. At times, this captain will drag a frozen block of chum in a mesh bag in front of one or two of the baits. All this is a lot of work, but you are covering close to 100 yards of water from
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a depth of 100 feet to the surface, and this approach can produce strikes when many anglers go fishless. Weekenders often wonder why professional skippers succeed day after day, even with boats all around them. Some observers simply suggest that regulars know the spots. That’s partially true, but there is much more to the total package. It takes continuous effort to tend all those rods, monitor conditions, and handle the boat all at the same time. You can certainly get by with less, but in the tradeoff, you can expect fewer fish. Whether you decide to follow this method, modify this skipper’s approaches to your needs, or you decide you really don’t want to work that hard, you can’t overlook the obvious. Aggressive anglers catch more fish consistently, even when Lady Luck isn’t sitting on their shoulders.
For more about artifical lures with Mark Sosin, visit
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