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VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 273
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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
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
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Cover Image Credits: (Clockwise from top left) Sailfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Wesley Rapson; Bumphead Parrotfish: Alphonse Fishing Co., Andre Henn; Salmon: Scott Norton; Trout: Big Cedar Lodge; Bass: Nick Carter; Roosterfish: Francisco Mejias © 2017. 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.
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FLY FISHING By Nick Carter
F
ly fishing for bonefish and permit might have originated on the flats of the Bahamas and the Florida Keys, but these islands hardly hold a monopoly on the style of fishing. In the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, there is an archipelago that claims the highest density of bonefish in the world on one of its outer island groups. The Alphonse Group is three small islets on the southwestern end of the Seychelles, a nation of 115 islands in gorgeous tropical waters northeast of Madagascar. Within the Alphonse Group, Alphonse Atoll and St. Francois Atoll offer more 10,000 acres of hard, white-sand bonefish flats as well as a lagoon with channels, finger flats and coral heads where fly fishers sight fish in clear water to more than 60 species of fish. There are characters familiar to Atlantic flats—bonefish and permit—and there are also species exotic to North American fly rodders, like milkfish, colorful triggerfish and seven species of trevally. Instead of tarpon, the Seychelles offer up the giant trevally, which can weigh in excess of 120 pounds. And with a 10-minute boat ride out of Alphonse Island, anglers can access reef species and big pelagics like sailfish, wahoo, dorado, dogtooth and yellowfin tuna. Either trolling or teasing them up and casting flies to them, these offshore species offer a delightful break from the flats as well as a dinnertime treat on the island. “The Seychelles has become known as the best giant trevally fishery in the world and has become the benchmark for anglers searching for an outstanding saltwater flats fishing experience,” said Keith RoseInnes, managing director of Alphonse Fishing Company. “The sheer numbers and variety of fish species has amazed the fly fishing world, with anglers from across the globe queuing up to sample this ultimate fishing playground.” St. Francois is most well known for its bonefish, with ridiculous
numbers of 4to 6-pound fish and the occasional 8-pounder in the mix. “On falling tides, it is often the case that huge shoals of bonefish can be targeted when leaving the flats in what has been described as a continuous river of bonefish,” said Rose-Innes. “You hunt them on foot and not from a skiff, as the sand flats are hard and white.” It’s also as close to a sure thing as it gets for anglers seeking the Holy Grail of saltwater fly fishing. Good numbers of Indo-Pacific permit populate the flats, and Rose-Innes said his guides have near-perfected the art of catching them. Along with natural environs conducive to awesome fishing, a strong conservation ethic ensures an incredible angling experience. Alphonse Fishing Company tightly controls the amount and type of fishing pressure its waters see, and the fisheries are completely closed a minimum of three months per year. That’s the fishing side of the conservation effort. Alphonse also protects the unique flora and fauna of the islands, which makes for a sensational overall vacation experience, with comfortable lodging among beautiful tropical forests and beaches. For more information, see www.alphonsefishingco.com.
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Craig Sutton with a Costa Rica yellowfin.
“M
ost people my age buy a house in Costa Rica to retire,” said Craig Sutton, of Nosara Paradise Rentals and FishingNosara. “When I bought my first house in Costa Rica, my life was just starting to get interesting.” Craig first discovered Nosara, Costa Rica on a surfing trip in the late 1990s and immediately fell in love with the people, the culture and the year-round excellent surfing. He purchased a small house near Guiones Beach, bought out his neighbors’ land, and spent the next 15 years building a nature preserve campus of 14 houses plus a pool, common areas and maintenance facilities. One thing was missing from this surfer’s paradise: good fishing. As a native Floridian, Craig’s passion for fishing runs deep. He has been a regular on the kingfish tournament scene for years, with his boat Fishtastic posting top-5 finishes in the several tournaments.
“The problem with fishing in Costa Rica is that fish are so big and so harsh that they will destroy your tackle, plus the costs for fuel is astronomical at $7 a gallon and rising,” said Sutton. “Captains trying to make ends meet would have to choose between new lines, new tackle and a full tank of gas, or putting food on the family table.” After years of struggling to find a captain in Costa Rica who was willing and able to fish aggressively, Sutton realized his only option was to build his own boats and crew them with hand-picked locals. “These guys had the drive and the talent to be great fishermen, they just lacked the tools and the logistical support,” said Sutton. “The team-centered approach allows FishingNosara captains to pursue the fish as aggressively as a professional tournament boat without being distracted by losing lures or running up the gas bill.” FishingNosara launched their first boat, The Wanderer, in 2009 and have added a boat every year since. The results have been astounding. In the 2017 season, the five-boat FishingNosara team ran over 730 trips with over 80 marlin releases and 800 sailfish releases. More importantly, the team inflicted zero billfish fatalities. “Reviving and releasing billfish is a sacred priority to us as conservationists, plus it makes good business sense,” said Sutton. “We have created a market of charter fishermen, which means billfish are worth more money alive and swimming than they are on a scale at the meat market.” As for retirement for Sutton, don’t bet on it anytime soon. Last April he scored a billfish grand slam (blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish) to win the Ship of Fools Billfish Tournament in Costa Rica. Sutton is looking to up-the-ante again in 2018. Back in the States, a new version of the Fishtastic came online this year. It’s an exact copy of the 32’ Eduardono Harvester currently in Nosara, and Sutton is already amped up for a new challenge. “My goal with the new boat is to snag a tournament winning king mackeral in July then go catch marlin in August… seems like a good way to bring two worlds together.”
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By CAM Staff
M
urrells Inlet, S.C. has always been a fishing town. Long before Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand began drawing tourists to experience the beaches, shopping, golf and nightlife that have made it famous, Murrells Inlet was a fishing village. And it’s no wonder. The inlet itself is an inshore angler’s dream. It’s an enclosed system, one of very few inlets on the east coast free from the influence of the Intracoastal Waterway or coastal rivers.
There’s no dirty water flowing in from upstream, and this system of marshes and backwaters is a completely saltwater environment, with no freshwater pumping in to reduce salinity. The result is excellent fishing and exploration of backwater creeks for speckled trout, redfish and the doormat flounder that Murrells Inlet has gained a reputation for. Another thing the area has a well-earned reputation for is huge red drum, which hang out around the jetties to provide anglers with the bulldog runs only a big bull red can provide. It’s some of the best red fishing on the east coast, with fish in the 20- to 40-pound range arriving in numbers in both spring and fall. For those who don’t mind a short boat ride to fill the cooler,
there are numerous nearshore reefs that can be easily accessed with a half-day trip and a run of less than 5 miles. Mackerel, sharks, black sea bass, reds, flounder, bluefish, spadefish and more make for an exciting outing even for the family, and you’ll come back with a cooler full of delicious fish. Out to 15 or 30 miles, there is also excellent trolling for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia and amberjack, as well as bottom fishing for snappers, groupers and sea bass. But those who want to get serious should look into a full-day trip to the Gulf Stream. From 55 to 70 miles offshore, opportunities for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, marlin and sailfish abound. Trolling the Gulf Stream for big-game species off the lower end of the Grand Strand is tough to beat anywhere. So… it’s easy to see why Murrells Inlet has always been a fishing village, and perhaps the best way to experience it is from a base camp at the Inlet Sports Lodge. Located at the heart of Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports Lodge is a comfortable and classy boutique hotel that caters to anglers and golfers with the finest amenities in the area. It’s minutes away from three marinas, works closely with the area’s best charter captains and can accommodate boats up to 25 feet. There’s a fish cleaning room for prep, as well as gas and charcoal grills available in the courtyard to cook your catch. Or, for those who’d rather let someone else do the cooking, the COSTA Coastal Kitchen and Bar on-site offers up fine, fresh Italian and seafood fare. There are also several other restaurants nearby that prepare the kind of delicious right-out-of-the-water dishes that have made Murrells Inlet the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” And don’t forget the golf. If days on the water paired with days on the links sounds like the perfect way to relax, the Inlet Sports Lodge has you covered. With golf packages booking a wide variety of the Grand Strand’s famous courses, there’s more golf than you can swing a stick at, including two award-winning courses with the same ownership as the Inlet Sports Lodge. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation are two of the finest courses in the area as well as the nation. For more information on fishing, golfing and the Inlet Sports Lodge at Murrells Inlet, S.C., go to www.inletsportslodge.com/ or call 877-585-9360.
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SOUTHEAST
Photo by John Spohrer
T
he “Forgotten Coast” is a relatively quiet, undeveloped area encompassing the coastal communities of Franklin County, to include Apalachicola, St. George Island, Eastpoint, Carrabelle and Alligator Point. Franklin County is home to art exhibits, music concerts, theater performances, fishing tournaments, festivals and events year-round that highlight its natural resources, culture and history. Saltwater fishing inshore and offshore is the most popular activity
and possibly the best in the world. The waters here are loaded with so many species of fish, both migratory and residential: red snapper, tarpon, flounder, king mackerel, cobia, tripletail, and red drum, just to name a few. All these species are readily available for you to pursue in your own boat or with one of the many local professional guides. The Apalachicola River offers great freshwater action for bass, bream, stripers and catfish…all those species grow big in this river, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico and comprises the most ecological diverse natural area in the southern U. S. There’s something really special about places where fresh water meets the salt. The brackish water estuaries of Franklin County produce the world famous Apalachicola oyster. Sought out all over the world as the best, these salty yet slightly sweet gems must be accompanied with a cold beer. Slow down and relax. Saddle up to one of the many oyster bars found here and enjoy a dozen raw with a cold one and get to know the guy next to you. The seafood is as fresh and good as it gets anywhere, and the fishing tales are epic!...full disclosure; they’re not all are true. If you enjoy cruising in your boat, try sailing from Carrabelle to Apalachicola and back, via the Intracoastal Waterway. Take in the beauty along the St. George Sound, Apalachicola Bay and River, Jackson River, Lake Wimico and St. Joe Bay. Check out the complete list of all the fishing guides, boat ramps and bait and tackle providers on the county’s visitor website floridasforgottencoast.com. You’ll also find a year-round look at fishing along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Come see this place once, and you’ll be back. For more info 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.
ALLIGATOR POINT • APALACHICOLA • CARRABELLE • EASTPOINT • ST. GEORGE ISLAND COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NORTH CAROLINA
T
he Bassmaster Classic stands out as one of the biggest bass fishing events each year, and this year three pro anglers will don the signature Mud Hole colors on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell for the 2018 Classic in March. Joining the Classic line-up is a huge accomplishment for any angler, so let’s take a look at how Bassmaster Elite pros Brandon Lester and Bradley Roy as well as FLW veteran John Cox were able to capitalize on their opportunities to make the cut. Brandon Lester Captures His Spot Heading into Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, Minnesota, Bassmaster Elite pro Brandon Lester found himself on the Classic bubble. On the verge of either making the Classic or watching his bubble burst,
M
ore than 1,600 tons of concrete pipe were recently added to an artificial reef to beef up recreational fishing off Brunswick County’s coast. The new addition complements 2,000 tons of pipe placed throughout the site in 2013 and a 75-foot barge that was sunk within the reef site in July. Less than half of the proposed reef construction for the site has been completed, and plans call for an additional 2,500 tons of concrete pipe to be deployed before year’s end when the permit and funding for the project expire. This joint project between the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Long Bay Artificial Reef Association, a group of Brunswick County-based fishermen, fills a habitat void off Brunswick County, where sand and mud bottom provide little to attract popular gamefish outside of the spring and fall bait runs. Artificial Reef-430 is one of nine artificial reefs Long Bay has worked with the state to create since the association was founded in 1984. The reef is a little less than 3 miles offshore of Oak Island and about 35 feet below the surface of the Atlantic. It spans a 1,500-foot radius and encompasses about 162 acres. “We have two reefs up near the Cape Fear River and Lockwood Folly,” said Andy Fisher, president of Long Bay. “Those are our two heaviest fished reef sites. We wanted to have something close enough for the guys coming out of the Cape Fear and close enough for the guys coming out of Lockwood Folly.” DMF maintains more than 40 artificial reefs along North Carolina’s coast. Their distance to the shore ranges from a half-mile to 38 miles. An interactive reef guide is available at the DMF website, and hard copies are available at DMF offices.
Brandon knew it wouldn’t be easy, but welcomed the challenge. After three days of tight competition and a lot of learning on the lake, Lester caught 43 pounds, 1 ounce to finish in the money and leave with a qualifying ticket for his third Bassmaster Classic appearance. Although he was nervous coming off the lake, he later left weigh-in with a huge smile knowing he’ll be fishing Hartwell in March. Bradley Roy’s Big Return Like Brandon, Bassmaster Elite pro Bradley Roy entered the Mille Lacs event with his mind focused on making the Classic cut and his custom MHX Rods dialed in for smallmouth fishing. But after just day two, Roy could rest easy knowing he bagged 36 pounds, 13 ounces, which also gained him enough points to seal a place in the 2018 Classic. Bradley ultimately finished with 52 pounds, 1 ounce of Mille Lacs bass, a nice check to cash, and a ticket to his second straight Bassmaster Classic. Considering this will be his second Classic and he placed seventh in his first appearance, Bradley is incredibly hungry for a strong return. John Cox Fishing Familiar Water When John Cox finished on top of the B.A.S.S. Southern Open at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn. with 68 pounds, 3 ounces, his big win came with more than just a check, it also included a spot in the 2018 Bassmaster Classic. After hoisting the Forrest Wood Cup and making a major splash on the FLW Tour, Cox and his custom MHX Rods are crossing over to fish in the Classic. The sight fishing phenom is excited for the opportunity, especially considering this Classic will be held on Lake Hartwell, where he secured a huge Tour win back in 2016. With his spots and some new rod builds in mind, Cox is a dangerous competitor looking to capitalize on his knowledge and experience of Lake Hartwell. To fish the Pro Tour Rods these pro anglers are taking to the Classic, visit www.mudhole.com/pro-kits.
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Raleigh, NC is a vibrant market with a solid industry base. Outdoor enthusiasts will quickly recognize The Angler Magazine as a favorite resource. Come join our successful team of copublishers today. It’s a great way to earn a living.
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BLUE RIDGE
By Ken Kastorff
“H
oly Smokes! I’ve got a monster brown on. I’m going to have to run downstream with him!” This took place while my fishing guests were wading a small area of the Nantahala River on a recent float trip. I had just pulled out the camera to take a picture of nice rainbow when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a huge brown trout come completely out of the water. We all jumped back in the raft, and the Nantahala Nantucket “sleigh ride” was on. A hundred yards downstream, after some exciting rowing and fish handling, we landed a beautiful 28-inch fish. After a few photos, it was back in the river using those good genes to produce more brown trout. This happens often during float trips on the Nantahala bypass, arguably one of the most unique fly fishing rivers in the area. Generally, the biggest browns are caught during the generation releases. That means, not only do you possibly have a fish of a lifetime on, you have to deal with that fish in a torrent. The good thing about this tailwater is even in the heat of the summer it maintains highly oxygenated, 50-degree water. It is one of the most perfect trout streams I have ever encountered.
The Nantahala is also unique in that it has a huge population of native fish along with stocked fish. It is not unusual to catch lots of native rainbows if you stumble onto a good hatch of BWOs or Sulfurs. Some of the best fishing I have seen is fall dry fly fishing. Up to this point, I have given you the good news. Now, as Paul Harvey would say, “Here is the rest of the story…” I’ve been fishing the Nantahala for over 40 years. There are more people fishing the river now than ever before, plus, equipment and techniques have improved. Although most anglers practice catch and release, there are many who still keep anything they catch. I think it is high time to review the regulations and enact a slot system to protect the larger fish, the natural breeding stock. This should include single-hook artificial only with barbless hooks. Spinning rods are ok, but not treble hooks, and barbless hooks make releases less traumatic on the fish. Bringing regulations into the 21st century on the Nantahala bypass could result in some of the best trophy trout fishing anywhere. Ken can be contacted at Endless River Adventures, 800-224-7238, endrivadv@cs.com, www.endlessriveradventures.com.
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over rolling hills until we at last reached the bottom. Before the stream met the loch, I assembled my trusty 5-weight, tied on a Prince Nymph and cast. To my delight, a wild brown trout eagerly nailed the fly as I crawled it back to me. Relaying this story gave me a bit of credibility back at the Trout Anglers Club. I received an invitation to join them on their last outing of the year to Loch Leven, home to Lochleven Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner. I went out with club members and fished from a “clinker” – an old wooden rowboat that had been fitted with an outboard. Once a world-renowned brown trout fishery, the loch has fallen victim to farm runoff. Although a majestic place to practice casting, we caught no fish that day. Hungry for more, I recruited my friend Joe Bell from the club, whom I fished with on Loch Leven, to go on a salmon expedition on the River Earn one Saturday. Although not the most expensive river to fish in the area, we were taken good care of by the ghillie Sandy MacIntosh, a short man with rosy cheeks who dressed in green overalls. He treated us to coffee with whiskey in the lodge before walking us along the river, showing us the best spots from which to cast. Even though none of the four people Sandy hosted that day landed a fish, getting A Scottish grayling, prized for brilliant, shimmering dorsal fins—from the River Tweed. the full experience of fishing a Scottish river is something I will never forget. ther the castle nor any museum, but the EdMy greatest achievement fishing in Scotland inburgh Trout Anglers Club, the meeting grounds of a group of likeminded individuals came on an individual trip. Early one morning, bound by a common love of fish and drink. I I boarded a train to the town of Galashiels, in was welcomed by Alex Bell, the president, and the Borders area near England. I hopped off the introduced myself to the members who were train, took a bus for a bit, then hitchhiked the rest intrigued to meet an eager young American of the way to the famed River Tweed—one of the angler. Over a few pints and games of snook- premier salmon rivers in Scotland. Salmon seaer, I listened to fish stories and soaked in the son was over, though, and I was there for graywisdom of how and where to fish in Scotland. ling—a less targeted species and subsequently far All inland water of the United Kingdom is cheaper to get a permit for. I searched the waprivately owned, which means fishing requires ter by Czech nymphing, which is high-sticking written permission—usually at a fee—from heavy flies along the very bottom. With less than the landowner. This cultivates an exclusive an hour of daylight left, I finally felt a tug and spirit for the sport; the best runs are often ex- set the hook in a mouth of a beautiful grayling. pensive to fish for the day. At the same time, There is nothing like the feeling of success on a An arsenal of rods primed and ready for salmon competition for business encourages land- self-guided fishing trip. fishing on the River Earn. Those are the highlights of my time fly fishowners to take good care of their fisheries. Many times a full-time “ghillie” is hired to take ing Scotland, where the sport itself emerged. I made many friends, some with legs and some care of the water. uring the fall of 2016, I had the immense My first catch in Scotland came the next with fins, and saw some of the most beautiful privilege of living in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Apart from whiskey, kilts weekend on a hike on Mt. Roshven, which over- rivers and country in the world. If you ever have and bagpipes, Scottish culture also lays claim to looks Lochailort, a sea loch on the northwest the chance to visit the northernmost nation of the origins of fly fishing. Although historians dis- coast of Scotland. After a four-hour adventure the United Kingdom, leap at the opportunity. agree about where and when fly fishing began, to the summit, my two friends and I found our The people, the land, and the fish there are unlike there is strong evidence to suggest that Scotland way down the mountain by following a trickle anywhere else, and you’ll be sad to leave them. gave birth to the sport centuries ago. Fly fishing of water until it grew is heavily rooted in Scottish history, and the wa- into a stream. It led us For more Fly Fishing in Scotland, go to down the side of the ters of Scotland still teem with beautiful fish. My first stop exploring Edinburgh was nei- mount into a valley,
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By Chris Beardsley
W
hen I first started fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, I researched the necessary tackle and what I might catch and tried to memorize the different species. But really, I just hoped to catch anything big. I knew I would be fishing exclusively from the beach and had my sights set on a bull red or nice gator trout, and if a shark happened along so much the better. With unrealistically high expectations and hopes to match, when I felt the first strike I knew it had to be something good. To my surprise, my surf rod didn’t strain under the massive weight. The drag refused to peel. Images of Spencer Tracy in “The Old Man and the Sea” did not flash before my eyes, as whatever hit my bait most assuredly had gotten off. The only sign that a
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fish was still on was the slightest wiggle, an almost imperceptible headshake. The fish I hauled in was pale and reminded me of the redhorse suckers we used to spear just before trapping season in Wisconsin. It was not glamorous in any way and certainly not magazine cover worthy. Worse, I didn’t even know what it was! After all the time spent looking at pictures of cobia, speckled seatrout and big redfish, I had no idea what this fish was. Checking my cheat sheet, it looked like a whiting, or more accurately Gulf kingfish, but I wasn’t sure. An older gentleman fishing a short walk down the beach confirmed my suspicions and added that they’re pretty good to eat. Soon, every tick of the rod tip resulted in yet another whiting. I downsized my gear to a budget 7-foot Okuma combo spooled with 15-lb. Berkley Big Game and a flouro leader. A Carolina rig with a 1-oz. barrel sinker and 1/0 circle hook topped off with bits of shrimp turned me into a whiting catching machine. Shrimp and clams, or similarly scented Fishbites, are excellent baits for these coastal croakers. Whiting are relatively small, opportunistic bottom feeders, and using light tackle helps detect the slightest bite. In the spring, whiting migrate north along the Florida Gulf Coast only to make the return trip migrating south in the fall. The fall fishing can be fast and furious as large schools migrate south. Casting into the first trough, usually within 30 yards (or less) from shore, makes this a great fish for kids to target too. Of course the whiting, in all its plainness, is one of the best eating fish in the Gulf. To add credence to my humble opinion, a past fish fry ended with my daughter asking for more chicken! To this day we often refer to whiting as the chicken of the sea… Sorry Charlie! After 17 years of surf fishing, I have a lot of equipment and have caught a fair number of whiting. Occasionally, when the wind is right and the stars align, I get to return the favor as the older gentleman down the beach – and if it’s a whiting, I let them know that they’re pretty good to eat too!
10/18/17 1:59 PM
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THE “SLIDING FLOAT”...aka... The Kitty Killer
Ike Coleman with a nice Wylie blue
By Tim Barefoot, 910-520-3593
M
any years ago, I watched my dad and uncle “harvest” crappie and catfish using the sliding float. These two men were not just doing this as a hobby or for fun... (even though they THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT) they were gathering food for the family freezers. Back in the day, they used a simple 18 inch leader with an egg sinker down to a swivel. There was (or is) nothing wrong with this time tested/proven set-up, as it has caught more fish than we could ever imagine, but there is always “another way to skin a cat” in the tackle world. I like to use several different sizes of hooks and weights to achieve the same end result. Instead of the lead above the hook on the mainline, I like to use the lead on the hook that acts much like a jig under the float. When I first started seeing my dad and uncle fill coolers full of fish for the freezer, they were not really concerned about the health of a fish to be released... they were more concerned about the amount of fish they came back to the ramp with. Not saying that they didn’t do their best to release smaller fish, in as good of condition as possible, they did. I’m just saying they used “J” hooks and gut hooked a lot of fish, and did the best they could when removing the hook from the fish. Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen how different species of fish eat baits, and how a circle hook DRASTICLY improves the chances of survival after release of many different species of fish. Catfish inhale and swallow baits whole, therefore a “J” hook has a tendency to gut hook fish, whereas a circle hook will come back out of the throat or gullet and finds it’s way into the jaw. Yes, I like to keep some freshwater fish to eat out of certain bodies of water, but I have no intention of keeping hundreds of pounds of fish to eat or try to give away. I can no longer sell fish, therefore, I have no business keeping more than I can use or vacuum seal and freeze. As the ultimate example of how the minimize casualties, I will use the example of catfish in a river setting and the “sliding float” and a circle hook Chin Weight. Catfish and striped bass are the poster children candidates for the use of circle hooks. One river I really love to fish has an abundant catfish population that can be “harvested” if we wished to do so. We certainly do not want to do the same thing to these fish that we have done to several other species of fish. We want to catch and release these fish in the best possible shape in order to be able to come back and do the same type numbers in the future. For this very reason, we use the circle hook Chin Weight set at 12-15 feet, so it keeps the cut shad strips suspended off the bottom a couple or three feet on a slow drift. Yes, we have areas that we like to anchor up and fish specific logjams and back eddies with the sliding float, but we also have long stretches of river that we like to drift and fish at a perfect speed under the float covering a huge stretch of water.... Very effectively I might add. These catfish stay close to or on the bottom, but they always have an eye towards the sky, so when a bait comes within a few feet of them, they have no problem with going up to eat. Speaking of this eating style, quite a few of the bites will look like this.... Your float will be lazily moving down stream and all of a sudden, it will lay over flat, stand back up quickly, then go under. What happened is, the kitty cat came up off the bottom, ate it going upward, and the float goes under when he turns to go back to the bottom. Dion’t wind down to it and set the hook. Just wind down to it and keep winding until the rods bends over. 99.9 times out of 100, you have just locked the circle hook of the Chin weight into the upper lip, or into the corner of the jaw. This fish can be easily released and live to repeat this event again and again.
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Bethel University Continues to Hold Strong
T
he 2017-2018 Cabela’s School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia has been dominated by so far this season by Bethel University . The last event Bethel University competed in was the 2017 McKendree University Fall Invitational where the team of James Jerding and Brad Ableman came in second place with a five-fish limit weighing 13 pounds, and bringing home the big bass honors with a 5.47-pound beauty. Bethel University had a total of ten teams compete in the Fall Invitational, all trying to help earn Cabela’s School of the Year points. So far this season seven different teams of anglers from Bethel have earned points on the water which shows how deep their program is this year. “Bethel has finished the Cabela’s School of the Year race in the top six for the past five seasons, and we have been in the number one spot on and off during several of those seasons, but we have never won School of the Year. We hope that this will be our year. We plan to work very hard to continue to hold on to the lead and are very committed as a team to bringing to School of the Year title and trophy to Bethel University this next summer,” said Bethel University Coach, Garry Mason. “To stay in the lead for the School of the Year, we must continue our winning tradition this upcoming season. Bethel does not have to win every tournament in which we fish, but we must remain in the top five at each event and have a second team in the top ten to keep enough points to hold on to the School of the Year race throughout the entire season. The bottom line will be performance at each event. We look forward to the upcoming season and the opportunity ahead for our Bethel University Bass Team,” he added. Newcomer to the Top 10 in the Cabela’s School of the Year race presented by Abu Garcia is Louisiana State University – Shreveport — moving all the way from 13th to 2nd place after the team of Harrison Hopkins and Ryan Antee won the FLW Event on the Red River. That win earned the school 200 points towards the Cabela’s School of the Year race giving them a big jump in the rankings. Louisiana State University – Shreveport has also earned points in three other events 4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
NOVEMBER 2017
this season — the team of JP Kimbrough and Jared Rascoe finished 12th at the Bassmaster Wildcard and 32nd at the Bassmaster College Championship, and Christian Brown and Jared Rascoe finished 38th at the FLW Championship. “It is everyone’s goal to win the Cabela’s School of the Year title and the whole Louisiana State University – Shreveport team is pumped to have a good start on accomplishing that goal. With one of our best anglers, Jared Rascoe, graduating this fall, every angler on the team, including myself, is going to have to step up their game to help achieve our team goal this year. None of this would be possible without the school being 100% behind us, as well as the unwavering support from the faculty and Dr. Lacy Williams,” said Louisiana State University – Shreveport Angler, JP Kimbrough. Sitting in third place is the University of Louisiana – Monroe after earning points fishing their 4th Cabela’s School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia qualifying event this season. The University of Louisiana – Monroe has recorded three top 15 finishes already this season. The team of Nicholas Joiner and Tyler Stewart have the highest finish placing 4th at the FLW Championship, Koby Dortch and Hogan Beckley finished 9th at the FLW event on the Red River, and Tyler Craig and Spencer Lambert were able to place 12th at the Bassmaster Championship earlier this season. Luke O’Neal also helped earn points for the school with a 74th place finish at the Bassmaster Wildcard fishing solo. Here is a look at how the entire Top 20 schools in the Cabela’s School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia are sitting currently: For the full current standings visit: https://www.collegiatebasschampionship. com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-2018-ACA-SOY-Standings-10-3-2017-1. pdf For more information on the Cabela’s School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia program visit: https://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/cabelas-school-ofthe-year-program-description/
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Welcome to the Fort Mill Cabela’s! As The Palmetto State’s second Cabela’s, we built an even bigger store for our outdoor-loving friends down south. Located along Interstate 77 across from the Carowinds amusement park, you can expect top-notch service and resources from our experienced Outfitters. The Fort Mill store boasts an impressive 104,000 sq. ft. with rustic log construction, stonework, a mountain replica, an aquarium, an indoor archery test area, dozens of museum-quality wildlife displays and a Bargain Cave. The store also features a full-service boat shop (for those trips to Lake Wylie!) and a wide selection of Cabela’s Wildlife & Land Management products, including tractors, attachments and implements to help you cultivate your property. If shopping the wide selection of outdoor equipment works up your appetite, stop by the in-store deli for a hearty wild-game sandwich.
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LAKEHICKORY&RHODHISSFORECAST
A
fter a long hot summer of running up rivers, into deep lake holes, and wherever the Striped Bass go for the hottest months of the year November means they’re back on Lake Rhodhiss and Lake Hickory. Both of these Lakes are similar as far as they have a river section and a lake section. Obviously with lake temperatures hitting the mid 80’s in late summer these temperatur After a long hot summer of running up rivers, into deep lake holes, and wherever the Striped Bass go for the hottest months of the year November means they’re back on Lake Rhodhiss and Lake Hickory. Both of these Lakes are similar as far as they have a river section and a lake section. Obviously with lake temperatures hitting the mid 80’s in late summer these temperature sensitive fish have to go somewhere cool to live. So that’s going to be the river water and the deep lake section water which is where they have been the last few months. Now it’s different though its November. Water is cool everywhere and the stripers are going to be showing up everywhere. On Lake Hickory I’m going to start mid lake and start working different structure. It may be a creek mouth, a flat near deep water, a rock wall, or a brush pile. Somewhere on one of these I will find striper. Unless I’m marking fish at a particular depth I will start each day with different size baits at various depths from 15ft to 30ft. Keep in mind the water is cool and they can be anywhere from the surface down to 50ft. For this reason I’ll also put out two planer board lines and a free line. As the day goes on fish will probably relate to a particular line or depth. Then I will put other lines at this depth and work all the structures I mentioned earlier. Lake Rhodhiss is going to fish basically the same way. I’m going to work structures the same way with different size baits at different depths until the fish tell me what they want then I’ll slowly change to that. I’m going to stay in the main lake sections of both lakes, and keep in mind that these fish can be anywhere ant any time this time of year. There is no wrong time to be on the water chasing stripers in November. –Colt Bass, coltbassfishing@yahoo.com, www.coltbassfishing.com, 828-381-3426
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Cool Weather Swimbaits
W
hen temperatures get colder, one of my favorite baits for bass is a swimbait. I categorize them in three types: hard body, soft hollow body and finesse. All the different types have their time to shine, so to speak, so here are some of the situations when I throw these baits. Hard bodies are the latest type I’ve come to embrace. This season, I’ve been throwing a couple different models and must say the results are encouraging—especially with a 6-inch Bull Shad swimbait. The Bull Shad is handmade in Georgia and is offered in sizes from 5 inches up to big 11-inch models. It has an irresistible lifelike swimming motion. When waked near the surface, I’ve had some of the most heart-stopping strikes I’ve ever seen from big bass. Hard bodies really shine on a lake with a solid population of big bass. They’re also great for targeting bigger fish. I throw this bait tight to cover and wake it right along the surface. Many times in clear water the fish will come from 20 to 30 feet away to get the bait, so keep an eye out at all times. Hollow bodies have won a lot of money in big tournaments for good reason; they look and act just like a shad. My favorite hollow body is the Strike King Shadalicious. I throw the 4.5- and 5.5-inch models and alternate between them depending on the size of the baitfish present. In early winter, it’s usually the 4.5-inch that gets the nod. I rig them on a 3/8- to ¾-ounce Mustad jighead with an exposed hook for easier hookups. Any time I see fish suspended around baitfish on my graph, I throw in there and count it down to the depth I see the fish. Then I reel it slowly right through them. Smaller finesse swimbaits have gained a lot of popularity on the tournament trail the past couple of years and are a mainstay if you live where smallmouth and spotted bass are predominant. The Keitech Fat Swinging Impact and the Strike King Swimming Shiner are my two favorite finesse baits. These really shine in the early winter when the bass’ metabolism slows and they aren’t feeding as heavily as they were in warmer water. Again, throw these baits around baitfish and anywhere fish are likely to suspend. The smaller profile of these baits is what makes them dynamite for smallmouth and spotted bass, so keep that in mind. I rig these baits on a 3/16- to 3/8-ounce Mustad jighead depending on the depth and speed I want the retrieve. Shad colors are obviously best, so pick your favorite shad imitator and go to work.
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Hard bodies-MHX MB-904 rod with 7’6” heavy power with 20-lb. Vicious fluorocarbon line. Always change the hooks to #2 Mustad Round Bend trebles. Hollow bodies-MHX MB-843 7’ medium heavy on 15-lb. Vicious fluorocarbon. Finesse swimbaits-MHX MB-842 7’ medium action on 12-lb. Vicious fluorocarbon. Will drop down to 10-lb. test in super clear water.
For more about Elite Series pro Brandon Lester, visit www.brandonlesterfishing.com or www.facebook.com/ProAnglerBrandonLester. Learn about the benefits and satisfaction of custom rod building at www. mudhole.com. By Brandon Lester
19335 H.M. Junker Dr. Cornelius, NC 28031
704-896-6022 www.lakenormanpowersports.com
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 9
LAKE NORMAN FORECAST
L
ake Norman anglers will experience some of the best fishing of the fall season, while finding cool daysr and clear skies to their liking. Cooler water temperatures will cause bass, crappie and hybrids to go on a feeding binge and that trend should continue into December. Anglers looking for spotted bass should find plenty on the edges of channel points, where shaky-heads and Carolina rigged soft plastics will be the baits of choice. Those getting an early start should have a topwater lure rigged and ready to throw just in case a school of hungry spots chase baitfish to the surface. Those targeting largemouth will find the bigger ones under dredged docks and piers where they can be caught by skip-casting soft plastics. The larger fish seem to hold in the toughest places to cast, so hang-ups are inevitable. When they aren’t feeding around wooden structures give submerged brush piles and downed trees a try. The hybrid striped bass that have been introduced in recent years are gaining quite a following, particularly now that some have grown to twenty inches of more. The easiest way to locate them is to watch the water for surface feeding activity. Then throw your favorite bass lure in their direction. Live bait and spoons and jigs fished vertically in the water column is also productive way to take them, but just isn’t as exciting as casting to breaking fish. FISH TALK–FISHIN’ WITH CAPT. GUS!particularly with Crappies have always been a November favorite, those that enjoy eating their catch.. While submerged brush piles are the most popular places to catch “slab crappie”; boat houses, covered docks and bridges make a great second choice. Look for crappie in ten to twenty feed of water, and even shallower as water temperatures move into the fifties. As is the case each fall, crappie minnows are the bait of choice around submerged brush pies, while colorful jigs work best when pitched under docks. Anglers that just want to enjoy a day’s fishing on the lake with no particular species in mind will catch a mixed bag by drifting live minnow and worms in any of Lake Norman’s many shallow coves. To be on the safe side, and just in case a big catfish or bass hits, bring a landing net to help flip your prize into the boat. Tips from Capt. Gus: Tip your Sabiki fly or jigging spoon with a small piece of white perch. The scent will attract larger perch, cats and bass.
Back in the Day
By Capt. Gus Gustafson
F
ishing was simple before Lake Norman was created in 1963. Fishermen took turns sculling the boat. One hand worked the paddle, while the other held the rod. The angler on the bow had the first cast at every fishing spot. Rather than fight the paddle all day, it was easier to beach the boat and wade the shallow points, drift, or anchor in a likely spot. A cinder block was the most popular anchor. But, because of its rough surface, the anchor rope became chafed and would need to be replaced frequently. If the rope broke or came untied, the fishermen were back to sculling. Everyone owned a cheap, hand-held compass. If the compass was not level, it gave incorrect headings. Even when level, its accuracy was questionable. If it was foggy or dark, fishing from the bank was the right thing to do. About fifty years ago, spinning reels replaced bait casting reels in popularity. Spinners didn’t backlash and light lures could be cast for long distances. That is when the Mitchell 300 became so popular. Until then, Pflueger bait casting reels were used by both fresh and saltwater fishermen. Monofilament line was replaced by Dacron. Fishing rod blanks were made from a solid piece of fiberglass. They were stiff and heavy, with little, if any, tip action. However, the rod would not break when stepped on or accidentally closed in a car door!
Capt. Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an Outdoor Columnist and a full time Professional Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, www.Fishingwithgus.com or call 704-617-6812.
No one owned a VHF, (ship to shore radio), and cell phones were yet to come. Citizen band radios (CB’s) were the first means of boat-toboat communication on area lakes. Bass fishermen were using them in the 1970’s. Conversations between fishermen in boats were interrupted on occasion by truckers traveling the nearby highways. The truck drivers wanted to know what was hitting, how big the fish were and where they were biting. In those days, when a problem arose, no one would answer the CB. To get help, one had to hail a passing boat by waving both arms or by tying a shirt to a paddle and holding it upright. Modern fishing conveniences like GPS, sonar and electric trolling motors have made today’s fishing easier. Reels have smoother drags and are tangle free. Rods are lightweight and sensitive to the lightest bite. Space age plastic tackle boxes don’t rust and outboard motors are larger, faster, more dependable, and start with a flip of a switch. While times have changed and equipment has improved, one thing remains the same ....The fish are still biting! 10 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
NOVEMBER 2017
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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Restaurant & Oyster Bar Fukae Grabs Lead in Warm Conditions at Bassmaster Southern Open on Smith Lake
SINCE
1974
J
ASPER, Ala. — Many anglers predicted the bass would be tightlipped in temperatures that climbed into the low 90s during the first round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Smith Lake. They were right. But a handful of the 175 pros still managed to boat nice bags, including Shin Fukae who led the way with a five-bass limit that weighed 15 pounds, 4 ounces. The Japanese-born pro, who now lives in Texas, said he didn't fare well during practice on the 21,000-acre fishery, but that changed when competition began. His bag was anchored by a 4-15 bass that tied for the second largest of the day. "(Practice was) bad, bad, bad," Fukae said. "But I found two good spots, and I went to one spot the last two days. I don't know if I'll keep catching, but I was catching today." For Fukae, it was an important start to the final Southern Open of the season. The angler who is victorious at the event will earn a spot in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods scheduled for March on South Carolina's Lake Hartwell. Even if Fukae doesn't win, a good showing could earn him a spot in the Top 5 of the overall Southern Opens standings. The anglers who occupy those Top 5 spots will qualify to fish in the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series. Jesse Wiggins of Cullman, Ala., who fished his rookie season on the Elite Series this year, isn't fighting for a Classic berth because he already won the season's first Southern Open on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes to lock up his spot. Instead, he's fishing for a generous cash prize, as well as a Skeeter boat/Yamaha motor package that would accompany yet another Opens victory for the pro. Wiggins was in second place after the first round with a limit that weighed 15-2. He's already proven he can win big tournaments on his home lake — he won the 2016 Southern Open on Smith Lake to gain a spot in the 2017 Bassmaster Classic — and another win here would further cement his bragging rights on the reservoir. "I actually had more weight today than I thought I did," Wiggins said. "This lake is awesome and we saw that last April. We're waiting on the weather that would really turn this place on, but I'm happy with the start today. One-third of the work is done." Besides Fukae, Lucas Ragusa of Gonzales, La., was the only nonAlabama angler to crack the Top 5, and he too had a 4-15 bass in his bag. Ragusa's Day 1 total of 13-14 put him in third place. Defending Classic champion Jordan Lee lives in nearby Guntersville, Ala., and fishes Smith often. The experience paid off as he caught 13-11 to land in fourth place. David Kilgore lives even closer to Smith Lake than Wiggins or Lee. The Jasper, Ala., resident is tied for fifth place with Helena, Ala., pro Bill Weidler. Both caught 12-12 limits. Benjie Seaborn of Guin, Ala., is leading the co-angler division with a three-bass limit that weighed 8-3. Brent Crow of Hartselle, Ala., leads the pro division for the Phoenix Big Bass Award after the first day of competition with a 5-6 largemouth. Leading the nonboater division for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award is Charles Fochtman of Moneta, Va., with a 4-15 spotted bass. For final results visit: https://www.bassmaster.com/ tournaments/2017-bass-pro-shops-southern-open-3
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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 11
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A 4-Hour Trip Produces Great Fishing By Jake Bussolini
C
entral North Carolina anglers have plenty of fresh water lakes and streams throughout the state that provide great fishing nearly year round. Every once in a while avid North Carolina anglers like myself, are looking for an opportunity to make a day trip to new waters to simply hone their skills on waters that offer slightly different challenges. Just over the mountains to our west, lies the Tennessee River system and I have found that a four hour trip to the Lenoir City Tennessee area satisfies that challenge, providing a series of dams and river intersections that produce a different kind of backwater fishing and also provides the normal lake style challenges. If you like fighting big stripers in fast flowing water or hauling in monster catfish, this is the area that offers that and much more. To satisfy my annual itch for big stripers, I asked my friend Howie Anger, who recently moved to Nashville, to join me for a couple of days of exciting fishing in Lenoir City. He gladly accepted my invitation and I set a schedule for two days on the water with premier guide Bo Rice who lives in the area and has been studying these waters for many years. Bo had indicated to me that the rains and water levels was permitting all of the dams in the area to release backwater nearly all day every day. This highly oxygenated water was attracting massive schools of threadfin shad to areas below the dams. This situation of course draws in the big stripers, white bass, catfish and drum, creating a situation of potential fishing excitement at each of the three large dams in the area. There was a significant water temperature change on the night of our arrival that moved the big stripers away from the dams backwater into the lake area below the dam. Bo Rice, of course knew the behavior of the fish and as other anglers wasted their time trying the backwaters,
Bo moved us immediately to the calmer water about a mile below the dam. He located a small school of stripers on his sonar and we rather quickly boated and returned 10 large stripers ranging in weights from 12 to 25 pounds. As noon approached, I remembered that Bo Rice never misses a lunch meal. He always pulls his boat out of the water and goes to his favorite sandwich shop for lunch. This day I suggested that we keep the lunch break short and re-launch to an area where we could catch some big catfish. Of course Rice knew exactly where that was and within minutes of anchoring and setting our lines, we had a double hit with two big fish. Howie Anger boated his personal best 32 pound blue catfish and at the same time I boated my personal best 51 pound flathead catfish. Both fish are shown below with their happy anglers. On the second morning we awoke to the sounds of a big thunder storm. We suspected that the day would be a washout but as we completed our second cup of coffee, the storm ended and the skies cleared so again we piled into the boat below the Ft. Lowden Dam. On this ay the stripers were feasting on the shad that were gathered below the dam. Howie Anger and I boated and released more than 20 big stripers including his personal best 25 pounder and my personal best 35 pound striper shown below. By noon we had exhausted the arms of us two old timers and we decided to call it a day, once again having conquered the waters of the Tennessee River. Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer who has written seven books about freshwater fishing. His books can be examined or purchased at www.booksbyjake.com.
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 13
1980 Mt. Holly Road Rock Hill, SC 29730 803-328-9792
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LAKE WYLIE FORECAST
N
ovember is a great time to topwater for bass. Buzzbaits, pop-R’s, and anything else that makes a sound on top. Ripraps, stumps, rocks and docks are good places to use these lures when fishing early and late in the day. Lake Wylie is full of these places. Sometimes a spinnerbait works well at first light along these places too. Crankbaits, jigs and plastics have their place as well when fishing in the fall. Crappie fishing is going full blast in November. Shooting docks with jigs is still a good bet after the water cools down. You can still catch crappie trolling in the creeks. Running speeds varying from .9mph to 1.2mph depending upon the depth of the crappie. The creeks should be full of crappie feeding up for the winter. Catfishing is a lot of fun. Sometimes a big kitty will wind up on the end of your line. There are lots of ways to fish for catfish. Anchored up on a point using cut or live bait is popular with some fishermen. Trolling on main lake flats or in creeks using cutbaits is another way to Catch these fish. Just because Jack Frost has arrived doesn’t mean that fishing has stopped for the coming winter. Lake Wylie is a good fishery in the fall. Take a break from hunting and give fishing a try when cooler weather arrives. –By Jerry Neeley, Carolin’as Fishing Guide Service, 704-678-1043
LAKE WYLIE CATFISH FORECAST
F
all is a great time to target catfish on Lake Wylie. Reduced boat traffic, milder temperatures and hungry, willing to bite big catfish can make for some great fishing days on Lake Wylie late October through late December. As temperatures begin to fall, baitfish and their predators begin to have very predictable patterns. Cool weather causes threadfin shad to mass up in large numbers. Following bait schools is a proven way to find all species of biting fish to include catfish this fall. One approach to to target deep water in the morning when the shad are present as a huge band on sonar. Switching to shallow or intermediate depths in the afternoon is the ticket when these bait move back in the creeks as the day warms the water. The three most sought after species of catfish on Wylie are ready and willing to bite this fall. Flathead catfish really feed heavily in the early fall. Some great fish in excess of 40 pounds will be caught before the water gets cold sometime in late December. The flathead population has really expanded and now it is not uncommon to catch big flatties on the south end of Wylie. Channel catfish will bite year round and can be targeted for size and numbers by drifting cut shad in major creeks this fall. Blue catfish are the most south after catfish on Wylie both for food quality and their size and power as a sport fish. This highly migratory catfish will feed heavily late fall through the prespawn period in early May. This period is generally the best time to fish for blues on most southeastern reservoirs. Gizzard shad is the preferred bait of most dedicated catfish anglers for all species of catfish. Bluegill both live and cut make a great second option particularly in the early fall. White perch can be equal or better than shad or bluegill on a given day. Carrying a couple different kinds of fresh bait is always a good idea when fishing for catfish. Enjoy the nice weather this fall. The excellent fishing on Lake Wylie is notable when a chill is in the air and a light jacket is needed in the morning but not the afternoon. This pattern has been consistent for several years. –By Captain Rodger Taylor, Catfish ON! Guide Service, www.catfishon.com
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 15
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NOVEMBER 2017
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LAKE HIGHROCK/BADIN TUCKERTOWN DAM FORECAST
N
ovember is the beginning of the holiday season for many people with Thanksgiving being one of the most important American holidays of the year. It is a time to think about all of the things we have and to celebrate our blessings with our friends and families. It is also a time to think about people who are not as fortunate as most and could use our help. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite of all holidays for these reasons and for other reasons related to fishing. November usually signals the beginning of the best part of the fall striped bass fishing. An abundance of newly hatched shad along with cooler water temperatures usually means stripers in the feeding mode. Most of them will be found in the main parts of the river close to deep water and feeding on large schools of bait. This scenario is true on all of the Yadkin Lakes from High Rock to Badin Lake. Newly arrived seabirds will often be hovering and diving into these schools of shad and feeding stripers allowing anglers to locate this activity from a distance. I like to use artificial baits this time of year to cover more ground and to be able to move from spot to spot quickly. Crappie also respond to the month of November by moving shallow around brush and boat docks. Water temperature triggers the move to shallow water and begins when the temps drop into the lower 60’s and even better when it gets into the 50’s. A major cold front though will send the crappie scurrying back to deeper water. You can work this temperature change by going into shallow areas such as bays and the backs of creeks first and later into the deeper areas such as deeper bays and the major creek areas. Differences in water temperature can allow you to extend this shallow time to several days. This is a great time to take a cork and some minnows or a jig and have some fun. Largemouth bass will also respond to cooler water temperatures by moving shallower. These bass tend to stay in rocky areas because the rocks hold onto heat better and provide a warmer area in a cooling environment. Sometimes these bass will move so shallow that you will wonder why their backs were not sticking out of the water. Small crankbaits, spinner baits, and jigs work well on these fish. In lakes where the water level is falling bass tend to suspend under shallow floating docks. Using spinner baits or swimming a jig as close as possible to these docks can bring surprising results. Catfish usually respond to cooling water temperatures differently than other fish. Instead of going shallow they will often go much deeper and seek out deep holes or river and creek channels. If you graph deeper channels and you see larger fish on the bottom you can bet they are large catfish. For the experienced fishermen this can spell a great day of fishing. For you catfish guys who only fish at night, this is the time of year to fish all day instead. Give thanks for your blessing and take some time to go fishing during November.
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 17
Bass are Beginning the Fall Transition
By Brandon Lester
T
his month let’s talk about the fall transition for bass. It obviously starts happening at different times in parts of the country as water temperatures begin to drop. When the surface temperature hits about 65 degrees, most of the shad will head to the backs of the creeks. There are several reasons for that, but the biggest factor is the oxygen levels. Bass will follow those shad and start feeding because they know the winter is around the corner. I look for shad flicking on the surface in shallower lakes, and sometimes I can see the bass busting shad on top. In deeper lakes, Center Hill and Percy Priest in Tennessee, for instance, I graph the creeks until I find balls of shad on my Raymarine electronics. Most of the time the cooler the water, the deeper fish will be. From 60 to 65 degrees, they’ll be shallow. As it cools more, they’ll stay in the creeks but they’ll be deeper. I usually sit the boat down and idle around the creeks. If you run in the creek on plane you’ll spook the shad, so slow down and ease in. Sometimes it will be obvious that the fish and shad are in there, but sometimes you’ve got to do a little hunting. My favorite bait for the fall transition is the Heddon Super Spook Jr. If I see bass busting bait on the surface, this is my first choice. Long casts are important, as fish will usually bite if you can get a 18 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
NOVEMBER 2017
bait above their heads right after they’ve busted shad on the surface. You can throw a Super Spook Jr. a mile on a MHX-HM-MB862 rod with 30-pound Vicious Braid and a 6-foot monofilament leader. Add a Mustad feathered treble on the back and the new 2X short shank round bend hooks on the front, and you’ll catch all of them that bite. Another bait I love to throw in the backs of creeks is a Strike King Red Eye Shad. Chrome/Sexy Shad or Chrome/Blue Back are the two best colors in the fall. A lipless crankbait does a really good job of mimicking shad, and I’ve won fall tournaments with the Red Eye and 60 degree water. You can also throw this bait a mile with 15-pound fluorocarbon on the MHX 862 rod. It is a medium power with a fast tip, so it has enough give that it won’t rip the bait out of their mouths. I change hooks to KVD Triple Grips on the Red Eye. A Zoom Super Fluke is a great third option this time of year. It is much more subtle and natural and gives the fish a little different look. I throw it on a MHX-MB 843, which is medium-heavy, with 15- pound fluorocarbon and a 4/0 KVD Grip Pin hook. I wish you the best of luck this fall as you search for fish in the backs of creeks. I hope those three baits get the job done for you. If you find something else that works better, let me know on Facebook (www. facebook.com/blesterfishing). Check out the MHX rods, Mustad hooks and also Winn Fishing Grips at www.MudHole.com.
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LAKE TILLERY FORECAST
T
his month should finally be the month that we begin to see an increase in fish feeding activity, after a long hot summer and fall, cooler temperatures are finally here. Cooler night temperatures will lead to cooler water temperatures and trigger the fish to put on a few extra pounds which to us anglers is just what the Dr. ordered. Largemouth bass will continue to be located mid creek to the back stopping at points along the way looking for shad to fill their bellies. once they reach the backs of the creeks they will most likely relate to the original creek bed, following the bait. Topwater action could be fast and furious if you show up at the right time of day, lipless crankbaits also produce well. once they move off to the ends of the points try jigs with chunk trailers to entice the larger fish, along with jerkbaits to target the suspended fish as the temperature continues to fall. Hopefully the white perch bite will pick up, as this year has not been the best so far. This month should produce some larger fish on cut bait, shrimp, and minnows. Target areas with deeper creek channels and edges and look for schools of bait on your electronics. Although the crappie bite has been steady all year so far its about to get even better, crappie will still be located on submerged brush in 15-20 feet with some shallow action for those that like to fish piers on sunny days. Trolling will be a great way to catch a limit again paying close attention to your electronics follow the creek channel edges and look for bait, especially on the abnormal edges and structure. Curly tail jigs in various colors some tipped with minnows will work until you find the magic color. Striper action will also begin to improve after recovering from all the hot summer water temps, these fish will begin to cruise the shallower waters looking for a meal. As they move to these areas they can be targeted a variety of ways, casting topwater is a favorite of many anglers, looking for the obvious “swirl” that almost always proves to be a striper. Being quick and accurate with your cast will be benifitial to intercept these fast moving fish, bucktails and creek chubs will work well and
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NOVEMBER 2017
Photo courtesy of Jake Davis
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he days are shorter. The nights are cooler. Cold fronts are sweeping in, and bass are in the transition that brings some of the best fishing of the year. For tournament anglers or weekend warriors, the fall feed-up is one of the most exciting times to be on the water. Whether it’s a large reservoir or the backyard bass pond, fish are on the move. They’ve left the deep-water structure where they were schooled up all summer, and they’re tailing baitfish into the creeks and shallows. Catching bass right now is less about patterning structure and more about finding bait than it is at any other time of year. Of course baitfish, even on the move, will often relate to some type of structure or cover. Fall fishing is very similar to what you’ll find in the spring for bass that are in pre- and post-spawn patterns. The bass and baitfish use the same channels and ledges to migrate as they did in spring. On the big lakes, you’ll find them by graphing the mouths of the creeks and then moving in as the fish progress back to the secondary points and finally the backs of the creeks. On a pond, go where you see the bait. They could be on that prominent drop just off the flats or just off the creek channel. The key here is finding the shad, or whatever the dominant bait species is where you fish. Bass have one thing in mind, and that is to pack on as much weight as possible. They’ll require energy for the cold months ahead and to fuel the production of eggs and sperm for the spawn on the other end of winter. It’s a fun time of year to fish. Get on the trolling motor or walk the banks with your favorite fast-moving baits. You can cover a lot of water with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and even buzzbaits to prospect available cover like docks, laydowns, brush and stumps. Or maybe the bait is up in the grass. There’s nothing more fun than working a swim jig or fluke in and along the grass edges. No matter what you do, keep your favorite jerkbait, topwater walking bait or swimbait easily accessible. When fleeing baitfish scatter around a cove and bass are busting on top, you’ll want to have something you can throw a long way to put yourself in the action. There’s no secret to patterning bass this time of year. Find the baitfish, and the predatory fish will be with them. This is generally not a time to slow down and dissect structure. Fan casting an area that is holding baitfish can result in fast action.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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our leader has worn to the butt, you’ve tied on every fly in your box - some twice – and you’re half considering digging up some ‘crawlers from the mud on the bank. You can see fish in the pool, maybe you’ve even had a few early takes, but now you’ve been staring at the same twenty foot section of stream for forty-five minutes and you realize that you and your $2,500 worth of fly fishing gear have been outsmarted by a creature with the brain the size of a #20 micro egg. Any angler of moderate experience will recognize this scenario. You’ve certainly heard the old axiom “Never leave fish to find fish.” While sound advice as a rule, there are certainly times when your fishing experience will benefit from a change in scenery. Sticking on a bad spot for too long can bring frustration and encourage poor technique. If you don’t feel like your next cast could bring a strike, you will naturally get lazy with your form and presentation will suffer. It’s rarely an easy decision, but making that determination to move at the right time, can be the difference between a fair day and a truly memorable outing. Like all aspects of fly fishing, determining the best time to move on, is as much art as it is science. There isn’t exactly one right answer and it will take time on the water to develop your instincts. However, by answering a few questions, you can make a more informed decision. Are these fish actively feeding? Stop casting for a minute and watch the water. Are fish rising? Can you see them moving laterally? Are they just lackadaisically holding to the bottom? What obvious food sources can you recognize? Feeding fish will let you know because they will be moving periodically. It might be side to side, up and down or even to the surface. If they are just holding in a slack pool, these might not be the fish you’re looking for and it’s time to move on. Am I presenting my fly properly? Many anglers get too caught up in fly selection. Before putting on a new bug, try adjusting the
position of your strike indicator, adding or subtracting split shot, or tying on a lighter tippet. Tighten up your drifts and make sure you are putting that fly directly in the strike zone. You’ll almost always catch more fish by presenting the wrong fly properly, than you will by showing the right fly in the wrong way. Will the grass be greener? Before moving, you’ll want to take conditions at the next spot into consideration. What’s angling pressure like today? Are there plenty of quality runs upstream? Am I willing to accept the chance of not finding fish? How is that next run different than the one I’m on now? For me, the most important question is “Have I lost confidence in this spot?” I lose confidence in a spot when I’ve altered the variables that I can control and have not seen a change in the results. If I’ve run through some flies, presented them in a few different ways and basically given that section a fair shake, it will be time to move on. We all have a different tolerance for unresponsive fish. Personally, I’m happy catching the two dumbest trout in any given run and then moving on. I might cover five miles of river and never hook a smart one. You might be content casting to the same fish for hours, until you get it just right. Most anglers fall somewhere in the middle. Wherever you fall, I’d encourage you to get comfortable moving and finding new water. That next pool, just around the bend, might hold the fish that will turn your whole day around! Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like help making the most of your time on the water, please contact him at madisonriverflyfishing@gmail.com or call at (704) 8963676. Check us out on Facebook: Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters or on the Web: www.carolinaflyfishing.com
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 21
November Blue Ridge and New River Report
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ovember signals the beginning of the best part of hunting season in the Blue Ridge. And while many anglers are now hitting the woods in search of horns, some of the best smallmouth and musky fishing of the season is just beginning. November is much like March in the fact that water temperatures are cooling rapidly while the available forage is shrinking by the day. Smallmouth will be near their wintering holes and will venture to subtle transition areas in and around these holes to feed. Depending on the area, smallmouth can be caught in both the wintering hole and transition areas. My favorite bait for this time of year are my hand-tied, 1/4oz “Undulater” or “Smallie Snack” jigs fished slowly on the bottom in a drag-pause type cadence. I like to drag the jig into the heavy structure and then crawl it very slowly over the ledge or boulders. If I am not catching them on the jig-n-pig, I will have a crankbait, jerkbait, or spinnerbait rigged to cover more ground. Big smallmouth will start to show back up in numbers in November, and on the right day it can be magic. While the main smallmouth season may be winding down, the major musky season is just getting cranked up in November. While 22 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
NOVEMBER 2017
musky are on the move to deep holding areas, the cooling waters make the forage less available and your bait becomes much more desirable. Musky are at the top of the food chain and during warm water periods they become picky; hence, the reason you receive so many follows during the summer, particularly out of less aggressive holding areas. As the water continues to cool into late-November, the “Eat or Die” mentality becomes more and more relevant and more musky will eat. You can catch musky on just about any bait in November with jerkbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, glide baits, and topwaters being some of the top producers. Locate the holding areas and dissect every transition area around these holding areas to find active fish. And, don’t miss fishing the peak moon phases in November. Three days before and after the new or full moon typically increases your odds. Britt and Leigh Stoudenmire own and operate New River Outdoor Co featuring guided smallmouth and musky trips on the acclaimed New River in SW Virginia and Walker Creek Retreat; a private, waterfront cabin retreat. For more information on their services, contact them at 540-921-7438 or visit their websites at www. newriveroutdoorco.com or www.walkercreekcabins.cm
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Building Brand Loyalty is Who We Are Becoming part of the Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine Team provides your company with access to our loyal readership Age of Reader...................................................82% at 35+ years old Gender of Reader..........................................................82% are Male 18% are Female Owns a truck, van or SUV........................................................... 86% Owns a boat................................................................................... 68% Owns 2 or more automobiles......................................................72% Household income.................................................... $82,301-250,495 Home Ownership of Readers...................................................79.5%
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NOVEMBER 2017
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 23
Limit Your Scent In the Deer Woods By Nick Carter
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hitetail deer have been witnessed reacting to human body odor from as far away as a half-mile. That alone tells you the odds are stacked against you when trying to defeat a deer’s olfactory capabilities. Even with a rifle, it’s a difficult proposition to outwit a mature buck’s nose if you don’t play the wind correctly. Pick up a bow, reduce your effective range to 30, 40 or 50 yards, and scent becomes that much more of a factor. Obviously, setting up downwind of where you expect your prey to be is the number one objective when trying to remain undetected in the deer woods. There are whole books on this subject. However, regardless of predominant winds, the scent you left coming to the stand, the slightest wind shift, circling air currents or changing thermals throughout the day can quickly tip a mature buck off to your presence. All it takes is for a few molecules of your odor to drift into a deer’s nasal passage and you’re busted. It just makes good sense to do what you can to control your own scent in the deer woods. My brother is somewhat of a scent-control freak. He does all the normal washing and spraying, and during the early season, when sweat is unavoidable on long walks to the stand, he keeps his hunting clothes in an air-tight bag. He waits until he gets to his stand to put them on. The clothes he wore for the hike go in the bag before he climbs into the stand. This once put him in the funny predicament. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt, he made a long uphill hike to his stand for an afternoon hunt. Upon arrival, he stripped down completely, toweled off the sweat and sprayed down with a scent neutralizer. Totally nude, he was opening the bag that held his hunting clothes when he heard a deer approaching through the leaf litter. He grabbed his bow, nocked an arrow, strapped on his release and dropped to a knee. Not out of modesty, he concealed his pasty white nakedness behind a tree as a doe stepped into range. He drew back on her. Then he had a terrifying thought. His man parts were dangling unprotected in proximity to the cams and strings of a compound bow. Fearing a high-speed tangle-up, he didn’t take the shot. Getting naked in the woods is not really a trick to see more deer. That anecdote merely shows the lengths some hunters will go to for a slight advantage. You cannot completely control wind, weather or even your own scent. But there are steps you can take to make yourself stink less and increase the odds of putting yourself in bow range of a mature whitetail. Shower with unscented soap and shampoo before going to the field. Dry off with a towel laundered in unscented detergent. Wash hunting clothes in unscented detergent and store them in an air-tight container. Maybe throw some pine needles in the bag to let your hunting clothes pick up the smells of the woods. Also, avoid picking up scents between 24 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
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the shower and your hunting area. Cooking smells, gasoline, the stink of the inside of your vehicle after a few weeks of hunting season, all these things reek against the natural smells of the woods. You can minimize these odors that cling to you by waiting to don your camo until shortly before or while walking to the stand. It doesn’t hurt to use a scent-neutralizing spray, either. Spray down when you put your hunting clothes on and as needed during your hunt. Cover scents like fox pee or earth scent or attractors like vanilla or apple might also beneficial. I like to mist cover scents on the wind conservatively while already in the stand. I can’t prove it disguises the scent emanating from my position, but it makes me feel more confident, especially when I imagine all those human scent molecules drifting off through the trees when the wind shifts momentarily and blows a short gust in the wrong direction. Also, try not to sweat. Wear light clothing and take it easy walking to the stand. Wait until you get there to put on your outer layers. All the scent killer in the world won’t help if you smell like a workout when you get to your hunting area. Speaking of getting there, walking to the stand leaves a long human scent trail. You can use rubber boots and carbon-lined clothing to cut down on this, but you cannot completely eliminate your scent. Avoid walking through or upwind of deer trails, bedding areas, feeding areas or anywhere deer might be. Heck, if a creek passes near your hunting area, use it as an approach and let your stink roll on downstream. What this all boils down to is hunter-gatherers were killing deer with bows long before even bathing came into vogue. Playing the wind and putting yourself somewhere a deer won’t sense you is the crucial element. Taking precautions with your own odor simply limits the factors that might keep a buck from stepping into bow range. Here are a few more things some bowhunters do to reduce their scent profile, but they are so hard-core I can’t bring myself to try them. I’ve heard of guys gargling with peroxide or taking chlorophyll tablets to lessen the smell of their breath. I’ve even heard of people going vegetarian for the season to reduce body odor. That kind of defeats the purpose for a meat-hunter, though.
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By CAM Special Correspondent Tobin Strickland • Photo fish courtesy of troutsupport.com’s new lure
ig speckled trout are a different animal altogether and require a different mindset compared to finding small trout. In the search for big trout, it’s often said that catching lots of small trout means it’s time to move on. But you might not want to leave so fast. Big trout feed predominantly on fish. They will feed on shrimp when abundant. They will focus on menhaden, shad, piggy perch, pin perch, croaker and small trout. Many times big trout will be shallow to feed on big mullet and small trout in what we would normally associate as little trout habitat. Big trout will find a niche within that habitat to focus their attention, something that will give them an advantage in areas where they can feel safe from predators. So look where others aren’t, and don’t overlook ugly fishing spots. Think like an upper-echelon predator, but remember that dolphins and sharks will eat even the biggest trout. It’s time to don the waders and winter gear to look for big trout. Tobin created TroutSupport.com for those looking to up their game beyond YouTube and ActionCam footage. Professional Grade.
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he waters surrounding Australia are internationally renowned for some of the best sportfishing in the world, and Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef provides an exceptional platform from which to be part of the action. The waters off tropical North Queensland, including the iconic Great Barrier Reef, are considered the black marlin capital of the world, with many eager sports fishers flocking to the area annually during the storied marlin season. There is no better way to truly experience Australian sportfishing than with a visit to Lizard Island. Lizard Island, located 17 miles off the coast of Tropical North Queensland, is the most northern resort on the reef and is in the heart of the best sportsfishing grounds. The resort boasts unrivalled access to the Great Barrier Reef, so it is no surprise that fishing is one of Lizard Island’s most popular experiences. Lizard Island offers fishing charters to both the inner and outer reef on the luxury fishing vessel Fascination III. The inner reef takes only 15 minutes to reach and fish species include mackerel, queenfish, trevally and
other pelagic species. For those looking to catch something a little larger, a 50-minute trip to the outer reef should do the trick. Here it is not uncommon to catch mackerel, tuna, trevally, mahi-mahi, sailfish and black marlin at the right time of the year. While there are a variety of fishing experiences and species in the waters surrounding Lizard Island, the real draw is black marlin. Each year from September to December, the celebrated black marlin return to the area. For seven days in October each year, the Black Marlin Classic draws fishermen from all over the world to try their luck at catching one of these famous giants. For these seven days, Anchor Bay is inundated with eager fishermen seeking to catch a grander—a marlin heavier than 1,000 pounds. It is not uncommon in these waters. All black marlin fishing in the region is “tag and release” based, and limited to a particular area to ensure protection and conservation of this captivating species. Whether you are interested in a leisurely week of fishing in the beautiful tropical waters off Lizard Island or a serious sportfishing expedition in search of giant black marlin, Lizard Island will not disappoint. Unrivalled access to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, the luxury and seclusion of the resort, and ample opportunities to catch some truly impressive fish make Lizard Island the obvious choice for an Australian fishing adventure. If this isn’t already on your bucket list, it absolutely should be. For more information, visit the Ultimate Fishing Australia website ultimatefishing.com. au. Check out the four-night Lizard Island Fishing package, available at http://ultimatefishing.com.au/australian-fishing-tours/queensland/lizard-island/. Or contact them via email at info@ ultimatefishing.com.au or by phone at +61 (0) 8 8354 2348.
For more on booking a tour, go to
PEACEFULWATERS.CO Here are a few options: South Carolina Lowcountry: The marshes of the Lowcountry between Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, Ga. offer some of the best fly fishing for redfish on the east coast. Although the big bulls actually move out in fall, the best sight fishing of the year occurs when water temperatures begin to drop. Cool water means clear water here, and young redfish can be found in schools of 20 to 30 fish tailing on the mud flats and in tidal creeks. In less than 3 feet of water, these fish are skittish, and stealth is important. Bring your 8-weight to battle fish from 5 to 10 pounds. If you’re lucky, you’ll find them crushing big shrimp along a grass line, so pack a box of shrimp patterns. But be sure to bring your baitfish patterns, too, because mullet and menhaden will also be on the menu.
By CAM Staff • Photo courtesy of Capt. Michael Bruner
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edfish spawn in fall. What this means for anglers is spawning-sized reds, the bull reds, will be moving in from offshore across much of their range in preparation for the spawn. Large aggregations of big redfish, hungry from expending energy, become easy targets. The dirty water often associated with the weather of fall can make visibility difficult in many areas, and anglers chucking cut bait from beaches, piers and jetties find an advantage in their stinking offerings. But what about the purists… the fly fishers, who find joy in placing themselves at a disadvantage with self-imposed limitations? Well, fall also brings some of the best action of the year for redfish on the fly. The trick is to choose the location wisely.
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Florida Panhandle: From Steinhatchee to Pensacola, oversized redfish in the thousands push in from offshore each fall to school up in preparation for the spawn. At the same time, menhaden and mullet will be making their way out of the estuaries into the bays in search of deeper, warmer water. The result is a whole lot of big fish gorging on plentiful baitfish around the passes. The reds can show up in pods of 10 or 20 or schooling by the hundreds. Bring your 10-weight rod to battle 20-pound reds as well as a box full of baitfish patterns and spoonflies. A sinking line might be in order as well. Louisiana: With the cooling waters, bull redfish pile into the Louisiana estuaries each year. If tangling with 20 to 40-plus pound reds on a fly rod sounds like fun, this might be the best season and the best place on the planet to do it. Anglers from around the world eagerly await Louisiana’s fall invasion of enormous reds, so if you haven’t already booked your charter, you’re probably out of luck. Clean water means the opportunity is there to sight fish for bull reds that are grubbing up crabs in the marshes. Bring your 10-weight and a box of crab patterns.
10/18/17 1:59 PM
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10/19/17 10:41 AM
By Will Robinson
By TAM Staff
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elayed harvest trout seasons have begun across the Southeast, offering anglers some of the most consistent action of the year in numerous streams and rivers across the re-
gion. These streams and rivers are jam-packed with trout stocked specifically for the DH. They are regulated catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial-lures-only during the season, which means they stay in the river, where they should be easy picking for anglers armed with the flies hatchery trout are fools for. Typically, bright and garish is the ticket for newly released trout. Egg patterns, mop flies, flashy streamers and nymphs, it’s the junk food that draws their eye. But what happens when all those fish come down with a case of lockjaw? It happens. DH waters have a higher-than-normal density of fish, which lures in high densities of anglers. Once these trout have been in the water for a couple weekends, there’s a good chance they’ve fallen for—or have at least seen—every fly from the DH bin at the local fly shop. On top of that, trout learn pretty quickly what the real food sources are in a stream and will begin to take on more natural feeding habits. When it gets tough on a DH stream, it’s time to rethink your game plan. There are a lot of fish in the water. If you’re not catching them, you’re doing something wrong. The easiest change to make is depth. Most of a trout’s consumption is done underwater, and many times a fish will not move more than a few feet to pick off a morsel that drifts by in the current. Before you switch out your nymph or streamer, try adjusting your depth with the indicator or by adding weight. Generally, deeper is better if you don’t see them feeding near the surface, and a double-nymph rig with the bottom fly barely ticking the stream floor will cover the lowest couple of feet in the water column. If adjusting your depth doesn’t work, it’s time to change flies. When trout begin to adapt to their new surroundings, they figure out what they should and should not eat. Between stockings or late in the DH season, ditching the gaudy stuff can be a good move. Flip over some rocks and figure out what the natural food sources are. It will clue you in to what the fish are eating so you’re doing more than just hoping for a reaction strike. Presentation also plays a huge role when fish wise-up. If your fly isn’t drifting naturally in the current, it does not look like food to a trout. Location change is another tactic that can lead to success when a DH gets tough. Many times stocked trout will pod-up rather than spreading out and can be stacked like cordwood in a deep hole. Find this spot, and you’ll be catching and releasing while your buddy strikes out fishing the same flies you are. Conversely, water that looks less fishy is often overlooked on heavily pressured streams. Taking the time to prospect the skinny water between deep holes can sometimes pay off with a few fish when they just aren’t biting where they should be.
F
or decades anglers have used an array of teasing techniques to attract fish. Bluewater anglers pull a variety of dredges, daisy chains and other fish attracting, commotion-creating devices to find fish. Others have been dragging hookless baits in order to coax a hot fish within casting distance for fly fishermen, and now nearshore anglers are discovering how effective these tactics can be. In the past, inshore anglers might have thrown handfuls of stunned bait overboard in hopes of starting a feeding frenzy, a proven technique but not for all situations. Consider needing to cover a vast amount of water to find roaming fish or fishing an area that is already full of bait. This method could be less successful than a simple bait and switch. Arguably, if you are a live bait fisherman or just looking to catch fish yourself, you would not go hookless. But perhaps you are trying to get someone their first fish on their own or trying to locate fish for fly fishermen. In these cases, the art of the tease is key. There are two basic techniques, one uses live bait, the other artificial. Both are effective and fun for both the teaser and angler. When you need to cover mass amounts of water, slow trolling a live bait can be a great way to find fish. The rig is simple, a short loop of Dacron run though a bait’s nostrils and attached to a snap. Above the snap a 4-foot piece of heavy mono is attached to a 3- to 4-inch float and then attached to a rod’s main line. The snap makes changing the teaser bait quick and easy, and the float helps keep track of the bait as well as giving the angler an easyto-see target. The person working the teaser needs to be alert and ready for fast closing fish. The idea is to keep the bait just ahead of the predator and not allow an easy meal. Spinning and highspeed trolling reels work very well for this. Using topwater plugs is also a great teaser. Striper guides employ this technique with great success to pull unseen fish to the surface and hot fish out of massive schools of bait. The technique is simple; use the topwater to create a commotion and bring feeding fish closer to the boat. Many guides remove the hooks. Others feel that bending them closed gives the lure better action with the additional weight. Work the teaser fast and loud to cover a lot of water in a short time. When a hungry fish appears, it’s a blast to try to keep the bait away while the angler makes a presentation. Obviously, catching fish is the ultimate reason we hit the water, but teasing fish into a frenzy is a huge rush and tons of fun for both the teaser and the angler. Will Robinson is a seasoned tournament angler and has been writing about fishing for nearly two decades.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER BRANDON LESTER
B
eing from middle Tennessee, I was introduced to many diverse fisheries in my younger years. This area of the country has long been known for great smallmouth bass fishing, as it should be, but in my opinion it can’t compare to the smallmouth fishing in the Great Lakes region right now. I am certainly not bashing the smallmouth fishing down south, but fishing the Elite Series allows me to see some of the best lakes in the country, and the “good ole days” of smallmouth bass fishing on the Great Lakes is right now. Flowing out of Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River is one of my favorites on our schedule because it fishes similar to the rivers back home. The river has a lot of current, which positions the fish. The water is clear, and you can catch smallmouth from 2 feet deep all the way out to 60 feet. The St. Lawrence is absolutely full of smallmouth, and 30- to 40fish days are just another day on the water. In addition to the fishing, the area is also just an awesome place to spend time. Waddington, N.Y., which is our host city when we go, is in a very rural part of New York with lots of cropland and cattle farms. If you’ve not visited this fishery, I strongly suggest you do. Lake St. Clair is on fire right now. The final Elite Series tournament of the regular season was held there this year, and overall bass weights were absolutely phenomenal. The big smallmouth of the tournament weighed almost 7 pounds. In the past, tournaments on St. Clair were won by guys who ran to Lake Erie or Lake Huron, but not anymore. It seems now that St. Clair is the place to be. The style of fishing is different than most smallmouth destinations. Lake St. Clair is just a big bowl-shaped lake with a shipping channel running through the middle of it. That’s about the only real contour change on the whole lake. The big keys are
looking for clean spots in the grass and finding bait. If that doesn’t fit your style, you can run up the river toward Huron or down the Detroit River toward Erie. Both rivers have plenty of current and plenty of smallmouth. After fishing a tournament on Lake Champlain this year, it is my new favorite lake in the country. The smallmouth fishing is phenomenal, and you can catch big largemouth, too. The smallmouth hang out on offshore shoals, old bridge blow-throughs and rocky structure around the shoreline. If you get tired of catching them, there is an abundance of milfoil, docks and reeds where largemouth bass are willing and ready to bite. Lake Champlain, in my opinion, has the healthiest population of bass of anywhere I have ever fished, and that makes it fun, period. Plattsburg, N.Y. is a great place to visit, as well, with lots of cool sites to see. If you make one of these trips, be sure you’re prepared with the right MHX rods, Mustad hooks and Vicious fishing line. Hit Brandon up on Facebook or Instagram with any questions.
Get more tips from Lester at
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By CAM Staff
I
t’s got the beaches, with fine white sand and the emerald green waters of the gorgeous northern Gulf of Mexico. It’s got the nightlife, the shopping and fine dining, the beautiful golf courses and everything else that draws vacationers from around the world. But what Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island—the heart of northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast—have more of than anything else is fishing. Back in 1956, Florida Gov. Leroy Collins called Destin “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” after catching a big king mackerel on a 15-minute photo-op boat ride during the Destin Fishing Rodeo. More than 60 years later, the historic Destin Fishing Rodeo just wrapped up its 69th annual October-long event, proving once again that this fishing village is just as lucky as ever. Daily weigh-ins at the rodeo give spectators a close look at what the waters off the Emerald Coast have to offer. Excitement builds on the docks in front of the landmark AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar when big tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, dolphin, groupers and snappers come to the scales. And in the Billfish Division, the big sportfishing yachts are out there pulling spreads for sailfish—and marlin that easily eclipse the 500-pound mark. There have been a couple grander blue marlin caught on the northern Gulf Coast over the years and a few more that came very close to tipping the scales past the 1,000-pound mark. Even swordfish show up pretty regularly, meaning there’s a real possibility for a grand slam fishing out of the marinas of Okaloosa County. It’s world-class fishing on the Panhandle, which in recent years has seen the big pelagic species moving closer to shore with changing currents. And what’s more, the action is yearround. There’s a good reason the world’s largest charter fishing fleet is based out of Destin Harbor.
Nearshore
Nearshore, warm and fertile Gulf waters coupled with numerous wrecks and reefs to create some of the most bountiful fishing Florida has to offer. With a short boat ride less than 8 miles off the beach, anglers can bottom fish or troll with family pleasing and cooler-filling consistency for amberjack, numerous snapper and grouper species, cobia, blackfin tuna, king and Spanish mackerel and more.
Offshore
Due south about 25 to 30 miles out, the continental shelf drops and there are multiple renowned hotspots, with some of the best big game fishing in the Gulf. South Florida seems to get most of the bright, hot spotlight when it comes to the big pelagics, but serious anglers out of the Emerald Coast quietly and consistently catch serious fish. Whether it’s a full-day trolling trip or an overnight expedition deep into the Gulf, dolphin, blue marlin, tuna and
wahoo are available to those who mean business when it comes to fishing.
Inshore
Those who would rather explore grass flats and oyster beds in search of trout or tailing redfish will also find that on the Emerald Coast. Inside East Pass and Okaloosa Island, Choctawhatchee Bay spreads out vast and shallow. It’s the perfect place to launch a skiff or a kayak into 130 square miles of inshore action that’s some of the best on the Panhandle.
Spring Cobia
Finally, any discussion of fishing options around the Emerald Coast has to include the cobia run, which is one of the best on the planet. Book your charter now, because in spring—peaking in April—cobia that have migrated north along the Gulf Coast arrive off the beaches bringing some of the most exciting fishing there is. This is sight fishing for one of the ocean’s tastiest and hardest fighting fish, and during this spring run they can arrive with weights in excess of 100 pounds. With a spotter in the tower, you cruise the clear blue-green waters looking for the telltale brown shadows of a pod of cobia doggedly pushing west. With a Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 smooth approach, the boat moves to intercept, and then it’s up to the angler to make an accurate cast with a live bait or a jig. Anticipation is almost unbearable for a few seconds before the take, and then bedlam breaks loose. Cobia put up the most unpredictable fight in fishing. They are capable of long, drag-burning runs, leaps, rolls and deep dives, but sometimes they save the thrashing until they hit the deck. Either way, catching a big cobia is exciting, and there’s no better grilling fish that swims. So, while the Emerald Coast offers gorgeous beaches and all the activity of a top-notch beach vacation destination, on the water it remains what it was before the Miracle Strip and Harbor Boulevard grew up around it. It’s one of the best fishing destinations in the world in terms of quality, quantity and variety of angling opportunities. For information, go to www.emeraldcoastfl. com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
$9
20% OFF
• 3.5" LCD Display • Battery Included
MODEL: DCD780C2
12 VOLT MAGNETIC SAVE TOWING LIGHT KIT $106
13
51
MODEL: MT-1210
*52324497 * 52324497
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 3/1/18*
$
ANY PURCHASE
7 FUNCTION DIGITAL MULTIMETER
COMPARE TO
HOME DEPOT
SAVE $80
99
ITEM 63100
WITH
Customer Rating
• 576 in. lbs. of torque • 2.5 amp hour battery • Weighs 3.6 lbs.
$7999 $9599 Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
20 VOLT LITHIUM CORDLESS 1/2" COMPACT DRILL/DRIVER KIT
HUSKY
20"
SAVE $69
Customer Rating
$
FREE
M-REG109349_CoastalAnglerMagazine
DEWALT
BEATS
SUPER COUPON
NOVEMBER 2017
NATIONAL
17
10/6/17 9:40 3:42 AM PM 10/19/17
SUZUKI MAKES IT
EASY AS
1-2-3
The leaves might be falling, but the deals are just starting to spring up at your Suzuki Marine dealer. Make your best Fall Boat Show deal on a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but all three special Suzuki offers. See your Suzuki Marine dealer today and get on the water with a powerful, reliable new Suzuki.
REPOWER FINANCE
1. Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
2. Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
3. Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 9/01/17 and 12/31/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Cash rebate will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 9/01/17 and 12/31/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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© 2017 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.
12”
PROGRAMMABLE
HOT KEYS
PRELOADED
BUILT-IN
BLUECHART® G2 + LAKEVUU¨ HD CHIRP SONAR + CLEARVUU¨ + SIDEVU¨
GPSMAP® 1242xsv
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