Coastal Angler Magazine | August 2021 | Great Smoky Mountains & Upstate Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION

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SMOKY MOUNTAIN TROUT

AREA CATCH REPORTS VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 317

F R A N C H I S E

SCHOOLING SUMMER

BASS

PHOTO COURTESY OF TARA JO SAWYER INSTAGRAM: @TARA_FISHING

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AUGUST 2021

Upper Class Just Got Lower Priced Finally, luxury built for value— not for false status

ntil Stauer came along, you needed an inheritance to buy a timepiece with class and refinement. Not any more. The Stauer Magnificat II embodies the impeccable quality and engineering once found only in the watch collections of the idle rich. Today, it can be on your wrist. The Magnificat II has the kind of thoughtful design that harkens back to those rare, 150-year-old moon phases that once could only be found under glass in a collector’s trophy room. Powered by 27 jewels, the Magnificat II is wound by the movement of your body. An exhibition back reveals the genius of the engineering and lets you witness the automatic rotor that enables you to wind the watch with a simple flick of your wrist. It took three years of development and $26 million in advanced Swiss-built watch-making machinery to create the Magnificat II. When we took the watch to renowned watchmaker and watch historian George Thomas, he disassembled it and studied the escapement, balance wheel and the rotor. He remarked on the detailed guilloche face, gilt winding crown, and the crocodile-embossed leather band. He was intrigued by the three interior dials for day, date, and 24-hour moon phases. He estimated that this fine timepiece would cost over $2,500. We all smiled and told him that the Stauer price was less than $100. A truly magnificent watch at a truly magnificent price! Try the Magnificat II for 30 days and if you are not receiving compliments, please return the watch for a full refund of the purchase price. The precision-built movement carries a 2 year warranty against defect. If you trust your own good taste, the Magnificat II is built for you.

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n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip BONUS! Call today and through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you’ll also receive this you under. Call today! genuine leather sheath!

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AUGUST 2021

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*REPOWER FINANCE is available through Synchrony Retail Finance, as low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors, subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $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 from July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021. †5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. 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. © 2021 Suzuki Marine, USA, LLC.

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ISTIOPHORUS: THE MYSTERIOUS SAILFISH

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

he sailfish is one of the most commonly caught billfish. Due to its proclivity for shallower coastal waters and frequency of ascension to the surface, the odds of catching one of these beauties can be much greater than for other billfish. There is little scientific certainty about the mysterious behavior of sailfish. They exhibit a general migratory pattern throughout the year, but they often break their own rules and show up unexpectedly. Summer sailfish catches are generally more associated with the Gulf of Mexico, yet they do appear on the Atlantic coast this time of year, as well. Sailfishing in the Florida Keys is usually a late autumn and early spring

bite. It can be an absolute catching frenzy. However, in July, following the passage of tropical storm Elsa, sailfish were seen tailing at the surface, cruising the waves along a strong current line off of Marathon Key. It was a bizarre and welcomed phenomenon. The conditions that followed the storm created a concise current line, with greener nearshore waters touching the blue water, and a milky powder-blue highway running down the center. Sailfish were spotted swimming east to west at the top of the waves, and seemed to dive deeper to circle back. The locals are no strangers to this phenomenon that occurs in the Keys. Though the time of year may be unpredictable, anglers are always ready to make the most of it. This type of fishing requires polarized sunglasses and a tower boat. Slowly creeping through the powder blue highway, scan the waves for black torpedo shapes or blobs that resemble black garbage bags. Hunt for the opportunity to sight cast live baits. Without the visual vantage of a tower, trolling lures or bump trolling live bait may be more productive than trying to spot them from deck level. Sailfish truly are an incredible and unpredictable species. Very few have been successfully tagged, and few have held a tag long enough to transmit much information. Of those tagged for up to a year, their patterns were generally erratic. They seem to be extremely transient, foraging and spawning in many different coastal regions, predictably unpredictable, like majestic aquatic gypsies. Commonalities in their behavior are that they primarily stay within a water temperature of approximately 80 degrees; they mostly stay near the surface, rarely diving below 300 feet; and they exhibit extremely curious evening routines. All of the transmissions showed sailfish spending the evening within 30 feet of the surface, descending briefly before sunrise and sunset. They were also observed to be active nightly, seemingly unaffected by lunar phases. Help uncover the mysteries of sailfish by reporting tagged fish or by visiting billfish.org to purchase a tagging kit. Remember to handle sailfish with care and revive them before release when necessary. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla. Check her out her Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn, her website CaptainQuinlyn.com, or call (504) 920-6342.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 7

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W N E IG S N DE

The Biggest Event In Silver Dollar History!

he American Silver Eagle has been the most popular silver coin on the planet since its introduction in 1986. Its beautiful, iconic design inspires collectors, and investors love it because it’s struck in one full ounce of 99.9% fine silver, and guaranteed for weight and fineness by the U.S. Government. Now in 2021, for the first time ever, the coin’s design is changing.

The Most Important Coins in the Modern Era

When President Ronald Reagan signed the Liberty Coin Act into law, he didn’t know American Eagles would have the impact they’ve had, year after year. The coins were so popular that between 1986 and 2020, over 535 million were struck. That’s more than HALF A BILLION coins, easily making Silver Eagles the most bought coins in the world. Hugely popular now, Silver Eagles may soon become even more popular!

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new finishes and new designs. Now, for the first time in over three-and-a-half decades, the Silver Eagle is getting a new design, leading to a historic “first” unlike anything we’ve seen. The iconic Heraldic Eagle reverse is being replaced by a beautiful new “Eagle Landing” design. This is arguably a bigger deal than even the actual introduction of the coin because there’s so much more interest now than in 1986, with investors and collectors!

If You Knew Then What You Know Now...

If you’d had a crystal ball in 1986, you undoubtedly would have grabbed every Silver Eagle you could get. Those coins in uncirculated condition continue to be sought-after. Now you’re getting another chance to land a big Silver Eagle first, a Key Date. Additionally, since these newly designed Silver Eagles are only being released during the second half of 2021, it’s quite possible this will be one of the lowest mintages we’ve seen. That’s significant because it could make 2021 a DOUBLE Key Date, with both a new design and a low mintage. Demand for these coins is already sky-high, but if that

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DADDYghter u a DOFF DAYS VIRGINIA BEACH

By Nick Carter

or Matt Metelsky, daddy-daughter time with his 17-year-old is a little more involved than a trip to the ice cream parlor. Matt’s daughter Lily is a rising high school senior. She loves nothing more than waking up at 2 a.m. to run 85 miles off Virginia Beach and troll the edge of the Continental Shelf with her dad. In late June, the duo fished the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament, where Lily placed second in the Lady Angler division with a yellowfin that weighed 39.9 pounds. But that’s not her biggest tuna to-date. Her heaviest yellowfin weighed 44 pounds. She caught it last summer, and at 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds, it took her about 15 minutes to haul it in stand-up with a belt. “I don’t know. We do wood work on the side, so we load wood, and I guess that gives you some back strength,” Lily offered as explanation for feats of fishing strength. “We always stay active. With Dad, it’s work hard, play harder.” Lily’s strength and stamina are a given considering she qualified and is working as an oceanfront lifeguard at Virginia Beach this summer. Matt, however, has another explanation for his daughter’s skill, as well as her love for this hard-core style of fishing. Lily was 5 years old when Matt purchased his Contender 25 with twin 150s. At a tender age, Lily cut her teeth going toe-to-toe with hard-pulling spadefish in 50 feet of water, 20 miles offshore. “I’m thinking the technique she picked up with those spades when she was little just kind of morphed over into the tuna,” Matt said. “It really amazes

me she is able to battle those things stand-up.” Lily began joining Matt for long days offshore when she turned 13. She was 15 the summer of 2019 when she was first physically able to handle a yellowfin—a 26-pounder—by herself. But pumping and reeling aren’t Lily’s only deck duties. She helps rig and bait and steers the boat while her dad deploys an eight-rod spread on the Gulf Stream. Last Jan. 11, she manned the helm while Matt battled a 550-pound bluefin. When the handle on the 50w reel broke under the stress, it was Lily’s idea to improvise with a screwdriver and electrical tape to eventually land that fish. The peak yellowfin season is June and July out of Rudee Inlet. Matt and Lily make five or six trips a summer, often with friends. Normal days consist of two or three tuna, some bonita and mahi, and occasionally a white marlin. Two or three times a year, January and February bluefin trips are just for the two of them. There aren’t many people interested in waiting on one big bite in brutal mid-winter conditions, anyway. “She’s just tough as nails,” Matt said of his daughter. “I don’t know how else to describe it. She’s just tough.” Lily doesn’t seem to perceive any hardship. She considers herself lucky to be able to spend time with her dad on the water. “When we’re out there on the boat, it’s just so peaceful,” she said. “I pretty much sleep the whole time. When that reel goes off, that’s my alarm.” For more action from Virginia Beach, visit coastalanglermag.com/tidewater-obx/.

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AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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A gemstone 10,000 times rarer than diamonds

So rare, you can only find it one place on earth. Two, if you count Stauer! Over 7 carats of ethereal Larimar— From a remote Caribbean mountain

he rarity of larimar is legendary. Its exquisite beauty, unique color and scarcity make it a truly treasured gem. Found in only one square kilometer of the world, the ONLY source of larimar lies in the relatively inaccessible Bahoruco’s mountains in the Caribbean. Formed by unique combination of volcanic minerals and geological conditions, larimar is very dangerous to get to and therefore is only mined 5 months out of the year. Because of its rarity, few people have ever seen larimar, and it is only recently that the Caribbean yielded its secret to us. But luckily, the prices are not controlled by a syndicate so this rare stone is still affordable, as long as you know where to look. And, you’ve come to the right place, we are your ticket to paradise. We’ve crafted rare larimar into remarkable jewelry that’s also remarkably affordable. Each stone in our Sea of Love Larimar Collection is a picture of perfect swirling blue. Nature guarantees that no two larimar gemstones will be exactly alike, each has a wispy white swirl that looks like the highest clouds on a sun-filled day. You could spend PRAISE FOR STAUER LARIMAR RINGS well over $1,000 “There are not enough adjectives in for a larimar ring the dictionary to describe the beauty set in sterling silver. and excellence of this ring. Buy it, do But why would you not wait.” — C., Longwood, FL when you can bring her this gorgeous stone for an exclusive Stauer price. Her Satisfaction is 100% Guaranteed. If she’s not swept away within 30 days, simply return your purchase for a refund of the item price. Mother Nature has given us such a small quantity of this beautiful stone and there is no way to replenish the few carats that are available. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own this captivating gemstone that’s 10,000 times rarer than diamonds. Quantities are extremely limited, so please act quickly!

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EAST TENNESSEE GREAT SMOKIES

Fly Fishing the Doe River, Tennessee

he Doe River is one of the State of Tennessee’s better freestone streams for brown trout. It also has a good population of wild rainbow trout and a few brook trout in its headwaters. The stream begins from several small branches in a rural countryside area and then flows into the Roan State Park. The State Park is one of the better fishing areas. The stream runs along highway #143 and is easily accessed. It is protected from the heat by a good tree canopy, so the water stays cool most of the summer in the park area. Below the state park the stream flows through private property down to highway #19 East. It turns almost ninety degrees and flows down the mountain alongside the highway. There are several areas where you can park and fish the stream but much of it is private property. It becomes a medium

By James Marsh

size stream in this area and has a very good population of brown trout. It eventually leaves the highway and goes through a gorge that is very rough and difficult to access. It exits back near the highway just above the little town of Hampton. Below Hampton the Doe River becomes a fairly large stream averaging about thirty feet and wider. It flows through Elizabethton and into the Watauga River tailwater.

Fly Fishing Guide to the Doe River:

The way you go about fishing the Doe River has a lot to do with where you fish it and the species you are targeting. This is a stream that is a little different from many because its headwaters are mostly on private property in the rural area above the state park. There is also a

2 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

AUGUST 2021

lot of private property below the state park. For the most part, you are limited to the Roan Mountain State Park in the upper section of the river. That is not bad at all because the state park has a lot of water, and it is rarely crowded. The stream is small in the section flowing through the state park. Most of it is completely covered with tree limbs which is a good thing because it helps keep the water cool during the summer. It can get a little on the high side temperature-wise, but if there are no drought conditions, the water normally stays below seventy during the hottest part of summer. Casting is sometimes a little tricky. You need to make side arm casts, roll casts, and even some bow and arrow casts. The fish in the state park are mostly rainbows but there are a few good brown trout mixed in with them. There is a mixture of

stocked and wild trout. The stream gets larger as it flows down highway #19 East. The farther down you fish, the larger it gets. There are more brown trout in the lower section. The river is known for having some very good-sized browns in it. There are only a few access points along the highway, but you can fish upstream as far as you want to. In places it is difficult to work your way around the rocks, trees and deeper water, depending on the stream flow levels. The part that runs through the gorge (where the stream leaves the highway) is very rough. It would not be a good idea to fish this area alone. If you got hurt, you could get into a bad situation. This area is also well known for its large brown trout. Below the gorge, the stream widens out and flows mostly through private property

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

into Elizabethton. Although you can catch plenty of trout on the dry fly, your odds of hooking a larger brown trout are far better on a nymph. When the water is slightly high and off color, streamers work well on the larger brown trout. Of course, as always with the browns, you will have a

much better opportunity if you fish during low light conditions, either while it is cloudy, or early and late in the day. I should also mention that the brown trout spawn in the fall. In October, the large browns will start moving upstream and become much easier to catch.

James Marsh has made his living fishing since 1980 through hosting and producing the first ever national syndicated weekly TV series on saltwater fishing for five years; hosting and producing forty-six instructional saltwater fishing videos more of which have been sold on saltwater fishing than anyone’s in the world; and for the past twenty-two years hosting and producing nineteen instructional videos on fly fishing and founding the Perfect Fly Company.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 3

The Casting Corner: The Topwater Spiral Lift

ast month we spoke of the Cicada bugs and a cast to imitate the fly hitting the water and casting a big floating fly like a black popper, or something similar to the actual bug. This type of fly is going to dig into the water if you start your back cast while the line and fly are laying on the water, and that will overload the rod. Not only overloading the rod, it will also take a lot more effort to make the cast than necessary. After describing the cast last month, I mentioned there is a good way to make the next cast, and it starts with the spiral lift or corkscrew lift. The actual hand movement is so small, but it’s amplified by the length of the rod. Small movements with the hand make a big impact on the rod tip, so start smaller than you think will work. To practice the lift, try pointing your finger up, elbow down (no rod in hand to practice) and palm about even with the top of your head. Start

By Rene Hesse

with a very small push of your hand toward the fly while making a very small circle starting from the bottom and going around to the outside of your body and back. Make the circle about the size of a baseball with your hand/fingertip. A right hander will make a counterclockwise rotation as your hand is moving forward about 6 inches toward the fly. A lefty makes a clockwise rotation. Pretend you are drawing a circle with your rod tip about 10 feet above your fly. Like the speed-up and stop portion of a normal cast, use that concept on the acceleration of the circular motion you make with your hand AND the stroke of the hand toward the fly. When you are on the water, lift as much line as you can while getting your hand in the right position, then without stopping, push your hand toward the fly while making the small circle. If you lift and hesitate, the line will sag and lose tension.

4 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

AUGUST 2021

The energized line that was created by your hand and rod movement will lift the line off the water and when it has reached the fly, start the back cast. So, don’t start the rearward movement until the leader/ fly are lifted by the spiral. Let the line movement, in the shape of a small spiral, move down the line to the leader. When it gets to the leader and then the fly, start

your back cast. The tension on the line from the line movement helps load (bend) the rod on the back cast. Remember, this is not a lift, spiral and back cast with 50 or 60 feet of line out. You have to be at the belly of the line or at least at the start of the rear taper, towards the belly, because as Tom White would say, “The skinny line will not turn over the fat line”. More online next month.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Fish a Jig and Pig in the Dead of Summer

By Ken Sturdivant

he bass angler knows how to fish a jig and pig, but many miss a great opportunity each year. Since there are no rules in fishing; why not fish the jig and pig in the heat of the summer? Bass are very active all summer. After all, they are a member of the sunfish family. The bass gets hungry more often during warmer months, and they use a lot of energy. They will need to eat a lot more food. If they see a crawfish, they will eat it. Tournaments for bass anglers are held year-round. The jig and pig, or the jig and plastic trailer, has won many events for years. But why do professional anglers use this bait in the largest tournament of their lives? Bass love crawfish, and this is an easy meal for a bass. This is a small freshwater crayfish that all bass, largemouth, spotted and even

Mix and match the colors and look closely at the head of the pork.

smallmouth will hardly ever pass up. With more nutritional value in the small, tasty creature than anything in nature, the crawfish is great food. Start with a 3/8 ounce jig and be sure to use the lure that has a fiber weed guard. These tiny fibers can be cut and trimmed to suit the cover being fished. Stanley and Bulldog are name brand jigs that are tournament tested. Buy three colors: black, brown and blue. Next, select the number 11 Uncle Josh pork trailer. Yes, pork!

Notice that the hole in the jig is really a slit. Wit h the fat

part of the pork down, run the hook through the pork. If the pork trailers are tough to use, find the plastic imitations and mix and match colors. Once the plastic trailer is added to the jig, take a round toothpick and poke it right through the plastic

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in front of the hook. Go all the way though and then trim the toothpick on both sides. This will help reinforce the plastic, and it won’t rip off easily. Add a glass rattle in this plastic lure. Why not? Rig this bait up with a bait casting rod and reel and 12-pound test line. Cast this lure and let it settle to the bottom. Now work the bait with the rod tip and slowly hop this bait across the bottom. Strikes will be a solid thump and then jerk very hard. Try this bait this summer and the largest fish of the year is a possibility.

Ken Sturdivant is a member of the Lowrance Pro Staff. You can find him at 770-889-2654; www.southernfishing.com, or kensturdivant@att.net

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GREAT SMOKIES

Lake Chatuge Hybrids August By Darren Hughes

hat is your favorite lake to fish this time of year? We are often asked this question and we’ve also covered this topic many times. I guess we can’t let it go, so I’m going to write about it again. The answer is straightup, Lake Chatuge and especially in the months of July, August and September. The fish on this beautiful mountain lake really turn on during these summer months, and I mean turn on! It’s not uncommon for us to catch 30-50 fish on Chatuge in just a couple of hours. It truly is an amazing lake to fish for the month of August. Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the mid 80s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid and spot fishing has been pretty phenomenal lately. Late summer patterns are in full-swing. The fish are schooling in large

numbers, and we are catching some big quantities (30 to 40 a morning.) Most of our hybrids are averaging 5-10 pounds. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardest-fighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning and midafternoon bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish along the main channel and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. Top-water bite has slowed down considerably but you can still find a few busting. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, spook, or red fin at the ready. Look for this same pattern to

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continue for the next month or so until water temps begin to fall. August is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and Blairsville Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Nottely, and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!! Darren Hughes is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish. com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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Summer Fly Fishing By David Hulsey

ugust, in the South, may be a little hard on the trout fishing and the trout, due to the blazing hot days and muggy nights. Looking for fun a little further down the river or in the lakes might be a better idea at this time of year. Warm water species, such as bass and bluegill can be loads of fun. Bluegill are usually pretty cooperative around brush piles, docks, and standing timber. Small chartreuse or yellow poppers will normally keep you busy early and late in the day. During high sun periods, fishing a little deeper may yield larger specimens. Black Rubber Legged Dragons and small Beadhead Wooly Buggers are a favorite for fishing down to about 8 feet or so. Slow stripping these flies will get crushing strikes, and when you find one down deep, he

will have lots of friends so work the spot very well. Bass will be most active early and late in the day around cover with good ambush points with plentiful bait. River bass will like the deeper holes or steep banks, while largemouth or spots in lakes may be in as much as 20 to 30 feet of water. Fishing deep water with a fly rod requires sinking lines and weighted flies, such as Clousers. Electronics on your boat are a very helpful to locate schools of shad or blueback herring down deep. Find the bait, and you’ll find the fish. In summer, don’t overlook areas with enough boat traffic to make waves that splash up against the shoreline. There’s a lot of oxygen up close to these areas and big bass sometimes will be in inches of water on the prowl for an unsuspecting bream

or crawfish. We cover fishing for these warmwater fighters in our Full Day Fly Fishing Class. Check out our website for more information.

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Give David Hulsey a call at (770) 639-4001 to book a class or a guided trout trip. See his website at www.hulseyflyfishing.com.

SMSS has all the essentials for hunting, target shooting, home defense, reloading and more Call for date & time of monthly concealed carry class. 53 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC • 828-837-7677 Beside the Courthouse

www.smokymountainshooters.com www.facebook.com/smokymtnshooter

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Lake Hiwassee Schooling Stripers -August

By Shane Goebel

ugust brings with it some explosive striper fishing in Western North Carolina, and there’s no better lake to experience that late summer mayhem on than Lake Hiwassee., especially if the bite is like it was in July. In the past couple of days before writing this, we’ve had several 28 to 32-pound stripers! This striper bite is intense; and it’s the perfect time to hit the lake and catch some amazing fish. And what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. If you want a ton of nice stripers and I mean a ton! Then August and September are perfect months. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is at full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the mid 80’s. Striper fishing has been excellent. These fish are schooled up and

we’ve been killing it out here. Our morning trips usually average 20 to 30 stripers a trip. The early-morning and evening bites are your best times to see action. Target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel. Also, during the hot sunny days of summer, search out areas with some good shade. Most of our fish have been caught from Point 6 to the dam. Your best technique will be down lining live blueback herring. The topwater bite has also been great. I like to keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surface-busting fish. The fish will continue to stay schooled up through the next couple of months. Just remember to keep an eye on your electronics and watch for schools of stripers when cruising the lake. Also, remember to try to get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible after they are caught. Bringing up stripers from deep water

really puts a hurting on them and the quicker you get them into the water the more likely they will survive. August is a fantastic month for catching some monster stripers on this Western North Carolina Lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy NC’s only and original premier full-time guide

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service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely, Chatuge, and Lake Blue Ridge. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Shane Goebel owns Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. See the website at www. bigolfish.com or call (828) 361-2021

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Fish Tales By Capt. James McManus

ne of my clients on a trip last week asked if I believed in all the old wives’ tales about fishing. You know, “Ten percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish”, “Fish don’t bite on a full moon”, “Wind from the east fish bite the least”. Absolutely I told him, and throw that in the trash, don’t bring that banana on this boat! There are always reasons we don’t catch what we think our skill set should allow us to catch. Some are fact based and some are only the result of unknowns, but usually unknown facts. Here are a few I have figured out over the years. Moon phases, or Solunar Tables, are phrases born out of farmers almanacs and hunting

and fishing magazines. They even appear on tv newscasts right after the local sports recap. While I

don’t plan trips around them, I do keep them in the back of my mind. Full moons have always been the easiest to figure out. If fish can see by moonlight, it follows that they should be able to feed during the night and thus, less during the day. That is ‘til about 11am when that stomach starts to growl a little. We stay on them, especially stripers, ‘til that 11 o’clock feeding time. Fish before a storm, not after; this makes sense and it’s because high pressure following a front puts fish down, not to mention strong wind and bluebird sunny skies. Here on Fontana, I have always thought a big rainstorm in the winter would wash in food and turn on the fish but it just shuts them down; still haven’t figured that one out. Wind though, can be your friend since it breaks up the surface and seems to make everyone less skittish and easier to fool. That is unless it’s blowing from the east. This one is a mystery to me and it doesn’t matter if I’m on Fontana or down in Louisiana, east wind bites a big one. Match the hatch, this makes sense whether you are after trout, bass, stripers or reds. Right now on Fontana, the young of the year shad are hatched out. They congregate on the surface out in open water and, regardless of how many are breaking and chasing, if you are throwing a six inch whopper

plopper you ain’t getting a bite. These shad are an inch long and something like an xts or a small jig will get all the bites you can handle. The more you fish the more you figure out. The thing I have definitely figured out is that you can’t catch ‘em if you ain’t out there. While wind, sun, temperature and season all affect how and where fish bite, don’t let any scenario keep you off the water. As long as it’s safe, give it a shot. Fishing tournaments has shown me someone is going to figure it out on any day in any situation. Keep trying and it may just be you, who puts it all together, then you will have one more little trick up your sleeve. Enjoy trying and God put fish in water with food all around, it’s like us living in

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a grocery store, you just can’t eat 24 hours a day. Later, Capt. James

Capt. James McManus owns 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day on the water at (828) 421-8125.

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Hot Weather Trolling By Ronnie Parris

ey Folks! It’s here with a vengeance. The hot weather has put the fish deep and if your gonna’ take a good mess home for supper, your gonna’ need to adjust your tactics. My favorite way to do this is to slow troll the thermocline, and below, for bass, walleye and trout. On Fontana, the water has passed 80 on the surface and I’m having to fish from 65 to 90 ft deep for the walleye. My best baits have been Alabama rigs, spoons, such as Michigan stingers and Mr. Harold’s spoons-that I purchase from Harold Bridges, whom I consider to be the all-time best walleye man on Fontana Lake. I also catch a lot of fish on flicker shad and Rapalas; both fished either on a downrigger or a deep diver. Bass can be caught in multiple depths from the surface to as much as 70 ft.

Although spoons and Rapalas seem to work the best, I do catch some on crank baits and in line-spinners. The trout and steelhead, after a few dismal years, seem to be on the comeback. I’ve caught some big steelhead, rainbow, and brown trout on Fontana. All have been eating lots of threadfin shad, as we usually have several spit up in the boat after a catch. Watch for breaking fish and target these areas, as the walleye and trout will work under the bass that are pushing these bait schools around. The lake is at full pool and the fishing is good if you hit the right spot early. Early, being key, as the bite is usually over in a few hours. Stay safe, and as always, take a kid fishing!

Ronnie Parris is owner and head guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, N.C., heart of the Great Smoky Mountains www. smounlimited.com; (828) 488-9711. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Economic Impacts & Contribution to North Carolina’s Economy

rout fishing opportunities provided by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have a substantial economic effect on North Carolina’s economy. The economic impact and contributions of trout fishing opportunities within the Commission’s Public Mountain Trout Waters program totaled an estimated $383 million in 2014! According to a recent study, “Mountain Trout Fishing: Economic Impacts on and Contributions to North Carolina’s Economy,” nearly 149,000 trout anglers fished approximately 1.6 million days in North Carolina. The effects these trout anglers had on North Carolina’s economy in 2014 totaled an estimated $383 million. This figure represents anglers’ direct spending, such as purchases of fishing equipment, food and accommodations, as well as secondary spending by businesses associ-ated with trout angling and

their employees. Money spent on mountain trout fishing in 2014 supported approximately 3,593 jobs. Other study findings included: • For Wild Trout Waters, the estimated economic impacts were $60,765,562 and anglers spent approximately 276,804 days fishing these waters. • For Hatchery Supported Trout Waters and Delayed Harvest Trout Waters, the combined economic effects of stocked trout to North Carolina’s economy was $249,628,686, while the total cost of producing and stocking trout was approxi-mately $1 million, providing a return on investment of $250 for every $1 spent on trout production. ° Hatchery Supported: 710,665 angler fishing days= $141,273,525 ° Delayed Harvest: 390,085 angler fishing days= $108,355,161

Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING We offer both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.

1012 East Alarka Road, Bryson City, NC • 828-488-9711, Cell: 828-736-9471

smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com

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ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD

Nymphing: Understanding Weight Placement and Distribution By Ethan Hollifield

ike many things in fishing; sometimes the tiniest details can make a huge difference in whether your day on the water is successful or not. I always tell my clients that when they’re fishing, they need to put as many cards in their hand as possible, and this couldn’t be more true than when using nymph rigs while fly fishing. Whether you’re using suspension rigs with indicators or contact nymphing, the biggest limiting factor can come down to where/ how much weight you place within your system. Most people, by now, are familiar with the standard nymph rig setup: two nymphs, split shot, and an indicator. However, since this system of fly fishing is solely subsurface, it is difficult to imagine what happens once your flies hit the water and begin to sink through the water column. The size, weight, and density of your leader/ flies/ shot can all make or break what happens to your nymphing system, but most anglers never take any of these factors into account. If I had to pick two of the biggest mistakes I see people making, it would be where they place their weight, and also how much weight they add. Weight can be added to a nymph rig either by using the weight of the fly itself and/or by adding split shot when necessary. As far as weight placement is concerned, the heaviest fly needs to be at the “point” or end of your system. In the contact nymphing world, this is referred to as the anchor fly. You can also use a drop shot rig, where split shot is added below the flies, using a length of tippet tied off a dropper tag or off the bend of the hook of the last fly in the system. Having all of your weight at the end of your nymph rig allows for the rig to cast smoothly,

and also eliminates your number one enemy when nymphing: slack. This is especially important when fishing with indicators. If your split shot is placed between your flies and your indicator: a bow of slack develops that doesn’t allow for your line to become tight. This sometimes can lead to fish striking your flies at a certain depth, and your indicator won’t even so much as twitch on the water’s surface. Having your heaviest flies/ split shot at the tail end of your system allows everything to fall straight, almost like a pendulum, so that there is a much tighter connection from fly to indicator. The tighter the connection can be, the more strikes the indicator will pick up. For me personally, I try to use as little weight as possible with my nymph rigs. (In my opinion, if you have to add 3-4 pieces of split shot to hit the bottom, then you’re better off using a spinning rod). How much weight I add to the system depends on the current depth, speed, and the ability to maintain line control/ management during the drift. In all honesty, most nymph anglers can decrease the weight needed for their rigs by simply turning their bodies slightly more upstream, so that the flies actually have time to sink to where the fish are. When you cast perpendicular to a current lane, your flies immediately come under tension and start to swing downstream of your indicator or sighter, making the presentation look that much more unnatural. Most anglers compensate for this by adding more weight either in the form of a fly or split shot. However, sometimes breaking down your casting angle and presentation can make much more of a difference than just adding more weight alone will. It

should also be noted here that real nymphs (depending on their size and density) don’t plummet to the bottom immediately. Rather, they all fall at a certain rate naturally, and the trout key in on that fall rate more so than people realize. As stated, it’s the tiny details that can sometimes lead to success or total frustration when fishing, especially when using

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nymphs. Paying attention to the details and experimenting with different presentations and weight distributions can ultimately pay off big time in the long run. If you carefully study these details when you’re on the water, I can promise it will pay off in dividends.

Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2% For Conservation and a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers

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Bug Time

ugust is a great time to throw the biggest dry flies you have. I’m talking about the biggest and nastiest ones! About anywhere you go around here in the southern Appalachia’s, big dries will work, from the smallest streams to even tailwaters. Look to be casting hoppers, beetles, Letort Crickets and any of the biggest terrestrials. Many of our sparse hatches of mayflies and caddis flies have dissipated. If you see a hatch, these insects will be small. Since trout have become accustomed to looking up for their next meal, these larger flies can make it very enticing for trout to engulf them. We have been catching some monster trout lately feasting on what we’ve been offering them! Remember that fishing on a breezy early morning or late evening day will produce these larger terrestrials in our streams. Many will be knocked off due to being careless,

By James Bradley

the wind, or by being on the wrong leaf that becomes detached. One of the best things about throwing larger flies is that most anglers, at any age, can see them. Here are some tips on how to use that big dry fly. I see many anglers attempting to softly land a large dry fly pattern. Don’t spend too much time worrying about a soft cast. Big bugs don’t land softly. They smack the water. And big trout eat big patterns! We catch many large trout that come up from nowhere to eat these types of flies. First, you must get their attention. A real bug/hopper is heavy, and it’s got some meat to it. They hit the water’s surface with what I would call a “blop”, and this is the attention getter! If no luck on that big dry, then go with a hopper/dropper pattern with a big number 6 or 8 on top, with a small number 16–20 as the dropper. Remember, hatches are

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smaller in the summertime. Good casters can toss these rigs up under the rhododendron canopy where a likely trout will be hiding, and they can put flies where many anglers cannot. One of my favorite sayings (and there’s a lot of truth behind this) is “Good Casters catch all the Fish”. Anyways, grassy areas along the bank are a surefire place where grasshoppers may find their way into the stream. Casting a beetle pattern above a bank laden log can be another dandy place to float that dry by, and yes, even out in the wide-open middle of the stream. Use caution when casting these big hopper patterns as you may get the shock of a lifetime! Don’t forget about asking

us about our float trips. We are currently doing floats on the Toccoa Tailwater. She has been fishing pretty well lately. Casting problems - let us teach you the “Art of Fly Fishing” with one of our schooled instructors! Wanting to catch that trout of a lifetime – Give Us a Call, We’ll Hook You Up!

Reel ‘Em In Guide Service is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide based out of beautiful Ellijay, Georgia. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. Their Special Use Permit for Guiding allows them on the Chattahoochee National Forest, they have licensed guides for North Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and offer drift boat trips on the Toccoa River and the Tuckasegee River in NC.

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Connecting Woodfin to the French Broad River

he Greenway & Blueway project is an ambitious $18.1 million effort to construct five miles of greenway along the French Broad River and Beaverdam Creek. The project will provide new river access sites and will fund development of the new SilverLine Park as well as expansion of existing Riverside Park, in Woodfin. An exciting and much anticipated feature of the project will be the creation of the in-stream Wave feature for whitewater paddling and surfing enthusiasts. The planned greenway trails will connect to the larger greenway system being developed in the City of Asheville and beyond, promising a network of more than 25 miles of safe urban paths centering on the French Broad River. The project

is being designed and built by the Town of Woodfin, with Buncombe County Recreation Services supporting the effort with design and construction of the greenway elements of the project. The new Silver-Line Park will be built on a 4.5-acre site donated to the Town of Woodfin in 2012 by Silver-Line Plastics and the

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Silver family. The Park will provide a wide variety of opportunities including access to the river for recreational purposes, a children’s playground, and a connection with the Craggy Mountain Rail Line. Planned amenities include a trailerready boat ramp for river access, generous parking, picnic areas, stream bank restoration, a children’s

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playground, and walking trails. The existing commercial building may be converted into public restrooms, an outfitter that will provide bicycle and watercraft rentals, and possibly a small museum dedicated to railroad history in the region. The greenway trail will run through the site as well.

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The Wisdom of a Life Spent Fishing By Joe Woody

perk of my job, as Publisher of The Angler Magazine, is the conversations I get to have with people who are just as passionate about fishing as I am. You can see it in people’s eyes. Many times, lifelong friendships develop after just one story. You often compare notes, then make plans to visit someone’s favorite fishing spot with a trust of secrecy. That, my friends, is how you develop brotherhood, sisterhood and true companionship. It’s how I’ve done it anyways. I’m convinced that if you want to know the secret to a successful life, go fishing with an old timer who’s spent the majority of his or her life on the water or in the woods. You’ll learn about respect, conservation and hard work. You’ll learn how to study your craft and teach others, deserving of the knowledge, how to do the same.

Tyler Dicus at the Fins and Gills Classic

I’m sure people will argue with me about that hypothesis. I’m sure each side of the argument has it merits. Sometimes, the best advice comes from the most surprising people…children. The honesty and innocence combined with the wisdom of the words will shake you to the core of your wading boots. We were fortunate enough to advertise the Fins and Gill Classic a few months back. The “Classic” is a fishing tournament for children on the French Broad River, ran by Phillip Martin and his organization. He gives out prizes and no child leaves empty handed. He does a wonderful job and the Tournament continues to grow every year. Our next-door neighbor, Dylan Dicus saw the ad in the magazine and inquired about it for his son Tyler. Now Tyler, has the fishing

You’ll learn that proper preparation a boat, or walking trails with strong and planning can change your life. people for extended periods of time You’ll also learn that sometimes a is more valuable than any MBA but simple fishing trip will fix any ill. Sitting around a campfire, or in Continued, see WISDOM OF A LIFE SPENT FISHING Page 31

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The Call By Ben Bailey

I’ve tried to capture just what it is and how I feel, when the path grows steep, and the wind grows chill. It lures me on…step by step, maybe to splendor, maybe to death. Is it the top I seek, or the bottom, or the edge? Is it deeper in the forest or out on a ledge? I’ve been there. I’ve seen it all but as I turn to leave I still hear the call. Faster, farther, higher it speaks. Onward, outward, upward to the peak. It bids turn aside from the path of ease. I can no more ignore it than I could stop to breathe. It’s not just me it calls. It’s called those before…Carson, Bridger, Red Cloud and more. It lured Perry to the Pole, Cousteau to the sea…Lewis and Clark marched to its melody. It’s not unpleasant but quite the other way. It’s like success, victory…a holiday. I have no desire to escape my fate. When I hear the call I don’t even hesitate. Which makes me wonder as I ponder carefully… Do I hear a call at all or am I listening to me. Ben Bailey is a native of Western North Carolina, Master Carpenter, Avid Angler, and Naturalist.

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HIGH COUNTRY

The Piscine Picnic Basket

By Jeff Durniak Unicoi Outfitters

ummer is a great time for picnicking. It’s true for our finned friends, too, which look forward to fresh crops from streamside gardens for their summer calories. Here are a few favorite groceries found in our Unicoi Outfitters summer picnic basket, a.k.a. our fly box. First and foremost are ants, both dry and wet. Pick the size and color, black or red, to match the hatch on your favorite waters. We really like a Parachute Ant as the surface pattern because that vertical, white parachute post is easy to spot in pond shadows and creek riffles. Other good patterns are composed of foam and are virtually unsinkable, especially when coated with dry fly floatant. All ants don’t float, and many fish are scared to rise in

summer’s clear waters, so go down to them with a sunken ant. This is one of our favorite droppers, rigged two feet under our surface bug. Try a black fur ant in sizes 14 or 16 for soft waters and a tungsten-beaded ant to sink faster in swift or deeper flows. Next up is a nice beetle pattern. Beetles come in all shapes and sizes, but if you arm yourself with black foam beetles in sizes 8, 12, and 16, you’ll have the bases covered well. The patterns with a parachute post or a small strip of bright indicator foam on top will let you track your bug during its float. The bigger sizes must have rubber legs, while a few winds of black hackle will make the smallest beetle very leggy. A good size 8 beetle will also cover our third picnic basket item, crickets. Toss the bigger beetle along shaded, woody

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banks and let it drift along. O n c e you’re out of the woods and into the fields, you’ve entered hopper habitat. Hopper fanatics pray for some wind to “chum” ponds and lakes and have fish on the hunt along grassy banks. Grab a few hoppers in size 10 for bream and big trout and size 14 for headwater trout. Most are made of foam and float like a cork, especially when slathered in floatant. For picky fish, I really like the stealthy Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper, so give that pattern a look. We have a few groceries left in our basket. To imitate inchworms, stock a few Green Weenies or green Mop Flies to match this hatch, especially

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in the first half of summer. And if it rains hard, count your blessings. Be ready for the “spaghetti” hatch as earthworms wash in and stream fish gorge. Try a red Squirmy Worm or hot pink San Juan Worm on heavier tippet in turbid stormflows, and do NOT forget your net. Toss in a few #16 Adams dries to imitate mosquitos and a couple of #14 Yellow Stimulators, and your picnic basket is complete. Have a great time picnicking in waters near and far this summer. Stop by either of our UO stores and we’ll help you fill your basket.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21

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“Knock, Knock!”

By Chris Smith

ife has a way of speeding up when you’re not looking. It had been many years since Jake and Jake, Jr. had been able to get a line wet together. Jake has always been able to make jokes and keep the everyone in stiches, regardless of the work at hand or just hanging out. Both Jake and Jr. were able to be home at the same time for the first time in many moons. Susan was delighted to have her men home and under the same roof and had prepared a meal with their favorites. After the meal was devoured, Jake and Jr. went down to the shop. Jake noticed the fishing gear on the rack on the wall. He looked over to Jr. and asked if he wanted to go to the dock. Jr., of course, excitedly said, “Yes!”. So, they picked a couple of rods and grabbed the catfish tackle and loaded up. They had to drive a couple of miles to the property on the river and made a pit stop at a bait shop for some worms. The two of them were cracking jokes left and right on the drive. They eased up to the dock and grabbed their gear out of the back of the truck and walked out to the end. It had been raining earlier in the day and now the moon was out. For Jake, it wasn’t about the act of catching fish but more for the time with his son. Jr., on the other hand, was there to out-do his dad. The air was comfortable, the moon on the rise, and bugs not bad at all. Jake set his bag chair up and took a seat looking around at everything, watching the water and his son. Jr. had already baited up and made a cast. Jake enjoyed the lazy method of catfishing, you know, bait the hook with a weighted lead and casting a county mile, laying the bait on the bottom, and reeling the slack out and setting the rod down. Fifteen minutes or so has passed and Jr., luckily, had placed his rod between his boots, because his rod almost feel off the dock.

He grabbed it and pulled. The line went limp, and he said he must have missed it. Jake said, “Better check your bait”. Jr started reeling in and suddenly, the fight was on. Jake was watching his son have a good time and it brought back memories of him growing up and the fun they had camping and fishing. Well, Jr. was finally able to bring the catch up on the dock. It was a larger than a pan-size catch. While he was removing the hook and releasing the catch, he said, “that’s one”. Jake chuckled because he used to do that exact same thing to Jr. when he was younger. Jr. reset and made another cast. Another ten minutes or so passed and his rod bent in half again. This time the fish wasn’t ready to come to shore. Jake reeled his line in to get it out of the way since Jr. was having to chase his line. After a spell, Jr. was able to get the catch to shore, it was such a heavy catch he had to make his way off the dock and onto the bank. His catch was an exceptionally large channel cat. He brought it to the dock, where his pliers were, to remove the hook. Jake was happy for Jr. and was encouraging him on like dads do. Jr. was focused on the task and without missing a beat, he said ,“Knock, Knock!”. Jake, without thinking because he was also focused his son and the fish, said “Who’s there?” Jr. knew he had set the hook and was reeling his dad in for the kill…He said, “O and two!” and started laughing. Jake laughed so loud he was sure the campground across the river heard him. He smiled and said, “That’s my boy!”

Chris is a Combat Veteran recently retired. A few places he has deployed are Afghanistan, Jordon, Panama, and several other hostile areas. He is an avid outdoorsman that enjoys hunting, camping, COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Slow and Steady

his time of year can lead to many situations from fishing super shallow or going offshore for some action. Summertime fishing can remind you of the winter pattern as well, especially when the dog days of summer show up. Many of us will experience the recreational boaters that will add frustration and pressure on the bass. I will explain some other options for Summertime fishing to counteract the problems that come with it. Something to watch for in the early hours is the shad spawn on long tapering points. If you start early in the morning before the boaters hit the water, you can have an absolute great time during this period. When the sun starts to hit the water, the bass will either go deep on ledges or stay shallow under docks, grass, and brush. If you want to fish shallow you will want to use a pitching or flipping rod with a punch rig to get

By Scott Norton

down in the junk. Another option is to skip lures under docks and shade lines. Now this can go into a whole different story but to getting to the point, using popping frogs, poppers, spitters, and stick baits are the most popular choices for this situation. When bass go deep, the ledges and humps are where you want to concentrate. Using deep diving crank baits, jigs, magnum worms, flutter spoons, and lipless crank baits are a popular way to catch those bass. You will know when you see a ledge by the darker colored water. If you fish that color line you can cover a lot of water that way. Most of the time you can find your larger fish there since the forage is larger in size in the deep. Now the dog days will come and everything either gets harder or shuts down the bite. This is due to the higher water temperatures along with a rising thermocline, which cause fish to suspend. You can

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still catch these fish and there are techniques to do so. You can either downsize or swing for the fences and go with giant swim baits. Lures that come to mind are spy-baits and swim baits. You need to find the sink rates for these baits so that you can count down the seconds to what depth you see the suspending fish. If you have a live scope, it does all the work for you. It is like fishing in a video game. You can actually watch your bait drop on the screen making it easy to get in their faces with it. The best practice to avoid most or all traffic and have an amazing experience catching fish would be to fish at night during a new or full moon. The biggest fish wait for the calm of night to do the feeding. This is where you, as an angler, learn the importance of being stealthy. You can use a boat or kayak. There are advantages of both, like a boat covers

more water, and a kayak is quiet and sneaky. The lures that come to mind are topwater lures, spinner baits, and a chatter bait. Any bait with a thump or vibration will work. Try these different techniques and you will see a whole new world of possibilities. I hope this helps so have fun and happy hunting!

Scott Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior.

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C., he is warrior.

Fishing Across America

By Dr. Andrew Cox

recently made a trout fishing trip to the Missouri River in Montana. Rather than taking air transportation with its hassle of airports and crowded flights, I like to drive via automobile. In my travels, I have always been one to look over highway bridges that cross over onroute waterways. On this particular trip, I crossed over many waters within the continental United States. The United States is a vast country with varied landscapes, terrain, and climate. Varied waters are found to include brooks, springs, streams, farm ponds, rivers and both natural and man-made lakes of multiple sizes. My thoughts are that it would be nice to sample these various waters and the fish species inhabiting them. Some of these waters have fish species not found in our local Southeastern waterways. Several family members accompanied me on this particular trip and shared in the driving duties. On

this trip, we traveled via a motorized home rather an automobile. To pass time as we traveled through a state or observed a particular body of water; I would look up fishing opportunities and descriptions for the state’s waterways. There is much information describing fish species to target, fishing techniques, water access, and optimum time of the year for fishing bodies of water within each state. Over the course of my travel to Montana, I was particularly impressed with Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake, and the Land Between the Lakes region of Tennessee and Kentucky. These are large lakes with good fishing for a variety of warm water species. On several occasions, I crossed over the Missouri River as we traveled through Missouri and Nebraska. This waterway ranges from a large river surrounded by high limestone bluffs to a flat urban waterway. In Nebraska and Wyoming, we viewed various

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portions of the Platte River. This river has fish species ranging from high caliber trout fishing in Wyoming to warm water fishing throughout Nebraska. Though I focused upon fishing the Missouri River headwaters in Montana, I was able to sample a variety of waters within this state. This state has both mountainous and flatland rivers and streams as well as large lakes suitable for angling and other water sports. Each state through which we traveled had multiple fishing opportunities. These included the rugged, flowing mountain streams, and alpine lakes of the Rocky Mountains, the large reservoirs of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and South Dakota, and the lakes and rivers

of Mississippi and Alabama. Even New Mexico has beautiful flowing streams with desert views interspersed among snowcapped mountains. This trip through a large swath of south, middle, and western United States impressed me with the fact that fishing opportunities exist virtually everywhere in the United States. There is obviously more water than one can visit and fish in a human lifetime within this great country. Though I like to sample new waters and catch fish species that I have never or rarely caught, this trip made me realize that I do not have enough years left to sample fishing opportunities available in even the thirteen plus states that I traveled. What about the fishing in all the other states? Good fishing and be safe.

Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique-oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 25

Eastern America’s Highest Town B eech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern America and an ideal vacation spot in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Our elevation (5,506 feet) sets us apart 12 months a year. A visit to the Town of Beech Mountain offers exciting outdoor recreation and milehigh relaxation. In summer, adventure seekers flock to the Emerald Outback at Beech Mountain, a trail park which features more than eight miles of gorgeous trails near the top of the mountain. Hiking, mountain biking and trail running are prevalent in the Emerald Outback, as well as on several other miles of in-town trails maintained by the parks & recreation department. Downhill mountain biking trails, complete with lift service, are available during the warmer months at Beech Mountain Resort. Those trails range from beginner to advanced. The most challenging trails at the resort have twice hosted USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike

Gravity National Championships. The resort’s biking operation is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and offers bike rentals and lessons in addition to lift service. Families and seniors also covet summer vacations on Beech – hiking to waterfalls, enjoying 100-mile mountain vistas, visiting the animal habitat at nearby Grandfather Mountain and taking in a round of mini-golf in mild temperatures that average in the low to mid 70s. Fly anglers enjoy finding hidden trout streams across the mountain, while recreational fishing is available at Buckeye Lake and Coffey Lake, both of which are stocked annually. Coffey Lake also has a paved 1/8-mile trail around the lake that’s ideal for walking and jogging. The Mountain Heritage Trout Water (MHTW) program is all about convenience. It allows North Carolina residents and nonresidents to fish in MHTW streams simply by

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The resort’s Saturdays ntals and

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purchasing a three-day license for just $5. Anglers who already have a statewide fishing license do not need the special MHTW three-day license. Trout Fishing Buckeye Creek is a hatchery-supported stream (open first Saturday in April through last day of February) that flows out of Buckeye Lake, with nearby parking available at the town’s Buckeye Recreation Center. Buckeye Creek has some nice pools and riffles as it flows out of Buckeye Lake, and further downstream are several good fishing areas below a waterfall. It is stocked annually with brown, rainbow and brook trout. Pond Creek is designated catch-and-release single hook artificial lures only by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Parking for Pond Creek is available off Lakeledge Road at Lake Coffey. Pond Creek has a longer stretch of available water than Buckeye Creek. It is inhabited by native brook trout. Other options on Beech Mountain are Lake Coffey and Buckeye Lake, two small lakes stocked annually by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Lake Coffey is designated as delayed harvest trout waters, while Buckeye Lake is designated hatchery supported. Both receive a large annual infusion of brown, rainbow and brook trout. Anglers need a regular North Carolina inland license to fish in those lakes. Beech Mountain Guided Fishing presented by Beech Parks and Recreation. Get in the back country of Beech Mountain’s streams and secrete fishing holes. Learn to read water, bait selection, fly casting and how to approach mountain fishing. Call 828-387-3003 for more info and RSVP.

Trout anglers have multiple options on Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain Club A private club offering activities and facilities for visitors to enjoy year-round. Most lodging rentals include use of the Club and entitle visitors to amenities such as the 18-hole mountaintop golf course stretching 6,099 yards with a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

828-387-4208 103 Lakeledge Road Beech Mountain, NC 28604 beechmtn.club COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUST 2021 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 27 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM AUGUST 2021 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 27

UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Lake Hartwell Fishing Forecast for August 2021

ater temp.- mid 80s, wter level- full pool. August has all game fish in their summer pattern. All game fish migrate to deeper water in the summer. Stripers and hybrids migrate to the mid to lower lake in

By Preston Harden

the summer. Some years by August, most larger stripers are south of the fork, between the Seneca and Tugaloo rivers, where the Savannah River begins. We have had bad water quality for the last three years and the thermocline has made it to the lower

lake. The fish biologist says the huge rains have been a problem. Hopefully the heavy rains will subside. If there is a thermocline, fish will be above 40 feet. Bait will die if fished below the thermocline. If the thermocline does not make it to the lower lake, look for big fish as deep as 120 feet deep. Live herring works great. I add a few pounds of ice in the summer. I lower the bait thru the hot surface water quickly. Power reeling works great on these deep fish. A big 8-to-10-inch spoon, or a big jig head with a big swimbait, will get bit. When you reel thru the fish marked on the sonar, don’t slow down. Reel fast when you see a fish following. Bass and crappie move to deeper water around structure. I think the spots group up more as the water heats up. Look for brush piles 15 to 30

feet deep around points and humps. I will start with a top water plug and then a dropshot or a shakey head fished vertically where I mark the spots on the sonar. When you find one, there are usually more.

Preston Harden / Bucktail Guide Service / 706-255-5622 / bucktailguideservice.com

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AUGUST 2021

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 29

follow of the This h for the Chatto thund the w lowere time water surviv that th to find lower levels, surviv but tru couple rain ev for all Ba been low a section quite summ

WISD

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Pack It Out!

By Karl Ekberg

ig clouds start to billow high into the summer blue sky, then a few claps of thunder, followed by the typical downpour of the summertime thunderstorm. This has been the trend of weather for the river corridors surrounding Chattooga River Fly Shop. Although thunderstorm rains have graced us, the water temperatures have not lowered below 60 for quite some time now. This equates to tough water conditions for the trout to survive. Lower water levels, means that the trout have fewer deep holes to find low temperature water, and lower flow levels equal lower oxygen levels, critical for the trout to survive. Continued storms will help, but truly some lower temperatures, coupled with a moderate two-day rain event would be very beneficial, for all the river corridors. Bass fishing on the rivers has been great with water levels as low as they are. Wading lower sections of the Chattooga, has been quite a refreshing treat from the summertime heat. Finding the bass

and panfish in the back eddies, and slower moving waters, using top water flies has been explosive. There are certainly times where these great fish are not willing to rise to the occasion. Therefore, finding a baitfish pattern of their delicacy, is in the works. This is a great time of year to take kids out on the river, as they can see fish rise to good size flies-A great way to spend a day, especially with the start of school just around the corner. Mid-morning to midafternoons has been the productive hours of the day for these fine fish, Colton Wooles from Tampa, FL, on the Chattooga and this trend will continue until with his first trout on a fly rod the “Dog Days” of summer subside into our Fall fishing. Lands, and if we all do our part, our Be safe and we hope to see you out As we are all enjoying the greater grandchildren’s grandchildren will on the rivers. outdoors this summer, whether have a great place to visit, as we do. we are hiking, boating, camping, or fishing, let us all remember Karl and Karen Ekberg are co-owners of Chattooga River Fly leave with everything we brought Shop, located at 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 and visit their website with us. If we all take back out of at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com. the wilderness, what we entered with, the greater outdoors will be a great wilderness for generations to come. We are all guests of National Forests, State Parks, and Private

WISDOM OF A LIFE SPENT FISHING continued from page 18 passion. He fishes in the little stream behind our house and often catches fish under our bridge. He goes fishing, and when he’s not fishing, he’s talking about fishing. I’ve watched him direct his own fishing videos and give expert commentary. He is probably one of those kids who could catch fish in a mud puddle. I should mention that Tyler is seven years old. Tyler entered the Fins and Gills classic and came in second place. He won a bicycle, a backpack and some fishing rods. I happened to arrive home while he was organizing all of his gear and planning his next trip. I asked him how he did and with a huge smile on his face, he

told me he came in second place in his age group. He also told me what bait he’d used, where he fished and why he chose the spot. He also waxed philosophical about how he probably could have done better if he would have tried some other stuff…Does this sound familiar? He then grew quiet and contemplative while further organizing his gear. After a short, quiet moment, he said, “You know…it’s all about how you wiggle your worm”. He said this with the conviction and wisdom of a grizzled fishing veteran who’s seen some things. He then said nothing else and put his fishing gear away…I am in awe.

Joe Woody is Co-Publisher of The Angler Magazine with his wife Debra. He is an Army Veteran and a self-proclaimed “Adventure Angler”. You can usually find him wandering.

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 31

32 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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urf Expo is a lot more than surf. As the largest and longest-running watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow in the world, the show is about watersports; it’s about boating; it’s about everything that has to do with the coastal lifestyle. Surf Expo’s “Bluewater” category caters to the fishing lifestyle that is an inherent part of the “waterman” lifestyle of today’s watersports enthusiast who lives on, in and for the water or just aspires to the lifestyle. Surf Expo caters to all things water, from surfing, to fishing, and paddling on a SUP, kayak or canoe, or just a day at the beach or on the lake. For apparel and accessory brands and manufacturers, Surf Expo is the ideal place to promote products to a new audience of buyers searching for products to cater to the “waterman” customer. AFTCO’s Chairman and CEO Bill Shedd said, “We’ve been coming to Surf Expo since the beginning, and we were one of the first to be in the Bluewater section—where we’ve found a new home. There’s a whole lifestyle around saltwater, offshore and big game fishing that’s bled off into inshore fishing and more of an outdoor activity in the broader outdoor world. AFTCO fits into that.” For buyers, it’s the ideal way to conveniently shop top fishing apparel and accessory brands and source from the show’s 10 other water-related categories to fill shelves with everything from sunglasses and sunscreen to towels, footwear and sportswear. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream. Owner of Sarasota fishing and boating landmark CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Aledia Tush said, “We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years. We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!” Brands you’ll find in Bluewater at Surf Expo include AFTCO, Deep Blue Gear, Fish Hippie, Habit Outdoors, Jeep by Buck Wear, John Boy Brand, MANG Gear, Marsh Wear Clothing, Reel Life, Reelhead, Salt Life, The Qualified Captain, Unsalted Coast and WTF-What The Fin. Other core brands to be found across the show include Costa, YETI, Salty Crew, Avid Gear, Hook & Tackle, Reel Skipper, Beach and Barn, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Unsalted Coast, Skinny Water Culture and many, many more. Surf Expo’s upcoming show stages September 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center’s West Concourse in Orlando, Fla. Registration is free for qualified retailers, at surfexpo.com or contact steven.fisher@surfexpo.com.

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CAMP FOR TROUT DEEP IN THE SMOKIES By Nick Carter

hen the boat dropped us off Friday morning, it was with an understanding someone would return for us Sunday afternoon. We debarked into two nights and three days of camping and trout fishing deep in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With no cell service or road access for miles in any direction, we were about as disconnected as you can get in this part of the world. It was a glorious feeling. Actually, one of our guides, Jake Tallent, of Fish Tales Outfitters in Franklin, N.C., had a satellite phone/EPIRB “for emergencies.” Around the campfire one night, he admitted using it to text his girlfriend. Guess the whole out-of-touch and roughing-it fantasy is a little outdated these days. We weren’t really roughing it much at all. Tallent and our other guide, Nick Potts, rolled cartloads of gear up the trail to our campsite near the mouth of Hazel Creek. Three other clients and I sat in camp chairs and got to know each other while the guides set up camp. That set the mood for the weekend. The camping was comfortable, everything was provided for. All we were expected to do was fish hard, enjoy ourselves and return to hot meals around a campfire each evening. Hazel Creek flows through high mountains on the north shore of

North Carolina’s Lake Fontana. Road access to the north shore was completely cut off in the 1940s, when TVA flooded this impoundment of the Little Tennessee River. Abandoned, the communities that existed there returned to the forest. In three-quarters of a century since, it has become one of the most beautiful and historically intriguing areas of the Smokies. The best access is by boat across the lake. Proctor, N.C. is the ghost town on Hazel Creek. The town’s main drag, Calico Street, is now the gravel trail that parallels the creek for 15 miles up into the hills. Ruins of Proctor are hidden everywhere in the creek and up steep wooded hillsides. Tallent regaled us with history as we passed landmarks hiking upstream in search of good trout water each day. The creek itself is on the large side of typical for the park. It is cold and clear with a relatively flat gradient that makes for easy streamside hiking. A mix of boulder-strewn stretches and bedrock shoals create interesting holding water. There are also some deep, dark pools. Hazel Creek is loaded with beautiful 7- to 12-inch stream-born rainbow trout. There are also some big browns lurking in the deep holes. Over three days of fishing, we caught good numbers of fish with simple dry-dropper rigs on 3- and 4-weight fly rods. There’s nothing more fun than wading up a mountain stream to toy with wild trout that are eager to jump on a dry fly. Hazel Creek is a gorgeous place to do it. For a guided backcountry trip into the Great Smoky Mountains, check out Fish Tales Outfitters at www.fishtaleswnc.com.

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