GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION
@CAMTAMagazine
FREE
LOCAL CATCH PHOTOS
CURRENT INTEL FROM AREA GUIDES
MOUNTAIN LAKE
SMALLIES PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY SHOEMAKE IG: @EMILYSHOEMAKE
VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 323
F R A N C H I S E
THEANGLERMAG.COM O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
FEBRUARY 2022
W O R L D W I D E
P360-COAS-FP-JAN-2021-OUTLINED.indd 1
1/12/2021 12:00:28 PM
Protect your baby (and their toys) with coverage for fishing gear and personal property too. 1- 8 0 0 -PROG RE S S IVE / PROG RE S S IVE .COM
Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates. Additional charge may apply. Prices vary based on how you buy.
Shhhhh. No wake zone.
HOOKED ON™ A CLEAN OCEAN
CLEANING OUR OCEANS FOR A BETTER
TOMORROW
SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe. Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
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. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product 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. All rights reserved.
C Pr
The
C
a m coun mode Flotti with
Covert Italian Navy Program’s Secret Revealed!
® Staueler Price
ImpossibLY ON
$49
The Italian Royal Navy makes a very compelling case … ONLY $49!
C
all in the frogmen! That’s what you say when a military mission calls for combat scuba divers and swimmers. Many countries have their own elite forces of frogmen, but the first modern frogmen were the Italian commando unit of Decima Flottiglia MAS. These men pioneered a new kind of war, and with it, new types of tools.
That’s when they created the cushion case, an iconic watch shape that mixes comfort with top-shelf mechanics. Known best for its square shape with rounded corners, the cushion case became a hallmark of the Frogmen of the Italian Navy. Inspired by this workhorse of a machine, we’ve crafted the Royal Cushion Watch, a watch that aims to cushion the blow from other, overpriced timepieces. Big, ultra-masculine, yet somehow refined, this historic case is a design with heritage and panache. Don’t believe us? Ask GQ. The publication’s UK edition recently wrote that “cushion-shaped watches are the hottest timepiece trend.” “Forget round,” it wrote. “Screw square. These watches are easy on the eye, but also on the wrist.” Water resistant up to 3 ATM, this rough-and-tumble watch features a precision movement, champagne dial, blue Breguet-style hands and markers and a date window at 6 o’clock. Usually a cushion case watch of this caliber would set you back thousands, but because Stauer designs and crafts its own timepieces, we can offer you the Royal Cushion without having to touch the royal coffers. This is a ridiculously good offer for a classic, handsome watch. Don’t get too comfortable — the first time we offered this watch, it SOLD OUT in TWO DAYS! Finally, our artisanal watchmakers have provided us with a few more. With only 1,581 637 in stock, you need to act fast before you’re sunk. Watch Specifications: • Precision movement that oscillates 32,768 times each second • Stainless steel crown and caseback • Black leather band. 44 mm case diameter • Water resistant to 3 ATM. Date window at 3 o’clock • Fits wrists to 8 1/2" Stauer Royal Cushion Watch $299 $49* + S&P *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Join more than 1 million stauer watch collectors
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: RCW136-01
Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. RCW136-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com
Stauer® |
AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY
®
M
ost folks associate the word “gators” with big scaly reptiles or a college mascot. Mention gators to a cadre of hardcore inshore anglers and you are likely to elicit fond memories of 30-plus-inch silver flanks speckled with black spots and gaping yellow mouths sporting a wicked pair of canine teeth. I’m talking about seatrout, big trophy trout that prompt some of us to wake up at 4 a.m. so we can be on the water throwing topwater plugs at first light. Big trout don’t act like their smaller brethren, and the techniques that hammer schoolies won’t work on bigger fish. Most gator trout are caught on shallow grass flats 1 ½ to 3 feet deep. Look for flats with dense grass mixed with a few sandy potholes that big trout use to ambush prey. The flat should also have a healthy supply of bait like mullet or pinfish, and it should be close to deeper water, so a wary old trout has a short escape route. During the hottest days of summer, big trout retreat to deeper water off the edge of a flat or seek out shade under mangroves or docks. During the coldest nights of winter, gator trout move into deep channels, canals and dredge holes where they can be targeted with sinking plugs and shrimp imitations worked slowly along the bottom. Seatrout see well in low light, unlike their prey items, like mullet. So, big trout feed best during low light. It is best to
By Paul MacInnis
SLING LURES for Grass Flat Gator Trout
fish early mornings, late evenings, on overcast days and at night. It may seem counter intuitive, but more trophy trout are caught on artificials than bait. Big trout are loners. Lures allow you to cover a lot of water, increasing your odds of intercepting bigger fish. About 80 percent of an adult seatrout’s diet is fish. With that in mind, large mullet-imitating lures are a good choice. The classic gator trout lure is a topwater “walk-the-dog” bait like the venerable Zara Spook. Of course, big swimbaits and shallowrunning plugs also work, along with soft plastic shrimp. A seatrout doesn’t grow to trophy size by being stupid. Big trout are wary and will evacuate a flat at the slightest indication of danger. Hull slaps and pressure waves from a drifting boat put wise old trout on high alert. It’s best to ditch the skiff and either wade or fish from a minimally invasive vessel like a kayak. It also helps to make long casts to get your lure in front of a fish before it detects your presence. Catching a true gator seatrout is not easy, and even when you do everything right there is still an element of luck involved. When you finally catch that trophy fish, handle with care and release her gently. A mature female seatrout can release over a million eggs during a spawn. Let her go to release her big-fish DNA into the gene pool.
He sec inc Use promocode CA2022 at Fellmarine.com to receive a special offer!
ALWAYS ON - NEVER INTRUSIVE
Complies with new USCG regulation regarding mandatory emergency lanyard use 6 NATIONAL
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Wh qui com of c inc to
Th sitt tha Ce uni U.S
Eac II H All
FREEDOM WITH SAFETY
www.fellmarine.com
W
194
YOUR PERSONAL LIFEGUARD...
The MOB+™ is a life-saving device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill switch, and stops the engine should you fall overboard. Connect up to 4 people at the same time.
AU W
Now available at: & (Online only) Or find your local retailer at www.fellmarine.com/retailers
Loo in t
Go
Gov Gov publ tions
$
SA VE
70
NTIC AUTH E E E L T WWI I S S CE NT
OV E
R
Actual size is 19 mm
W
hen our buyer received the call, he nearly fell out of his chair. In his 19 years in the coin business, he had never seen a hoard like this. 20,000 coins—all 1943 Lincoln Steel Cents! He quickly secured as many as he could, and now you can secure full rolls of this historic World War II-era coin at an incredible price.
What is a Steel Cent?
When the United States entered World War II, copper quickly became a coveted material. Required for our communications as well as munitions, every major supply of copper needed to be turned over to the war effort. That included the large supply of copper used by the U.S. Mint to strike Lincoln Cents! The Lincoln Cent is the U.S. Mint’s longest-running series, sitting in the pockets and piggy banks of Americans for more than 100 years. But for one year only—1943—the Lincoln Cent was struck in steel-coated zinc instead of copper. This unique, historic mintage is now one of the most coveted in U.S. history!
Authentic Pieces of WWII History
much as $2.25 per coin, or a total of $112.50 for a full 50-coin roll’s worth! But while our supplies last, you can secure a 50-coin roll of authentic World War II 1943 Steel Cents for Only $39.95—a savings of over $70! Buy multiple rolls and SAVE EVEN MORE! In addition, you’ll also receive a BONUS Replica WWII newspaper, reprinting front-page news! There’s no telling when or if another hoard of these historic WWII coins will be found. Don’t wait—secure your very own piece of the Allied victory now!
1943 U.S. Steel Cent 50-Coin Roll
1-2 Rolls- $39.95 ea. + s/h 3-4 Rolls- $38.49 ea. + FREE SHIPPING 5-10 Rolls- $36.75 ea. + FREE SHIPPING Limit 10 rolls per customer
BONUS
REPLICA WWI I NEWSPAPER
FREE SHIPPING over $149 $99!
Limited time special, normally free shipping applies to orders of $149. Product total over $99 before taxes (if any). Standard domestic shipping only. Not valid on previous purchases.
Each 1943 U.S. Steel Cent is an authentic piece of World War II History—an example of America’s dedication to aiding the Allies and winning the war.
Buy a Full Roll and SAVE!
Look elsewhere for these coveted World War II Steel Cents in this same condition, and you could wind up paying as
Call today toll-free for fastest service
1-800-329-0225 Offer Code RLC378-02 Please mention this code when you call.
SPECIAL CALL-IN ONLY OFFER
GovMint.com • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept. RLC378-02, Eagan, MN 55121 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2022 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.
The Experts in Custom Rod Building Have Much to Share
M
ud Hole Custom Tackle is the world’s largest supplier of rod building and tackle crafting goods and instruction. The heart of Mud Hole is its people, who strive for excellence and truly care about what they do. From leadership to customer service, and from product development to the warehouse floor, Mud Hole is comprised of passionate anglers and rod builders who use their own products every day and are eager to bring custom rod building to anglers everywhere. Established in the 1970s as a custom rod shop in New Jersey, and named after the famed Mud Hole trench at the outflow of the Hudson River, Mud Hole has truly humble, “tackle-shop” origins. Things really picked up in 1999, when the headquarters moved to Oviedo, Florida and the Internet made it easier to connect across the globe. Promoting the many benefits of custombuilt fishing equipment, Mud Hole Custom Tackle thrived and brought custom rod building to the masses. As interest in rod building grew and the industry flourished, Mud Hole dedicated itself to providing accessible DIY rod building instruction and resources to anyone who wanted to learn. Today, the Mud Hole YouTube channel hosts almost 500 videos with over 10 million views, and is followed by over 31,000 subscribers. From Rod Building
101 instructional videos to product reviews to Rod Recipes to Mud Hole TV episodes—where the team builds custom rods and puts them to the test against the most popular target species—Mud Hole provides the highest quality, most entertaining rod building content available. In addition to recorded video content, Mud Hole also hosts a live, streamed rod building show, Mud Hole Live, where hosts and guests share rod building techniques with an interactive, online audience. Who knew that custom rod building would hit the big time! Beyond making quality rod building content easily accessible to DIY audiences, Mud Hole also offers custom rod building classes with professional instructors. The workshops take place in the Mud Hole Education Center in Oviedo, Florida, in local markets across the U.S., and even online, in the comfort of your own home. A variety of topical classes are offered, from beginner workshops to application-specific builds, such as surf, fly, redfish and mahi rods. All classes include every component, supply, and all of the personal interaction needed to build high quality, custom fishing rods. Mud Hole also collaborates with schools and youth organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H to bring rod building to students through
specialized programs and education curriculum. In its 13 years, the Mud Hole Education program has reached over 30,000 students across 650 institutions in the United States, Canada and Australia. For Mud Hole, it’s not just about selling customers the components, tools and supplies they need with top-notch customer service, it’s also providing all of the instruction and resources to help them build! It’s about supporting and growing the community of rod builders who share a passion for custom rod building. Check out all that Mud Hole Custom Tackle has to offer at mudhole.com.
YOUR RODS. YOUR WAY. Elevate your fishing game with custom built rods.
8 NATIONAL
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
MUDHOLE.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 1
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA
Trout Fishing In The Snow
S
nowfall in the South is always a different kind of time. Ice with the snowfall definitely deters almost all from travel; only the bravest seem to find their way to the rivers and are paid off with the crisp quietness of snowflakes hitting the surface of the water. There is almost an eerie quiet, as one takes in the absolute purest, white covered ground imaginable, surrounding the rivers edge. A chirp or two of a few birds, may be the exception to the undisturbed solitude, then a few casts and a fish on, fills one’s head in pure delight of fly fishing solitude. In some places in the country, there are many more opportunities a year to have this incredible experience, we hope you were able to during the January storm, or have the opportunity in the future! Stop in the shop and we can surely help with numerous
By Karl Ekberg
snowfall flies, and the access points, which will be a little more desirable for winter travel. The last thing, after a great day of fly fishing, is to not be able to get out from the river. Water temperatures have been hovering around the forty-degree mark for a while, and the day time temperatures have been from the mid-forties to mid-fifties with night time marks below freezing. Warmer days have been producing great numbers and large fish as well. Tight line nymphing has been a great way to land many fish. Fishing near the river bottom, where the water of the river is the warmest, has been the key to a successful day. Heavy nymphs to get to the river bottom with small fly trailers, is the way to go. A pinch or two of split shot may be necessary during higher stream flows. The use of streamers at this
2 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
Caleb Wombles & Jared Ketterman on the Chattooga yesterday with Guide Byron Daughtery.
Continued, see TROUT FISHING IN THE SNOW Page 11
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 3
Winter Boat Maintenance By Capt. Cefus McRae – NutsAndBoltsFishing.com
W
intertime is finally here, and your boat has been put on the trailer or on the storage rack to sit out the winter doldrums until the dogwoods bloom in the spring. If boats could talk, this is probably their loneliest time of year with nothing to do and no trips to the water. It’s kind of sad, actually. If you find yourself with a few extra hours to spare on a winter weekend, there are a few things you might want to do that will make both your boat and you happy. You’ll find this especially true when it’s time to put her back on the water in the spring. Now, depending on exactly where you live, winter may bring sub-zero temperatures for a few days or weeks, or in the deeper South, the thermometer may never go below 40 degrees. Either way, the cold temps and humidity changes can do some funny things
to your boat, motor, and the gear you may have left on board. Let’s assume that you’ve done all the winterizing preparations that I’ve written about before; drain plug out, fuel stabilizer, winterize the engine, checked and charged batteries, checked electrical connections, checked the trailer winch, bunks, wheel bearings, and performed a thorough cleaning inside and out. So what could be left to do, you’re thinking? OK, here are a few things to consider. 1. Did you remove your PFD’s (lifejackets and throwables) and put them in a dry place? Lifejackets are probably the single-most overlooked and important items on boats these days. It’s the old ‘outof-sight, out-of-mind’ thing. They usually get stored in the bottom recesses of a compartment, and that compartment is probably damp. So check them for mildew, and either clean them really well, or if
4 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
they’re really nasty, swap them out for some new ones. When you’re checking them, really tug on the straps and the seams where the neck meets the front flotation pieces. If there’s a tear or signs of weakness, replace them. If you get stopped by the DNR, Coast Guard, or Marine Patrol, and they see tattered PFD’s, those no longer qualify as reliable devices on the boat, and you could wind up with a ticket. If you ever find yourself in an emergency where you need them, no one wants a lifejacket that’s falling apart as they put it on. 2. Check your fire extinguisher. Again, this is another often overlooked but extremely important piece of safety gear on your boat.
The dry chemical extinguishing agent in your fire extinguisher has a tendency to settle in the bottom of the canister. Since boats ‘pound’ as they’re zipping across the waves, the powder can cake up in the bottom. That presents the possibility that if you ever needed it, all that would come out would be the propellant, not the fire extinguishing powder. So, first check the gauge on the extinguisher. Tap it a couple times with your finger to insure that it’s not stuck. Then flip the ex-
Continued, see WINTER BOAT MAINTENANCE Page 20
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 5
Lake Hartwell Fishing Forecast for February 2022
W
By Preston Harden
ater Level-4 feet below full pool. Water Temp.-51 degrees
February can be a tough month. Most game fish don’t eat much as their metabolism slows. When the water temperature drops below 48 degrees, the only good option is crappie. Crappie will eat, no matter how cold the water gets. There are many ways to catch crappie. First, you have to fish where the crappie are which is sometimes 15 to 30 feet deep. Small crappie minnow work great and a slip float works to get the minnow to the depth the crappie are holding. Slow trolling small crappie jigs also catch lots of crappie. I like to work a 1/32 oz. Jig
in the shade of a dock or a bridge. I work the jig very slow on 4 lb. Test line. The bite will be subtle and hard to detect. Sometimes the line goes slack as they feed up. Crappie are my favorite fish to eat in Lake Hartwell. They taste best when the water is cold. As we get toward late February, the water can get warmer in the backs of the creeks and, usually, the biggest stripers get active first. If you fish in February, be mindful of hypothermia. I always wear a PFD when I am alone. Hypothermia will set in quickly so have a plan to get back in the boat with wet clothes that may feel like you are wearing weights.
Preston Harden / Bucktail Guide Service / 706-255-5622 / bucktailguideservice.com
6 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Heat Up Your Wintertime Bass Fishing with These Hot Spots By Jay Striker Barnett
F
ishing in the winter can be tough on anglers, not only dealing with cold outside temperatures, but also having to find fish in cold and unstable water conditions. There are three reliable patterns I choose when fishing in the winter, and they are roadbeds, points, and riprap in that order. They are bass magnets when it’s cold. Roadbeds are some of the most overlooked places that anglers miss when bass fishing. If anglers would take just a little time locating a bass magnet like a roadbed, they would find that fish are there and many times are big and not pressured. When fishing roadbeds, I try to focus on any irregularity that shows up on my electronics. It may be a rock pile, a ditch with stumps, etc., but if you find something different,
you will find fish hanging around it. Bass use roadbeds as a migration route to and from different access areas. Locate roadbeds on a map, and if they are close to a channel or other structure, be sure to fish them. My favorite baits for fishing roadbeds are Rapala deep diving crankbaits and the Fish Head Spin, as they allow me to cover the entire water column effectively. I then back them up using a Carolina Rig with a standard soft plastic. Main lake points are the second stop on the list as they are another piece of structure that will be holding fish in the winter. When fishing points, I try to locate the points that run a long way out from the bank and into a drop off. This allows me to use many different presentations and gives bass the ability to move up and down the
8 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
water column easily, I usually start out using deep diving crankbaits if the point is deep, because I want to stay in contact with the bottom as much as possible. Using big baits is also key to fishing wintertime points, because bass need the assurance that the bait it chases is worth the energy spent doing so. Slow rolling big spinnerbaits over points in the winter also get the nod. I trick out my spinnerbait by painting the entire bait white, blades and all. Riprap holds bass in the winter, and it is the third stop on my list. Riprap exists to retain the earth from moving. However, the added benefit is that it becomes a bass magnet. Riprap holds all of the micro and biological food sources that attract baitfish and provides shelter, so when there is bait, bass
won’t be far away. When fishing riprap, I always start on the west side of the lake, because it will warm faster, as the sun rises in the east. I start out throwing a crankbait parallel to the bank and work my way off the bank getting deeper and deeper to locate the active zones. I look for some type of change in the riprap because bass are usually attracted to it, so I try to be sure to hit the corners of the riprap as bass use it as an ambush points. When fishing in the winter, don’t overlook some of the best bass locations on the lake. Roadbeds, points, and riprap could be the best way to break down a lake in the winter and start catching fish faster. Thanks for taking the time to read and check me out at www. jaystriker.com.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 9
The Casting Corner: Why The Fly Line Tangles On The Last Cast
I
By Rene J. Hesse
t seems that, after a series of good false casts, my delivery cast will be a disaster; usually, it is, on a hurried cast or a long cast. When I make one of the casting errors, it causes a tailing loop. The fly line tangles, or lands on top of itself. What is happening is that the line is being unloaded above the oncoming line. That’s because the rod tip went in a concave path. We want the loop to come off the end of the rod and form a loop over the tip of the rod. Here are the causes and corrections for the tailing loop.
There are a few things that cause the rod tip to dip and come back up in a concave path: • An erratic or abrupt application of power. • Too short of a casting stroke for the amount of line out of the rod tip. • Creeping, which is coming forward with the rotation of the rod before the line has extended in back. • Trajectory - A high back cast and then a high trajectory forward cast. Corrections: • Erratic Power – Make a smooth constant rate of power through the cast. Apply the proper amount of power at the proper time. When we put that last “WHAM” on a cast, it is going to drop the rod tip and cause the tailing loop. Keep that smooth power application you are using on the false casts when you do the delivery cast. • Short Stroke – Think in terms of ‘short cast/short stroke and long cast/long stroke’. As the false casting extends line, make sure the casting stroke length AND casting arc increase. • Creeping – This is one of the hardest to catch. When you stop 10 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
in the back cast to let the line extend, if you rotate your wrist and the rod tip starts toward the target, it will shorten the casting arc and cause a tailing loop. Instead, when you stop in the back cast, drift your rod tip back toward the unfolding line. Be careful not to rotate down towards the ground with the rod tip, but go up and back. That will increase the arc and stop the creeping. • Trajectory – Aim your cast a few feet over the target. Too often the forward cast is aimed 10-15 feet over the target on the false cast or delivery cast. There should be a 180 degree line between the trajectories of the back to the target. We want a straight line on all paths away from the target and back to it. Don’t let a V form between the back and front cast. Those are the main reasons I tend to ruin my cast. By watching my back cast unfold, I can often correct a few of the errors. I am being aware there may be an issue if I rush or have the wrong trajectory. There are other things that can cause the rod tip to dip and go in a concave path. There are situations that we can use the tailing loop as part of a cast, too. Being limited in words here, I can’t do it justice, so for greater detail, go to Fly Fishers International for more info.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Crappie Fishing on the Lake
I
By James Pressley
t’s hard to not start this article with “I remember when”. However, I remember when the best anglers on the lake were bass anglers. We all wanted to be those guys with the Ranger boats and 100 rods with tackle boxes overflowing and the cool shirts with logos on them. Times, it seems, have changed. Crappie anglers, it seems, hold those ranks today. I had the chance this month to fish with Richard Malcom, local guide and tournament angler who lives in Buckhead. Like me, Richard has fished Oconee and Sinclair all his life. He just chases a different fish. We got to talking one afternoon and Richard assured me he could show me how to shoot docks and put good crappie in the boat without the need for the latest and greatest technology. We met up right after the rain stopped on a Thursday afternoon. We launched the boat at Sugar Creek Marina and never got above the 44 bridge, my friends. After just a short run, Richard pulls up to a dock and rigs up his rod of preference; a 6’0” medium-light action Todd Huckabee crappie rod with a 25 series reel and 4-pound test high visibility line on it. His lure of choice is a 1/24th ounce Jiffy Jig with a little bit of Slabslobber on it (a product Richard makes). The key to dock shooting, while not complicated, is difficult to grasp at first. Keep your rod parallel to the water, pull the jig back towards the reel, and bend it enough to get the distance you need. Start with the jig at the largest guide and pull it back from there. Learn to adjust the angle of approach by adjusting the position of the hand holding the jig, all while remembering to let go of the line a split second after releasing the jig. When you manage to get these all lined up and properly executed, the jig will disappear under the dock and go way back in there, where few have gone before. But wait, there’s more; the retrieve. Once you manage to get the jig back under the dock, you must retrieve it correctly! It’s a slow steady retrieve after counting down
the lure to the desired depth. That’s all fine and good, but here’s the hard part; FEELING THE BITE! It ain’t gonna’ happen, my friend. You got to watch that high-vis line. When you SEE that line jump, you better swing. Hit him, because he’s got it. The way they feed, you won’t necessarily ever feel him bite the jig. The crappie will swim up, take the jig, and keep going up for a bit. All you will see is the line jump. At the first dock we came to, Richard rigs up and shoots back underneath it’s a good 8 feet to the center of the dock. He doesn’t turn the reel twice before he has a nice crappie on. Crappie lands in the livewell and Richard shoots again. Another crappie. Now, I’m not a smart guy, but I can sense a pattern here, so I proceeded to learn how to do this so I can catch a fish. True to my form, the first fish I catch doing this is…..a bass. Yep. Shooting docks with a tournament crappie angler and my first catch is a largemouth bass. After some more coaching and getting the retrieve down, I did manage to finally get in the battle and land some crappie. In the span of time from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm that evening after almost 8” of rain that week, we caught around 40 crappie and kept a mess of 20. Now, here are the details on how to get started with this technique. If you already do this, I am sure you will have things you want to add to my list, but if you are just getting started, this is a basic list and “how to”: 1. Rod is important – You need a medium-light to medium rod with a deep action. You don’t have to spend $90. A Shakespeare or Berkley rod that is 6’ medium-light is going to work just fine. According to Richard, you will break a few learning to do this. I can easily see how. 2. Reel - A 25 to 30 series reel is best. The reason for a larger reel is line memory and the ease of the line coming off the spool. When you shoot the line back under the dock, you need it to come off without twisting and tangling, and the larger spool helps with that.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3. Line – For starters, begin with 4-pound test and HI-Vis. Since with this technique you are not so much feeling a bite but seeing the line jump, you need to be able to actually see it. Berkley makes a good Hi-Vis yellow for instance and even an orange. 4. Jigs – Jiffy Jig makes a 1/24th and most other manufacturers apparently make a 1/32. Those are the best sizes according to Richard to shoot for beginners. Lighter or heavier and it changes the workings of the whole system, it appears. Colors are not a huge concern for Richard. It’s just the size. 5. Boat – You can do this off anything with a bit of creativity. Richard runs an Xpress bay boat and I run a Robalo bay boat. If I stand in the cockpit area, I can get low enough to shoot under these
docks. 6. Trolling motors – This is important. Boat control is key here. Spot lock certainly helps and paying close attention to the wind, so you are not blown into a dock, is important. 7. Electronics – All you really need for this is a map. Richard likes docks for the majority of the year that are 12’ deep or deeper and close to deeper water. Look for ditches, creeks, and channels that run into coves or the main lake. Also, the lower the dock, the darker it will be under it. Crappie are light sensitive and will be under the DARKER docks. There you have it. A 12-month of the year program that you can catch crappie on without spending thousands on new electronics. Go out and catch yourself a fish fry!
TROUT FISHING IN THE SNOW continued from page 2 time of year is equally rewarding. While fishing streamers, one must remember that, with the colder water temperatures, the small baitfish are lethargic as well. Casting your streamers slightly upstream, letting them fall in the water column, and twitching them through the drift will be successful. Also, after the drift and twitch, a slow pulsing retrieve can be very beneficial. The use of a sinking leader to keep your streamers down, or a pinch of split shot a foot above
the streamer, may be necessary. It will not be long until the warm weather of spring embraces us, and we will be fishing dry flies to many rising fish. The shop has been filled after the holidays with all the great gear for the year, especially with items seen at the Fly Fishing Shows. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers, and let’s remember to enjoy the beauty of our greater outdoors, leave no trace, and bring out a little more than you walked in with.
Karl and Karen Ekberg are co-owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 and visit their website at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com. FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 11
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GREAT SMOKIES
Huge Winter Stripers on Lake Hiwassee By Shane Goebel
F
ebruary? It’s hard to believe with these 60 and 70 degree days. However, as I’m typing this, they’re calling for a big snowstorm here, lol…More than likely, nothing will happen. Although one thing is for sure, these warm days have the stripers going crazy! It’s totally an optimal time to hit the water for some huge trophy stripers. Especially with these warm winter days. Fortunately for you, we can help you score that monster Western North Carolina or North Georgia striper. Hiwassee Lake is Western North Carolina’s hidden gem for catching some awesome stripers, and as Murphy, NC’s only professional full-time guide striper service, we are here to help put you on some hard-fighting fish. Guaranteed! Check us out on Facebook and you’ll see! Currently, water temperatures on Lake Hiwassee are in the low 50’s and
water levels are around 39 feet below full pool. Water clarity is moderately clear and stained in the creeks and rivers due to all the recent rains. Striper fishing has been crazy excellent recently! We’ve been catching a lot of nice fish in the 20 to 40-pound range. These fish are shallow and pounding bait up on the banks and shallow flats in the backs of creeks. Pulling planer boards and free lines early in the morning has been working great. Huge gizzard shad and blueback herring is always the bait of choice this time of year. It’s so stinking awesome to see a huge 30 pounder explode on a bait at the end
12 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
of a planer board. It will definitely have you hooked on striper fishing once you experience this thrill. Back on track now, occasionally we’ll also pull small trout as well. Our trophy striper season has been in full swing and these techniques will continue for the next few months. Smallmouth and spotted bass have been off the hook out here lately. This beautiful mountain lake never ceases to fail me (knock on wood). We’ve been catching some large quantities of smallmouth and spots. These fish have been schooled up on shallow
flats and off rocky points around the lake. Down lining live bluebacks and ultra-lite tackle has been the best technique for loading the boat with these great Hiwassee smallmouths. February is a great month for catching a lot of huge trophy 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 and Blairsville Georgia’s premier fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely (in North Georgia), Chatuge , and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
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
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Mountain Dynamite
H
By Ronnie Parris
ey folks, hope everyone had a great holiday season and all of your family is well. On a resent fishing trip, I was reminded of just how powerful and fun a smallmouth bass can be. These versatile fish can survive in a wide temperature range but really do the best in the colder, well-oxygenated waters of our Smoky Mountain lakes; although they don’t usually grow as heavy as largemouth bass, they more than make up for it with their powerful fight. No other species found in our local lakes can compare to the high jumping acrobatics of the majestic smallmouth. With that being said, some big, wintertime smallmouth never jump and choose to try to get back to the rocky bottom from which they came, as was the case with the one pictured. My brother in law, Ron Rogers, was fishing with me on this cold overcast morning and we had caught some really nice smallmouth and yellow perch when he set the hook on this fat smallmouth. Instead of the usual surface dash to try and throw the hook, this beautiful female smallmouth took a terrible angle back under the boat and took drag several times before Ron guided her to the net. After releasing her and watching her on the Lawrence as she dropped back to the rocky bottom from whence she came, we continued to catch several more nice smallies that we released to fight another day The smallmouth
have a diverse diet that includes shad, minnows, crayfish, spring lizards, and almost any insect that is unlucky enough to either hatch and pass by on its way to the surface, or fall from the air into the smallmouth’s path. I’ve cleaned smallmouth that were full of snail-like crustaceans. Smallmouth make great table fare but unless I’m guiding and my clients are really wanting to keep them, I usually release them, especially the big females. One of my favorite ways to fish for our local smallmouth is with live minnows but I have caught them on night crawlers, crayfish, lizards, leaches, and a variety of artificial lures. One of my favorite bites is to work a rocky shoreline with an X Rap. My buddy, James McManus, and I have had some of the most exciting trips using this method. Even if it’s the smaller fish, having them hit on top still gets my heart beating faster. No matter how you like to fish, you can usually adapt your lures to catch these little packages of dynamite. Over the last few years, one of the most detrimental things to the smallmouth population is the introduction of the blueback herring. Although the smallmouth feed on the herring and get really big, the eggs and the smallmouth fry are some of the herring’s favorite food, leading to what we’re seeing now on Fontana which is catching some really big, healthy fish, albeit a lower total number of Bass. Hopefully, our
SMSS has all the essentials for hunting, target shooting, home defense, reloading and more Call for date & time of monthly concealed carry class.
wildlife biologist will help even the odds some for the smallmouth by stocking stripers in Fontana to help control the herring numbers. Only time will tell. If anyone would like to come to the mountains and
catch some of these hard fighters, this is the best time of year for it, and you can give me a call at 828736-9471. As always, stay safe and 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
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.
53 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC • 828-837-7677 Beside the Courthouse
www.smokymountainshooters.com www.facebook.com/smokymtnshooter
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
1012 East Alarka Road, Bryson City, NC • 828-488-9711, Cell: 828-736-9471
smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 13
February Fly Selection
T
By David Hulsey
he month of February can be freezing cold although we can have a few decent days in there that make you want to hit the river. Sometimes, this month is the time for snow here in the Georgia and North Carolina mountains. Timing your trip to accommodate the warmer days is a good idea being that you’ve probably been holed up by the fire since December. Hopefully, your fly tying bench has seen good use through the winter and you have a pile of flies at your disposal. Fly selection in the dead of winter can vary from total junk flies, such as squirmies, eggs, and mop flies for delayed harvest stockers to carefully selected patterns to match the hatch, or minnow for wild or educated trout that were stocked during the DH season. As trout are able
to survive for at least a couple of weeks after stocking, they start to figure out what to eat, or die. Fly pattern selection for these fish, or trout that have never seen the stocking truck, gets more critical the more educated they get. Most February hatches are minimal at best, with Tiny Winter Black Stoneflies, Black Midges, Blue Winged Olives, and Black Caddis making up the bulk of the dry fly fishing opportunities. Surface fishing with imitations of these bugs usually happens on the warmest days with ample sunshine. Small size 16 Black Stimulators for the stones, size 18 Griffith’s Gnat for the midges, size 18 Parachute B.W.O. for the blue wings and a size 16 Black Elk Hair Caddis for the black caddis will get the job done. The Black Caddis Hatch that usually happens during the last
14 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
John Cooper with a brown trout he caught in Blue Ridge Georgia with Hulsey Fly Fishing.
week of February can be a little squirrelly with fish sometimes, or all the time, keying in on the emerging or descending bugs. If you see splashy rises, it’s a sure sign that the trout are eating emergers and the selection of
a swung Black soft Hackle will outperform the dry fly 10 to 1. The same goes for the B.W.O. hatches, where splashy rises indicate that an olive soft hackle or emerger would be a more sound choice.
Continued, see FEBRUARY FLY SELECTION Page 24
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
ge 24
Fly of the Month - Adams Variant
T
By Tom Adams & Alen Baker
he Adams dry fly is the single most well-known fly, by name. Besides being well-known, the Adams fly pattern in general has a strong reputation for catching trout. The exclusive upright and divided grizzly hackle tips as wings, in conjunction with a brown and grizzly mixed hackle bears the Adams label regardless of other characteristics and features. Fly patterns that bear the Adams label include, but are not limited to, the Adams, Female Adams, Yellow Body Adams, Rusty Body Adams, Quill Body Adams (Whitcraft), Adams Parachute, Black Adams, Smoky Mountain Adams, Adams Waterwisp, Adams Variant, Adams Superfly (Quigley), Adams Wet, Downwing Adams Wet, Adams Midge, Adams Wulff, Adams Humpy, Adams Irresistible and Adams Caddis. No doubt there is Female Adams versions of every fly pattern listed above. The Adams Variant is unique to the Southern Appalachians, a local fly pattern that was developed by Allene Hall. It was tied and sold by the late Bryson City resident; Fred and his wife, Allene Hall. This is one of their trademark dry flies that made them fly tying legends in the south. Fred Hall is also credited for originating the Black Adams and the Smoky Mountain Adams.
Dry fly variant recipes have the common characteristic of the use of oversized hackle and the absence of an upright and divided wing of any type. The lesser-known variants are fly patterns that have many of the characteristics of another fly yet vary enough to be deemed a variant. For the Adams Variant– the tail is Golden Pheasant tippets, not hackle fibers, and the body is yellow ostrich herl with a rear grizzly hackle rather than muskrat fur dubbing. Note that beyond the classic use of the Golden Pheasant tippet, as on a good number of Southern Appalachian fly patterns, yellow is used in some manner as a proven color that attracts an aggressive strike from trout. The Adams Variant is fished much like a Wulff pattern. The rear grizzly hackle adds float capabilities that hold up well in rough water. The Adams Variant is a “go to fly” on delayed harvest waters where the ripples and runs contain rising rainbow or brown trout. You will not find this timeless, local fly pattern in fly shops, as it is not as well-known as the Adams, but it is highly effective as a go-to rough water fly pattern. You may find the fly sold locally in tackle shops, service stations and general stores in the North Carolina Mountains where a local tier is making part of his
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
living tying and selling flies. For example, the Citco along NC 19 enroute to the Nantahala River has a display of locally tied flies that includes (before they sell out each month) the Adams Variant tied in size 12 and size 14. You will have to tie your own size 10, 16, and size 18.
Adams Variant – Rocky River Fly of the Month 3.14
Hook: Dry Fly, standard length. Tiemco 100 or equivalent.
FEBRUARY 2022
Size: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail: Deer Hair body Abdomen: Grizzly rooster hackle, Yellow Ostrich herl Wings: Grizzly hackle tips Thorax Hackle: Grizzly and Brown rooster hackle Directions: Detailed tying steps may be found at the Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited at www.rockyrivertu. org/ dry-fly-patterns.html.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 15
16 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Cold Weather Appetite
T
By Scott Norton
his season has been mostly mild with warm days and fewer cold snaps. These warming trends can make bass feed very aggressively. The bass of larger mass still have to maintain bulk and this is why you experience quality bites this time of year. Water temps have fluctuated from the mid 40s to the lower 50s, keeping the fish from shutting down. As we approach February, you’ll start to see lake temperatures in the lower 40s and that’s when you see things really slow down. Bass will hang out in the deep in early morning hours and move to the shallows as the day warms the water. The prime spots where I have had great luck are the shady places close to long tapering points. The water is very clear this time of year so making long casts is a must. Rock and wood are great spots for bass to warm up so, in the morning hours, start on the sunny side of the lake where you
get active fish that will respond to the rising temperatures. The baits you want to have with you will be baits that relate to the deep bottom. Jigs, blade baits, swim baits, A-rigs, crank baits, jerk baits, and chatter baits. As long as you have these you will always have options. Remember to fish slow with the exception of crank baits. Crank baits are a great way to cover water to find these prime areas where bass feed, especially on windy days. Once you find active feeding bass, then you can break out your slow-moving finesse bait to pick off a few more in an area. If the weather has a cooling trend, you may want to start with your finesse tactics just to get bites. February water temperatures will really start to drop off but the good news is that the days are starting to get longer, so the lakes will get longer sun exposure. When planning a day to fish, look for a few good, warm days so your
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
chances of catches increase. The winter can be the best time of the year to target just large bass. Small bass do not need to feed so much due to the lack of bulk and this is why trophy sizes are more common. Soon the water will start a steady warming trend and this means that spring is just around the corner. The chances to catch large fish are also high; you just have to go through a lot of small fish to get the big ones. Don’t miss out on this opportunity if you’re looking to try something new. Some great trips can be epic this time of year, especially if larger bass are feeding
often. This is why you still see tournaments in the winter with some big-bag limits scored across the board. Take advantage of these conditions and you may end up with a new record.
Scott Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior.
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 17
Beech Mountain– Walking in a Winter Wonderland
T
hink you need snow on the ground for a good winter hike? Not at all! When leaves and undergrowth have died back, winter reveals much beauty that is obscured during warmer months. The Town of Beech Mountain is home to twenty-seven miles of public hiking trails which offer everything from an easy stroll through the woods to a strenuous hike with sweeping views. With elevations in town ranging from 5,506’ to 3,500’, Beech Mountain’s multiple micro-climates provide outdoor opportunities all year long. In general, the temperature decreases with higher elevations. The change is an average of 5.5 degrees less per 1000 feet gained if there’s precipitation, or 3.3 degrees less per 1000 feet gained if it’s not raining, snowing or foggy. On a day when the Emerald Outback trails, the town’s highest system, are too cold for a fun hike, the Buckeye Lake trails may be more than 10 degrees warmer. The lake region is also sheltered in a valley, that protects it from the winter winds, which bring a briskness to the highest part of the mountain. There are several trails around the Buckeye Lake Recreation Area that are popular for winter
bird watching, and that part of town is listed on the North Carolina Birding trail. Before heading down to the Buckeye Lake area, birders can stop by the Beech Mountain Visitor Center at 403A Beech Mountain Parkways and pick up maps and a birding checklist. Over 137 species of birds have been identified on the mountain. While many of them are migratory, bird watchers are sure to see plenty of wildlife, including juncos, cardinals, nuthatches, and doves. Winter fishing is also popular on the mountain. Trout season is closed during the month of March but re-opens each year on the first Saturday in April. Canoes and kayaks are available to use at no charge. To arrange to use one on Buckeye Lake, call the Buckeye Recreation Center at 828-387-3003. For those without a North Carolina fishing license, a three-day license can be purchased for $5 by calling 888248-6834. This special license is good for designated Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, and a brochure on this can also be found at the Visitor Center. For more information, stop by seven days a week from 9-5 pm, call 828-387-9283 or visit beechmtn. com.
REACH 10,000 READERS!
Plus New Advertising Opportunities on Our Website woody@theanglermagazine.com coastalanglermag.com/great-smoky-mountains
828-768-9663
18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD
A Brief History of Trout in Western North Carolina By Ethan Hollifield
I
t’s curious how trout, as a gamefish species, are one of the most popular for anglers to target and yet, at the same time, are incredibly misunderstood. This is especially true when it comes to the history of trout fishing in Western North Carolina, which is as complex as it is beneficial for the trout angler to understand. I’m going to try and break down the history of the predominant wild trout species (brook, brown, and rainbow trout), their history within the state, and what the future holds for our trout fisheries here as a whole. Trout first appeared in the Southern Appalachians approximately 10,000 or so years ago, during the last ice age, in which the ancestors of modern day Arctic Char swam up rivers in the Southeastern US and were trapped within mountain watersheds as the glacier which covered half of North America, at the time, began to recede. In that time, the Arctic Char that were trapped at higher elevation streams and lakes throughout the Appalachian mountain range, evolved into what we now know as the brook “trout” (although technically, a species of char); this became the only species of salmanoid found naturally in freestone streams along the Eastern United States. The brook trout further evolved into two distinct subspecies, one of which was the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, or speckled trout as we call them here, that thrived in the mountains of Virginia down to Georgia until after the Civil War. Post-war logging operations, by predominantly northern logging companies, contributed greatly to deforesting much of the Southern Appalachians. This resulted in streams carrying native populations of speckled trout to become neutralized due to their need of cold, exceptionally clean water that was no longer
available. While they can still be found in our mountains today, within the headwater portions of many watersheds, their native range is still under threat from increasing amounts of headwater streams becoming compromised by deforestation, housing developments, encroachment of non-native trout species, and overfishing. Rainbow trout and brown trout were not introduced into the waters of Western North Carolina until the late 1800’s early 1900’s, and their history is debated still by biologists and angling historians alike. What is agreed upon is that the void left by the speckled trout was soon replaced with wild reproducing populations of both non-native rainbows and browns, due to artificial stocking programs by both private entities and government agencies. Rainbow trout are originally native to the western side of the Rocky Mountains, along the Pacific Rim, as far south as parts of Mexico all the way into Canada, and even parts of Russia. Brown Trout are native originally to Europe and even parts of the Western reaches of Asia and Northern Africa in mountainous regions. Brown trout, genetically speaking, are descended from Atlantic Salmon, while rainbows are descended from various strains of Steelhead. Rainbow trout have an estimated genetic diversity of over 75 different strains, which makes tracing the ancestors of the ones found in WNC to be rather difficult. It’s generally agreed upon that the rainbows that were introduced into the Southern Appalachians were first brought over from the McCloud River drainage in California, but there are unofficial oral traditions of the Kern River being an origin point as well. Brown trout were brought over from different parts of Europe, mainly the British Isles and Germany, according to
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
early 20th century oral sources. They quickly overtook many of the streams in Western North Carolina due to their ability to survive higher water temperatures and levels of pollution than speckled trout. These factors led to the spread of both non-native rainbows and browns throughout the majority of the watersheds in WNC, especially through the re-expansion of forested areas throughout the 20th century. Wild populations of all three species of trout are at a major crossroads, in terms of whether our grandchildren and their children will be able to experience
the thrill of catching their first wild or native trout in Western North Carolina. If anything can be learned from studying the history of trout here in the mountains, it is that man has done much to change and alter the course of the environment for both the good and the bad. It should never be underestimated how much damage can be done in such a short amount of time to our trout fisheries here, and we as anglers must take it upon ourselves to uphold the mantle of responsibility in ensuring that these fisheries will last for generations to come.
Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2% For Conservation and a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 19
WINTER BOAT MAINTENANCE continued from page 4 tinguisher upside down and slap it on the bottom a few times with the palm of your hand or a rubber mallet to get all the powder fluffy again. Another issue that typically arises when boats are stored in the same location for an extended period of time, is caused by dirt dobber wasps. These industrious little critters will build their mud nests right inside the nozzle of your extinguisher, and you’ll never see it. So, take a flashlight and really check the nozzle to make sure it’s clean and free of debris. 3. If your boat is stored outside, leaves and other debris can get blown into the cockpit. Even if your boat has a tarp for cover, it’s amazing how much material can find its way into the hull. Sometimes all this stuff will wind up at your cockpit scuppers and clog them up. It gets damp, turns into ‘goo’, and can stain your gelcoat. Worse, if it completely clogs a drain or ends up in your bilge, this pile of leaves, sticks, and whatever, can prevent rainwater from draining. I’ve seen plenty of boats on trailers with flat tires because the boat’s
20 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
bilge had filled up with water and the extra weight was too much for the tires. 4. OK, here’s one more for good measure. Remember point #2? Well, those pesky dirt dobbers love to stack up their mud in the TellTale outlet of outboard engines, the small hole on the side of the motor that spits out water to let you know the water pump is working. I know, that’s a really tiny hole, but those little wasps can be partial to those openings, and they’ll also build their nests in the fuel vent on the side of the hull, too. To check the Tell-Tale outlet, straighten out a paper clip and gently push it up into the hole. If it’s clear, you’re good to go. If there’s resistance, then you should probably do a little more investigation. Well, there’s a few things that can help to remove the boredom of a dreary winter’s day, and you can feel good that you’re doing things to keep your boat in tip-top condition, too. Plus, the time you spend with your boat will make it feel a lot less lonely. Tight lines and calm seas.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
EAST TENNESSEE GREAT SMOKIES
Best Time of the Year
A
By James Bradley
s February rolls around, it will be the darkest time of the year in many places due to the shortest day length periods. Water temperatures in most streams will have finally bottomed out, hopefully staying above 40 degrees. The trout have very little to eat this time of year, and should be sticking to the bottom of the streams like glue. Would anyone in his right mind be out fishing during the months of January or February? The answer is yes, but we need to consider some of the outdoor aspects like temperature, pressure systems, etc. The weather plays a big role in whether trout will be active or not. This means picking the right days to fish and the right
days to stay inside. Water temps play a big role in what trout and insects are doing. As the temp nears the 40 degree mark, everything just about comes to a standstill. Highpressure systems are known to kill what one would think to be a perfect day of fishing. Outside air temps play a big role on our bodies and the ability to stay outside. It can be downright brutal and no fun to be popping ice off your rod guides. Best time of the year to catch a beautiful rainbow is now through mid-April. They will begin their spawning this month. When trout spawn, their colors become vivid and gorgeous, and especially on the males. Male trout will also get
Continued, see BEST TIME OF THE YEAR Page 24
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21
Fishmetrics & The Fish Chart By Jim Parks
R
ecently, my wife and I caught the movie “Moneyball” on TV. For those not familiar with the movie, it is based on the Oakland A’s 2002 season where statistical analysis, referred to as sabermetrics, was used to pick players for the team. Their main focus was the players’ ability to get on base by walk or hit, it didn’t matter. This went against the traditional methods of evaluating players’ ability such as gut instinct, perceived historical insight, and even how ugly were the players’
girlfriends. As the main character, played by Brad Pitt, sat around the war room, his statistician spit out various player numbers and percentages, much to the chagrin of the “old school” scouts and their methods. To quote Brad Pitt, “If he’s a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good?” That scene brought to mind the process I have been using since 1989 to determine which fly to use and where to go fishing. Brad was being looked at like he’d lost his mind, but the results showed differently. It had
22 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
been a few years since I last saw the movie and I had forgotten how good it was. I won’t ruin the end of “Moneyball”, but it’s well worth a watch on a cold winter night. But it did make me think, “If the fly is good for catching a lot of fish, does it catch a lot of fish?” A common tool I have observed over the years to help anglers is the hatch chart. For the newbies, a hatch chart is intended to identify specific insects using their scientific name, in Latin of course, with recommended fly patterns to “match the hatch”. They also show when certain, specific insects are typically present or hatching on a particular body of water. From my experience, hatch charts tend to work best for dry fly anglers, but can also work for nymph anglers by identifying the color of emerging insects, aka emergers, nymphs, and stoneflies. Hatch charts can be readily found online or at most fly shops located adjacent to the numerous rows of flies for sale. For those unfamiliar with a particular stream or lake, a hatch chart can be a great starting point on what to tie at the vice beforehand and to use on your first cast. I remember using a hatch chart on Flat Creek, just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming fifteen or so years ago. While many hatch charts are specific by month, the Flat Creek chart was down to the hour! Having been raised in the mountains of East Tennessee at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park among mentors who were strictly nymph anglers, I was cut from a different piece of cloth from what is considered typical in many areas.
It is due to my “raisin” that to this day I still predominantly fish nymphs. My takeaway from hatch charts, even the hourly version on Flat Creek, at most, is to see what other fly anglers use and what stoneflies or nymphs are on the move. On Flat Creek, while others struggled following the chart, as did I for a few hours, I went against the norm by using a highly effective wooly-booger! That day was another example of my proclivity in “Wading Against the Current” (Oct 2021 The Angler Magazine) where I tend to fish a different path from the status quo. Continuing further down that path, albeit a long one, over the years I developed my personal Fish Chart. As earlier mentioned, whereas a hatch chart shows the fly needed to match the hatch, the fish chart focuses first and foremost on the where, when, and what fly pattern to use that will catch the most fish using the information and results of previous trips. Maybe I should coin the term fishmetrics? Creating and fine-tuning my fish chart has greatly simplified my fishing decision process by taking nearly all of the guesswork out of what fly I will use. Additionally, on those cold winter days fit for nothing but time at the vise, I use the fish chart to focus my attention in stocking up on the most productive patterns for the upcoming trips. The idea of the fish chart came to me following a Groundhog Day 1989 trip on a medium sized, freestone stream with minimal hatches. On such streams, attractor patters are often the way to go. That day, I decided to begin
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
keeping track of information with the goal of knowing the best fly to use, as well as the best location to fish based on my documented experiences of how I prefer to fly fish to catch the most fish. As the sabermetrics used in “Moneyball” was to get runners on base thus resulting in wins, I use fishmetrics to show the right fly to use to catch the most fish. Here’s what I did and how it works. By gathering information consisting of observations made during each trip, I enter that information in a spreadsheet, currently Microsoft Excel. I also keep the latest version on my smart phone for on stream use. Over the past thirty-two years, I have narrowed down the information I enter to the following; stream name, month # (march =3), date in month/day/ year, time of day when the fish were biting best (10:30-13:00), skies in varying degrees (sunny/ overcast/rain), air temp, water temp, water level (low, average, high) or generation if a tailwater, water clarity (dingy to clear), # fish caught, type (RB,BR,BK), Fly 1, Fly 2, Fly 3 (in order of what worked best), description of location (1/2 mi above camp X), and any notes such as fish size. Any entry highlighted in RED designates a trophy fish was caught that day. Initially, I included moon phase
and actually found first quarter moon being the most productive. However, I no longer include the moon phase as it has no bearing on where I would choose to go as the same moon phase exists for all locations. Also, if I ever change my mind, I can go back and add this information later. I record
it. Suppose I want to fish a small stream and it is July, with a recent dry, heat wave, meaning the water will be warm and low. I would sort my information by “7” for July, water temp (high to low), low water level, and finally # of fish caught from high to low. Then, I look at what flies have worked
For the newbies, a hatch chart is intended to identify specific insects using their scientific name, in Latin of course, with recommended fly patterns to “match the hatch”. information that I believe will provide me with a very educated guess for the best location to fish when considering my next trip, be it a small mountain stream, river, or tailwater. Obviously, over the past 32 years this information has grown. If used properly, which also takes some experience, it allows me to pinpoint my next trip plan in finer detail. My fish chart has done so well in fact that some of my fellow anglers have jokingly accused me of cheating! Still, they do call occasionally to tap into my fish chart, which I’ll admit to “keeping close to the vest”. Here’s an example of how I use
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
best. Say it’s stream X below a particular waterfall, and Fly #1 is a #14 bead head pheasant tail and Fly #2 is a Greenie Weenie. While on the stream, a typical summer storm hits where I’m fishing on stream X and the water begins to rise and get dingy. I look up my fish chart and change the water to high and dingy. It tells me the best fly is something heavy like Jim’s Grampus as the #1 fly, an olive wooly-booger as #2 fly, and a yellow stonefly is #3. I have 2 options, depending on if the water looks better for a tandem nymph
rig where I would tie on flies #1 & #3, or better to strip a streamer in which case I’m using the olive wooly-booger (fly #2). It would seem easy to get “information overload” or bogged down in “paralysis by analysis”, but as more information is added, and the experience is gained in how to apply that knowledge, I find fewer variations over time as it seems the “cream rises to the top” in the best flies to use with conditions to maximize the number of trout I catch. An interesting find has been that some of the most productive patterns are the same as when I first began tracking my trips even though I’ve tried and fished with 100’s of patterns over these past 32 years. I’ve concluded that for the most part, trout eat today what they did 30 or 40 years ago. Of course, some new fly pattens and synthetic tying materials have emerged, the use and effectiveness of which will be reflected within the program if they produce. In putting the information to actual use on the water, when I nymph fish, I nearly always use a tandem rig of two flies, both of which will be the best two nymph patterns as recommended by the fish chart. After a short period of time, if one fly is outperforming
Continued, see FISHMETRICS Page 24 FEBRUARY 2022
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23
FEBRUARY FLY SELECTION continued from page 14
they can’t see well, so they are out on the prowl for an easy meal. Slowing down the presentation to a steady strip will make your fly easier in timing the impact for the predator. Barring or stripes on the body of the fly also seem more effective in the winter. If
you look at any sculpin or darter you spook up while wading, almost all will have distinct markings along their bodies. Big trout love sculpins, so match the minnow accordingly. See you on the river!
Claire Cooper with a Blue Ridge Georgia rainbow trout guided by Hulsey Fly Fishing.
Nymph patterns for the winter seem to work best with less flash and more realism to the tie. By now, brass beads are pretty much trout repellant to the fish and they will literally move out of the way knowing full well they are a no-no. Use of fluorocarbon tippet is essential to getting more strikes anytime you are fishing
underwater but even more when wild or educated trout are involved. Streamer fishing in the winter can be excellent especially when slightly off color water or cloudy rainy weather decrease the amount of visibility in the river. Larger trout know that baitfish are easier to get in range of when
BEST TIME OF THE YEAR continued from page 21
Wooly booger.
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.
FISHMETRICS continued from page 23
the other, I will place the best fly on top and drop off a lesserrecommended fly or try a new pattern. Doing so provides me with an excellent comparison as I can leave the working fly on while periodically changing the lower fly. I keep the most effective fly on top as changing the bottom fly requires less knot-tying for each change. In explaining this process to other anglers, I often hear, “That takes a lot of time!” Considering that reply, I realize I can go on a trip and with a few minutes of observation and reflection on the day’s fishing, have all of the information I need for my next, quick entry. Over the past three decades, collecting the information has taken considerable accumulated time, but typically no more than a few minutes when I get home and Reel ‘Em In Guide Service is the only Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide in North document what I’ve observed Georgia’s Historic High-Country region. They have been offering their services to during the process of putting up fly anglers since 2001. They have permits for guiding in North Georgia and North
their “kype” during the spawning season. The kype is when the lower jaw extends past its upper jaw and forms what some refer to as a hooked jaw. It has been said that the kype is used by the male to nip at the female to help urge her to spawn. Tailwaters like the Toccoa or Chattahoochee can be an outstanding place to fish especially on a float trip. This is because the water temps are not affected as much as mountain streams and rivers. Their temps remain more consistent throughout the year due to being lake fed. What should you plan for when planning your trip to North Georgia for trout fishing during the coldest months of the year? Best hours are normally
somewhere from 11 am to about 4 pm. No need to arrive at daybreak during the coldest point of the day. Track weather patterns several days in advance of your trip. Make sure to arrive when no high-pressure systems are in the area or just passed through. Plan your trip toward the end of the warm-up spells. Water temps may have warmed a few degrees causing some hatching to take place and triggering trout to feed. We have experienced some of our best catches when this happens. You may see some blue-winged olives, black stones and/or black caddis coming off the water during these warm spells as well. Rises will still be very limited, but if you see trout rising, tie on a BWO or black caddis and lay it out!
Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and operate float trips on the Toccoa River in GA and the Tuckasegee River in NC. 24 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
FEBRUARY 2022
my equipment for my next trip. The payback has been well worth the effort! As stated earlier, I can be sure to have the flies I know I’ll need, and while many anglers may be changing flies to find what is working, I have a HUGE leap in starting out with the flies that history has shown to be the most productive. Quite often, I finish with the same flies I started the day, even after changing patterns to determine if something works better. I call that “keeping the fish chart honest!” And speaking of honesty, fishermen are known to “exaggerate” their catch in both size and number. Doing so is NOT a good idea as entering false information will render the chart less effective going forward. As they say in the tech information world, “garbage in, garbage out”, and nobody wants to rely on bad information.
Jim Parks is author of “Tails of the Smokies” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Switch to GEICO and see how easy it could be to save money on boat insurance. Simply visit geico.com/boat to get started.
geico.com/boat | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2022 GEICO. 21_660726485
CATCH SMALLMOUTHS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA
H
By Capt. James McManus
ere in the western North Carolina mountains, we get a lot of visitors. Snowbirds are what we call people who come here from up north to enjoy our milder climate. One snowbird most fishermen cherish is the smallmouth bass. We are at the southern end of their natural range, and almost all of our watersheds contain some. Smallies have characteristics that endear them to anglers. They are aggressive, eat year-round, grow to respectable size and when hooked spend as much time out of the water as in.
You can find these beauties in most of our sizeable rivers. River fish seem to be more active in summer. I think it’s linked to terrestrial food items being more available. Floating area rivers like the Tuckasegee, Little Tennessee, Hiwassee and French Broad will keep you in fish regardless of your preferred method. For fly guys, any minnow or crawdad imitation will draw strikes, and in warmer weather nymphs and hoppers get their attention. Poppers and sliders can be lots of fun, just remember river smallies tend to be smaller than their lake buds. I spend more time chasing lake fish. There is less competition from other anglers, and average size is much better. Winter and early spring are the best seasons, in my opinion, only because the females are chock-full of eggs. It is when we catch our largest fish of the year. Many methods produce, and I throw a lot of jigs and jerkbaits. Lake fish have a variety of forage, so anything resembling threadfin shad, blueback herring or crawdads fits their menu. Dropshot, Shaky head and wacky-rigged worms all catch fish. Average depth for smallies year-round is 45 feet, or so. However, our clear mountain lakes allow them to identify prey up on the surface. Don’t shy from throwing topwater just because you mark fish deep. Especially when they are feeding up pre- and postspawn, you’ll find smallmouths on rock or gravel, where they love to eat little lobsters. They also suspend in open water to chase shad, but this is more of a warm-water behavior. On Lake Fontana, my home lake, we troll a good bit, and it’s not unusual to find them suspended at 45 feet over 200 feet of water. I should note that while we still have good smallmouth fishing, invasive spotted bass have forced their way into smallie enclaves. For this reason, we never kill a smallmouth. If you like to eat fish, take all the spotted bass you want; they are better eating anyway. Smallies and spots use the same spawning areas and hybridize. While not good genetically, it produces a fish that has that hybrid vigor, hence the name “meanmouth.” Markings and coloration make the smallmouth one of the prettiest of all fish. We should try hard to preserve them so our kids have the thrill of fighting one of the gamest fish around. Captain James McManus owns 153 charters out of Sylva, N.C. Call him at (828) 421-8125. James fishing McManus/Instagram.
KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions. No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.
RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.
Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1 10 SZNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM
er fish l food segee, n fish ow or ymphs of fun, ds. n from ng are -full of
Stranded on the Water?
You’re not Alone.
. Lake shad, ad and
er, our Don’t
ll find . They -water t’s not
UNLIMITED TOWING MEMBERSHIP
vasive on, we ss you
*
$99/$165
While ce the one of s have
Breakdowns can feel unnerving but with an Unlimited Towing Membership, there’s no need to worry. With 600+ boats and 300+ ports on the water, help is just a phone call away.
GET TOWING AND GET GOING!
800-395-2628 • BoatUS.com/Towing *One year Freshwater/Saltwater Towing Membership pricing. Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree. TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service. In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately.
REEL LIFE HOODIES
R
eel Life has your back on those cold fly fishing mornings. Hook elusive permit in total comfort in the Men’s Captiva Hoodie. Wearable on its own, or layered when there’s a chill in the air, the long cotton fabric is super soft. Wear the Captiva Hoodie while at your favorite fishing spot or hanging out at the marina. Of course, if you don’t fish in winter, you might be looking toward warmer waters. The breathable vented design is ultra-lightweight and breezy to keep you cool without sweating. It’s a delicate balance when fishing for cobia in southern Florida, and a bonus that lets you wear it year-round. From mornings on the boat to evenings at the beach, Reel Life’s Women’s Sanibel Hoodie helps you have fun in the most comfortable fabric possible. The Sanibel Hoodie is breezy, ultra-soft, and with six different designs to choose from, there are options for everyone! From fishing and kayaking to boat shows and beach hangouts, the ring-spun cotton is breathable, lightweight and eye-catching. Reel Life hoodies provide maximum comfort and style, no matter where you REELLIFEGEAR.COM are or what you’re doing. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2022
NATIONAL 11
C-HAWK & MITZI SKIFF: DEPENDABLE SIMPLICITY
T
here’s a certain type of boater who values simplicity and functionality over flashiness. Most anglers fall into this category. A simple boat comes with less hassle, allowing you to spend more time on the water. Two brands that fit right into this niche for dependability and easy boating are C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff. Across the product lines for both boats, a no-nonsense reputation has developed a considerable following among people who would rather fish than look at their boats. No trailer queens here! “We build a keep-it-simple-stupid boat. If you want something you can soft scrub at the end of the day and put it away, you’re my guy,” said Brad Grubbs, the owner and manufacturer of C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff. “We set out to make boats that are affordable to operate and affordable to own, and the philosophy has worked.” C-Hawk, which has been around since the mid-1970s, offers lines of 16’ to 29’ center consoles and 22’ to 29’ sport cabins that were originallyw developed for commercial applications. C-Hawks remain widely used commercially, and many recreational boaters also see the value in a vessel
H that’s built to take a beating. “Really, we just took a commercial-duty boat and put a little lipstick on it,” Grubbs said. “The boat is as tough as it ever was. It’s been the same boat for nearly 50 years.” Mitzi Skiffs were designed for a specific purpose, yet the same philosophy applies. When the first Mitzi was designed in the mid-1990s, the concept was simple. There was nothing on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability needed for fly fishing the flats. Those ideas propel the company today. Almost 30 years later, Mitzi’s line of 15’, 16’ and 17’ skiffs achieve those purposes exceptionally well, and they are inexpensive to own and operate. With the original design and continuing innovation, Mitzi Skiffs are flats boats other boat builders imitate. C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. Contact your local dealer to find out how they can be rigged out to fit your style of fishing.
SPRINGTIME FISHING...
LET’S GO!
For more on Mitzi Skiffs, go to www.mitziskiffs.com. For more on C-Hawk, go to chawkboats.net.
f A r s w d m
W B b i
N m a g
S T s
L s c www.
.com
L t
25’ C-Hawk CC
www.MitziSkiffs.com • www.CHawkBoats.net CALL FOR YOUR NEAREST DEALER 12 NATIONAL
FEBRUARY 2022
252-235-2461
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
S
• 2 ct
Flip Flip Hooray! A perfect symbol of fun in the sun for only $79
H
ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of the day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Why not re-create that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz. Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.
A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver
Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!
Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only! To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size. Chain sold separately.
“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.” — Dolphins-World
Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 † Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $316!
êêêêê
You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
“This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean”
— Vivian, Cabool, MO
† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DPP325-03 Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.
® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP325-03, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
PARKIT360: THE ULTIMATE TRAILER PARKING SOLUTION S
ave yourself the parking headaches—oneshot your boat or trailer into position every time with one of Parkit360’s Electric Trailer Dollies. Parkit360 units are powerful and easy to use. Even large trailered boats, campers and cargo trailers are infinitely more maneuverable, especially in tight spaces, with a Parkit360 Trailer Dolly. The Force and Transformer models are compatible with almost every trailer right out of the box thanks to their ball-mounted Stablelock technology. Just freewheel the dolly to the trailer, connect to the hitch and steer your trailer into place. With weight capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, these portable powerhouses can handle the most difficult parking challenges with ease. Parkit360 makes compact dollies that make parking easy, even on difficult surfaces. With planetary gearing, all Force and Transformer models include 6.5” tires, standard, which provide excellent traction on a wide range of surfaces like firm grass, packed gravel, asphalt and up to a 6 percent incline. Unlike a driver who relies on mirrors and backup cameras, the user faces the trailer, giving them complete visibility and control while parking. See exactly where the trailer is at all times and steer within inches of any obstacle if needed. You can park in ways that are impossible with a truck and have the flexibility to move around the trailer at any time to check its position or for obstacles that might damage your precious cargo. The dolly’s compact design also allows the user to park hitch-end forward as a serious theft deterrent, something that is pretty much impossible to do with a vehicle. All models include Intelligent Speed Control, a great feature for those looking to move through open areas quickly, and more precisely in tight spaces. The high and low speed
B option starts and stops the motor gradually to prevent potential damage from sudden movements, something that makes these trailer dollies stand out above the competition. Switch speeds any time during parking and get things done faster than ever before! Have a unique trailer hitch on your boat trailer? Easily move any ball mounted, fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer up to 15,000 pounds with our standard adapters, or try the Telescopic Hitch Adapter. It’s a non-invasive, alternative connection point that bolts around your existing trailer frame. Want a Dolly that’s ready to park, right
out of the box? Most models include a 12V U1 Interstate Battery with all required cables and hardware. With existing features like the Built-in Battery Charger, Electric/Surge Brake Controller and a full 2 Year Warranty, Parkit360 has truly made parking simple for every trailer. Parkit360 has been in business for more than 10 years and has shipped more than 15,000 trailer dollies to customers all over the world. Move your trailer with ease, and get in and out of storage faster than ever!
o a and natu fossil years are n B.
For more information, visit Parkit360.ca
C.
“Peo years
• 20"
N
A.
44 million year old honey gold Baltic amber gives you a glimpse into the fascinating world of prehistoric times
Get the complete set for only $249 plus Free Shipping with call-in only!*
Prehistoric Perfection B
44 million year old Baltic amber priced at just $99
oth in love and in gemstones, it can take a long time to achieve perfection. Just as your relationship has matured and strengthened over the years, so has Baltic amber. This natural gemstone is a scientific phenomenon that contains fossilized plant and animal life that date back over 40 million years. In fact, most of the life-forms found in Baltic amber are now extinct. Thankfully, the fine art of a great deal B. is alive and well at Stauer. The amber pieces you see here feature ample carats of amber from the icy Baltic region, famous for containing the world’s finest amber deposits. And, adding to the prehistoric mystique is the fact that no two stones are identical–– each piece captured something different as it formed, just as every love story is unique. C. Now, there are necklaces with generous gems of amber going for nearly $15,000. We think that’s barbaric. Which is why we made certain you can bring home 160 total carats of the world’s oldest natural gem for only $99. “People have been making amber jewelry for over 10,000 years, which could make it the first gem material ever used.” — The International Gem Society (IGS)
PRAISE FOR STAUER Satisfaction guaranteed or AMBER JEWELRY your money back. Revel in the unique beauty of Cherry Amber “When it arrived I was for 30 days If it fails to delight, blown away by it’s beauty and uniqueness.” send it back for a full refund of – J. R., Port Angeles, WA the item price. Limited Reserves. Baltic amber at these prices won’t stick around. Call today before this great deal becomes extinct.
Cherry Amber Collection A. Necklace (160 ctw) ..................... $499† $99 + S&P Save $400 B. Ring (8 ctw) ................................. $399† $129 + S&P Save $270 C. Earrings (15 ctw) ......................... $399† $149 + S&P Save $250 Necklace, Ring & Earrings Set $1297 $299 + S&P Save $998 *Call and ask how to get the set for only $249 with free shipping
You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: CAC193-02 † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
®
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. CAC193-02, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 20" Necklace • 160 carats total weight tumbled Baltic amber • Ring set in yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver • Ring: whole sizes 5-10
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
AndAlusiA MArine & powersports inc.
Headquarters For All your Boating needs Xpress •
1707 River Falls Street, Andalusia, AL 36421
Alweld •
(334) 427-1428
stingrAy • VerAndA • Quest
All kinds of parts and accessories in stock and ready for delivery! Innertubes • Ski’s • Wakeboards Ropes • Life jackets Solas and Michigan Wheel Props
certified full line YAmAhA deAler!
GreAt service!
• Humminbird • Garmin • Lowrance • Minnkota - authorized sales and service center • Rhodan • Certified Full Line Yamaha Dealer
www.andalusiamarine.com www.facebook.com/andalusiamarine
WHEN FISHING SHALLOWS, YOU NEED A REEL WITH A REPUTATION THAT RUNS DEEP.
Packed with more fish stopping features than ever before, the PENN ® Slammer ® IV takes a tradition of excellence to a whole new level. An 8+1 sealed stainless steel bearing system with Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearing makes the reel as smooth as it is tough. The Slammer IV drag system was upgraded to provide wider range. And the reel body and spool are now even more perfectly sealed. Just like the fate of the fish. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.
© 2021
Pure Fishing, Inc.
PENN ® Slammer ® IV
FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com
864-233-2690
Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk