The Angler Magazine | August 2023 | Great Smoky Mountains Edition

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disappoint.”

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Athe cooler waters of great depths, deep-water grouper are some of the better tasting sh in the ocean. of deep-water grouper we target o coast of the Florida Keys are snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper. ey are found in depths of 400 to 1,000 feet.

Yellowedge are open year-round, and they can be a little di cult to nd. ey congregate in localized areas in depths between 600 and 800 feet. You might nd snowies and tile sh where you nd yellowedges, but this is not true the other way around. When you nd an area with yellowedge grouper, mark it, save it, and do not over sh it. Keep your harvest light, and this honey-hole will produce for you again in the future.

When making a deep-dropping rig, use larger hooks on the top and bottom of a ve-hook rig. Mustad 11/0 circle hooks provide excellent hookup ratios for this kind of shing. A x larger baits on these hooks, with the bottom intended for yellowedge, and the top intended for snowy grouper. Pepper in smaller ones in the middle for tile sh.

e nice part about dropping ve hooks is you can play with a variety and see what works. e best

to do what it is made to do.

Bait selection can vary greatly, so use anything and everything. I use chunks of fresh sh, with skin that will stay on the hook longer, for my top and bottom hooks, and squid in the middle. At least one hook should have some greasy, oily, stinky squid for deep dropping.

When it comes to catching deep-water species such as grouper, tile sh, barrel sh and rosies, you don’t need to break the bank to get a reliable electric set-up. e lower priced reels can handle these and can be paired with a rod and stacked with line on a budget of $1,000 to $2,000. I don’t recommend buying these used, as everything electronic on the water has a shelf life, and you never know how they were cared for previously.

With mahi-mahi still prevalent in o shore waters, and with snowy grouper still in season, the timing is perfect to hunt yellowedge grouper. If you aren’t interested in the trial and error of searching the depths of the vast ocean by yourself, Sweet

Tesoro spinning reels feature a carbonite high-output DFD drag system with Cal’s drag grease that puts out over 55-pounds of fsh stopping power. Built with strength and protection in mind, Tesoro features an IPX-7 full-body waterproof design and proprietary ALUMILITE body, side plate and rotor. With an interchangeable screw-in handle system and fve models from 8000 to 20000 size, Tesoro spinning reels are sure to complement any big game saltwater arsenal.

okumafshingusa.com TA-140000HA

E’nuf Charters’ two-boat eet is available to help put you on the grouper.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET E’ NUF CHARTERS.

BILL DANCE SIGNATURE LAKES to Solidify Tennessee as the Heart of Fishing in the Southeast

Bill Dance Signature Lakes will connect the world’s most-loved angler with some of Tennessee’s most excellent natural resources – its lakes. is program is intended to make Tennessee a best-in-class destination for anglers worldwide.

With the new initiative’s goal to improve and enhance Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy, Tennessee will invest $15 million in improvements above and below the water at 18 lakes that bear shing legend Dance’s stamp of approval. Tennesseans will bene t from increased stocking, habitat and sheries management and improved access for shing and boating. e collaborative e ort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development seeks to solidify Tennessee as the heart of shing in the southeast and drive economic activity across the state.

“I’m unbelievably humbled and excited to be involved in such a helpful project that will bene t so many people and our natural resources in my great home state of Tennessee,” said Bill Dance. “You can bet your favorite lure this project will have a ripple e ect for a mighty long time, not only giving the weekend sherman but tournament anglers a wonderful shery as well, thanks to the great state of Tennessee and my friends at TWRA.”

Bill Dance Signature Lakes touches 39 counties, including 22 at-risk or economically distressed counties, and is an essential step in helping those communities create new revenue streams through increased visitation. Fishing generates $1.2 billion in economic impact annually and supports 7,480 jobs across the state.

Bill Dance Signature Lakes includes nine large reservoirs with a proven track record for quality shing for a variety of sh. In partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority, reservoirs will receive new or upgraded best-inclass ramps to improve public access for both recreational and tournament anglers. Each of the 18 lakes will see such above-water upgrades as courtesy docks, ample parking, additional access points, shing piers and signage, to name a few. Several smaller lakes, many which are located within Tennessee State Parks, will be managed intensively by TWRA for Bill Dance approved family shing with regular stocking to ensure the best chance for success.

Projects are slated to begin in 2022 and near completion by the fall of 2024. For more information, see www.tnvacation.com.

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

CAPTAIN JIM DURHAM FISHING KY / TN FISHING REPORT

Owner StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee and Kentucky Walleye, Bass, Crappie and Muskie Charters, Superbaittanks.com, Captain Jim Marine Electronics and much more……

DATE OF REPORT: August 2023

Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

STRIPER FUN GUIDE SERVICE ON CHEROKEE LAKE

CHEROKEE LAKE REMAINS RED HOT!!! Cherokee Lake in Eastern Tennessee covers 30,300 acres, is 59 miles long and has 463 miles of shoreline. Cherokee Lake is full of big stripers but is also “loaded” with big fat “hybrid” stripers as well! StriperFun’s guides are all over them! We average 20 fish days catching both striper and hybrids! We fish live bait and case Captain Jim Striper Magic lures (see our website) to surfacing fish, August and September are great months to fish! Our 5 guides all have decades of experience!

TENNESSEE WALLEYE CHARTERS ON DALE HOLLOW LAKE

Tennessee Walleye Charters provides fabulous walleye, crappie and musky fishing on Dale Hollow Lake. The muskie fishing is year around, with the crappie and walleye April through October. Our walleye guide is world-famous and widely considered one of the best walleye fishermen anywhere! In August and September we do bottom bouncing work rigs and jigging spoons for walleye and troll huge lures for muskie!

It is great to be alive and be a “free” American! I look forward to seeing all of you this year on the water. Always remember to stop and shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedoms you do!

Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!

With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides (16 guides on 18 waterways) can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services as well as our exclusive “online” store at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.

With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides (16 guides on 16 waterways) can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services as well as our exclusive “online” store at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.

Dog Day Crappie

By Perry Hensley

The days are HOT! And the bite can be slow, but those big southern slabs can be caught.

It is time to focus on deep water points. Preferably for myself, that would be rocky points, or the points loaded with deep brush on them. I try to also focus on docks as well, because we all know how crappie love shade. You may find them shallower than you would think this time of year, and chances are, with the shad spawn of spring, there will a ton of shad fry under about every dock.

Depending on what bait fish are in the body of water you fish, you should try to match the hatch, as the old saying goes. For example, if you have an abundance of thread fin shad in your lake, try to keep your bait size around 2-3 inches in length, in natural colors. This is what the crappie will be feeding on this time of year.

I have found that in the East Tennessee area lakes I have fished at this time of year, the crappie in open water love the 20-30 ft depth range. Pulling crank baits or slip float methods will work just as well, the keys being thermocline, baitfish, structure and/or cover.

If one can put up with the pleasure boaters and jet skiers, you can have a fairly successful day in the dog days of summer.

As always just get out there and make those memories on the water with the people you love and enjoy all our creator has given us.

God Bless and Tight Lines

Perry Hensley

Photo credit: Mike and Frankie Chesser

THE CASTING CORNER Brief Terms and Descriptions

By Rene Hesse

Here are some sayings that may stick in your head. These are things that we use to help simplify casting terms and situations:

SLP: Straight line path of the rod tip. This will give tighter loops.

RSP: Rod straight position: The point in the cast that the line starts off the rod tip to form the loop.

Loops: The shape of the line as it carries the fly to the target.

Removing the slack: Start the cast once the fly is moving.

Loading the rod: Bending the rod against the weight of the fly line.

Short cast, short stroke and long cast, long stroke: The stroke length and arc must increase as the amount of line out of the rod tip increases.

Power application: A smooth constant rate of acceleration to a stop. This is after the lift portion on the back cast, and then be smooth but constantly accelerated on the forward cast to a stop.

Pause on the back cast: Let the line extend without losing tension or falling too much.

Drifting: The rearward movement of the casting hand after the stop

in the back, to lengthen the stroke. This is a good method of curing creep.

Creep: An early rotation of the rod toward the target before starting the forward casting stroke. A casting error.

Pop and stop: Refers to the delayed rotation of the wrist at the end of the casting stroke

Down-up, down-up: The line hand movement in a double haul.

Tailing loop: Caused by the rod tip dipping and coming back up. Things that cause the dip are: an erratic or abrupt application of power; too short of a casting stroke for the amount of line out of the rod tip; creeping (see above) and trajectory.

&*%^&#$@#: Generally said after missing an easy cast due to excitement.

These are helpful descriptions to know when you go to get a casting lesson. Getting to know the terms, cause/corrections are important if you want to become a better caster. The only thing that will really help is practice and doing it right. Forming bad habits is easy to do and hard to correct. Go fish!

High Country Summer

By David and Becky Hulsey

The Northern part of Georgia, Western North Carolina and Tennessee are blessed with lofty peaks that help to keep the summer sun at bay. High mountains that are heavily wooded pump out chilly water that travels down the slopes feeding hundreds upon hundreds of miles of trout streams. Even in the heat of a Southern summer the fly angler that is willing to burn a little shoe leather can find fishable populations of wild trout that reside in these fish havens above the clouds.

Checking water temperatures with a thermometer is imperative and only fishable temps are below 65 degrees. Any warmer readings and you’re advised to go catch bass or carp. The upmost care should be taken if you fish here not only for the fish’s sake but also for the surrounding vegetation and creatures that live here. Some plants and animals, such as certain salamanders, reside here and nowhere else on earth, just like the jewel of these remote waters, the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. Resist the urge to move rocks around or build cairns, chop down plants or litter. These are sacred places that people aren’t supposed to live in, just visit occasionally.

Fly fishing gear should be minimalistic and lightweight. Fly rods under seven feet and in a two or three weight configuration are about right. My favorite rod is a six and a half foot two weight that can throw laser beams in the tightest of cover. Fiberglass and Tenkara rods are like

old friends up here and can make a six-inch trout feel like a tiger! Fly lines should load quickly at close range, too, as most casts are well under 15 feet. The creek taper fly lines are designed for this and make quick work of little roll and bow and arrow casts. Leaders should be as short as possible around the length of your fly rod or less. I build all my own leaders custom to the waters I fish and sometimes they are as short as five feet long for the tiny high elevation brooks. A spool of 5x tippet in your back pocket will repair any snafus you might have.

Fly selection can be kept in a single shirt pocket sized fly box and not complicated at all. Dry flies are normally all you need to coax up a strike or two in every hole and piece of pocket water in the creek. High floating dries such as Yellow Stimulators, Yellow Humpies, any Wulff type fly you like and a Hi Vis Elk Hair Caddis should suffice. Big, barbless, size twelve and fourteen high floaters are usually on the menu and will keep you busy unhooking fish.

Care should be taken where you place your feet and hands, as timber rattlers, copperheads and the always present yellow jackets nest love the stream areas during summer. Little chipmunks, mice and the like move closer to the water sources as some areas get dry during summer providing prey for old No Shoulders. Fishing here can definitely be worth the effort, sweat and homework to find these areas. I hope to see you there!

The Buddy System

By Capt. Cefus McRae, Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series

Ienjoy all types of fishing. Offshore, inshore, lakes, mountain streams, even neighborhood ponds; they all represent the opportunity to spend a fun day on the water and each one comes with different scenery and fish to catch. As much fun as it is to have a fish on the other end of your line, when you’re fishing solo, there’s no one there to share the excitement with. Having a buddy fishing with you makes the experience a lot more fun, and it helps pass the time in between fish. Many days, my fishing buddy is Buck, The Wonder Dog. And while he has a little difficulty tying knots (due to no opposing thumb), his companionship and antics when a drag starts singing earn him a spot on the Wide Open II every time.

There are a multitude of good reasons to bring a buddy along. Some things are simply easier when you have two people: like launching/ loading your boat, hitching the trailer, landing a fish, carrying the cooler full of fish to the cleaning table, and washing the boat down at the end of the day. However the top reason on my list would be safety. When things go wrong on the water, they can be exponentially worse compared to the same thing happening on dry land. If your truck breaks down, you

can wait on the side of the road for AAA to show up. But when you’re dealing with boating gremlins in a choppy ocean, another set of hands, eyes, or some extra brain power can resolve an issue before it becomes a major problem.

I’ve had unexpected mishaps out there, from a minor inconvenience like blowing a fuse, to more serious issues like engine problems. Sometimes it’s simply impossible, or dangerous, to do a repair on your own. And in virtually every instance having a buddy along with me provided the vital assistance that allowed us to get back to the docks…safely.

Having a buddy on board when you’re fishing brings some obvious benefits as well. If you’re fishing in unfamiliar waters, or the bite is a little ‘off’, then you can both fish different kinds of bait until you find what interests the fish and then switch to the same bait. You can also cover more water with two people fishing. And if you’re planning to do some trolling, one person can man the helm while the other sets the trolling spread.

From an economic perspective, fishing has become a little more

My Alaska Trip and the Van

By Gary Turner

Ibarely got stopped in time to avoid hitting two cars in the parking deck! This year I took five friends with me. It was the first trip to Alaska for all of them. Capt. Johnny and Laura, Capt. Dewayne, Tina and their son Blake. Our trip started out with a few snags.

Snag 1. Two days before our arrival I was notified that the van I had rented for our party had broken down. In a scramble to find transportation for six people I got on the internet and found a van for sale on Facebook Marketplace. A Cautionary tale! I bought the van from a man who was moving to Florida. He was leaving the state the day before we arrived. I paid half on Venmo and agreed to send the rest upon my arrival. He left the van at the airport on the top floor of the parking deck. I got there, loaded my luggage in, and cranked the van. I checked all the engine lights. He had sent me screenshots of him driving the van the day before, so I knew it was a running van.

I then went back through security, another whole story, to wait for my friends’ arrival. I had to go back through security because no restaurants outside of the secure area were open, something about a shortage of help. That’s seems to be the case everywhere. I sat down, ordered the clam chowder and halibut, and went ahead and sent the other half of the payment for the van as we had agreed. After I ate, I decided to move the van to a lower level on the parking deck. Well, it cranked good, but when I put it in reverse – Yikes! No BRAKES! I almost took out two cars parked behind me. The man I bought the van from had told me it needed brake shoes, but it really needed BRAKES! There was no brake booster or power assist, so I was literally stopping it manually. That might have been ok for Fred Flintstone in the rubble roller but not this mini-van.

I eased around the parking deck standing on the brake petal with both feet to stop it, hoping the seat didn’t break off its base. I was really in a panic now! I went back to searching Marketplace to see if there were other options available. I looked at a rental, but the problem with that was we were going to be fishing, have waders, tying stuff on top of the vehicle, as well as lots of other stuff. I just generally didn’t think people would appreciate the condition it would have been in when we returned it. Our original rental was a van from a fish camp, so they knew what the deal was. When my comrades arrived around midnight and I informed them of the issues we had with the brakes, they all agreed we have come this far, we are going for it! We loaded all the luggage on top, Beverly Hillbillies style, and headed for Soldotna.

I kept it under 45 mph just in case a moose found its way out of the darkness, and I had to try to stop. Driving at night is not advised in

moose country, they are very dark and you don’t see them until they are in the road. Barely missing one on a past trip, I know just how fast that happens. On that trip I was headed to the Pillars around 1:00 a.m. to meet friends who had called and said the fish were biting. I jumped in the Jeep Cherokee and headed that way thinking about all the fish in the river, when suddenly that moose ran out. I hit the brakes and slid sideways past that big bull moose, knowing that was a life-threatening collision if I hit it. My rule that I taught my girls growing up is that if the animal is smaller than a cow, you do not leave the pavement or your lane if there is oncoming traffic to avoid it. This was definitely bigger than a cow! After that I vowed to be more cautious driving at night. Ok, sorry, I got derailed on the moose story.

We finally made it safely to Soldotna, and the next morning we were ready for the adventures to begin. Johnny was feeling ill and stayed in while the rest of use headed out to do some fishing. By the third day both Johnny and Laura were not feeling well. Turns out they had Covid and were quarantined the rest of their trip. That was Snags 2 and 3!

The rest of us continued fishing, making day trips all over the peninsula. Dewayne and I were adjusting to driving the brakeless van. We ran to Seward, Hope, Homer, Kasilof, Deep Creek, Russian River and anywhere else we wanted to catch fish. We even took it down to the beach and to some 4-wheel drive trails. Finally, after 10 days of driving this way, we took time to get the brakes fixed.

Now you can just imagine what happened next. After driving so long without brakes, I nearly threw us all through the windshield several times forgetting I had brakes now. Thank goodness we all wore our seatbelts. We caught tons of fish: halibut, salmon, flounder, cod, trout and Irish lords, and we had a ton of fun! Everyone wants to go back again next year. In all, we put over 3500 miles on the van in 18 days. There were a lot of long fishing and driving days. Thank goodness for 20 hours of daylight each day. I guess all’s well that ends well, right!

Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip, whether with a guide or just on your own, GO FISHING!

Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

You can reach me at gary@purgeright.com.

“Tight lines and squealing’ reels put a smile on my face every time.”

Gary Turner

You can reach Gary Turner at gary@purgeright.com.

Jim Parks, a native of Newport, TN, has spent over forty-five years flyfishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which he considers his home waters. Jim has written articles for Fly Fish American and The Angler Magazine. He works with and gives talks on fly fishing to various civic organizations. Jim is the author of “Tails of the Smokies”. For copies, he can be reached via his Instagram page at “TailsoftheSmokies”

Shane Goebel Fishing Lake Hiwassee Stripers AUGUST REPORT

Dead of summer fishing isn’t what most people think. “It’s too hot, fish won’t bite and the skeeters gonna’ eat me alive”. Well, it’s definitely hot and the skeeters aren’t gonna’ eat you up. However, one thing is for sure…The striper fishing is super explosive in Western North Carolina and there’s no better lake to experience that late summer mayhem on than Lake Hiwassee. These stripers and hybrids school up in the heat of the summer and go absolutely crazy. It’s not uncommon to catch 30 to 50 stripers in an hour! This striper bite is intense; and it’s the perfect time to hit the lake and catch some amazing fish. And what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. If you want a ton of nice stripers, and I mean a ton, then August and September are perfect months!

Currently, Lake Hiwassee is at full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the mid 80’s.

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

THE BUDDY SYSTEM continued from page 6

expensive these days. The cost of fuel for both the boat and the tow vehicle is outlandish. Buddies can help offset those expenses. I’ve got a lot of fishing pals who don’t own a boat, and they are happy to pitch in for fuel, ice, bait, lunch, etc. Now the total expense for a day’s fishing is spread out over several people, versus you footing the entire bill.

There are also some socially redeeming benefits when you have a buddy on board. As I mentioned, Buck, The Wonder Dog is a great companion…but he’s heard all my jokes…and I’ve heard all of his too. Having a buddy on board helps minimize the boredom between bites. And you have someone to take pictures when you land a big one.

In today’s high-tech, fast-paced world, it can be difficult to step away from the rat race to enjoy a day on the water. And that’s a shame. So call up a buddy… hook up the boat…and just go fishing.

Tight lines and calm seas.

Capt. Cefus McRae – Nuts & Bolts of Fishing

deep water really puts a hurting on them and the quicker you get them into the water the more likely they will survive.

August is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers on this Murphy, 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 full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge (in North Carolina), 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

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Announces Upcoming North Carolina Road Construction Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Great Smoky Mountains National Park is using nearly $19 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act to reconstruct Lakeview Drive and repair Heintooga Ridge Road this summer.

“We are pleased to have this opportunity to rehabilitate and extend the life of some of our roads in North Carolina, in particular Lakeview Drive,” said Deputy Superintendent Alan Sumeriski. “Funds from the Great American Outdoors Act will allow us to make critical repairs and improve access to popular park destinations in North Carolina.”

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the $18,742,587 construction contract to Bryant’s Land and Development Industries of Burnsville, NC, $15,681,860 of which is for Lakeview Drive reconstruction. Lakeview Drive road work will require a full closure for 90 days, starting later this summer. Work will include the complete reconstruction of the 6.5-mile-long road, replacement of all guardrails, construction of ADA accessible parking spaces, new road signs, drainage repair and other miscellaneous work. To prepare for the full closure later this summer, the contractor requires temporary single-lane closures with flaggers July 13 and 14.

Construction dates will be announced in the coming weeks. Hikers and visitors will not be able to access the Noland Creek Trail, Lakeshore

Trail, Goldmine Loop Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, or Lakeview Drive Tunnel from the road during the closure. Access to the cemeteries along Lakeview Drive will be available for anyone planning a Decoration Day.

The contract also includes $3,060,726 for Bryant’s to repair Heintooga Ridge Road. Work will be complete by September 30 and includes roadway patching, crack sealing and an asphalt pavement preservation overlay. The road will be open during construction, but temporary travel delays are possible. Visitors can access Balsam Mountain Campground, a picnic area, and numerous hiking trails from Heintooga Ridge Road.

The Great American Outdoors Act, supported by revenue from energy development, provides funding to make significant enhancements in national parks and other public lands to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. The Great American Outdoors Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other construction funding sources are part of a concerted effort to address the extensive maintenance backlog in national parks.

For more information about temporary road and trail closures at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, please visit the park’s Current Road, Facility, Trail & Backcountry Updates webpage, www.nps.gov/grsm/ planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.

Catching Ain’t Everything

By Capt. James McManus

As I am writing this, it’s the middle of July and have just come in from two fruitless days fishing on Carter’s lake in Georgia. It reminded me that there are a lot of factors that play into successful trips. First it was my initial trip here and even with all my electronics, I was basically flying blind. Going from the headwaters to the dam, stopping and looking, I marked very few fish, a little bait and what I did mark wasn’t biting.

Being July in Georgia means it was hot and it was following a “cold front,” which I think was misnamed and didn’t help, so strike two. If it

was ten years ago I would have probably realized that night fishing would have been the better option but staying up past sundown is almost impossible these days.

The final nail in the coffin was that I had an idea about how I was going to catch fish. Heading the list were walleyes, and in this season a long, long time ago, on my home lake of Fontana, we would have trolled points and mid-lake channels, flats and bluff walls and loaded the boat. This lakes’ topography is similar, so I tried all my old tactics, none of which worked. What this all told me is that no matter how proficient you may be, every lake and every season is unique. As much as I was confident in finding fish, a better choice would have been to hire a guide. That is, if my main goal was to bring home supper.

Because the fishing was slow, there was almost no boat traffic. The lake was beautiful, and early and late the weather was tolerable. Just being on the water with family is enough reason to return. Another season, and I know the fish would be more cooperative, but nothing wrong with enjoying what the good Lord has provided. Catching ain’t always the measure of a successful trip so keep that in mind, later, Capt. James.

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

Coffee By a Trout Stream

By Ethan Hollifield

Some of the fondest memories I had as a child were of my family camping trips. My parents had an old Jayco popup that we spent our family summers in, traveling from Shenandoah all the way to the Outer Banks. These trips were usually accompanied by my great grandparents who were both avid coffee drinkers (some might say excessive, but to each their own).

Because of my love of fishing from an early age; these trips were usually catered to camping close by some sort of body of water. I would get up before sunrise usually to find my great grandfather sitting by the campfire already halfway through a cup of coffee, with his fishing rod leaned up against the side of the camper anticipating my arrival. The combination of strong, black coffee mixed with woodsmoke is still to this day a very nostalgic smell for me.

I remember one particular instance camping in East Tennessee, where my great grandfather lovingly scolded me for being in such a hurry to get to the stream.

“The trout ain’t gonna grow legs, slow down and enjoy the walk lest I spill my coffee.”

At the time, I didn’t think anything of it. I can’t even really remember the rest of the events of that one day, other than him and me sitting by the water’s edge and him letting me sip on his cup of coffee that he always brought fishing. It wasn’t so much that I even liked coffee, but it made me feel more like an adult (along with the leaves of his beechnut wintergreen I took from him when he offered).

Those trips, and those memories, are some of the best parts of my life. I credit them with getting me to where I am today as a guide and for my love of fishing. When I am done with a trip and find myself alone on the river, I’ll make a fresh cup of coffee and sit by the water’s edge, reminiscing on the events of the day but more so on my great grandfather’s words all those years ago. I’m not sure he realized it at the time how impactful that was on my personal philosophy of fishing.

When I sit in the midst of rushing water on a trout stream, hearing the songbirds and feeling the warmth of my coffee in my hands forces me to slow down and appreciate where I am in the present. Joe Humphries often talks about “looking up” when going fishing for this reason. It can be so easy to be focused on the technical aspects of fishing when I think most anglers sometimes forget just how fortunate they are to be on the water surrounded by all of the natural beauty we have here in the first place.

Time has muddled many of my childhood memories, but the smell of strong coffee takes me back to a much simpler time when the only thing that was rushing anything, was the water tumbling over the rocks at my feet. In a world that seems to make less sense to me as the days go by, those memories are precious things.

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

CAPT. CRAIG HENSEL

What’s going on guys and gals! I hope everyone is doing wonderful and enjoying their summer! Things are definitely heating up; I mean just a month ago we were enjoying those nice brisk mornings and then BAM—SUMMER!!! Well it’s here to stay for hopefully a short time. These temperatures have had things all sorts of messed up. From the rain, flooding, humidity and triple digit heat indexes ugh.. Like a good friend of mine Robert Kitchen says we should change our State name from North Carolina to North Carizona. Well let’s jump right into things. So with the highs being in the 90’s our water temperatures have skyrocketed overnight. I have been doing more nighttime fishing trips than day trips here recently, but I did have an amazing trip here recently that I want to share with you guys. I received a phone call from a young lady wanting to book a trip for her husband and three boys for an experience. She explained to me that none of them have ever been fishing before. She also explained that the kids have never been on a boat before. The first thing I told her was, “ok, no pressure,” ha-ha. So after meeting with her and letting her see the vessel and going over what the day would consist of she was like let’s do it.

Well she told me that it was going to be a surprise to all of them, she was going to wake them up at 6:30 in the morning and drive them

to the boat ramp. I was like oh boy, they’re either going to be for it or against it. Let’s hope for the best plan for the worst. Well that night I could hardly sleep. I planned on where I was going to take them so that they could get on a variety of fish and stay busy reeling fish in all morning and let me tell you that’s exactly what happened.

So I’m on the water at 6 am getting everything ready, doing my rigging, getting life jackets ready all that good stuff. Well they show up before their scheduled time and I could hear them from the parking lot full of excitement. Hearing that got me more excited to get them on board. Well as they walked down the dock I think it hit them, oh man what are we about to do, who is this guy and that’s a lot of water under that boat. I could see the kids were a little nervous at that moment, but I broke that nervousness instantly with a little joking around.

As the kids boarded the boat I had them don their life vests and explained a few safety things and told them at any point they feel nervous to say something and we will come back to the dock. Well as we shove off I explained that I was not going to go very fast at first that we would work up to it. They were a bit hesitant at first but once we got on plane all I could hear behind me was, “FASTER!! FASTER!! FASTER!!” I looked over at the father and said, “Well I guess they’re good, are you good with going faster?” He says, “hit it.” So I lay into the throttle, and we are off!

I get it up to around 50mph and we are cruising. These kids are having the time of their life. I took them about 9 miles down the river to a guaranteed catch spot. As soon as I drop the trolling motor and put it on spot lock I turn around and have them pick a rod they wanted to use for the day and had them come to the front of the boat so I could explain how to cast and reel and bait their hooks, and what not to hook each other. I literally showed these boys one time and they took to it like they have done this before. I could not believe my eyes. As soon as their lines hit the water these boys were in the fish, back to back, none stop. Now I had to bait some hooks and undo lines around rod tips a few times. They kept me busy all morning netting fish, taking fish off the hooks, it was like this for a couple of hours. They booked a 4 hour trip, but these kids were having so much fun I gave them a little more time. I really didn’t want it to end more than they did.

Well as they’re catching fish the competitiveness started coming out and I just can’t explain how much fun these kids were having. Dad caught his fair share of fish, but he was having just as much fun as I was watching his boys wear the fish out. Now you know as well as I do, that when you have some first timers on the boat something amazing is going to happen. Well that finally happened. I was baiting a hook for the youngest boy and all of a sudden at the bow of the boat the oldest son yells, “I’ve got something BIG!!” Let me tell you guys that Zebco 33 reel was screaming as hard as it could almost to the point of smoking. I turned and looked towards his line and this fish was heading for deep water under the boat. My first thought is, if he loses this fish I’m going in after it. So I had him come to the back of the boat with me and told him, “Hold that rod up and reel, reel, reel, you’re doing an awesome job.” Well it finally comes up beside the boat and it’s a big Hybrid Striped Bass for this stretch of river. This thing takes off again but this time straight for the motor, the line goes over the prop and I’m praying, LORD PLEASE don’t let this fish come off. I go to the back of

the boat and before I could get back there, he gets that fish off the prop and pulls him to the side of the boat. I reached for the net and swooped him as fast as I could. He pulled that fish up on a number 2 Aberdeen hook with 6lb test.

Let me tell you when that fish hit the deck, World War 3 started among his other brothers, ha-ha. It was on from there. These boys fished their hearts out trying to beat their big brother. I couldn’t have been happier for them. Trips like this is what makes me want to get up every morning and do this for the rest of my life. I was so nervous that these kids weren’t going to be into fishing, but they sure had the time of their lives, and I’m so thankful to have been a part of it. These boys caught well over 100 fish that day.

Guys if you ever get the chance to take a kid fishing do not pass it up. They are the next generation coming up in this sport. It’s always a pleasure here at AWOL Fishing Charters to get families out on the water for memories like this. Until next time, keep those lines tight, rod tips up and catch a big’un! See y’all on the water!

Capt. Craig

Captain Craig Hensel, AWOL Fishing Charters with Capt. Craig Inc. - 910-916-3138.

An Argument for Stocking Stripers in Fontana

By Ronnie Parris

Hey folks, I hope the heat hasn’t got you down. I’m already looking forward to fall.

What I’d like to talk about is the explosion of the blueback herring. For years Fontana Lake reigned supreme in the mountains as the number one lake for catching walleye as well as a variety of fish. That is until the bluebacks were illegally introduced into the lake.

At first s lot of folks were excited thinking of the benefits that come from having a herring population for bass and other species to feed on. And don’t get me wrong, we are seeing some huge spotted bass being taken as a result. This also took the pressure off of the threadfin shad population, as a lot of fish were filling up on bluebacks and letting the threadfin population thrive.

So what’s the problem you might ask. Well for one thing, it’s made all the fish species harder to catch. With all the bait population doing so well there’s no need for a fish to hit a lure that’s not exactly what they want anymore. But the main damage the bluebacks are doing is from when walleye and white bass are up in the river, trying to spawn. You will see billions of bluebacks feeding on the eggs and fry of the walleye and white bass. The picture included in this article is a blueback I caught on a 3 inch spoon trolled at 60 ft deep. So if you don’t think a blueback is an aggressive feeder you better guess again.

So how do you get the walleye numbers, as well as white bass numbers, back up? Well you can try stocking, but that’s only bandading the problem. Yeah, we may catch a few of the stocked fish and think they’re coming back, but as long as the walleye can’t successfully spawn you will never sustain the population. In my opinion the fastest solution is to stock a predator fish that will feed mainly on the bluebacks. The best scenario would be for the NWRC to stock stripers, which love eating blueback herring. They would serve a dual purpose, as they would eat thousands of herring and are also one of the best fighting fish and best eating fish you can hook into.

When I talked to our NWRC biologist a while back I got the feeling he would be open to this but was afraid of catching flak from the local

fishermen, like they did when muskies were introduced several years ago and started feeding on our crappie an other good-eating fish. The stripers have an advantage over the musky when it comes to public opinion because they are great table fare compared to the musky, which is like eating a dirty sock.

I’m hoping folks will give our biologists a little encouragement to try the stripers in Fontana. Bottom line: something has to be done about the bluebacks, or we will never see Fontana ranked as a decent walleye fishery again.

As always folks, stay safe and take a kid fishing.

We o er 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.

Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING

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.

When Is It Too Warm to Fish?

By Karl Ekberg

Summer heat, afternoon thunderstorms, and plenty of liquid to keep hydrated on the river seems to be the norm for the mountains of South Carolina this summer. The temperatures have hit the mid to high eighties here, with the evenings not dipping below sixty. These temperatures warm the water to a dangerous level for the trout, at which point it is time to fish the lower parts of the river for bass. Many great days of bass fishing are already in the book for this summer, and the way the weather outlook is, the pattern should continue.

How to know when it is too warm to fish for trout? When water temperatures are less than 64 degrees, the trout are just fine and can recover quickly. To practice catch and release with wet hands, limited handling, minimal to no time out of the water and rubber nets will aid in the fish having another day to fight again. Temperatures of water between 64-67 degrees, fish with caution.

Keep the fish wet at all times, fish with heavier tippet (3x or 4x) to minimize fight time and fish in the early mornings or late evenings to avoid the hottest part of the day. For water temperatures above 67 degrees, do not fish for trout! Trout cannot recover in warmer water temperatures. Let’s go fish for warmer water species of fish. If we all practice this, our trout fisheries will have a healthier population when the water temperatures cool off in the fall months.

If the trout are being a little tough to catch, we can have a great day on the rivers fishing for bass and panfish. Lower sections of the river are fishing good now. Topwater lures and streamers seem to be the big hit

now for a successful day. Wet wading is an enjoyable day to beat the heat of summer. A small pack, plenty of fluids (to keep hydrated), a small fly box and a good pair of polarized sunglasses for exploring waters you might not normally fish—what a way to spend a summer day catching fish on a fly rod. As river levels have been a little bit higher than normal, do not be surprised by catching a few trout in these lower sections of the river.

While out on your day of fishing, expect afternoon thunderstorms, and the river level to rise slightly. Although it may not be raining where you are fishing, the river level may start to rise as rain may come over the river upstream, so keep an eye on the water level around you.

Let’s all pray for a little cooler weather and some rains to keep the rivers cooler and the water levels up. We look forward to a great Fall season, as the temperatures start to fall off from the summer heat. We also look forward to seeing everyone out on the rivers around us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop.

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.

Know What is Happening

By Scott Norton

Have you ever been on a body of water you know very well, and you know bass should be biting but you cannot buy a bite? Things to look for can be right in front of your face. Be observant and look for clues.

Recently, the hot weather has us night fishing a lot and noticing bite windows in our trips. It is always good to figure out why that is and to know what it is that will maximize the chances in getting a bite or catching that bigger fish. Situations can occur where you know bass are feeding heavily at that moment but will not touch anything you have to offer them. In a reservoir you have the shad spawn, and in ponds you have the bluegill spawn, which can trigger aggressive feedings in which only the forage they are focused on will work.

One of my favorite things in the summer is night fishing, and that gives me a perspective on feeding patterns I do not see in the day. The bite windows could be caused by the moon peeking out of the clouds or something like a shad spawn. During the shad spawn you will hear blow ups in just inches of water, and once this happens they only want what they are eating and are particular in how they ambush them. When you figure out this is what is happening you need a bait close to the same size as the shad they are eating. Baits like flukes, spinnerbaits, poppers, walking baits, and under-spins are a few I like to use—just make sure they are the same size as what they are eating.

Next is how they are ambushing them. If you see blow ups in inches of water you may have to throw your lure on dry land and then drag it in the water. If you cast it in a foot of water they will not pay any attention

to it unless they start to back out due to sunlight hitting the water.

In ponds you most likely will have to use a lure colored like a bluegill since that’s the forage of choice. Bass like to hang around the bluegill beds to ambush, because the meal is easy to catch. Bass will also be in schools helping each other out, and when you know this is going on you can load up on bass one after another.

It is important to pay attention to these signs because you can be fishing a different way and not catch any fish. If you see a low light situation, like an overcast sky, and the bite is dead, check for a shad spawn. If you see lots of bluegill beds in the area cast your lures just outside those beds, in the deeper water, with a bluegill pattern and see if that is what is going on.

Sometimes it can seem like it is just not a good day to fish, but if you know what is going on, it can be the best day of the year.

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

Honestly, Why Should Women Fly Fish?

By Nadine Bourg

Let’s begin with the meaning of honest. Minus the “H”, one is left with “one” & “est” (the French verb to be). So, in the interest in being one with yourself, you should fly fish.

It’s safe to say that many women spend most of their time in the service of others. Take the opportunity to find a way back to the present moment and become one with yourself again.

Fly fishing occurs in beautiful places. One finds themselves immersed in nature. It reveals a multitude of wonders that can’t be found elsewhere.

Early morning forays reveal beams of sunlight cast through rhododendron forest through cold morning mist rising above the water. Summer rains lend themselves to low clouds in the mountain tops and musical waters. Warm afternoons are invitations to Blue Wing Olive hatches which entice a tree full of cedar wax wings to feast. These are invitations to find your way back to breathing deeply again. These are ways to find your way back to the present and the wonders it holds for you.

Learning a new skill and catching fish are empowering events. Fly fishing offers endless opportunities for learning and keeps our minds nimble. Learning keeps you young. Fly fishing is a great teacher. One can learn much about how you choose to be in the world.

Fly fishing is a great adventure. Be open to the magic.

Nadine Bourg, Fly Fishing Guide, Endless River Adventures

By TAM Sta

CRAPPIE TIPS for Deep Summer

Spring is long gone and so are the quick limits of shallow-water crappie. at doesn’t mean you can’t go load the cooler with some slabs for a sh fry; it just means you’ll have to work a little harder. Here are a few tips to help you catch crappie when the weather and water are hot.

Trust the Electronics: Sonar is your best friend when crappie move deep. You might know where good brush and structure are on your lake, but you won’t know where the schools of crappie are until you spot them on the graph. Use side-scan to look under docks and around points, ledges, ditches and creek and river channels. Don’t even bother wetting a line until you’ve located sh with your electronics.

Find the Shade: Crappie don’t like the sun, and deepwater docks or piers can be the mother lode on bright days. Even underwater structure like ledges, humps and creek channels provide shade. Pay attention to the location of the sun, and then start searching the side of a given piece of structure that will provide some shade.

Go Early: ere’s no sense baking in the sun for a few sh when you can load the boat in just a few hours before and a er daybreak. Boat tra c and water temps are both lower in the morning, which means crappie and the small bait sh they feed on will be most active. In the morning, crappie move shallower up on the humps and ledges to chase bait. ey are more likely to bite when they are actively feeding.

Troll the Humps: O shore humps that top out at 15 feet or deeper will hold crappie this time of year. ey’re even better when there’s brush on them. Early and late, or if there is some dam-generated current, the sh will move

up to feed on these humps. ey suspend o the sides when the sun is high or the water is still. Slowly pull a spread of jigs or small, deep-diving crankbaits or spoons over and around humps where you’ve located sh. Pay close attention to how deep your lures are getting and add weight if you need to get them deeper.

Shoot Docks: Main-lake docks with 15 or more feet of water under them are comfortable places for crappie to hang out when the water is warm. Shoot lightweight jigs as far under these docks as you can, and let them sink slowly to the bottom before beginning a steady retrieve. If there are sh under a dock, they usually won’t let that jig hit the bottom.

Drown a Minnow: A school of crappie suspended o structure at 15 or 25 feet over a 40-foot bottom can be a frustrating scenario. You see them on your electronics, but they are slow to bite. Try dropping a live minnow down there where you’re marking sh. en just let it sit. e bites will be light, so pay attention.

PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

n a dark, muggy morning, we eased into Campo’s Marina in Shell Beach, Louisiana.

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We picked up 150 live shrimp for our rst day, and every morning began the same way for the rest of the week.

5 a.m., and it would be getting light at 5:30.For some of us— Dewayne and Blake Pro t, Darrel and I—this was the rst time we had been to Shell Beach in search of giant red sh,

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massive sheepshead and gator trout. Touted as the “Best Inshore Fishing in the World,” Shell Beach did not disappoint! e red sh shing was incredible! We hooked some giants, some we never even saw!

We shed spinning gear and 17- to 20-pound line with 2/0 circle hooks baited with either live shrimp or chunks of fresh blue crab. We also used two di erent techniques. Some of us popped a Cajun under cork. I used a Carolina rig, with the weight on my line, then a barrel swivel and an 18-inch leader terminating in my 2/0 BKK circle hook with a live shrimp.

Now… back to the sh we never saw! We shed some ats right where the tall marsh grass met the canals. e water was usually less than a foot deep. We would cast right next to the grass and wait for sh that were cruising this edge in search of food. en it was on! Your line would cut a wake as the sh ran for deep water and peeled drag. ese sh used any structure or rocks they could nd to break o . Even when they ran to deep water, they just kept going. We broke several lines before deciding to pull up anchor and chase the next big one.

at worked well, so we started chasing down lots of big red sh. Blake hooked one with the popping cork that broke him o . Later, we spotted the cork in the shallows and eased up to try to net it. Just as we got to it, the sh took o and was never seen again.

e days were hot, in the low to mid 90s with pop-up thunderstorms every day. One day we even spotted two waterspouts. We did our best to dodge all that, but we did get wet a few times. e last 30 minutes of daylight were always the most productive. We shed rock walls and hooked up several big red sh each evening. Mixed in with the red sh were some giant sheepshead that fell for the same tactics as the reds. Blue crabs are everywhere. You can catch them with a long-handle dip net or rod and reel.

Shell Beach is in St. Bernard Parish on the Gulf Outlet Canal near Lake Borgne, just 30 minutes from New Orleans. We plan on going back next year.

Check out Gary Turner’s YouTube channel @FishingMagicWithGary.

O

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Tennessee Angler Breaks His Own State Record

Aer a grueling 15-minute battle while shing solo, angler Micka Burkhart successfully netted and boated a 122-pound blue cat sh from Tennessee’s Cumberland River on June 28. e sh is a pending state record that should top the 118.7-pound record mark, which Burkhart set himself at Barkley Reservoir last September.

e whole ght can be viewed on a video posted to Burkhart’s YouTube channel, with the action climaxing as Burkhardt breathlessly pleads with the sh and promises to release it if he can just get it in the net.

Burkhart’s monster blue o cially weighed 122.3 pounds and measured 57.5 inches long, with a 42.25-inch girth. It ate a white bass head shed on 40-pound-test line. A er transporting the sh in a large livewell on his trailered boat to get o cial measurements, Burkhart returned to the Cumberland River and successfully released it back to the Stewart County stretch in northwest Tennessee near the Kentucky and Missouri borders. In a Facebook post, Burkhart reported that he also caught 69- and 72-pound blue cats on the same day. at’s a mighty ne day of shing.

e IGFA all-tackle world record blue cat sh weighed 143 pounds, even. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Virginia by Richard Nicholas Anderson in June of 2011.

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To watch Burkhart catching the new state record, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ni4BPAaEng&t=1s

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• Blue topaz and .925 sterling silver

Balinese Dolphin Pendant (1 carat)

$299 $29* Save $270

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DNP141-01

Impossible PriceONLY

29

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Topaz

“Just lovely! Would recommend it as a purchase. Thank you STAUER.” — Mary L.

One carat of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver for  $29