The Angler Magazine | February 2024 | Great Smoky Mountains & The Upstate Edition

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION

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else, here are a few tips to help you hook and land more tripletail.

• Cruise Carefully: Floating at the surface and doing its best to imitate a garbage bag, a tripletail is easy to spot once you develop an eye for it. Run a trap line on plane with a dedicated spotter and you can cover water quickly to locate “trips.” However, you’ll put fish down if you wake them too hard.

Stay at least 30 feet off a trap line or channel markers while prospecting.

When you spot a fish, give it a few minutes to settle and come back to the surface while you bring the boat around to approach with the trolling motor.

A tripletail at ease on the surface is an easy fish to target.

• Consider Your Eyewear: Obviously, polarized glasses are a must when sight fishing anything. The color of your lenses matters, too. It’s worth investing in a couple of good pairs so you can switch out according to conditions. Gray or blue works best in clear water. In dingy water, go with copper or rose lenses.

• Stay Rigged and Ready: If you’re targeting trout, redfish or whatever, keep a tripletail rig on hand and keep an eye out for them when you’re running to a new spot. A good basic rig is a popping cork with a short 20-pound fluorocarbon leader of a foot or less and a 2/0 circle hook. Live shrimp is best, but if you’re fishing artificials, a DOA shrimp or a Gulp! shrimp or crab will also work.

• On Approach: Come at your quarry from down-current and cast well past it so that your bait drifts back in front of its nose. If that cork starts to dance, give it a few seconds before coming tight. Tripletail have small, hard mouths and you want to be sure the fish has taken the bait.

• Fish Small Baits: The reason a tripletail is hanging out on that marker is to eat the small crabs and shrimp that live there. They’re used to small food and have small mouths, which is why they’ll sometimes reject big shrimp.

Pitch small or medium shrimp to them or small baitfish and lures no longer than about 2.5 inches.

• Stick With Them: If a tripletail spooks or goes down, it usually isn’t going far. Try drifting an unweighted bait on a longer 4- or 5-foot leader that will get down deeper on a long drift past your structure. If that doesn’t work, t will soon be the time of year when everyone’s favorite oddball, the go hit your next mark and come back later. There’s a good chance the fish will tripletail, starts moving in closer to shore to hang out on structure or free- be sunbathing happily on the surface when you return. floating debris. Whether you actively sight fish them by running a line of traps and markers or if you just happen to see one while pursuing something For more tips and tricks, visit coastalanglermag.com.

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

DATE OF REPORT: February 2024. Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

LAKE CUMBERLAND AND CHEROKEE LAKE STRIPERS, HYBRIDS / WALLEYE AND DALE HOLLOW LAKE MUSKIE, BASS AND WALLEYE LAKE CUMBERLAND

The winter striper fishing on Lake Cumberland (southern KY) is terrific, with limits of nice 10-to-15-pound stripes caught on many days and the occasional 20 pounder as well! We are trolling live bait on planer boards from the surface to 30 feet deep concentrating on creek channel points back of the main lake. We also cast Captain Jim “Striper Magic” lures and troll “Captain Jim Special” Umbrella rigs! With multiple full- Umbrella rigs! The striper and hybrid fishing is simply off the chart! time guides, StriperFun offers day trips on Lake Cumberland year-round 20 and 30 fish days are frequent (TN allows catch and release)! With (weather permitting). multiple full-time guides StriperFun offers day trips on Cherokee Lake year-round (weather permitting). We also run a ton of walleye trips in CHEROKEE LAKE The striper/hybrid fishing on Cherokee Lake is very popular with the winter up in the headwaters of Cherokee Lake (the Holston River), our clients. During the winter months we troll “Captain Jim Special” with great success trolling Captain Jim Special Walleye lures!

DALE HOLLOW IN TENNESSEE!

We muskie fish year around on Dale Hollow (winter is the best time), trolling antique muskie baits and Captain Jim Special Glide baits!

There are “huge” muskie in Dale Hollow! For bass during the winter and early spring, our live bait specialist floats live shad on light lines on cliff shelves with great success! For walleye, we begin each year walleye fishing on Dale Hollow fishing at night under hydro glow lights (a great product we sell!) on lake points with drop offs and grass bed edges. Our techniques include jigging, live bait and casting a variety of lures – blade baits and jigging spoons.

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 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.

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 3

Part II from January Edition

Hey pal, could you help a guy with a few pointers??

M

________________

By H. Eddie Fields

y journey into fly fishing was a new lesson in frustration. Keep in mind, more than forty years ago there was no such thing as the internet or YouTube, or even video recorders, so I went to the only source available, the local library, and checked out three books on flyfishing. Well, that turned out to be yet another disaster, because books with instructions on how to fly fish were typically written about western rivers or natural eastern streams and are useless for fishing tailwater streams.

But in my ignorance, I happily went to the local K Mart and bought my first fly rod combo. I remember it was an 8 weight rod with a Shakespeare reel. Following the instructions from the books I got from the library, I rigged up, tying the leader and tippet the best I could. To this day, I still don’t understand how that first guy came up with the blood knot! I am convinced a man needs three hands to properly tie this knot, because mine never turned out like the pictures. I also had picked out and bought a halfdozen flies from a selection on the K Mart rack, selecting a couple of Royal Coachmen (they were the biggest and prettiest), two Dave’s Hoppers, and some Micky Finns. Now armed and dangerous, I hit the Watauga with great expectations.

Those expectations soon turned to disappointment and frustration, as I fished the latter part of May and almost the whole month of June and did not catch a single fish – not one. A smarter man would have given up, but I was determined to break the code and learn how catch a fish on

a fly rod. Of course, it didn’t help my frustration when I watched other fly-fishermen, above and below me, consistently and effortlessly catch fish after fish. I eventually concluded that fly fishermen must be a secret society because they were guarding their knowledge like State secrets. Every time I moved closer to one of them for a hint, they moved farther away without so much as a hello.

One morning, frustrated, but not defeated, I was fishing the Watauga at Sycamore Shoals, right below Sycamore Shoals State Park and Fort Watauga, where once again I was flinging that curtain rod (calling it a fly rod is being too nice) with everything I had and still being rewarded with the same result – a big zero! I looked up and watched a guy step out from the trail to the edge of the water right below me. He didn’t even acknowledge I was there as he just stood there and stared at the water for what seemed like minutes to me.

The guy looked like he just stepped off the pages of a Cabela’s catalogue.

He had on more gear and “stuff ” than I had ever seen, so I quickly surmised that he was too dandy to be a real fisherman. I just curiously continued to watch as he walked around at the edge of the water and, for reasons I couldn’t understand, picked up several rocks from under the water, closely examined them and placed them gently back in the water. I continued watching as he pulled out his fly box and after staring at what seemed like every fly in the box, he spent several more minutes just tying the fly to his tippet.

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FEBRUARY 2024

Finally, he took about three or four steps into the water, extended about six feet of fly line from the end of his rod, made a couple of false casts, and placed his fly in a rift about a foot below a rock. He made a couple of strips on his line, picked up his rod tip and line, and cast again right to the edge of the same rift. Immediately, he raised his rod tip, setting the hook on a nice brown trout. He netted and released the fish (still not even looking my way), examined and fiddled with the fly, checked his tippet and after another false cast, placed the fly on the other side of the rift and caught ANOTHER brown, bigger than the first.

The fisherman had my total attention now, as I watched him over the next few minutes catch four more fish in the same run below the rocks. I couldn’t stand it anymore, and I was determined to find out how he was performing this incredible miracle! I eased over to the bank and walked down the edge until I came to the path where he had entered and positioned myself between the path and him, effectively blocking his exit. Realizing I was right behind him, he turned and gave me a curt, “How you doing”?

I said, “Hey Pal, if it isn’t too much trouble, I was hoping you could you give a guy a few pointers?”

I was glad to see his demeanor soften, as he turned and looked at me and sort of smiled and asked, “How long have you been flyfishing”? I quickly confessed that I had been fishing hard over the last couple of months, at least over a dozen trips, and had not caught a single fish.

I continued by saying, “Obviously, you know exactly what you are doing.

I don’t know anyone who flyfishes and can’t get anyone to help me, so all I know is what I have learned from books, and that strategy sure isn’t working. I really could use some help!”

I was thrilled when he reeled in and walked out of the water, up to where I was standing and said, “Sure, I’ll tell you what little I know.”

The next few minutes were amazing as he began to share his knowledge with me. He first asked to see my rod and rather than making fun of my curtain rod, he graciously began to relate that fishing tailwaters required much lighter equipment and explained why a 4 weight rod is a better

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choice because presentation of the fly is so important.

He went on to explain that the water is so clear and cold , the trout see everything, so tippet and flies are much smaller than typical fly fishing books describe. He pulled out his fly box as he asked me what flies I was using and what I understood about fly selection. I was really embarrassed, and I showed him my Royal Coachman as he began to show me a selection of size 18 and 20’s, explaining that the year-round cold temperatures of the water from the bottom of the lakes, combined with the climate in East Tennessee, resulted in the size of the bugs and hatches being much smaller than flies found in natural streams and rivers.

He walked to the edge of the river and motioned for me to follow, as he once again picked up a rock and pointed out two nymphs crawling, and a caddis shell attached to the bottom of the rock. He squeezed the Caddis shell oozing out the familiar Caddis green color. Then he showed me the flies in his box, and I realized his tied files matched the color and form of the living nymphs.

I joked that I didn’t know you had to be an entomologist to be a fly fisherman. He chuckled but then seriously replied, “You absolutely have to have a basic understanding of entomology to be a successful fly fisherman, because you have to understand the life cycle from larvae, to nymph, to dry fly in order to understand what the fish are eating at any given time.” He went on to say, “Fortunately, here in the tailwaters there are only about six or seven hatches during the year, and once you learn those and the cycle stages, matching the hatch becomes much simpler”.

We stepped back out of the water, and he said, “Let me watch you cast.”

So I picked up my rod and cast my line a couple of times in the water in front of us. He said, “You really have a pretty good cast, so that isn’t going to be a problem, but later on you probably will want to look at a good 4 or 5 weight rod.” Then he asked, “Do you mind if I rig you up?”

“Please do,” I replied.

H. Eddie Fields is a fly shop owner, author and life-long fisherman.

FEBRUARY 2024

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 5

Fishing Emergers

T

________________

By David Hulsey

he area between the bottom of the river and the surface might as well be outer space for most fly anglers. This is where 90 percent of the trouty water flows and where it is most neglected. The surface is where the glorious dry fly action occurs, and the bottom is where the year-round productive nymph fishing happens. No doubt dry fly fishing is the most visual and exciting and nymph fishing or bottom dredging probably out produces any other tactic day in and day out, but what about the mid -levels of the water column?

When mayflies, caddisflies and midges swim to the surface to become adults they are easy pickings for attentive fish. Some of the larger trout in streams specifically target emergers because they are pretty much helpless and easy to catch while in this stage. Emergers are safe foods for a lot of fish simply because anglers are grinding the bottom with heavy tungsten beaded nymph patterns or casting Elk Hair Caddis or Stimulators on top. For me the excitement of having a trout ding a brace of swung soft hackles or a wet fly is where it’s at!

Mimicking the movement and the fly pattern of an ascending insect Fish in this part of the water column are probably looking for requires knowledge of entomology and reading the water. Fishing ascending bugs. If there is a hatch coming off, they are easier to locate. emergers effectively is an ancient craft and I’ve been accused of being Believe me, if some fish are after the adult bugs, twice as many are some kind of sorcerer for the effectiveness of this dark art. One of the eating the struggling emergers. A carefully matched soft hackle can most underutilized tools for fly fishers are a good pair of amber colored be deadly. polarized glasses. I fish with my eyes first trying to locate suspended There are a couple of ways to trigger a fish into eating your offering. fish between a few inches and maybe 3 or 4 feet of the surface. These Carefully approaching the feeding trout from upstream, casting slightly fish are prime candidates for falling prey to an accurately swung fly. across the stream and letting the drag of the line engage the fly right before reaching the fish will make the fly ascend in the water. Get the timing right and more often than not the trout can’t help itself! Another way is to creep up to the fish from downstream, cast upstream of the fish then lift the fly or let the current engage right when the fly enters the fish’s sight window. With this technique, a blast from the fish will usually ensue.

This last tactic was made famous by James Leisenring known as the Leisenring Lift, a deadly tactic for fishing wets or soft hackles. Both tactics can be accomplished with either a single hand rod or a twohanded trout spey rod.

Don’t forget about the water in between the surface and the bottom.

A heck of a lot goes on in a trout stream’s outer space! We teach this deadly tactic along with a whole lot more—just give us a call.

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 6 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

FEBRUARY 2024

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The Game of Inches ____________

By Jim Parks

M

any things are considered games of inches, whether it be baseball, football, or life. Way too often I find myself having missed an automobile accident by mere inches or avoiding a more severe injury in several other methods by only an inch or two. As a lifelong football fan, I regularly catch myself laughing at how much effort is taken in measuring the exact location of a football. Never mind the spot was “eyeballed” when the chains were moved, or how on second down the ball was placed to an approximate location, only to get into the inches when measuring the results of a fourth and one. Then the replay is viewed and reviewed, as commercials are played on TV, and we come back to see the football is marked an inch from the imaginary line, as the official shows the TV audience the proximity by the distance between their index finger and thumb.

Of course, as always, my mind turns to fishing. Fish are either weighed in pounds or inches. With trout, it’s typically inches that we consider when estimating or measuring the length of a fish caught. But what about before the catch. I’ve fished for large trout with dry flies from Yellowstone to the South Holston observing trophy-sized trout sipping bugs off the surface in a feeding lane. Not only does the fly have to travel into their lane, but an inch or so off and it’s no dice. Sometimes dropping the fly on the exact spot achieves no rise, and sometimes it’s also a timing issue where every nine seconds the fish rises. So that day becomes a game of inches and seconds!

Being a heavy nymph fisher who often targets large trout, I’ve learned to fish the typically “unfished” spots where the bigguns’ often hold. To get them to bite often requires a cast placed in the exact spot.

True, there are days where they will move to take your fly, but at times

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they will position themselves in a small hydrodynamic pocket where minimal effort and caloric burn is needed. Many times, this is beneath or beside some structure such as a rock or tree. Sometimes, this pocket will be created by something unseen such as an eddy adjacent to the current. For me, experience by examples provide the best lessons.

Here are a few: One early spring, I was driving alongside a stream when something caught my eye. Well, both eyes, meaning I had to avoid running off the road. I pulled over, grabbed my rod and began studying a long boulder along the far side of the stream. The current flowed quickly along the flat side, creating a small wall. For about three feet, the wall had a slight overhang, creating a darkened area between the current and beneath the overhanging wall. Though it didn’t require a cast of more than twenty feet, it required pinpoint accuracy, as a cast literally an inch either way and fly would not drop beneath the small overhang. Cast after cast I was so close, within a few inches at most, with no take. Instead of shrugging my shoulders and moving on because I think I’ve cast “close enough” or I’m in a hurry to fish the next obvious spot, I kept working it.

Finally, I made the perfect cast on the far side of the bubbles of the current and beneath the overhang. I’ve often said, “the fishing gods rarely reward a perfect cast.” Today, they did! With that perfect cast in the exact spot, a big white mouth opened and took my #8 Guinea Fly. After a brief fight, I measured the twenty-one-inch brown and watched it swim away.

Another example, thus lesson for future use: I was fishing up a pressured stream behind two guys about 150 yards ahead. Normally, I wouldn’t fish behind someone, but my buddy and I looked at each other and as we were still catching fish, so why move? Working our way up, I looked closely at the “unfished” areas. Sometimes, they’re the standing water against the bank beneath overhanging trees, sometimes just small pockets. This time, I was looking at the various currents flowing around the boulder strewn pocket water when I noticed a small dark area beneath a mid-stream rock. The rock was maybe three by three and submerged with a fast current flowing by it. Upon closer observation, I saw there was a small, smooth pocket between the current and the rock revealing a subsurface overhang. Ninety five percent of fishers would cast in the current watch their fly move by unbothered then move on.

But that little pocket caught my eye with intrigue. Though many may have simply cast into the eddy, a cast under the rock was necessary.

The extra effort to get the fly exactly where needed resulted in a hard hit! I love the hard hits of big browns in small streams. Unlike the small fry who hit and run, the bigger fish “yawn” inhaling the fly. This time, though nothing huge, it was a nice, wild 18” brown, which put up a considerable fight in the pocket water.

I’ve heard it said a lot, when fishing a stream, SLOW DOWN. I’m fortunate to have a fishing buddy who understands and shares my slow, methodical style of working a stream. We stay even and when one gets slightly ahead, we’ll stop, taking the opportunity to check our knots and study the water ahead. Sometimes these “studies” reveal a nice fish where a careless step or motion means never getting a shot.

In a time where there seems to be less and less unfished water, getting every drop out of the stretch you are fishing can result in amazing dividends. Take time to hit more than the high percentage spots and go for the big fish in out of the way spots. I truly believe the smarter and larger fish move away from the oft-fished locations. They’ve learned over time how to stay in the same stretch, but not in the obvious lies to those casting for them.

Jim Parks, a native of Newport, Tennessee, has spent forty-three years fly-fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which he considers his home waters.

Check out his book “Tails of the Smokies” in local bookstores. Jim currently resides in Kodak, Tennessee, with Trena, his wife and best friend of thirty-three years.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GREAT SMOKIES

Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival

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By Frank Yaun

he Lollapalooza of fly-fishing festivals (Woodstock for you older cats) will again descend upon the vibrant yet sleepy Maggie Valley, NC, on June 15th & 16th, 2024.

Shannon & Kristin Young, owners of Maggie Valley Fly Shop (MVFS), took a chance putting this festival on last year, there’s been nothing like it in the area, and it was a HUGE success. Put it this way, Mick & Keith took a break from their Rolling Stones tour to come check it out, in fact, Mick often hangs out at MVFS. Stop by and see if I’m lying or not being completely forthright, knomesayn?

What makes it so cool, you might be asking (or, “Is this dude taking a ‘shroom ride? He is from Asheville.”) Great food, live music, a wide variety of fly-fishing shops, rod makers, Hardy Fly Rods, Winston Fly Rods, Cortland, groovy giveaways, casting contest, expert fly tiers, yours truly, JW Files, the omnipotent Jerry Yates and Frog’s Fanny, and many others. Also, we have a heavy hitter coming in this year, author, Fly Fishing Team USA member and coach, Josh Miller, will be our guest speaker. You do not want to miss this; Josh is truly one of the industry leaders and one of

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the top guides in the Eastern US, if not the US! I may not be serious all that much, but I’m definitely serious about how big of a deal it is to get Josh down here.

Needless to say, it’s always a great time to come visit Western North Carolina for the weather, the scenery, the plethora of things to do, the food, and definitely the fishing, always the fishing!

For more info, go to www.maggievalleyflyfishingfestival. com, or www.maggievalleyflyshop.com. Dates are June 15th & 16th, 2024, at the festival grounds in Maggie Valley, NC, about 25 miles west of Asheville NC.

Frank Yaun has been chasing trout around WNC, and all over the US for over 30 years, but WNC is home, and his first love. Frank resides in Asheville with his wife and his 12 year old son, and when not fishing, he’s usually on the tying vice. He guides exclusively for Maggie Valley Fly Shop.

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stival. e 15th y, NC,

he US ides in ng, he’s Shop.

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Strategic Mapping

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By Scott Norton

hen you talk about going to the lake in 20 or 30 degree weather, people tend to think you’re crazy for doing so. This time of year can have some of the best situations for going.

With the proper planning the odds can stack in your favor. Don’t forget that the fish that do bite are of quality. Large bass still have to feed to maintain their mass in the winter months. You will usually notice that you’re the only boat on the water with unpressured fish. Take advantage of all the benefits that winter fishing has to offer You will need to have a good strategy if you want things to go your way. You have to know where the best spots on the lake are, and those spots have to be where the fish are as well. Most techniques are slow in speed, but many anglers have a good day speed cranking. Just know you may have to fish very slow, therefore, go for the best spots first. The days are short, so you don’t have a lot of time to fish like you have in the warm months. Prioritize your areas and try to hit each one of them at the right time. When you fish long enough you learn to go with your in-stinks.

When selecting setups to use, I normally will put away the conventional sized baits and go with finesse or slow moving big baits.

There are two reasons for this: One, the big baits have drawing power with the appearance of a big easy meal, and two, small do-nothing baits will force a bass to feed when they are not in a mood to feed. I have been seeing anglers going against the grain and speed cranking. I have even heard that people are night fishing in the winter using big baits for giant catches. Wintertime fishing normally was thought to be slow speed with small baits, but now newer techniques are being discovered

where previously it was thought you couldn’t catch them in those ways.

When these strategies are working, your day can be ruined by dead batteries or underdressing on a cold windy day. All the planning in the world is no good when you experience a failure on your boat. If a battery is close to the end of its life you will usually find out in cold weather. If you’re not sure how close you are, it would be smart to have them tested, or just bring them indoors if your boat is an outside boat. If you’re on a budget and cannot afford good fishing bibs and a coat, you can save money by getting these items where you buy work attire. Not long ago fishing was very primitive and cheap to do. Though technology has pushed this sport to new heights, some things still work from those primitive days.

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

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Santee Blues and A Surprise!

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By Gary Turner

t was a little cold and windy as we pulled out of Goat Island boat ramp in search of some blue and flathead catfish. Today I had my good friends, Danny and Rafi, with me, as well as my longtime fishing buddy, Stacy. We were going out with my good friend, guide and often traveling fishing buddy, Capt. Dewayne Profitt of Takin It Easy Guide Service.

We looked around for a bit while Dewayne zeroed in on a school of catfish. Then we put out assorted baits, some of which are top secret, and it was only a couple of minutes before a rod went down. Danny reeled down on the fish and hooked up on it. We are using 6/0 BKK circle hooks and you reel down on them, so they slide to the edge of the fish’s mouth.

Using circle hooks results in less gut hooked fish. We catch a lot of fish somedays, and we like to release all that are not needed for eating, so we try to be careful not to injure them. I have gone down a rabbit hole, back to the story line.

When I took Danny to Santee with us last year, he caught his first fish and naturally his biggest fish, so we were out to beat his best. He reeled hard and, even though the water was cold, and the fish were a little lethargic, it was still giving him quite the fight! When he finally got it boatside, Dewayne netted it. It was a little-over-20-pound blue catfish - a new personal best!

Another rod went down, and Rafi was on. Stacy was manning the rods in the back of the boat and one of his went down.

Dewayne said, “Yeah, yesterday we got in the school and six rods went

down at the same time!”

They were both reeling in their fish. Rafi got his in first and I swung it over the side of the boat. When you can see that the fish is hooked good and they are less than 10 pounds, it usually works well swinging them in. Dewayne was busy in the back netting Stacy’s fish that was over 25 pounds. I have lost a few fish swinging them in, and its best to always use a net, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!

Stacy and I love to try to beat each other out for the rods when they go down, but when we have friends who haven’t caught as many fish, we usually let them catch a bunch first. Danny and Rafi caught a boatload of fish that day! I mean, what I consider a boatload, over 30 big blue catfish. They decided they needed to go back home that night because they had so much work. So we all went to the Lake House in Santee for dinner and enjoyed a great meal with friends, then they drove home. That left Stacy and me on the poles the next day. Look out, the battle is on!

The next day it was colder and windier (it really is a word). We fished several spots, but the fish were not biting! Finally, around 11 a.m. we got a bite, then another. We only put out the front rods, and I had the left side, Stacy the right. The lines were drawn! The first four fish hit on my side! Then Stacy got one, and then I got a couple more nice blues. We put them in my Xtreme Bait Tank, 80 gallons, for culling and video purposes. My rod went down again, and I was sitting down in the enclosure, so Stacy was closer. He reeled down

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!

Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip. Whether with a guide or just on your own, GO FISHING! If you are local to me, give me a holler because I’m gonna do more Lanier, Carters, Oconee, and Sinclair this year than I have in the last few years. By the way nobody has written me wanting to go fishing yet. Will you be the first?

I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you! You can reach me at gary@ purgeright.com. My YouTube is growing slowly: @takemefishinggary if you want to see some of the videos.

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

“Tight Lines and Squeelin’ Reels put a Smile on my Face Every Time.”

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

on it and it looked to be a good fish! I told him to turn on his GoPro and I turned on mine! I was happy he was getting a good fish on my side, lol. Stacy and I rib each other a lot; we’ve been fishing together a long time.

The day progressed and we continued to catch lots of good blues in the 10-to-30-pound range. With over 40 fish caught, some in the cooler, some in the tank, and some released, we had a great day on the water with Capt.

Dewayne, but it wasn’t over quite yet. We were tied off to a stump with a down rod on the front left. We were both standing mid deck when that rod slowly bent down hard! I knew that bend! I looked at Stacy and said I’m taking that one! I turned on my GoPro and reeled down on it. It was not happy and started taking line! I got the rod out of the rod holder and tried to pull it off the bottom. We were surrounded by submerged trees 25 feet tall, and if he wrapped one, I would surely loose him! I pulled up and he pulled down.

Bubbles came up, which is their last attempt at staying down. I was making ground on him now! Up he came, a beautiful large flathead! A trophy! I love catching flatheads! And that, my friends, was our trip to Santee!

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 15

February Means Big Smallies

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By Ronnie Parris

ey folks. Hope all is well with you and your families. The cold is hanging on and it sure feels good sitting in front of a nice big fire.

But this is probably your best chance at a truly big smallmouth bass. Although the numbers have dropped since the introduction of the spotted bass, we still have decent numbers of smallies. By far, the wintertime is when we see the biggest taking our baits.

Almost all of our mountain lakes have smallmouth working the rocky shorelines, but my two favorites are Nantahala an Santeetlah. My preferred way to fish for them is by working the shoreline or deeper water according to where I find them on my sonar with live bait. Usually bass minnows or bait I have cast netted when I’m lucky enough to catch some on the surface—usually threadfin shad or blueback herring.

The main key is locating the bait and the smallmouth will be close.

Most days they will be feeding close to the shoreline, but according to the barometric pressure they do sometimes go really deep. I’m talking 70 and 80 feet deep. Another great smallmouth bite comes when you get a good rain in the winter. Really concentrate on spots where creeks and branches pour into the lake, as the rain washes a lot of food in and will concentrate smallies in a small area. Crayfish seem to be a favorite food source around such an area, so a jig sometimes is a good bet for these areas. We do like releasing the smallmouth, so try to handle them as easily as possible and get them back in the water as fast as you can.

A common day this time of year is going to start out in the 20s and get in the 30s or 40s with a good breeze after the first part of the morning. The fish in the photo was caught on just such a morning. Me and my brother-

in-law, Ron, had been catching a good number of smallies, largemouth and yellow perch while fishing down a rocky shoreline line, with most coming from around 20 feet deep. When we got to the main point the wind was really whipping it down the straight, making the point be a definite break.

We were scanning with the Panoptix and saw this nice smallmouth a little deeper. Ron made a cast an let the minnow sink slowly. Just like it was scripted, when it got within 15 ft of the fish you could see her coming up for his bait and the fight was on. After releasing her we worked this same stretch, boating several more really nice fish.

Another perk to fishing this time of year was that we were the only boat on the lake. Make sure to take a few extra clothes as it’s going to be cold, but it’s worth it if you’re wanting to catch some nice smallmouth. If you really want to have some fun, I suggest using ultralight rods and no heavier than 6 pound test. These fish are like little balls of dynamite and tend put on a show. Always be versatile. There will be days that artificial will outfish live bait. I always have a selection of soft plastics and deep running crank baits. One of the best smallmouth lures is the jig.

Just remember, the water is extremely cold, and these fish are not going to chase. It’s got to come close and be fished slow. If you think your fishing slow, but aren’t getting bites, slow it up some more. I’m bad to yoyo my slack line but not pull the bait from that spot. Expect a light, slow load up on the rod and set the hook.

Be extremely careful. Hyperthermia is a real thing and this time of year is when you may find yourself in trouble. Stay as dry and warm as possible. God bless and stay safe.

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.smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.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.

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

smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com

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The Point of the Story

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By Capt. James McManus

ssuming the water is not rock-hard at this point, it’s the start of the best fishing months. February always was a favorite of mine because of the chance to catch the biggest smallie of the year.

As they get ready for the spawn there are several factors that put them within reach of us anglers. First they are feeding heavily, adding weight along with egg sacs that are swelling more every day, so they are a lot like me after Thanksgiving and Christmas cookies, fudge and pie... blowed up. They are searching for spawning areas along shore, so back to the banks. They are also shallow, so all baits come into play.

Points are where I start my search for mama. I used to look for all rock but seems like points with a little clay or dirt mixed in are the best. Guess crawdads need that to bury up in and that is one of Mama’s fave snacks. Rarely do you catch one that doesn’t have a part of a pincer sticking out of their throat. May just mention that along with smallies, especially at Fontana, you will definitely be catching big spots. It’s sad that they are pushing out the small mouth, but they are super fun to catch, and they are so plentiful I don’t mind bringing some home. Please release all the pure strain smallies; spots taste better anyway.

Some good points are Forney, Greasy Branch, Hazel and any near points 7, 6 and 5. My two best baits are Kietechs and X- raps. There’s just something about snatching that jerk bait, pausing and then have it load up that I like even better than top water, which also works. Haven’t had a trip in 10 years when there hasn’t been a rod right at hand with an eighth ounce jig head and a natural colored Kietech hanging ready to throw. Go to the bank and just let it fall, following the slope down to about 45-50 feet. Shallow in Fontana is relative and with super clear winter water, fish have no problem seeing thirty or forty feet to your bait.

Well, dress warm, let folks know where and when you intend to fish, wear your life jacket and enjoy some of the best action of the year. Thank God for our beautiful lakes, and holler if you want to go.

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

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A

carrie scent o fragra Fis betwe of cou of res a mig excite curate the m As fishing rejuve the ne ebbs a onesel you ca chess ultima better

RIVER REFLECTIONS

Get Ready – Nature Is Calling!

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By Matt Mittan

midst winter’s icy grip, nature provides a sanctuary. Finding solace in memories of time spent outdoors, I am transported to sun-drenched days on the water. The air of my imagination carries echoes of music, chatter and laughter around campfires and the scent of fresh fish cooked over an open flame. These become a comforting fragrance in my mind and a promise of what will soon return.

Fishing gear, a collection of tools seasoned by time, serves as a bridge between past adventures and the promise of spring. Rods bear the marks of countless struggles, each warped loop or stretch mark telling a story of resilience and triumph. Reels patiently await their next fight with a mighty fish, their smooth whir sailing with the anticipation of what excitement lies beneath the surface of a perfect cast. The tackle box, a curated assortment of lures and baits, holds the potential for uncovering the mysteries to come and the memories of successes and misses gone by.

As winter presses on, excitement builds for the upcoming spring fishing season. It’s not just about escaping the cold; it’s about embracing the rejuvenating power of nature and the way life moves in cycles. Planning for the next adventure involves selecting the perfect spot, understanding the ebbs and flows of the water and the life that hides within it and immersing oneself in the subtle movements of the environment around you, so that you can connect with it and the other living things that populate it. The chess game with nature unfolds, and each move is a step closer to the ultimate connection with the outdoors and thus, a connection with our better selves.

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Winter view, looking across Lake Julian in Asheville, NC. - Photo By Matt Mittan

Nature, in all its glory, becomes the central focus of finding or reconnecting with our true purpose. It’s a celebration of life, a testament to the simple joys and instilled strength found in its inevitability. In the natural world, the essence lies not in self-centered narratives but in the profound connection we can access as a beautiful pebble in the unstoppable existence of nature – a connection that transcends seasons, warms the soul and breathes life into the stories of each time we leave our busy lives behind for time spent outdoors.

So, get your mind, spirit and gear ready. This could be your best year yet!

Matt Mittan is a long time writer and broadcaster, based out of Asheville, NC. Visit MattMittan.com for more information.

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Conservation Through Collaboration

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By David Ramsey

ould you consider yourself to be a tree hugger? Off hand, I’m guessing there aren’t too many readers of this magazine who would identify themselves as such. I’m also guessing lots of our readers are just fine being called a conservationist. Others, maybe not so much. The whole conservationist vs. “environmentalist” controversy really only serves to reduce the vital issue of protecting and conserving our natural world down to a matter of labels. And, as we know, sometimes a label is just a lie with a name badge. Labels divide people, hold them back from doing good things, hinder critically important work.

I’ve spent most of my adult life advocating for conservation of our natural resources. I’ve worked with folks with highly diverse interests and backgrounds, from left-wing, hard-cores to self-serving politicians and dishonest corporate types who pretend to care about the natural world as long as it pulls in votes and/or boosts their bottom lines. But it’s the authentic “regular people” I’ve worked with, especially the passionate outdoor enthusiasts, sportsmen/sportswomen and committed conservation supporters, who typically make the good (and sometimes big) stuff happen. These are the people for whom conservation is just part of who they are.

Through those people, I’ve learned there are as many different kinds and levels of involvement in conservation as there are in any other important area of human concern. Whether the contribution is simply through the purchase of that hunting/fishing license every year, volunteering for a stream clean-up, involvement with a

sporting or conservation group or any of the dozens of other forms of conservation service, we can and do have an impact.

The key to making a positive impact depends on our level of personal awareness and concern. And, in my opinion, a high degree of awareness is a requirement for us to be able to call ourselves “the reasoning species.” Otherwise, we’re just ignorantly passing through time—gas in the tank, beer in the Yeti and the kind of world we leave our kids, their kids and theirs after them be damned.

We don’t have to be radicals, professionals, elected officials or any kind of “als” to make an impact. We simply need to care enough to rise above the BS, ego trips and name calling, work a little to find that common ground with other stakeholders, then go freakin’ make things better! I know because I’ve seen it and helped to make it happen more than once.

Twenty years ago, few people dared to imagine that a valuable, privately owned, 10,000-acre tract of Appalachian Mountain land, endowed with wild trout streams, spectacular 50-mile views, prolific wildlife and even a section of the Appalachian Trail—all surrounded by national forest lands—would be saved from the developer’s dozers by groups and individuals who otherwise believed they had very little in common with each other and often deployed their labels. Yet, along with the extraordinary Rocky Fork Watershed, you and I and the whole world ultimately became beneficiaries of one of the greatest

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Continued, see CONSERVATION Page 24

n

SOUTH CAROLINA

February on the Chattooga

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By Karl Ekberg

he Atlanta Fly Fishing Show, the first weekend of the month, is an awesome place to see a tremendous amount of gear and flies and gather a tremendous amount of information. The folks at these shows, along with us, have a wealth of knowledge to assist everyone from rod selections for any type of fish which one may target. Then we need to add a fly reel and fly line, which there are many to choose from as well.

One huge word of advice: This purchase does not need to cost thousands of dollars. There are many great deals out there but purchasing a thousand

dollar fly rod does not catch more fish.

Now, there are great fly lines, and with most all of the companies, a top-end fly line is over a hundred dollars. In fly reels, of which there are so many out there, a good one, between one to two hundred dollars, will totally be sufficient for trout waters around here. Higher-end reels with more stopping power, better drag systems, will cost more when targeting larger fish species. Just remember that more money does not directly equal more fish.

The month of January was extremely kind in the rain department for an area in desperate need of filling the water table back up. Rains entering the area every three to five days with torrential amounts of precipitation have brought river levels, at times, above safe zones and slower to recede now that the region has received a much needed refresh.

Temperatures have been on the normal winter side of things as well.

After these torrents of rain, below freezing, nightly temperatures and daytime highs in the forties have been the norm. Water temperatures have been from the high thirties to low forties for most of the month, meaning mid-day fishing has been most productive. Following the sun along the river throughout the day, fishing is most productive during the colder months of the year as well. Heavy weighted nymph rigs and streamers are the most productive. Remember that the bottom of the river is where the money (fish) is this time of year.

A huge event, “Save the 22”, is at the Anderson (SC) Civic Center at

Continued, see FEBRUARY ON THE CHATTOOGA Page 24

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23

CONSERVATION continued from page 20

FEBRUARY ON THE CHATTOOGA continued from page 22

5:30pm on February 16. This event put on by WLS (WHENLIFESUCKS. ORG) is to help Veterans, and 100% of the proceeds go to the program that help veterans heal from trauma and to live well. We are blessed to be a part of helping individuals get out on the rivers fly fishing with this great organization. Tickets are available here at the Fly Shop or through the organization.

A second event, just for ladies, through the SCWF (South Carolina Wildlife Federation), is a POWR+ David Arthur Ramsey is an outdoor photographer, writer and conservationist, born and raised in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee. His outdoor writing Women’s Fly Fishing Day, on and photography have been published locally, regionally and nationally and are February 23, from 9:00am to 3:00pm.

This event is for women to join likemost often associated with work to preserve minded outdoors women and take Great Brown from one of our guides, and protect threatened lands and waters Kole Lowery. part in a fly fishing experience in throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Field and Stream Magazine and Upstate South Carolina. The event Toyota Motor Company named David the is designed for women to connect with each other and feel confident on National Hero of Conservation in 2011 for the water. It’s a full day of learning the basics and being out on the river his leadership in saving the 10,000-acre Rocky understanding how to catch trout with us. Registration is through the Fork watershed in northeastern Tennessee.

South Carolina Wildlife Federation website.

His newly published book, Rocky Fork: As we think about the winter cold, we realize that there is little time Hidden Jewel of the Blue Ridge Wild, tells the before the warmer days of spring arrive, and we will be casting dry flies story, through his rich photography and his to rising fish. Let’s remember, while we are in the great outdoors, to bring first-hand account, of the more than back a little more than we walked in with, and “Leave No Trace.” decade-long battle to preserve this

conservation victories and examples of grass roots collaboration to happen in the Southern Appalachians in half-a-century.

During the long campaign to save Rocky Fork, trout fishers, mountain bikers, bear, turkey and grouse hunters, conservationists, horseback riders, hikers and many others literally stood shoulder to shoulder telling congressmen and other decision makers that this watershed was simply too important, for too many reasons, to be locked up and largely destroyed behind the gates of a massive, private resort.

A priceless natural treasure was the common ground, and aware, concerned people came together and made an impact that conserved and protected it—for each other, for the world and for the future.

Appalachian and American treasure.

24 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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) 6382806 and visit their website at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com.

FEBRUARY 2024

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FEBRUARY 14-18 • MIAMIBOATSHOW.COM

C-Hawk 25 Center Console The C-Hawk 25 Center Console is an infinitely customizable boat with a huge following among hardcore anglers. They are the boat of choice for many charter captains who prefer functionality over flash and want a no-nonsense vessel that’s designed to perform and built to take a beating.

SPECIFICATIONS

One of the great advantages of the C-Hawk 25 is it’s totally customizable, so it can be purpose built to be a better boat for whatever it is you need to do.

LENGTH: 24’11” BEAM: 9’6” DRAFT: 12” DRY WEIGHT: 2,800 lbs.

FUEL CAPACITY: 112 Gal. MAXIMUM HP: 300 DEADRISE: 12 degrees TRANSOM: 25”/ 30”

“We have 10-plus guides using them on the west coast of Florida,” said C-Hawk Boats Owner Brad Grubbs.

“In Georgia and South Carolina, they’re using it as a small passenger ferry.

In Chesapeake Bay, it’s a crab boat.”

to commercial-application standards. They are designed to withstand hard use for years of trouble-free boating, and you can customize your C-Hawk from the factory in any way that suits your purpose.

At its core, the C-Hawk 25cc is a hard-core workhorse with a 300 horsepower maximum that will take you anywhere you need to go. Its 9’6” beam allows it to float in very skinny water with just a 12” draft, and it is also extremely stable, which should appeal for bottomfishing, diving and any other pursuit where a stable platform is preferred.

“We can mix and match consoles, fish boxes, full transoms, cut transoms, bare hulls… you name it,” Grubbs said. “There are some recreational guys adding towers and sight fishing for cobia, and such. Everything we do is built around keep it simple, keep it efficient, keep it easy to maintain, keep it cost effective to own and operate. They are all unique… no cookie cutter trailer queens here. The 25 is a great example of what C-Hawk is.”

Whatever you plan to do with it, all C-Hawk boats are built battleship tough

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CHAWKBOATS.NET.

LIFE IS BETTER IN A C-HAWK

Visit www.CHawkBoats.net to Find a Dealer Near You. 10 NATIONAL

FEBRUARY 2024

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why get worry-free towing? boating

Breakdowns are unpredictable but with an Unlimited Towing Membership, we promise to have your back should the unexpected happen. Sit back, relax and enjoy your time on the water worry-free.

JOIN TODAY! BoatUS.com/Towing 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.

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NATIONAL 11

BLITZING BASS INVADE

EARLY SEASON ESTUARIES

By Nick Carter

S

triped bass are king along the crags and marshes of the Massachusetts North Shore, and each year around the first week of May something very interesting takes place. They call it the early season in this stretch of coastline north of Boston, and it can bring on some of the fastest action of the year.

All the baitfish—the herring, the sand eels, the silversides and bunker— push into the estuaries in search of warmer water temperatures. Big schools of striped bass move in with them. It leads to classic bass blitzes, when pods of stripers push bait up to boil on the surface as birds hammer them from above.

You can bet Matt Zimmerman, owner of Back Eddy Charters out of Beverly, Mass., will be there in the middle of the melee standing in the water waving a stick in the air.

“I fly fish pretty much everywhere for everything, but it’s better early season,” he said. “You can use a slower presentation, mimic smaller baits, and cover the water column a lot better with a fly.”

Historically, the pattern produced 40-fish days of smaller 14- to 26-inch stripers, known as “schoolies.” However, recent years have seen an uptick in larger 26- to 30-inch fish in the early season.

“That’s great for fishing, but it’s not a great sign for the fishery,” Zimmerman said.

If you haven’t heard, fisheries managers are scrambling to prop up Atlantic striper populations. Since 2019, striper reproduction on the Eastern Seaboard has been dismal due to weather conditions. Emergency action reduced the recreational limit to one fish in a slot limit from 28 to 31 inches, and more restrictive measures may be on the horizon.

“The regs? I’m all catch and release, so it hasn’t impacted me too much,” Zimmerman said. “They’re trying to get the stocks up, but most of what we’re seeing is slot fish and up.”

That’s not necessarily the case in the early season, which Zimmerman said is a time when you can just park the truck and wade in.

“Most of the time I fish from a boat,” he said. “But early season, when there’s lots of fish in the river, it’s easier and you can catch more fish wading from shore.”

Zimmerman fishes 5- to 8-weight rods and leaders of straight 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Intermediate sinking lines allow for good depth control, and a handful of Clousers and Deceivers are all you need. Zimmerman suggested 4- to 6-inch patterns and colors of green/white, yellow/white and gray/white.

The fishing is best on the last three hours of an outgoing tide or the first couple hours of an incoming tide, when the bait moves around and incites feeding activity. This river bite is Zimmerman’s go-to pattern for about a month, after which he’ll move out to the beaches and rocky islands, where huge stripers herd bait and slam 6- to 8-inch Hollow Fleyes.

Find Matt Zimmerman on Instagram @backeddycharters.

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arly in my career, I fished out of Venice, Louisiana. On off days, we fished inshore and roadside, which produced incredible catches like bull reds, 100-pound alligator gar and 70-pound blue cats. It was nothing to complain about, but my heart is always offshore. The offshore fishing off Venice is topnotch for yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and swordfish, but the gas bill was too much for me to get out there as anything but crew.

One evening, I was invited on an offshore trip and was told I got to plan the route. I ecstatically hit my Hilton’s offshore report to check the salinity chart and decided to hit an overlooked rig called Moxie.

We headed out the next morning, caught bait and arrived at the rig. This rig sits in shallower waters and is a bit off the path for rig hopping, so it is often passed by. I was surprised to see another boat when we arrived. The bottom machine lit up with giant marks, and we tossed out our baits.

I was running the deck and focused on the back of the boat, but I kept hearing the captain comment on the other boat. It seemed like they were diving, but they didn’t have a dive flag up. I heard him say the boat looked to be sitting

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low in the water. All of a sudden, Capt. Travis Mayeux started screaming, “LINES IN, LINES IN!” I was reeling everything up as quickly as I could when he pushed the boat to full throttle. I wasn’t sure what was going on until I had the lines secured and I turned around. The motors of the other boat had gone under, and the bow reached for the sky before slipping away. The boat sank in seconds.

By the time we got to the scene, most of the flotsam had been carried away by the currents. We rescued the spearfishermen, one Pelican case and a fish bag.

We ended our trip and took the spearfishers back to the dock. Their wallets and keys sank offshore, so they called Plaquemines Parish Sheriff ’s Office to get into their truck. The deputy ran their names, and one of them had an outstanding warrant. He was taken to jail for the weekend. It was a rough day for those guys, but it could have been much worse.

Fishing offshore oil rigs provides a false sense of security. You are still very much offshore even though you are near a structure. The crew on those rigs are not lifeguards and are not paying attention to you. Considering how quickly the debris dispersed and how unfished that rig was, those fellas were very lucky we were there that day.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’nuf Charters, out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342, captainquinlyn.com or @captainquinlyn.

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IT’S PRIME TIME

ON AMERICA’S HOTTEST BIG BASS LAKE

By Nick Carter

I

f a truly giant largemouth bass is on your bucket list, make plans to visit O.H. Ivie Lake in Texas over the next few months. Last year, this 19,000acre impoundment of the Colorado River burst onto the scene as the hottest big bass lake in the nation. A string of 17 monster largemouths from January through April kept O.H. Ivie in the headlines, and 10 of them were caught in February.

And when we say monster, we’re not talking about 8- to 10-pounders, we’re talking about 13-plus-pound behemoths. According to data from Toyota ShareLunker, Texas’ trophy bass recognition and breeding program, February is the time to catch a giant at this central Texas reservoir.

Bass are at their heaviest and most aggressive ahead of the spawn, when they are fat, feeding and full of eggs. Last February’s incredible streak was highlighted by an enormous 17.03-pounder that is the lake record and the eighth largest bass ever caught in Texas. Jason Conn caught it on Feb. 13, 2023, and he said the fish was even heavier before it started regurgitating shad in his livewell.

Moving into March and April last year, the trophy bass statistics were still pretty amazing—with 34 fish heavier than 8 pounds—but the giant fish tapered off. Five 13-plus-pounders were caught during those two months, and then no one registered another one until November, when Shawn Strength caught a 16.65-pound monster. The totals for 2023 were 75 fish heavier than 8 pounds and 18 heavier than 13 pounds. The true total is potentially much more impressive, because these statistics include only the fish anglers bothered to register with ShareLunker.

So, why has the productivity of O.H. Ivie largemouth bass fishing exploded

over the last three or four years?

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, intensive stocking of bass with Florida-strain genetics is the secret ingredient. Florida strain genetics produce larger, faster-growing fish than the native-northern strain genetics in the system. Part of the mission of the ShareLunker program is to breed trophy fish, and they do this by using 13-plus-pounders caught by anglers in their breeding program. It is estimated 75 to 85 percent of the bass in O.H. Ivie possess those Florida genetics. On top of that, weather played a role in the lake’s rise. Following a prolonged drought, heavy rain in the fall of 2018 raised water levels by more than 30 feet.

“It gave these bass pretty much unlimited food and space to grow,” said a ShareLunker representative, “and they just grew like crazy.”

Stay tuned. It’ll be interesting to see what America’s hottest big bass lake produces over the next four months, especially with all the added angler attention that comes with a bright hot spotlight.

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