The Angler Magazine | September 2020 | Great Smoky Mountains & The Upstate Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION

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SLOB SNOOK By Ryan Izquierdo

he anticipation is over. Snook season opened Sept. 1 on Florida’s Atlantic coast, and I know a lot of anglers who are excited to get that thump, fire up the skillet and enjoy a beautiful keeper snook with friends and family. Snook, in case you didn’t know it, are pretty much the most awesome inshore gamefish around. They grow large, up into the 30- and 40-pound range. They are aggressive feeders, and the fight is definitely something to write home about. Florida anglers are lucky to live in one of the world’s best places to catch snook. For everyone else, it’s definitely worth a fall trip to the Sunshine State to do battle with these tacklebusters. Regulations allow you to keep just one fish a day in the 28- to 32-inch slot limit. One of the best ways to catch that one keeper—or a giant slob snook—is beach fishing. You don’t need a fancy boat. All you need is your own two legs, a rod and reel and the appropriate tackle. Location — When fishing for snook, tarpon

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and other gamefish, there are a few key things to look for: birds flying/diving, baitfish being ambushed, obvious structure and current flow. I always bring binoculars to the beach and scan the shoreline for birds and baitfish. If you don’t see any action, keep moving down the beach. I drive my truck to every beach access, quickly hop out and scout. This is the fastest way to cover ground and scan for what you are looking for! The more you fish the beach, the more you will learn and understand a pattern. Snook are hunters; they stage up in obvious areas ready to ambush prey. The beach may all look the same on the surface, but underwater is a different story. Be on the lookout for deep holes, rocks, grass, dropoffs, swash channels and any other structure you might find. Any time sand meets grass or rocks, that’s a great area to fish. Look past the obvious structure, and sometimes that will yield fish other anglers fail to notice. Equipment — When it comes to beach snook fishing, finesse is everything. However, the goal is to get the fish in quickly to ensure a healthy release if it’s not a keeper. Typically, you want to

downscale your line, leader, and hook when beach fishing. My go-to set up is a 4000 spinning reel; 10- to 20-lb. braid; a 7-foot medium action rod; 3 to 4 feet of 30-lb. fluorocarbon leader; a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig-head; and 3- to 6-inch swimbaits, depending on the forage, depth and fishing conditions. Jerkbaits and plugs that dive 3 to 5 feet are also a good option. Matching the hatch is key. Use lures that look similar in size and color to what the fish are feeding on. Fishing with live bait is also a good option. I always keep a 5- or 6-foot cast net in the bed of my truck. It’s lightweight, easy, and gets the job done. Pilchards, threadfin, mullet, croaker and whiting are all great baits found on Florida’s east coast beaches. Keep an aerator and bucket with a lid to ensure the baits are alive and cool. The bigger the bait, the bigger the tackle you will need. I like to free line baits, but I carry pinchon split shot weights if I need to get baits down into the strike zone. I recommend 2/0 to 6/0 circle hooks for the best hook up ratio. Time — The best times to go fishing are at dawn and dusk. Tides are also extremely important. The best time to fish for beach snook is the first hour before and after incoming and outgoing tides. I’ve had the best results right before and after high tide. It is important to check the tides and plan ahead. I also log my catches in a small notebook, where I write down the date, tide, time, tackle/bait used. Start a logbook, and you will eventually have excellent data to use in planning. That is the best way to truly learn and master beach snook fishing. Follow Ryan Izquierdo on YouTube (RyanIzFishing) and Instagram (Instagram.com/Ryan_Izquierdo) to check out his fishing adventures.

Spider Rigging To Catch

Crappie C

By Darcie Arahill

rappie, also known as “specks,” and “sac-a-lait” and a host of other names, depending on where you live, are absolutely delicious and are easy to catch for the whole family. I grew up saltwater fishing and did not know much about crappie. However, all it took was one trip to the lake and I was hooked on these fish; on the correct light tackle crappie are just as much fun as larger fish, and more “yummy” than most! Crappie, both white and black variations, can be found in almost any body of freshwater from Michigan to Florida. I usually catch them in Lake

Okeechobee, Fla. Depending on the time of year, you will catch them in grass mats, along edges, in deep holes, and even through the ice. They generally hold tight to some type of cover like brushpiles or sunken timber, and they eat primarily smaller fish. Small minnows or baits that mimic small minnows work best. When the fish are biting, it is easy on many lakes to see where crappie are by the dozens of boats seeking to catch what I call “lake lobster!” This type of fishing is a way of life for many lake anglers. My favorite way to catch them is often called “spider rigging.” Anglers set out multiple specially designed rods, up to 20 sometimes, such as the BP Crappie Max Crappie Rod, with very light line and leader (no more than 4- to 8-lb. test), a bobber, then a split shot and a small hook. We generally use size #1, #2 or #4 Mustad Aberdeen hooks, and you can try different color hooks as well—gold, bronze or red. The easiest bait to catch crappie with is tiny live minnows from the local tackle shop. Set your rods at varying depths, and discover where they are biting! If you want to up your game, try jigging for them. Mustad crappie jigs are usually “ball head” jigs and come in a variety of colors. Drop your jig into deep holes and along grass mats or slow troll a spread of jigs around the mouths of creeks. You can attach a variety of trailers, curly tails, minnows and some even add spinners to the jig. Lastly, to really make it fun you can even fly fish for crappie. They will hit many types of flies, and be sure to focus on the size of the fly as much as anything. In conclusion, the only way to catch crappie is to GO, get out there! It’s time to bring the entire family, kids and everyone, for a wonderful day on the water and an even better dinner. This type of fishing is a great way to introduce young kids to fishing because it’s hard to not catch a crappie or other by-catch like bass, catfish, sunfish and bluegills when out the lake. Find “Darcizzle Offshore” on all the major social media platforms. Darcie has more than 850 videos of her fishing adventures on YouTube and would love to hear from you.

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ere’s what anglers in Maine were up to in August. The Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza, out of South Portland, Maine, hauled in more than 10,000 pounds of bluefin tuna Aug. 6-8. That’s a whole lot of good eating. The field of 41 boats landed 23 big fish, and the top four finishers all boated bluefins heavier than 600 pounds. Local captain Pete Speeches and the crew of Backstabber won the tournament and $6,250 for a 687.5-pound giant they brought to the scale the third and final day of fishing on Saturday, Aug. 8. Weigh-ins were exciting and filled with drama on Day 3, as the top five positions changed multiple times in just a few hours. Capt. Keith Jordan (Bailey & Bella) established an early lead on the first day with a 679.5-pound bluefin. Last year’s winner, Capt. Kurt Christensen (Molly Jane) brought in a 538-pounder on the second day, followed shortly thereafter by Capt. Nate Bolduc (Cecelia Jean) with a 501.5 pounder. Molly Jane’s second fish, a 671.5-pounder reeled in by Aiden McLean and Reid Hansen seemed a solid second place. Just two hours later, Bailey & Bella’s second fish looked to be a contender but fell just shy at 637 pounds. Their fish had barely been

hoisted and weighed when Backstabber brought in a 687.5-pound behemoth that launched them into first place. Capt. Kevin Lord (Square Footage) shuffled the deck again after lunch with a 547 pounder. Here’s the list of the top-10: 1st: Pete Speeches - Backstabber - 687.5 - $6,250 2nd: Keith Jordan - Bailey & Bella - 679.5 - $3,250 3rd: Kurt Christensen - Molly Jane - 671.5 - $1,500 4th: Keith Jordan - Bailey & Bella - 637 - $1,000 5th: Kevin Lord - 547 - $500 6th: Kurt Christensen - Molly Jane - 538 7th: Nate Bolduc - Cecelia Jean - 501.5 8th: Rusty Parmenter - Patricia Ann - 483 9th: Jeremy Loomis - Kelsey Anne - 466 10th: Shawn Moore - Katelyn A – 462

Dr. Walt Golet, adjunct professor from the University of Maine, and team members with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute collected biological samples from all fish landed for continuing work on bluefin tuna. In its second year, the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds for scholarships to Maine’s community college system. In 2019, the Bonanza

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MURPHY AREA LAKES

Lake Hiwassee Striper Fishing

f you asked us which of the months were our favorites for striper fishing, the answer would definitely be September. Fishing for these Lake Hiwassee monsters is wide open in early fall. With the cooling temps and water levels falling, it really gets the stripers schooled up and feeding like crazy. This means we can absolutely wear them out and trust me, we do! This is a perfect time to experience some extreme striper fishing, and what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 and only fulltime striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We’ve been striper fishing these area lakes longer than anyone! We have what it takes to put you one some sweet trophy stripers. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is 6 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear and water temps are in the mid to low 80s. Striper fishing has been excellent for us lately. We’ve been averaging

By Shane Goebel

around 30 to 40 stripers per morning out here and on other surrounding lakes. Most of our fish have been in the 8 to 15 pound range. We have also caught some bigger stripers in the 20 to 30 pound range. The earlymorning and evening bites are your best times to see action. With the cooling water temps, Stripers will really start to show up in the mouths of creeks and points off the main lake channel. Also, these fish will start working their way up the Hiwassee and Nottely Rivers. The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 6 to the dam. Down lining live blue back herring will be your best technique. The top-water bite on our ultra-light tackle has picked up a bit too, so keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag surface-busting fish. The fish will continue to be schooled up throughout the next month and will remain in deeper water before starting to spread out. 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. Try not to drop them in the boat and remember that the limit is 4 per person out there. This is an excellent striper lake, and it’s only going to get better if we help them thrive. September is a fantastic month for catching tons of monster stripers on this Western North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy

stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy NC’s only and original premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely, Chatuge, and Lake Blue Ridge. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in The Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

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

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Getting The Most Out Of Your Guide Trip By David Hulsey

ou’ve saved hard earned bucks for a year or two, plopped down a deposit, and anxiously waited for this day to come. The fly fishing trip of a lifetime and you’re ready to catch some fish! Halfway into the day and the fish are being tough customers. The trout seem reluctant to chase your fly into the trees that surround the stream, where your fly lands half the time. A little prep work before your trip would save you some frustration and a few more bucks replacing the guides’ flies lost to the branches. A little prep work can also put more fish in the net. As I’ve see many times on a few bumper stickers plastered on old pickup trucks, drift boats, and Yeti coolers, “GUIDE NOT GOD”. Sometimes it does not matter how experienced or good your guide is, it may be impossible for him to get his clients to the skill point that they need to be at to catch fish, on

the limited time they have. The fly angler can do some work before the trip to cut down the time needed to have a productive and more enjoyable trip. Here are a few tips on this that I’ve garnered over thousands of guide trips during the last two decades. Trout see color. Wearing bright colored clothing is a sure way to shave off a few fish from your daily total. Wear colors that blend in with the environment. Who’s the best angler on the river? The Great Blue Heron. I wear the same stinky, worn out shirt on almost all of my guide trips; it’s Heron Gray. Trout see movement. Keep your movement along the creek very deliberant and to a minimum. Learn to cast without a lot of false casts over the fish. Trout feel vibrations in the water and sense clacking of rocks, splashing water, ripping your fly off the water, etc. Don’t fall in! If catching fish is important

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to you, take a casting lesson or two before your trip. Fly Fishers International is the leading fly casters organization in the world and you can find a Certified Instructor most of the time, in your neck of the woods. Most of the time, a cast of 30 feet or less is adequate for eastern trout streams, 60 feet in the west with wind included, and 90 feet with wind for saltwater flats species. This is a rough example, of course. Line control after your fly is in the water, is critical. Mending your line is something your guide can show you very quickly on the river, but it doesn’t hurt to know what he or she is talking about beforehand. Dress for the weather and bring a lightweight rain jacket, polarized amber lensed sunglasses, and a hat. Bug spray and sunscreen are a good idea, just keep it off your

hands! Trout can smell it and it’ll eat your fly line. Be at your pre-appointed meeting place on time and sober. Be ready to fish and ready to focus totally on the task at hand; not doing business on your cell phone. It’s hard to concentrate when the fishing is difficult but having focus and the right attitude can go a long way to catching a few fish. Believe me, there are a thousand other details that can come up on the river, but that’s where the guide comes in. Putting you in good waders and boots with the proper gear to fish with, and the skills of connecting with the fish. Above all else, make sure to look up every now and then and take in the view; that makes the prep work worth it.

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.

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Tons of Lake Chatuge Hybrids

By Darren Hughes

’m not sure these hard fighting hybrids even know that fall starts this month. These fish are still schooling and biting like it’s June. However, September is historically a great month for hybrid fishing on Lake Chatuge and it’s looking like this year is going to be even better! If you’re looking for an action- packed morning of fishing, give us a call. We are Lake Chatuges #1 guide service for loads of trophy hybrids and spotted bass. Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the low 80s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid fishing is wicked good! The fish are still schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities. Our average trips are consisting of 30 to 50 fish in just a few hours. Most of our hybrids are averaging 5-10 pounds. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardestfighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning and mid-afternoon bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish along the main channel

and off points. Down lining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. Top-water bite has slowed down considerably but you can still find a few busting. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, spook, or red fin at the ready. The spotted bass bite is also off the hook! Using the same techniques we do for catching those schooling hybrids, we’ve been killing it with the bass. We’ve been catching at least 20 or so spots every morning. These aren’t small spots either. Just this morning we had several fish 5 to 7 pounds and probably average 3 to 4 pounds. Huge spotted bass! September fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and

tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA--it’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. For guided fishing trips on Lakes Chatuge, Hiwassee, or Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call me, Big

Ol’ Fish Guiding Service or Hughes General Store. And whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, give Chatuge a shot for some of the best spotted bass and hybrids in the area. Good luck, and get hooked!

Darren Hughes is the owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop, a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 5

Super Duper Trout

hen it gets too hot to lake fish, it’s time to find some cold trout water, and that’s what I did the evening of August 13th. I had about two hours of daylight to work with, so I decided to try some of my close honey holes. It clouded up with temps around 80 degrees, which was a big relief from the mid-90s.

By Tim Dangar I decided to use a new lure that someone back in the spring turned me on to. They are called “Super Duper”, and I have to say they live up to their name. And yes, there are some things an old fisherman like me can still learn. This thing looks like anything but what a trout would like to eat. The unorthodox way it jumps from side to side when

coming through the water makes it attractive to feeding trout. I have not used it enough to know if color really matters, but it does come in an assortment of sizes and colors. I caught a limit and this was the

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largest of them, but all were good eating size. So don’t stop fishing due to heat. Just find colder water up in the mountains. Until next time, stay calm and fish on!

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EAST TN / GREAT SMOKIES / SWAIN COUNTY

Anglers, Don’t Put Your Topwater Baits Away Because It’s Hot

By Jay Striker

opwater lures are typical lures you can find in just about any angler’s array of tackle. I know in mine, you sure can. Big, medium, and small ones in just about every color there is. Did you know the best time to throw topwater lures is not just in the morning before the sun gets up? I have found that in the heat of the summer, I can throw a topwater bait all day long and catch fish. Let’s discuss some of the reasons throwing a topwater bait will allow you to beat the heat and keep you active when fishing seems to slow down. Walking baits, such as the KVD Sexy Dawg, is one of the most used baits on my deck, followed up by two other favorites, a buzzbait, and a frog. Each of these baits will be used for different situations when it is extremely hot. A Sexy Dawg

topwater plug is a go-to because I can cover a ton of water with this bait. In the morning on clear days, I opt for a color that has chrome in the body to get the flash of a fleeing baitfish. The key to throwing the Sexy Dawg all day is throwing it in the right spots. Targeting any cove that has a creek running from the back and has several docks close by each other gives an excellent opportunity to catch a largemouth looking for an easy meal. A must technique is that pausing the bait during the retrieve makes the strikes more frequent. Remember to always pause for a second after

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the fish strikes so your odds of catching the fish are higher. Whenever I missed an opportunity at a fish with my walking bait on top, I pick up a Primal buzzbait with a different cadence so that I can target the same area, and many times the fish come back, and you get another bite at the apple. When throwing a buzzbait in the heat of the summer, I try to throw it in the calm of a pocket, over submerged brush piles and along bluff deep rock. My last go-to bait in the heat of the summer is a frog. I like to get in an area of grass mats or grass

SEPTEMBER 2020

areas and try to concentrate on the most productive areas in the mat. I’m looking for different holes that I can present my frogs. In addition to fishing grass, I will fish a frog around docks and rocks and laydowns. All of these will hold some fish in the summer. One bait that I did not mention you must have in the heat of the summer is confidence. This is and will always be the essential bait you must posses. So the next time the sun gets high in the sky in the middle of summer, don’t put down the topwater baits. Instead, throw them and they might get you the bite of a lifetime and a trip to the winners’ circle. Thanks for always supporting me on social media and at Jaystriker.com

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 7

Ellie Dicus

Tyler Dicus 8 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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Graham County – Ultimate Fishing Destination

By Erin Emmons

raham County, North Carolina is the ideal fishing destination. Not far from Robbinsville, North Carolina, Graham County’s creeks, rivers, and lakes provide many fun and exciting opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are needing a getaway with friends or are ready for a family vacation, time spent fishing in Graham County will be an experience to remember. Just imagine spending the morning fishing for Brook, Brown, or Rainbow Trout in the open, rushing waters of Big Snowbird Creek and then later, spending the afternoon fishing for both Large-Mouth and Small-Mouth Bass on the beautiful waters of Lake Santeetlah while being treated to a perfect view of an unbelievably gorgeous sunset. When you’ve experienced a day like that, you’ll understand why Graham County is one of the best-kept fishing secrets in the Southeast. A little-known, yet noteworthy fishing opportunity Graham County has to offer is the Delayed

Harvest Trout Waters program. This opportunity occurs on a section of Big Snowbird Creek that runs from the US Forest Service footbridge at the old railroad junction to US Forest Service Road 2579. This stretch, from the concrete bridge over Big Snowbird on FR 2579 to the footbridge at the end of the gravel road that parallels the creek is very accessible. There are numerous casting spots, pull-offs and cozy nooks to get acquainted with the creek. It is stocked with species of rainbow, brook and brown trout from October 1st through the first Saturday in June. Since 2013, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has been stocking the creek four to five times during this designated season (October, November, March, April, and May). Approximately 1,0002,000 pounds of fish are stocked in several different sites along this 2.9-mile stretch. According to Dale Little, Law Enforcement Officer for the NCWRC District 9 “This

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provides an ideal opportunity for our local fisherman and visiting anglers as well. Fish stocking efforts related to the delayed harvest have resulted in an increase in the abundance of fish in Big Snowbird Creek.” The two restrictions during the Delayed Harvest season are: You must catch and release only, and you are required to fish using artificial bait only (no live bait, no treble hooks). My favorite feature of the Delayed Harvest program is its period for youth fishing only. Just after the delayed harvest window, these waters are closed to all fishing from 30 minutes after sunset on June 5 through 6 a.m. on June 6. After 6 a.m. June 6, young people less than eighteen years old are allowed to fish the delayed harvest section under “Hatchery Supported Trout Waters” regulations, no bait restrictions, no minimum length and seven trout per day limit until

12p.m. Six hours of bliss for the young anglers, with the possibility of reeling in excitement on every cast! This exclusive time and the relatively easy access to this section of Big Snowbird Creek provides an excellent opportunity for children looking to catch their first fish, or for even the littlest of youngsters to delight in the action while comfortable in Mom’s lap. And then by noon that same day, these waters are open once again to all anglers under Hatchery Supported Trout Waters regulations until September 30th. During that time the creek will be stocked two more times, once in June and then once more in July. The Delayed Harvest section of Big Snowbird Creek has something special for every angler, young or old, seasoned or inexperienced. Whether you are wanting to perfect your casting stroke, teach children the basics of fly fishing, or just be a spectator on the bank among the

Continued, see GRAHAM COUNTY Page 10

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 9

GRAHAM COUNTY continued from page 9 rhododendron, this is the location for that. With a flat and easy hike to the creek, its close proximity to the town of Robbinsville, and fishing regulations designed to ensure fun Big Snowbird Creek is truly a “bucket list” fishing expedition! For the experienced angler searching for a more primitive experience and a greater challenge, trek further up Snowbird Creek and you will find a number of chances to reel-in a native trout. From the Junction at the end of Forest Service Road 2579, continue upstream and you will discover that the trout are wild since there is no stocking above the Junction. In approximately four miles, near Mouse Knob Branch, the native “brookies” can be found. The native brook trout (known as “specks” to locals) are most commonly eight inches or less in size. However, one can occasionally catch a ten inch or larger native brook. That size is considered a trophy speck to most anglers. At Mouse Knob Branch, the stream drops several hundred feet toward the Lower Falls on Snowbird Creek creating the perfect barrier for native

rainbow and brown trout that are ready to feed upon nymphs and dry flies. Large boulders create fast water runs and deeper pools that rainbows prefer, providing an excellent opportunity for the fly fisherman to land some nice trout. Fishing is not always just about catching fish. Often it’s about the experience shared while fishing with those you love. Family heritage is sometimes associated with fishing. Learning to fish and discovering the enjoyment of being outdoors is often passed from generation to generation. For many years, expert fly fisherman Rick Davis has fished the crevasses and bends of the running water in Graham County. Learning to fish with your father has become somewhat a “rite of passage” for the Davis family: Rick’s father introduced him to fishing and he in turn has shared it with his own children. “The Delayed Harvest, in particular provides the ideal fishing trip. Easy access to an almost guaranteed catch of the day, an experiment any first-time fishermen will only carry with them forever.” says Davis. He continues,

“the riverbanks and easy road access make this creek ideal for all ages and experience levels. Whether you have been fly-fishing for years or are just beginning, this is the the spot for you and your family.” I have had the privilege of creating my own timeless experience. My first fishing trip with my father was along the Snake River in the Grand Tetons of Yellowstone National Park. Looking back nearly twenty years ago, I realize now how much this fishing trip has grown with me. We rode on horse-back for days, settling into a pristine and peaceful location where we made our camp. We caught many trout that we cooked over a fire for our supper, and spent the evening roasting marshmallows and talking about our day’s catch. The quiet, bubbling of the creek lulled us to sleep each night in our tent. Here where our minds and bodies could rest and soak in all of God’s country, I saw a side of my father that was so captivating. I could see how content he was in the wilderness. His patience while tying

a fly, carefully selecting which one he thought would attract the perfect trout, and his humble nature as he reeled in his trout are memorable characteristics that I still reflect on to this day. It was as if we had traveled back in time and the beauty of living off the land was our normal routine. It has become an experience that I have cherished as I have grown older, warming my heart every time I think about the simplicity and beauty of my childhood fishing experiences with my father. I learned what it means to be patient, humble and most importantly, a steward of the environment. As the years have passed, he can no longer ride a horse or cast a fly rod. The years have aged him physically, but we always recreate our trip to “The Tetons” and reminisce together. An experience we will forever share and one that I will always cherish. The many thrilling fishing experiences you can discover in Graham County, afford you the chance to create your own lasting family fishing memories.

Erin Emmons resides in Robbinsville, NC and has a passion for the outdoors. After moving here from Glennallen, Alaska, she has been drawn to connect with the environment through hiking, gardening and fishing; teaching her three children to as well.

about enoug here i the 20 out I have l folks, the wa have on th The la only confir saying survey water smalli walley to mos resear to res some thing cuttin Le the sp tons o take a went remov folks k have a be ret Instea all siz

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Mismanagement of Our Fisheries By Capt. James McManus

combination have truly gutted this once wonderful sustaining fishery. Every meeting I have attended there has been discussion about what to do, with stocking I think, being the only answer because you will never again be without the spots or herring and there can’t be natural reproduction with either of these present. One meeting in Bryson City dealt with the difficulties of rearing stockable walleye, and some elements I was not aware of. Kudos to the folks in charge as they seem to be putting resources and energy into trying to remedy the hatchery issues. With the difficulties encountered and the apparent willingness of most at the meetings to reduce creel limits to give what is stocked a fighting chance, why in the world are we still at an eight fish limit? Also, there are no river closures seasonally to encourage an increase in natural reproduction;

ell I don’t know what to say. I have promised in the past to not complain about our wildlife folks not doing enough to take care of our fisheries here in the mountains. Now that the 20-21 regulations have come out I just can’t keep quiet. They have listened a little and plenty of folks, who spend way more time on the water than the folks in charge, have been giving their opinions on the state of our lake fisheries. The latest meetings I have attended only provided information that confirmed what we have been saying for years based not on surveys and guesses but on actual water observations. Spots are up, smallies are down, largemouth and walleye are MIA…This is not news to most anglers. I realize you need to research before you take action, but to research, research, and research some more and then do the wrong thing or nothing at all, is just not cutting it. Let’s start with our bass, first the spots, we all know there are tons of them out there, to totally take away the creel limit, I think, went too far. I agree with the removal of the size limit, letting folks keep more smaller fish would have allowed more sizeable fish to be returned with a five fish limit. Instead, now you are going to see all sizes go down and, while some

Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!

reduction in the numbers is good, I am afraid there will be too many removed. At Fontana especially, there are very few largemouth left but they removed the caveat of “in combination” so you can keep 5 largemouth…Hold onto that thought. Poor Santeelah, they totally removed the creel limit on anything less than 14 inches…Again, hold that thought. For smallies, a species that we have been asking special protective regulations for, they have again gutted them. You can keep five fish, with two under 14 inches, all smallies…Again, hold that thought. So if you fish Fontana and you ran into a school of mixed fish really working a big school of bait, which we used to see all the time, you could conceivably keep 5 largemouth, 5 smallies, and let’s say conservatively 20 spots of all sizes per person, and with 2 to 3 people per boat that gives you 60 to 90 fish for just that one boat. Santeelah could be even worse, with no restrictions on numbers of small fish of any kind. You tell me how that is preserving and enhancing our resource. And now we get to the walleye. There has been talk for at least 6 to 7 years about the decline of this species. You can blame it on the spots or you can blame it on the herring, both are causes and in

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it just boggles the mind. Like most things governmental, we need to use our heads to augment our thoughts with their regulations to get the most out of our resources. Regulate yourselves. You don’t need hundreds of fish in the freezer just because it’s legal. You don’t need any smallmouth, in my opinion. Spots eat better anyway. Same goes for walleye, while I love to eat them I have simply quit fishing for them. If this pandemic goes on much longer our lakes will be cleaned out. I have never seen so many people on the lake and if you open it up, which they have for mass slaughter, then there ain’t much hope for the future to return to what we used to have. Maybe I won’t complain again but I am not making that promise until someone at the state level wakes up to what is going on. Here’s to clearer heads in the future. Later, Capt. James

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 11

Weather Cooling Off Makes the Bite Heat Up By Ronnie Parris

ey Folks! I hope everyone is well and enjoying these cooler mornings on the lake. I’m starting to see signs of fall around the corner and I can’t wait. Although the bite has been slower on Fontana this year, we are seeing some good action early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Mostly catching spotted bass and white bass with a few walleye and crappie in the mix, as well. The best bite has been on trolling with downriggers and pulling planer boards with artificial lures. The walleye have been scattered and seem to be hanging between 50 an 80 feet deep, with the spotted bass scattered from the surface to around 40 feet. Most of fish are coming about half way up the river runs, but I have caught several on solid rock cliffs as the day heats up. If you

have kids along you’re in for a treat as the bluegill are on fire right now. Crickets and Catalpa Worms are my favorite baits but they will hit a variety of live and artificial offerings. Most will be located close to shore on structures- be it trees, brush piles, or rocky banks. If you’re catching a lot of smalls, back of to a little deeper water and watch your fish finder; you should see the bigger bluegill there. Bluegill are great eating fish but be sure to take only what you need to eat. Some of the summertime watersports, such as skiing and wakeboarding should be dying down so that will help your luck, so be sure to have a good top water bait such as a Pop-R or a Sammy or an Ex-Rap to throw at the breaking fish; this can be exciting for sure. As always, stay safe and take a kid fishing!

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

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

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

smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com

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Fly Fishing Big Snowbird Creek

By James Marsh

o get to the key feature quickly, lets just say that Big Snowbird Creek is one of the best small stream, brook trout streams in North Carolina. It rivals the Raven Fork in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but many claim it’s the state’s best brook trout stream. Like any other good brook trout stream, the thing that keeps its “good” status is the remoteness of its waters. To get to the best brook trout fishing in Big Snowbird Creek, you are going to have to do a lot of hiking. Big Snowbird Creek, located near Robbinsville North Carolina, flows into Santeetlah Lake. Its waters are managed by the state, two different ways. It has a wild trout section in its headwaters, and a hatchery supported section in its lower end. The creeks reputation as a good trout stream comes from its wild brook trout territory, which is protected from upstream migrating brown and rainbow trout by three large waterfalls. The creek starts out as a very small brook trout stream on the Snowbird Mountains near the Cherohala Skyway and becomes

a rather large brook trout stream in its lower wild trout section that is twenty to thirty five feet wide in places. The three waterfalls are Big Falls, the lowest one; Middle Falls, and Upper Falls. The best brook trout fishing is above these waterfalls. To get there, you have two options. You can travel to the end of the Big Snowbird Creek Road, which is Forest Service Road #75, to a location known as the Junction and depart by foot up the trail at least six miles to the better brook trout water. You can also hike down the King Meadows Trail from Hooper Bald on the Cherohala Skyway. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Cherohala Skyway is a twenty-mile long highway that runs along the top of the mountain ridges from Tellico Plains Tennessee to Robbinsville North Carolina. This trail is very steep and it probably takes more effort to reach the better brook trout waters than the lower trail. Once the trail gets to the main brook trout waters, its decline drops drastically and it falls at a much slower pace. There are several small

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Anna Bryn Williams on Big Snowbird Creek where she likes to fish with her dad.

tributary streams that also have populations of brook trout between the lower falls and the middle falls, but you normally will find the largest brook trout in the big pools of the main stream. Brook trout exist up to about 12 inches but most of them probably average about 5 inches.

The lower section is followed by a Forest Service Road (Big Snowbird Road) with not much access. It flows through a mixture of public and private property for its length of eight miles from Santeetlah Lake. The first three miles upstream from the Junction, the Big Snowbird

Continued, see SNOWBIRD CREEK Page 17

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 13

HIGH COUNTRY

Know Their ‘Niches’

rom Merriam-Webster: “niche: a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species.” After electrofishing streams and lakes for three decades and fishing them twice as long, I’ve learned a bit about fish niches and would like to share this intel with you. If you know their niches, you’ll catch more fishes! In scientific terms, these niches, or habitats, are a combination of water velocity, depth, substrate, and cover that a certain species prefers, and selects those spots when they’re available. In angler terms, those niches are where sportfish can hang out safely, grab a meal, and not be a meal themselves. Watch a veteran angler. They will first “dissect” a river or stream by looking for those niches and concentrating their casts in those prime addresses. Many anglers call this “reading the water.” When you can recognize these instream abodes and knock on their doors with your

By Jeff Durniak – Unicoi Outfitters

popper or Ned rig, you might have some extra fish stories for your friends! Let’s look at some niches for our several of our favorite North GA fishes. A real popular target is the rainbow trout. They’re built like a bullet or rocketship (fusiform) and evolved in the swift streams of the Pacific Northwest. Unlike their lazy cousins, ‘bows prefer and can tolerate faster currents, and they’re not as addicted to some form of cover over their heads. Just give them a rocky bottom to blend in with and they’re happy while picking off drifting nymphs. Since they’re not picky about homeplaces, agency research shows wild rainbows often have 2-3 times the density (fish/mile) than brookies or browns in similarsized southern Appalachian streams. Show me a nice “blue-green” run or pool head with moderate current speed, depth of 2-5 feet, and a cobble/boulder bottom, and I’ll drift my double nymph rig through it for

bows (plural!). In contrast, browns and brookies are fat, lazy, and paranoid of predators. They like much slower currents and a roof over their heads and will even tolerate sand and silt under them. “Roofs” are sometimes bedrock ledges, boulders with undercuts, undercut streambanks, thick overhanging vegetation, fallen logs, and especially big logjams. With this cover-loving duo, I coach anglers to cast at “groundhog holes” in the stream. A slow spot with some depth and shade is a prime niche for a colorful speck or a hefty brown. Let’s slide downstream and hit a few niches for our river fans. Like our slower trout species, river bass and bream are also fat, lazy, and wary of “death from above.” Their body shapes tell us they won’t spend much time body-surfing the waves in the main current. Look for those groundhog holes in your favorite

rivers and you’ll have a great shot at shoalies, smallies, spots, and colorful redbreasts. Shoalies are addicted to rocks, so aim for boulder fields and rock ledges- the ones that are perpendicular to flow (slow water, right?). Put some low tree branches or a big fallen log over that slow, rocky spot and watch out for Bubba, who may push 20 inches. You’ll also find some shoalies in the whitewater, but they’ll actually be in the slow water “underneath” the ripping main current. The other river bass and bream species also like shoalie niches, but they love what the Unicoi Guru terms, “frog water.” Look for the slowest, shadiest spots along the river with at least 2-3 feet of depth to hide them. Deep, slow, shady spots along the riverbank are some of the best river bass niches created by Mother Nature. If there’s a bunch of low branches, a downed tree, or

Continued, see KNOW THEIR ‘NICHES’ Page 21

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 15

Keeping Your Angling Equipment Safe from Potential Theft

By Dr. Andrew A. Cox

any outdoor enthusiasts realize that outdoor equipment is a prime commodity for being stolen. The Southeastern states represent a region with a great number of property related crimes. Accordingly, we have to anticipate and take action to prevent potential equipment theft. I have been a victim of fishing equipment theft on at least three different occasions. These include two times involving theft of rods and reels from my boat on a fishing trip to the Florida Panhandle and at a private lake in Harris County, Georgia. A third incident involved the theft of a large tackle box containing an extensive array of fishing lures and other equipment, stolen from my boat while anchored at a dock on Lake Harding. These thefts were expensive as equipment had to be replaced and time expended to compile information necessary to file an insurance claim. I have also reviewed various reports of automobile break-ins at public launch ramps and public use areas at various lakes and rivers across the state of Georgia. Angler’s property being targeted by thieves is not an isolated incidence. As anglers, we have to think like a criminal to make efforts to protect our expensive equipment from potential theft. Here are some pointers to potentially protect yourself from theft while enjoying your sport: • Make sure your vehicle doors are locked and windows rolled up when fishing; • Do not leave items in view within your truck or automobile; lock items in the automobile’s trunk or lay things down inside your truck covered from view; • Do not leave items inside your boat as I had the misfortune to do. If you leave things in your boat, place them in lockable rod

or storage boxes that may be built into your boat; • Place angling items in lockable storage bins with closed covers that can be easily transported to and from your vehicle, boat, or fishing locale; • If possible, place all moveable items such as tackle, coolers, etc. inside your room if staying overnight. Only remove items from your room that you may use over the course of each fishing day; • If you have an audible alarm or anti-theft device on your automobile or truck, make sure it is activated to sound alarm if your vehicle is tampered with while you are fishing; • Park your vehicle in a location frequented by many people over the course of the fishing day such as a recreational day use area or boat launch ramp. Avoid parking your vehicle in a secluded or poorly lighted area; • Keep a written list with items used in your boat or while fishing so you can inventory items in case of a potential theft. Better still, have written serial numbers, model numbers, dates of purchase, and prices for angling items. These will be required in filing a police report; • Have close up color photographs of your equipment that can be easily retrieved if necessary; • Consider placing identifying marks on your equipment that will accommodate such identification. Unfortunately, times have changed for many things in America. We have to take the time and effort to anticipate and prevent the potential theft of our property that we spent hard earned dollars in acquiring over the years. The above tips may not prevent but may deter potential thieves from stealing your property.

Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama and north Florida for over forty years. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com. 16 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

SEPTEMBER 2020

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Hot For Trout

By Stephen Tomasovich

id to late summer in the Southeast is not exactly what you would call prime trout fishing time. However, there are still a lot of viable options, and if you are a trout bum like myself, sometimes you got to get your fix. It probably goes without saying but it’s always best to have a stream thermometer on your person. I don’t like to chase trout that often when the waters exceed 65 degrees but do push it a few degrees higher on occasion. If you are blessed to be within a short drive of a tailwater, that is usually your best option as water temperatures tend to stay well below a dangerous mark. If you are chasing our c o l d w a t e r companions in the mountain streams, here are a few things to consider. When looking for areas that will hold fish, concentrate on higher oxygenated water types like shoals, plunge pools, and riffles. Also, look to slower lazy water that does not require much effort to hold in. Shade will be your friend and, due to the amount of terrestrials present, fish the

banks focusing where there are overhanging limbs or bushes. Speaking of terrestrials, make sure you have them in your fly box. Small ants, grasshoppers, and rubber leg dries are a great option. I tend to downsize to sizes 16 to 20 when I’m fishing nymphs. It’s also not a bad idea to downsize your tippet as well. Keep in mind with the strong sun it’s easy to cast shadows that will spook fish. The shadows can come from you and can also come from your fly line so be cognizant not to overline your fish. For the sake of the health of our fisheries, learn to land fish quickly. There are techniques, such as side pressure, that you can employ to put them in the net fast. Once they’re in the bag, try to leave them in the water breathing while removing your fly and releasing the fish. Or, if regulations allow, take your time landing the fish and put it on a stringer to be grilled while having a cold beverage that evening. Fish on –Big T

SNOWBIRD CREEK continued from page 13 Creek lies far below the trail but can be accessed in places. It has excellent wild brown trout and rainbow trout fishing. There are campgrounds in the upper section and camping is probably the best approach to use to fish the better brook trout waters. Above Sassafras Creek, the stream falls through a series of cascades that are a few hundred feet high. These are known as the Mouse Knob Falls. Above the falls, you will find brook trout only. The thing that defines Big Snowbird Creek from other streams in this area of the state of North Carolina is its wide streambed. The stream has numerous deep pools, long runs, some short riffles but it’s mostly pocket water with boulders

and large rocks spread throughout its waters. There are plenty of Rhododendron that makes for tight situations in the extreme upper parts and all the small tributaries, but you won’t have any casting problems at most any other location on Big Snowbird Creek. Season: The season runs yearround Winter: Trout can be caught most days of the winter Spring: Spring is the best time for fly fishing the Linville River due to the hatches. Summer: Summertime is okay the water in the gorge stays cool. Fall: Fall is the best time for big browns in the lower section.

James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog, mail-order store. www.perfectflystore.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 17

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ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD / OLD FORT

Fishing the Transition

By Capt. Cefus McRae

s summer gives way to fall, the days begin to get shorter, and nights become a little cooler. These factors convince fish to start their semi-annual migrations to their winter hangouts. Essentially, you’re dealing with springtime fishing in reverse. In September, and even into October, water temperatures can still be quite warm, but to a fish, even a couple of degrees can make a difference. As an example, on offshore trips looking for king mackerel, I’ve found a two-degree temperature differential made a significant difference in the number of fish caught. Inshore, the trout and flounder that have been hanging out in their summertime deep holes will move onto the grass flats and oyster bars. Stripers and bass will start to move from their deep water haunts up to the shallow humps and points looking for bait schools as they put

on their winter feed bags. While water temperatures do have a distinct effect, I think the number of daylight hours also plays a key role. As we go from 15 hours of daylight down to 10 or 12 hours, fish sense a changing of the seasons, and the transition begins. It’s the same natural phenomenon that heralds in the rut for deer. The summer to fall seasonal change is one type of transition for anglers to think about, but the word ‘transition’ also conjures up several other thoughts as well. One of the first images that come to mind, and also a key factor to finding fish, are underwater topographical transitions. Offshore, we are constantly looking for ledges, rock piles, sandy bottom transitioning to live bottom and reefs, and other things that stick out in an otherwise flat landscape. These places become congregating

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areas for baitfish, which attract the game fish. Wrecks and artificial reefs that present vertical relief will hold everything from grouper to

amberjack, to kingfish and cobia. These are the obvious ones, but a small crack or ledge that’s barely visible on your sonar can be prime

Continued, see FISHING THE TRANSITION Page 21

SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 19

‘Tying On, To Disconnect’

find myself in a strange tug of war these days, where I am both longing for those activities that put us with lots of other people – like a concert, festival, or even a crowded movie, while I am simultaneously wanting to isolate myself more and more from contact with people. About the only thing that gives me satisfaction on both sides of that contradiction is fishing. Numerous times since our social lives changed due to Covid-19, I have been able to enjoy the solitude and peace of being on a body of water chasing fish, as well as found enormous joy from interacting with other people who were also out doing the same thing. But over the past month or so something is changing. It seems that there’s almost no corner of life that doesn’t have the divisiveness and tension of politics reaching in, with its often ugly tentacles, causing people to get angry with each other – even in settings where no anger should exist between people. Whether it’s just going to the store to buy some groceries, walking around a local park or yes, even fishing. While on a recent camping trip, we had to endure a family that seemingly felt it was their duty to continuously and loudly race their golf cart round and round all day with their oversized political candidate flags flapping above and behind them as they treated the week as a campaign rally more than a quiet get away to nature.

By Matt Mittan

As people have felt more and more defensive about their selected affiliations and agendas, they seem to want to push said positions more aggressively onto others. In another example, I went in to two stores yesterday and ended up having my visits disrupted by confrontations between people yelling at each other over masks, correct change signs, or folks not following social distancing. My personality is that I can’t sit by and see someone acting the fool and abusing someone else without responding. Often my attempts to be the peacemaker end up leaving me feeling frustrated for hours after the fact. These encounters are wearing on me. And I’m guessing I’m not alone in that feeling. So why write about it here, in The Angler Magazine? For most of my life, fishing has been my refuge. It’s been my go-to activity to burn stress, to relax, to recharge and to find inspiration. The fishing community has also been a means of being involved in conservation efforts, in youth programs and in encouraging people to get outdoors. And it still feels like one place where we can all still enjoy being together in a shared desire for joy. I feel we, as anglers, have a role we can play in offering some calm in the current societal storms we are facing. First, let’s agree to not take that cast when we see

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something political come up that triggers us and let’s not do things that will trigger others – at least while we’re out fishing. Think of it as a catch and release program for opinions. Save it for another setting. Second, let’s invite some folks out fishing. Especially people that may not have been in a long time – if ever. If we can’t

find common ground on the water, in nature, then where can we? Maybe if more people got the chance to find out that tying on can help them disconnect from the stress and tension, then there’d be some more room for remembering that there’s more that binds us than divides us.

Matt Mittan is daily afternoon host on Biz Radio Asheville and the co-host of “Matt and Michele Outdoors”. Find out more by visiting www.MattMittan.com

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How Forests Affect Trout By Ethan Hollifiled

think one of the greatest privileges and responsibilities that I have as a writer and a guide is to instill a conservation ethic within the folks that I take out. There’s so much at stake, in terms of our wild fisheries populations when it comes to that, and it’s something I don’t necessarily take lightly. One thing that I highlight more often than not is the interconnectedness of the health of our forests, in particular, and how it relates to fishing. This is a topic about which I find most people have very little knowledge. I’m going to stick particularly with trout when explaining this, but it also applies to smallmouth and musky fisheries as well. Everything in the natural world is intertwined in various cycles, and those cycles can overlap through ecosystem processes that can determine the health of multiple environments. You can think of it like a watch: if one gear fails within the watch, the entire watch eventually stops working all together. Healthy forests, in turn, create healthy fisheries for wild trout to thrive in, while unhealthy forests can, in turn, lead to a collapse of aquatic productivity. One of the biggest limiting factors for our trout fisheries here is cold water. Cold water is able to hold more dissolved oxygen, which trout need a high abundance of to survive. The dissolved oxygen

comes from gradient drops in the water (I.e, rapids and riffles). While most trout streams are found above 2,000 feet in elevation: elevation alone isn’t enough to keep the water cold enough to support those high dissolved oxygen levels. That alone comes from the shade cover provided by forests. I don’t necessarily mean trees right along the riparian zone of a riverbank, either. If you think back to the last time you went hiking in the woods: you probably saw a dramatic difference in air temperature. The tree canopy provides such a dramatic difference per acreage in temperature that it alone can determine the temperature levels of the water. Even at 3,000 feet ASL, a stream without that vital tree cover surrounding it can reach water temperatures close to 70 degrees within the heat of summer. Forested areas also provide food in the form of terrestrial and aquatic insects. Beetles, ants, and grasshoppers fall out of trees providing easy meals for trout in the summertime. Stoneflies use overhanging or fallen trees to climb out of the water at night to hatch from their nymphal stage to their adult form. A certain species of cocooning caddies fly even uses, specifically, the needles from hemlock trees as its sole source of material to build its protective shell. Forested land also helps to filter water and, most importantly,

prevents sediment erosion into the water. Streams that have little forested cover surrounding them suffer from heavy amounts of silt in the water. This too, also helps to warm the water temperature. Even tiny specks of dirt can absorb enough UV radiation from the sun, which is then released into the water, leading to even less dissolved oxygen and serving to clog trouts gills, limiting their ability to breathe. Forests serve as the sustaining life force of our fisheries as a whole.

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

KNOW THEIR ‘NICHES’ continued from page 14

a huge logjam over that niche, you better check your knots and have your camera ready before you knock on that door. Boss Hog might be home. FISHING THE TRANSITION continued from page 19 Scan your favorite stream for these niches before you hop in or Another piece of ‘gotta-have’ float down. By skipping over the ambush habitat for mondo grouper and snapper. That’s where high-tech technology is SiriusXM Marine’s marginal water and knocking on electronics becomes your best friend. newest service: Fish Mapping. DownScan and StructureScan can For offshore anglers, you can see reveal small anomalies that turn out Surface Temperature Contours, Plankton Concentrations, Surface to be grouper gold mines. Grass flats may seem like a Height Anomalies, even Fishing huge underwater pasture to us, but Recommendations…all on your a depression that drops one foot is chartplotter. This single tool can help a guaranteed fish attractor. Creek you plan your trip and maximize channels that empty onto a flat are your fish-catching potential. The lesson here is to look at the another sure-fire hangout for big trout, reds and even cobia. Bass changes that are about to occur, both anglers know the fish-attracting in the weather and the changes that power of underwater structure. happen below the surface, and take Long points, rock outcroppings, and advantage of them. Understanding submerged timber all offer prime how to take advantage of them hunting grounds for freshwater will definitely improve your fishy predators. As the water begins adventures this fall. to cool, start to look for those situations in shallower water. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Maintaining healthy ecosystems here in the mountains is critical for the survival of our wild trout fisheries. The constant threat of over-development and unsustainable timber harvest should be ever present in the minds of every angler. From a conservationists perspective: I see no greater cause in the Southern Appalachians than to protect the forested land we have left, before our mountain tops are cleared for housing developments and the wild trout streams we have remaining, become a thing of the past.

SEPTEMBER 2020

these prime doors, those niches may give you more fishes, too. If the niche system works for you, then be the hero and pass on your intel to that new angler following you. He or she will be your next best friend, niche spotter and conservation ally. Good luck fishing the niches!

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21

Extreme Spectrum By Scott Norton

s you all know, we are getting closer to the end of summer and fall is around the corner. What do we need to plan for in the future and the next summer trips? Successful trips always start with a good plan, so take your information and apply. I like to bring a lot of attention to the planning phase because it will make or break your trips. Always

at night or during the day. Fish at night if you’re approaching a waxing moon or full moon. If you are approaching a waning moon or new moon, fish the day cycle. The reason for this is the hot daytime temperatures and extended daytime sunlight cause the fish to feed at night. If no moon is present the light at night will not be optimal for night fishing so the

Always keep the weather and moon phases as the primary starting points. keep the weather and moon phases as the primary starting points. This will tell you ahead of time when to go and what the bite will be like. My mantra is to just keep it simple. Let’s start with the moon phases. They can help guide your decision as to whether you fish

day cycle will be the most active. Second plan element is weather. Look for days with prefrontal conditions; for example, the lower the clouds, the more optimal conditions for feeding bass. Don’t plan on fishing postfrontal weather; for example, blue skies with little wind if you can

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Continued, see EXTREME SPECTRUM Page 23

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Bass and Bluegill in the Heat

By Rene J. Hesse

ang, it’s been hot. Getting up early and hitting a lake is my plan of attack most summer days. The only problem is, ‘early’ only lasts so long, and then it’s just hot. So casting a popping bug will only last so long on the fish since they will drop down to cooler water. My next plan of attack is to pull off the bank and go down a line weight or two and start casting a streamer. Going from a 7 or 8 wt. to a 5 or 6 wt. is a welcome relief on the casting arm. Changing from a popping bug to a tandem streamer changes the casting. It’s beneficial to modify the setup, lift and cast with the rod and fly change. Here are the contrasts between casting a popper and a weighted streamer or tandem rig. Casting a popper is more of a medium to small loop size, with lots of line speed. It helps to do a lift pickup by making a small spiral of the rod tip. Going to a lighter line to cast small streamers like a Wooly Bugger or tandem rig will be different. There is a good chance

EXTREME SPECTRUM continued from page 22 help it. The weather tells you what days will be the best and when you will have a window of opportunity. Thrd plan element will be temperatures. This will tell you if the bass will be shallow or deep and what time of day the bite will be optimal. On hot days, the bite peaks in the early morning and evening hours. As the temps start to rise, the bass will back out to deeper water or they will look for shade lines and docks to get away from the sun. Fourth plan element is wind. With more wind and ripple on the water, you will need some aggressive baits with rattles and water displacement. This will give you a heads up on what baits to concentrate on. Less windy days go with silent baits such as finesse tactics. Plastics are great for this. Final plan element will be

consideration of the lake you choose. Selecting the right lake for its conditions will help you out when you cannot plan for good days. Some lakes will be full, or low, on water level. Some will be higher or lower in elevation, which helps when you’re looking for lower water temps. Some lakes have lots of boat traffic, which can make the bite unpredictable. But in my experience, stirred up water has helped with bad condition scenarios. Also, you won’t have the competition of other anglers either. If you go where there is little to no traffic, expect lots of anglers there. Hope this helps maximizes your trips in the future and makes your time count. Enjoy the rest of the season and plan for a great fall season coming up.

your fly will have sunk down a few feet as you are about to start your casting sequence. Doing a bit of a roll cast, almost a flop type cast in the direction of your target will get the fly up to the surface. Then you can do a ‘roll cast pickup’ by doing a roll cast with a high trajectory so you have time to have it unroll in the air as you get ready to do your back cast. The line speed on a weighted streamer and the casting plane are of importance. We slow down the cast and let the fly help load the line, however, the back cast slightly off to the side and the forward cast coming through on a higher plane will create an oval type cast that holds the tension on the rod tip. The reason we use this slower pace and oval cast is because of the weight of the fly. If we kept the same cast as the popper, Scott Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is it’s easy to get a dip in the rod tip and a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior. He is a member of Southern create knots in the line. Raft Supply’s prostaff, representing them in his Jackson Kayak Coosa FD. I know it’s been hot, but the fish are still there. Go get ‘em.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23

Mountain Heritage Trout Water Fishing Regulations

ishing regulations for Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, such as daily creel limits, minimum size limits and lure restrictions, are established by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The 0.7-mile section of Mill Creek, classified as the Old Fort Mountain Heritage Trout Water, is a delayed-harvest trout water with the following regulations:

From Oct. 1 until the first Saturday in June: • No trout may be harvested or possessed; • Fishing is restricted to artificial lures having one single hook; • Natural bait may not be used or possessed.

From 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. (noon) on the first Saturday in June: • • • •

Fishing is restricted to youths under 16 years old; No bait or lure restriction; No size limit restriction; Seven (7) trout per day creel limit.

From 12 p.m. (noon) on the first Saturday in June until Sept. 30: • • • •

Fishing open to all anglers; No bait or lure restriction; No size limit restriction; Seven (7) trout per day creel limit.

For a list of waters classified as Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, visit the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org; click on the fishing link

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Old Fort Mountain Heritage Trout Water Mill Creek

Legend

n MHTW section

•

Parking

n Greenway/trail – – Park boundary

n Downtown area/landmarks

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SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 25

UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Fly Fishing the Saluda River Tailwater

he Lower Saluda River is about the last place you would think of fly fishing for trout in the state of South Carolina. It’s over a hundred miles to the mountains. Lake Murray makes this possible. The lake is deep enough that the Saluda River tailwater stays cold enough to support trout and the state stocks both rainbows and brown trout there. That said, fly fishing the Saluda River tailwater can be challenging for a number of reasons. The trout are mostly put and take but it’s also a put and grow fishery. Young adult brown trout are stocked by helicopter each fall so they can grow and get used to their new environment and the natural food the river provides when the

By James Marsh

water is at its coldest time of the year. Rainbows of catchable sizes are stocked monthly, November through April. Although the water gets marginal during the late summer and early fall, and even though the stripes eat their share of the trout, some make it as holdovers to grow larger. This is a big dam with five generators and the flows vary greatly depending on the need for power. The water levels can vary up to ten feet and the currents are dangerous on high water. A great amount of caution should be used when wading the stream. The water rises rapidly when the generators are cut on. Water flow information is available by calling 800 - 8305253. Fly fishing the Saluda River

Drew Ransom caught this bass at Timberlake Campground. He caught it on a Pumpkin Zoom Worm.

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tailwater isn’t exactly easy. If the water isn’t low you need to fish from a drift boat from various put in and take out points. When it is low you must fish from public access points or obtain permission from landowners along the river. The upper section has access at Hope Ferry Landing and Saluda Shoals Regional Park. There’s also boat access at the state Gardendale launch behind the zoo. The river is full of trout after the last April stocking. It’s probably the best month to fish but trout can be taken year-round. The trout are commonly caught during the winter months on midge imitations.

The brown trout are much more selective in what they eat than the rainbows. Seasons: The trout season is open year-round. Spring: Spring is the best season to fish the Saluda River tailwater. Summer: The water can get a warm during the hot summer but it stays cool enough for some trout to survive in the uppermost section near the dam. Fall: Autumn is a good time to fish the river for the holdover browns. Winter: Fishing during the winter can be good on warm days.

James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog, mail-order store. www.perfectflystore.com

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Fishing Into Fall

By Karl Ekberg

ummertime heat has definitely been upon us for quite some time now, and we are all ready for the reprieve of the fall temperatures. Fishing for trout, of late, has been minimal through late August, with the water temperatures quite high. On the other side, the Bartram Bass & Panfish have made for great days of fishing. The top water bite has been great from midmorning throughout the day. As the top water bite seems to subside, the use of streams has been the delight to the angler continuing to catch fish. The extended look into the forecast for September is plentiful rain but below average temperatures, which we will all take after the summer heat. In the same outlook for September, forecasts have a below average rainfall. As we look forward to the cooler temperatures of the fall season, we will start to see the emergence of the first of the “fall bugs”. These bugs will start to appear, as the water temperatures start to

drop. The rocks in the rivers are loaded with very small dark nymphs as well. Try swinging a heavy nymph with a smaller nymph dropper, through the riffle areas of the river and into the heads of the pools. Deeper runs will also produce fish, as temperatures heat up, the fish can still seek thermal refuge. As daytime temperatures heat up, the fish will move further into the depths of the rivers, so getting a bit deeper with a heavier front fly or a pinch of split shot will help greatly. Streamers are equally productive, and will continue as well, through the fall season. With the heat of the summer behind us, a good amount of water in the rivers, and cooler temperatures, the fall the river and check them out. left behind; makes for a cleaner fishing here looks to be excellent for Let’s also remember, we can all watershed for our next visit. As we another year help in keeping our rivers clean, leave no trace, we look forward to For all of the fly tiers out there, by picking up what someone else seeing everyone out on the rivers! we just wanted to mention that we are bringing in Barbless Hooks and Karl and Karen Ekberg are co-owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at have stocked many new feather 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) selections. Stop by on your way to 638-2806 and visit their website at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com.

l-order re.com

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SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 27

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Bucket List Trips

By O’Neill Williams

n awful lot of guys aren’t working for a multitude of reasons we needn’t get into, so allow little O’Neill to recommend a few ‘bucket list’ trips and destinations since you may have some time. In each case, these are places I’ve been fortunate to have visited multiple times. Each can be researched easily on the internet for up-to-date availability, contact information, pricing, and other details, which we will not bother with today. Cajun Vista Lodge, Barataria, Louisiana: Where the Mississippi River has been dumping fertile waters into the Gulf for the last 11,000 years, makes this area possibly the best ‘in-shore’ saltwater fishing on the coast of the US. Anytime of the year works, but the best is in late September through November. That’s when the speckled trout and giant reds visit by the billions. On most of the coasts, the limit on speckled trout is five per day per angler. At Cajun Vista, it’s 25 per

person, and unless you’re extremely unlucky or just can’t catch fish at all, everyone in the boat will have a limit by lunchtime. One of the most attractive attributes about Cajun Vista is, once you park the truck, you don’t have to go anywhere else. How’s that? First class lodging is avialable in a completely remodeled old schoolhouse that can sleep 50 easily and very comfortably. Three fabulous Cajun style meals are served, and the boats and experienced guides are within 100 feet of the breakfast table. Unless you want to use your tackle, you don’t even have to bring that. I’m taking a group there on October 22nd this year for two days of fishing. Blackhawk Fly Fishing, Clarksville, Georgia: Abby Jackson operates a first-class excursion on what may be the best mountain trout stream on the East Coast. She owns the river. Food, lodging, equipment, guides – all standing ready. What about the fishing? It’s

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a fly thing. If you are one of those guys, this is for you. What’ll you catch? With your guide’s help and advisement and fishing both before and after one of Abby’s spectacular lunches, you’ll catch and release 20 rainbows over 20-inches and

a couple of browns in the area of 26-inches. There are many 30-inch browns in the river. Again, look up Blackhawk Fly Fishing. It’s a treat. I go there at least once a year and wouldn’t miss it. When? Spring, then fall through the winter. To me,

Continued, see BUCKET LIST Page 31

SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 29

Sheep Dog

had the opportunity to experience a working sheep dog in action. It was amazing to me how disciplined and protective they really are. It made me think of the breed, training, expense, and time vested for them to do their job. Also, another character trait of the sheep dog is that it will die to protect the sheep. Stop and think about that for a minute. Below is a short explanation that really hit home with me and I wanted to share. It is not my own words nor do I know who the author is, but I am certain many will understand and will relate: A retired sheep dog now lives with the flock he used to protect. He used to stand against danger, willing to fight and, if need be, die for the flock. He lived to provide for the flock’s safety and that is what drove him. Drove him to eat, drove him to sleep, drove him to fight. But now, he does not go out to fight the wolves anymore. He does not stand guard at night with the other sheep

By Chris Smith

dogs, watching vigilantly for the lurking enemy. Now he is expected to live quietly among the sheep, following the commands of the shepherd, given to the flock. Sure, there are a few other retired sheep dogs like him amongst the flock, but they mostly keep to themselves. The sheep start to get scared if the old dogs spend too much time together. So, he spends most days alone, under the suspicious eyes of the flock, who, not understanding him, are always wary that he may pose a threat to them, despite the fact that, not so long ago, he would have willingly died for them. He is not a threat to them, but they do not realize that. They see his scars and his sharp teeth, and they are worried by them. They worry that he might snap and hurt them, so they keep their distance. This distance causes him to isolate himself and to resent the sheep. What is his purpose now? Why is he here? And so, it is with the Veteran...

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Water Water

Chris is a Combat Veteran recently retired. A few places he has deployed are Afghanistan, Jordon, Panama, and several other hostile areas. He is an avid outdoorsman that enjoys hunting, camping, fishing. He lives with his bride of 30 years in Alabama who he calls “Household 6”. If any Veterans or family member of a veteran who sees changes in their loved one or for that matter anyone that is contemplating suicide, he urges you to contact him at combatvettalk@gmail.com

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September 2020 Fishing Forecast for Lake Hartwell By Preston Harden

Water Temperature: Upper 80s Water Level: Full Pool

eptember starts with fish in a summer pattern. The water is still hot and fish are mostly deep. As the month progresses, the water starts to cool and the fish move around and feed more shallow. Hybrids and stripers are still going to be from mid-lake to the dam. With all the rain, there has been a thermocline in the lower lake. Most fish have been 30 to 40 feet deep, They are not eating well Andy Shaw from Spartanburg S,C, with the hot water. Moving the bait with one of many stripers caught or an artificial up and down will get August 10th on a 5 inch swim bait some hits. Hopefully with the water and a 1 oz. jig head reeled thru cooling in September, the bite will schools of stripers get better. Bass have also been biting slow structure. September sees less boat traffic with the hot water. As the water starts to cool in September, the bass and the fish see less pressure. They will get more active. They are mostly should eat better as we progress in 15 to 30 feet deep water around through September. Preston Harden / Bucktail Guide Service / 706-255-5622 / bucktailguideservice.net

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BUCKET LIST continued from page 29 the colder the better. Better hurry though as Abby only allows about six rods per day on the two miles of river she owns and operates. Pensacola Bay Redfish: Search out and telephone Eddie Woodall and Full Net Charters. In December, thousands of huge redfish fill the bay. You just follow the birds, cast curly tail jigs on Road Runners with medium line and hold on tight. I spent about three hours with Eddie a few years ago, and we caught and released at least 20 reds over 20-pounds each. That day, following Eddie’s advice, I caught a 25-pounder on the first cast. You’ll have one on all the time. Reds are dumb as a post, so getting them to bite is no trouble. Just cast under the birds. Boat Ride? No, it’ll happen in sight of the ramp and you might see one or two other boats during the day.

St. Simons Island, Georgia: Captain Mark Noble. Look him up. I’ve fished with Mark probably ten times over the years shooting television shows. During those trips, I’ve caught several 100+ pound tarpon, 30-pound kings, boat loads of trout and too many giant reds to count. Mark is an island native and no one knows these waters better. In a morning of fishing for reds, with many triples on at once, I’m sure we boated and released 500-pounds of reds. If I recall correctly, the minimum length to keep a red is 22 inches. During all my visits, I never kept a single redfish. They were all too big. My personal record with Mark exceeded 50-pounds. When to go? Full moon in September and October for reds, summer for tarpon, and spring for kings. OK, there are few for your consideration. Again, look them up.

O’Neill Williams is the author of O’Neill Outside People and Places Along the Way. If you’d like a copy of his book, you can get it at Amazon.com or just visit his website, oneilloutside.com or net. Buy the book off the home page and he’ll sign it. Never can tell, it might be a collector’s item one day. Visit O’Neill Outside on YouTube and subscribe where there are lots of prizes and give-a-ways from our sponsors.

SEPTEMBER 2020

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 31

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• Knowledgeable & Experienced Sales Staff • • Earning the Trust of Boaters Since 1938 • 10 NATIONAL

SEPTEMBER 2020

PHOTO BY TOM SCHLICHTER

Defender

Albies CLOSE AT

QUARTERS By Peter Cammann

’ve fished the Shinnecock Inlet in Hampton Bays, N.Y. for many years and have usually found plenty of striped bass and bluefish to keep me occupied. One afternoon last September, I pulled into the parking lot on the inlet’s west side, took a look at the water and smiled as I saw a large school of bait flashing on the surface. Something, or a lot of somethings were feeding on them. There was a flotilla of maybe 15 boats chasing the school, including a party boat, which was crammed with weekend anglers. The school moved quickly and as I worked my way along the jetty, I could just make out larger predator fish thrashing about on the surface. It was a real blitz! On the shore with me were 20 or so anglers, all trying to keep up as fish zipped north to south and back north again. At times, they were too far away to cast to, and all we could do was watch as the boats tried to corral the school. The fish repeatedly slid through the gaps and veered off in another direction. Even though there were close to 100 anglers involved in this melee, all of whom at one point or another were able to cast into the midst of the feeding frenzy, no one got so much as a strike. Except for the guy standing just off to my left. He had driven from in Montauk, where he had spent a fruitless morning looking for stripers. He was tired when he got to the inlet, so he parked his vehicle and settled in for a nap. When he opened his eyes, the school was right in front of him. Maybe because he was more rested than anyone else, or perhaps because he was simply a better angler, he hooked into two different fish on a pencil popper. The first spat the hook quickly, but the second stayed on. It didn’t take long for him to realize what he’d laced into. It was a false albacore. Albies are not huge, but they fight like a fish of much greater size. The runs this guy’s fish made were extraordinary, both for their length and speed. It never jumped, as the other blitzing albies had while gorging on the baitfish, but his fish did come within view a couple of times. It looked to be close to 10 pounds, which the guy confirmed once he’d landed and released it. “That was my first albie!” he shouted. It was the first time I’d even seen one, so I walked over to offer congratulations and we chatted for a bit. The other anglers were too busy trying to get their lures back into the water to join us. Peter Cammann has been writing fishing stories for magazines and newspapers for over 30 years. He is the author of three books: Fishing Vermont’s Streams and Lakes, Ultralight Spin Fishing, and a novel titled SlipNot, all of which are available on amazon.com.

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FORCE ISC™ 10K B2

Two North Carolina Catfish Records Fall NCWRC Photos

ummertime means catfish to a lot of anglers, and it was one heck of a summer for catfish in North Carolina. In July, two state catfish records were broken. The first, an enormous Lake Gaston blue cat, weighed more than 120 pounds. The second, a 78-pound, 14-ounce Neuse River flathead broke a record that has stood for 15 years. Joey Baird, of Lawrenceville, Va., caught his state record 121-pound, 9-ounce blue catfish out of Six Pound Creek at Lake Gaston on July 5. The

monster fish, which ate a chunk of cut bait, was more than 5 feet long, with a girth of 40.5 inches. It broke a 117-pound, 8-ounce record that has stood since June 2016. Lake Gaston is a 20,000-acre reservoir of the Roanoke River up on North Carolina’s northern border with Virginia. It has a history of producing giant blue catfish, as this is the fourth North Carolina record blue to come from its waters. The Roanoke River system also lays claim to the world record blue catfish. The largest blue catfish ever certified came from Kerr Lake, Virginia, which is one dam upstream of Lake Gaston on the Roanoke. That fish, which weighed 143 pounds, was caught in June 2011. The new North Carolina record flathead was caught by Pikeville angler Tyler Barns. The 78-pound, 14-ounce beast ate a live bream fished in the Neuse River on July 20. Barns’ monster fish was more than 4 feet long and had a girth of more than 3 feet. It bested the 78-pound record flathead caught from the Cape Fear River in 2005. The Neuse River runs from Falls Lake north of Raleigh all the way to the coast to feed the Atlantic Ocean at Pamlico Sound.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

NATIONAL 11

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he Dometic SeaStar Hydraulic Steering Kit is the world’s most popular outboard hydraulic steering system, offering unmatched comfort and control. These kits provide smooth, super-efficient steering for today’s highperformance hulls, with single and multiple engine capability. The Dometic SeaStar Hydraulic Steering Kit includes helm, front mount steering cylinder and hydraulic oil. Hoses are not included. The Dometic SeaStar Hydraulic Steering Kit is recommended for single and dual non-power-assisted outboard engines up to 350 HP (700 combined HP for counter-rotating duals). The system is ideal for cruisers, runabouts, center console boats, offshore fishing boats and many more. It’s suitable for speeds up to 60 MPH. With additional accessories, this is also suitable for dual station use.

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12 NATIONAL

SEPTEMBER 2020

SeaStar/BayStar hydraulic steering fluid is formulated to provide the best performance for your SeaStar/BayStar steering system. A perfect blend of viscosity stabilizers, anti-wear agents and corrosion inhibitors ensure maximum steering life performance. Due to previous upgrades to our steering system components, Dometic recommends use of Dometic SeaStar Steering Fluid only in our hydraulic steering systems.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

NATIONAL 13

J.O. SPICE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AND 4 GENERATIONS

teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.

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8/6/20 3:32 PM

Three Cheers For FREE!

Not feeling so free these days? How about something absolutely stunning that is!

PRAISE FOR STAUER BLUE TOPAZ

PRAISE FOR STAUER GARNET JEWELRY

“Love at first sight! Without a doubt - one of my favorite pieces from Stauer!”

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Pendants enlarged to show exquisite color. Chain sold separately.

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fter months of “together time” she deserves something truly special. You do too. How about a genuine gemstone pendant at a price worth raising a glass to–– FREE!* We can’t think of a better way to introduce you to the fine art of affording the extraordinary than with an absolutely extraordinary offer. Delight her with nearly 3 total carats of perfectly-faceted cushion cut genuine gemstones. You pay only $2495, our regular charge for shipping, processing and insurance. We’ll even pay you back with $30 in Stauer Dollars to use on future Stauer orders— that’s our Better Than Free Shipping®! This awesome deal is a no-brainer. The hard part is deciding which one, so maybe start with her favorite color. Choose from vibrant green Verdant Peridot, golden Champagne Citrine, dreamy Sky Blue Topaz, lush Cabernet Garnet, or decadent Royal Amethyst. Set in .925 sterling silver finished in lustrous gold or in gleaming sterling silver, you really can’t go wrong–– A. no matter which gemstone you choose.

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Rating of A+

• 3 ctw each: Verdant peridot, Champagne citrine, Sky Blue topaz, Cabernet garnet, Royal amethyst • white zircon accents • .925 sterling silver or yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver settings • Chain sold separately * This offer is valid in the United States (and Puerto Rico) except in TX, FL, CO, OK, RI, NH, WV, OR, SC, VA, ID and CA. These state residents will be charged one cent ($.01) + shipping & processing for the item. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer subject to state and local regulations. Not valid with any other offers and only while supplies last. This offer is limited to one item per shipping address. † Free is only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

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