The Angler Magazine | March 2024 | Lake Okeechobee/Lake Istokpoga Edition

LAKE OKEECHOBEE/LAKE ISTOKPOGA EDITION

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KEEN SENSES

ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

I

t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line?

Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them.

Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout.

While wading in knee-deep water that

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MARCH 2024

was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met.

With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area.

Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,

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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something.

Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area.

Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF

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ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters.

These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish.

These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet.

Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks.

A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a

By Mark Ambert

5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds.

Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up!

Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat.

I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport.

A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish.

With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal.

I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the

price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat.

The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality.

Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint.

Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.

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MARCH 2024

NATIONAL 7

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

I

went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned.

First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines.

Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency.

Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way.

The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary.

The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job

may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long.

Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you.

They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you.

Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry.

If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.

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Snook fishing during this transition is very much dependent on the weather. A warming spell pushes snook out faster toward the passes and bays, while a cooling trend will slow them down. A cold snap will absolutely shut the bite down. If it breaks cold and clear the morning of your planned fishing trip, you’re better off targeting trout and reds.

While snook are moving out, big schools of scaled sardines and threadfin herring start to show up close to shore. These baitfish, also known as whitebait or pilchard and greenbacks, respectively, become the favorite food source for snook as well as many other gamefish. When water temps reach the mid-70s, a snook’s metabolism ramps up and they’ll eat anything from crabs and shrimp to mullet, but a lively sardine or herring freelined on a 2/0 circle hook is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get. Generally, these baitfish are also pretty easy to find this time of year.

Where you find the bait is where you’ll find snook. Look at a map and draw a line between a known wintering hole and the passes where snook spawn in summer. In spring, they will be somewhere along this line, staged up and feeding on structure. Snook are ambush predators and prefer to hang in the slack water while the tide sweeps food in front of them.

By CAM Staff On the beginning of an incoming or outgoing tide, look to the docks, bridges, points, channel swings, mangroves, oyster bars and anything else that provides a little current shade adjacent to faster water. River mouths are a good place to start your search. If there are greenies or whitebait present, there’s a very good chance a school of snook will be there feeding on them. Want to know for sure? Use a chum bat to sling a double handful of disoriented greenies where you think snook might be. If they’re there, you’ll know it in a hurry.

Fresh live bait is the easiest way to catch fish, but the spring feed-up also provides lots of opportunity for anglers throwing artificials. If you’re someone who prefers to skip the hassle of catching and keeping bait, you can absolutely get the job done with a baitfish or shrimp imitation. Topwaters, soft-plastic paddletails, soft-plastic shrimp, twitchbaits, plugs and bucktails nook are hungry when they break out of the winter doldrums and go will all get bit. A couple benefits to artificials is you can use them to cover lots on the move this time of year. As spring temperatures begin to stabilize, of water quickly to find fish and they can be skipped up under mangroves they push progressively farther out of their backwater holes, and their and docks. migration intersects with the arrival of spring baitfish schools. It’s a recipe For more tips and tactics, go to coastalanglermag.com. for an aggressive feed-up ahead of the summer spawn.

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2 FLORIDA

MARCH 2024

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Every year, just after the New Year, American shad move from the northern states south. This year, my dad and I went to central Florida to see if we could find some shad making their way up a river. Unfortunately, after hours of constant jigging with light tackle and tiny jigs and a couple miles of paddling a tandem kayak, the shad were a bust. We decided to take a lunch break with lines out for a catfish or bowfin. We soaked baits for about an hour without even a nibble. At this point, I was more than a little disappointed after driving three hours without even a bite to show for it.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenery was beautiful, but I was determined to catch something! I started jigging again as my dad slowly paddled us back to the truck. About a quarter of the way back, I got a bite, a cute little 10-inch largemouth. Despite the size, I was satisfied; I had beaten the skunk.

I continued jigging until we were about halfway back, where this narrow part of the river opened wider. I made a “last cast” and had decided to call it quits. As I cranked my jig straight in, I was surprised when it got thumped!

I laughed and told my dad we had been doing it wrong all day. To test the theory, I tossed my jig out and again just cranked it in. About two feet from the kayak, a huge swirl appeared where my jig was, and 4-pound line started

By Emily Hanzlik ripping off my ultralight.

My dad paddled to keep the fish a manageable distance from the kayak while also maneuvering defensively to place the kayak between the fish and the vegetation. After an extremely stressful nearly 20-minute fight, we netted a beautiful, 7-pound-plus Florida sunshine bass. I frantically checked the FWC website for the state record, which weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces.

However, I knew I had one more hope for a record. I checked IGFA and was more than pleased to find the women’s 4-pound-test record was a 5-pound fish. If approved, this will be my first record that was not targeted.

When you’re hunting records, it’s key to be prepared. No matter where we go, I keep my certified Rapala scale and my tape measure in a glasses container in whatever bag we have that day. The other key is to make sure you always have accurate line on your reel. I use tournament Ande line so I don’t have to worry about my line over-testing. Other than that, it’s just the f you’ve read my column, you know that catching IGFA record fish is what luck of getting that big one.

I love to do. I’ve caught more than 60 of them, and people frequently ask Emily Rose Hanzlik has caught more than 60 IGFA world records which is my favorite. It’s tough to pick, but the following recent record in various categories. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. is at the top.

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Serving Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, DeSoto, Glades and Hendry Counties

Bass Capital of the World

I’m thrilled to welcome you to the first issue of the New Angler Magazine – Lake Istokpoga/Lake Okeechobee Edition and I’m equally pleased to announce my partnership with Tangie Neff.

We promise to bring you the best fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping magazine in Florida. I hope you enjoy our first issue.

I am delighted to introduce myself as Tangie Neff.

Together with my husband, Captain Corky, we have been avid supporters of The Angler Magazine for numerous years and are now thrilled to be an integral part of the NEW Angler Magazine’s publication alongside our new partner Don Norton. Feel free to contact me anytime.

Fish On!!

Don Norton — 863-273-4998, don@theanglermagazine.com

Tangie Neff — 937-217-8076, tangie@theanglermagazine.com

Angler Members Group The New Angler Magazine – Lake Istokpoga/Lake Okeechobee is pleased to announce the New Angler Members Group, and we’d like to invite you to learn more about it and how to become a member.

We know that to become successful, we need the advertising support of local merchants and businesses in our magazine. And we are thankful for their support.

But we’re creating this magazine for you, our readers, and we’d like to invite you to become part of the family. As a Gold, Silver, or Bronze member, you’re helping us become financially more vital as we strive to constantly improve the magazine's quality.

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 1

Okeechobee ASK SARA B e d i s t u O e m Co

& Play!

Dive into the ultimate fishing experience at Lake Okeechobee, where the waters teem with trophy bass and the thrill of the catch awaits. Discover why Okeechobee is a haven for anglers seeking unforgettable moments and untold fishing adventures. Your next big catch is just a cast away!

www.VisitOkeechobeeCounty.com 2 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

Shellcracker versus Bluegill?

luegill and shellcracker (more scientifically called redear sunfish, but shellcracker is way cooler) are other popular sport fisheries in Florida.

Their peak seasons are in summer months, typically from April-August, although it will vary by waterbody and where you’re fishing in the state. On Lake Istokpoga, the bluegill populations have remained relatively steady and relatively abundant.

During our fall community electrofishing (more information on that can be found in the August 2022 edition), bluegill are consistently one of the top three most abundant species collected during our survey. We typically see all size classes of bluegill in our samples too, which is a great sign of the stability of the fishery. Juvenile bluegill are important to see because that means recruitment from the following year was successful, as well as they are good forage for largemouth bass. Redears are also in good abundance in our fall community electrofishing sampling as well. Their populations are slightly more variable than bluegill, so redears are not always extremely abundant, but still remain stable to where there does not appear to be declines in the fishery.

What about bluegill and redear during creel survey? You would think that these species would show up well in our creel angler surveys since there are a lot of people that fish for them.

Lake Istokpoga is a good fishery for these two species and usually boasts high catch rates in our creel surveys. However, Lake Istokpoga creel surveys only running from October-June, so we don’t really capture the entirety of peak bluegill and redear season. This means it’s difficult to truly get an accurate estimate for targeted effort and number of fish caught for these two fish species in a given year. But, during those few months of data collection, we can see how numbers for those two fish compare during other creel seasons. From looking at the trends, anglers tend to target bluegill more than they target redear, but those that target redears are also fairly successful in catching that species. All in all, the bluegill and redear populations are relatively stable on Lake Istokpoga and provide for good summer fishing.

Get out there and try your luck!

— If you have any comments on any information related in this article, please reach out to Sara Menendez at sara.menendez@myfwc.com.

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 3

Five Trophy Bass 62.1 Pounds

W

illiam “Bill” Lewis was a bass fishing guide on Lake Istokpoga in the mid-1980s. Originally from Indiana, he lived on the Rutledge Canal leading into the lake so he could be near the fishing action. From 1984 to 1987, Bill had a penchant for catching He was happy to accept the trophy-size fish, five of which he had mounted by Joe Hatch from mounts of the fish that his friend Venus. All five fish weighed from had caught, and he has displayed eleven pounds, two ounces to them at his home for the past thirteen pounds, six ounces. twelve years. Proudly showing The largest of the mounted fish, a whopping thirteen them to family, friends, neighbors, pounder, has a remarkable stoand acquaintances, telling the ry behind it, as told to me by two of the best-known bass story of how his friend Bill Lewis fishing guides on Lake Istokhad caught them. poga, Capt. Don Hatcher, and Capt. Remo Beaver.

The duo had been fishing the lake along a line of bulrush when Remo hooked and lost a large fish twice. Both times it raced into the bulrush and broke his line! Bill Lewis was fishing behind them and as luck would have it, he hooked the same fish, but instead of it going toward the bulrush, it went out towards open water, where he was able to wrestle her into the boat. Don and Remo knew it had to be the same fish. Excited, Bill yelled over to them, “It’s a big one, do you have a scale?”

4 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

As his health declined, Bill gave the mounted fish to Bob Sherry to display at Outback Marine, on Highway 27 South in the Lake Josephine area.

There, people could admire the fish caught in Lake Istokpoga. The fish remained on display at Outback Marine until 2011 when the business closed.

At the time of the store’s closing, a friend of Bob’s, Tim Tousey, mentioned that his father, Bill Tousey and Bill Lewis were friends through their church, and had fished together many times. With that, Bob entrusted the care of the mounted fish to the senior Tousey.

Originally from Michigan, Bill Tousey moved to Lake Placid, and now lives in Sebring. No stranger to trophy-sized largemouth bass, both he and his wife Barb, along with their son Tim, had caught many trophy fish over the years fishing the area lakes. He was happy to accept the mounts of the fish that his friend had caught, and he has displayed them at his home for the past twelve years. Proudly showing them to family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, telling the story of how his friend Bill Lewis had caught them.

The five fish weighed 11 lb. 2 oz, 12 lb. 2 oz, 12 lb. 6 oz, 13 lb. 1 oz, and 13 lb. 6 oz.

While there is no “official” documentation of the weights, photos of the scales used to weigh the fish, or confirmation from the FWC the mounts alone show that these beautiful bass were caught by a local resident in Lake Istokpoga.

By Ron Myrnes

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Archery off-season?

By Brandon Baughman

F

or an archer is there really such a thing as an off-season? I mean, hunting season does open and close, but is that the extent of an archer season? If you were an avid bowhunter, or a serious archer, then the answer is no. When season closes down, it opens up a ton of opportunities for you to train, become better with your bow and equipment,and gives you time to do maintenance work so you’re not caught off guard during hunting season. For the archer, there is no downtime it’s all the time!

When hunting season closes, you would think it’s time to hang up the bow and do something until next years season. But honestly it’s time to train.

They’re a lot of opportunities to train shooting your bow. To get that release on point and to know your bow like an extension of your very body.

Opportunities like 3-D Archery shoots. These shoots keep you in the game. Keep you warmed up and give you a bit of competitiveness to make you strive to do better. Shooting 3-D keeps you in the elements so you can be better prepared for what may lie ahead during hunting season. Also 3-D tournaments give you a good body figure to train for visually. These targets give you a very good representation of a real life animal, and helps you with shot placement as you train on shooting them.

Another awesome opportunity is time to train with your equipment that you shoot with. Time for you to take your tree stands or saddles and take

them to the woods. Training for different angles and situations that may occur so that you don't become blindsided. Time to reflect on things that happen in the previous season and fix them for the upcoming one. Time to be proactive, and making sure that everything is tiptop. The only way to become a better archer is learn from previous situations and find ways to improve them and this is that time!!

Spawning from that and looking through everything this is the perfect opportunity to fix anything on your bow! Don’t get bit by the procrastination bug and wait a week before season to need new strings, or a new bow for that matter. Check things over at this time verify your equipment is to par. If you need strings get them and put them on as soon as hunting season is over so you have the off hunting season to break those new strings in and be ready to go back to the woods! If you Believe that you need new arrows or would like to play around with a different site because you think that would better help you. This is the time to take action.

You have plenty of time before hunting season opens to get yourself familiar with all the new things so that you’re confident once you step into your stand!! Don’t get yourself, caught into the wave of people that wait until the month before hunting season opens to try to get repairs done to your rig.

You’ll find out there will be a lot of calamity right when you need everything to be calm.

All this being said, it boils right down to if you are a downright serious bowhunter/archer then you already know these things. To Those that want to be as dedicated to the sport, then know there is no off-season! Archery takes a year-round dedication to become better at it. You owe it to yourself and the game that you chase to be the best you can be with the bow and arrow. Be proactive and take the time because it’s always Archery season!!!!!

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 5

JUST ADD

WATER The Best Topwater Lure

By Don Norton

S

o here we are, a brand-new year and we’re looking at the best three months of the year, fishing in south-central Florida. Bass are moving into the shallows to spawn, making themselves easy targets for a knowledgeable angler.

But what is the best lure to catch them? A jig, a plastic worm, or a creature bait? A spinnerbait or crankbait?

Yeah, those will all catch fish this time of the year, but the best lures for shallow water fishing during the spawn are topwater baits.

And there are dozens to choose from. But which one is the best!

Many bass fishermen would agree, one of the best and most famous is the Devil’s Horse.

Originally called the Devel’s Horses, the name was later changed to Devil’s Horse by Jack S Smithwick, who invented the lure in 1947.

6 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

Jack was a salesman with a Shreveport, Louisiana business-machine company back then and he started carving the lures out of broom stick handles and giving them to customers to set himself apart from other salesmen.

The lure soon became popular, so he purchased a wood lathe from the Sears and Roebuck company and moved his new business into an old garage where he began to mass produce the lure.

The original Devil’s Horse was a much heavier, slow-sinking lure, making it much easier to cast with older level-wind reels. When the newer spinning and baitcasting reels came along, he changed the lure to a lighter, floating model. According to Bass Fishing Archives the growth of the Smithwick Lure Company is legendary. From its humble beginnings in the family kitchen in 1947, to its sprawling facilities today, the lures have become favorites for generations of anglers.

They are the go-to choice during largemouth prespawn in the southern states. Bass fishermen in Florida ALWAYS have Devil’s Horse tied on during the prespawn. Likewise, it’s popular in the northern states for its legendary ability to attract prize smallmouths throughout the summer and fall.

The key to the Devil’s Horse is the slender minnow profile and an action that lets you create a maximum disturbance without moving the lure out of the strike zone. Fore and aft props create resistance with every twitch, so anglers can work the bait longer at the edges of shoreline weeds, near wood cover, along the edges of docks – in short, anywhere fish are holding.

Few topwater propbaits are as legendary as the Smithwick Devil’s Horse.

The unique buoyancy of handcrafted wood, combined with the props fore and aft, mimics the commotion of a fleeing shad and makes it one of the most effective bass topwaters in history. The lure creates tremendous topwater commotion with each twitch of the rod, but the props keep it moving away from the strike zone.

A few tips that Jack gave are probably just as pertinent now as they were when the article was written over 50 years ago: • Always JERK the bait, NEVER pull it.

• Never use a snap SWIVEL. Get rid of those swivels.

• Blustery windy days are the best fishing. When it’s so windy that you can’t see your bait on top of the water, that’s the best fishing you will have.

Smithwick Lure Company was sold to PRADCO in 1991.

There have been many stories about the Devil’s Horse lure and the huge bass caught on this incredible lure. One of the most famous was about a tournament angler who only fished with a Devil’s Horse, regardless of the location of the body of water or the time of the year.

He became famous after winning many local and regional bass tournaments in Florida when a picture was taken of him and his Kennedy tackle box.

Opening the six trayed box, in every slot was a different colored or different sized Devil’s Horse. No other lures were in the tackle box.

If you’ve never tried this lure, give it a try. You might be surprised at the results.

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 7

AN AMAZING BAIT T

By Don Norton

here was nothing unusual about the bass fishing guide trip I planned for mid-January with my new client, Lou Toscano, from Lake Placid. I had never met him, but he sounded like a nice guy on the phone, and he’d gotten my name from a friend.

I left the house around 6 am, figuring I’d get to the boat ramp early, get the boat in the water, and be ready to go around 7 am. We’d agreed to meet at Windy Point, although I preferred going out of Istokpoga Park on the north end of the lake. The Weather Channel indicated winds out of the east at 15 to 20 mph and I knew the Windy Point ramp would be taking a beating.

As I drove south on Rt 27, I thought about how tough the fishing had been over the last few weeks. Cold fronts, rain, and wind had the lake muddied up, and the fishing had been tough since Christmas. The bass should be on their beds this time of the year, or at the very least, in a pre-spawn mode, but with the water stirred up from the wind, seeing any beds was pretty unlikely.

Lou had mentioned that he wanted to try a new lure, some wake bait or creature bait that he claimed was great for bass. I hoped he was right cause we’d probably need all the help we could get on this trip. Lou was early, so we loaded up and by 7 am, we were casting spinnerbaits and frogs into and around the pads and bullrushes. The water was calm and as the sun rose, Lou showed me his new creation. A small, plastic alligator (Gator Belly Baits). Hmmmmmmm. I’ve been a bass fishing guide for thirty years and had never seen anything like it.

It looked pretty realistic as I turned it around and looked it over carefully.

Lou explained how he’d spent months studying drawings and pictures of small alligators in order to cast the mold. He wanted it to be an exact replica in both size and shape. As I looked it over, I remembered a trip I’d made to Lake Okeechobee years ago when I’d stumbled on about a hundred small alligators in the shallows, attempting to climb onto the floating pads. Most didn’t even have their eyes open yet, but they were all making a high-pitched squealing sound.

When I was a kid in Ohio, I raised a small alligator. I think they were called caiman’s. I’d kept it in an old aquarium until it got too big for the tank. I remember I traded it for a new spinning reel. My first thought was to reach down and grab a couple of the critters. They were so cute, but a loud grunt from just a few feet away on shore reminded me that their mama was probably nearby, and I was not interested in meeting her.

I reversed my electric motor and backed away from the area and started fishing. I noticed other small gators, maybe an inch or two longer than the babies swimming along the deeper edge of the pads when a huge bass came out of nowhere and struck one of them. It was an incredible sight!

Throughout the day, I continued to hear loud splashes back inside the vegetation and I knew the bass were having a field day eating the small gators.

Handing the plastic gator back to Lou, I promised we’d try it later in the day. As I had expected, it was tough fishing. I caught a couple of small males on a white spinnerbait and Lou lost 8 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

a pretty nice fish on a topwater frog, but after three hours, we had little to show for our efforts.

Lou wanted to try his new plastic gator, so I rigged it up on a stout baitcasting rod with a 65-pound braided line. He wasn’t quite sure how to rig it, and I had to agree that it could be rigged several ways, but I decided to rig it weedless.

It seemed that it should probably be worked along the surface, the only place I’d ever seen an alligator swimming. But it's heavy, and the bulk of the gator makes it difficult to keep on top. I tried different retrieves but there didn’t seem to be a way to retrieve the gator without it flopping or twisting, so I just let it sink to the bottom. I explained to Lou how difficult it was to keep the gator swimming along the surface like a wake bait, and that I could probably add a nail weight to balance it out when I noticed my line was moving. I reeled in the slack and set the hook on a nice three-pounder.

After I landed the fish, I remembered catching a few small alligators (not as small as the one Lou created, but maybe 12-18”), right off the bottom on a plastic worm or a jig in the past. I’d forgotten that alligators spend much time underwater, not just on the surface.

I handed Lou the rod as I rigged up another rod for myself when I saw him stand up to set the hook on another bass that fell prey to the gator bait. This was amazing.

We hadn’t done much of anything all morning, and within ten minutes, we had a couple of decent-sized bass. I had one big fish that broke water and literally threw the gator back at us. It was a nice female of six or seven pounds.

Over the next two hours, we caught and released another four bass, all caught on the gator bait within 500 yards of each other. I told Lou I was surprised the bait worked so well in the murky water, but more importantly, that it would be effective this early in the year.

I remember reading about alligators, and the article said they usually lay their eggs in late May to mid-June and that the incubation period is a couple of months. Newly hatched gators are only six to eight inches long and only grow a few inches yearly. Some of their nests are destroyed by predators or flooding, and many fall prey to raccoons, birds, large fish, and even larger gators. I’d never considered bass eating gators, but I’m sure they do.

One thing I knew for sure was that bass are very protective. I’ve seen them attack bluegills and other creatures attempting to steal their eggs, including turtles. I’m sure small alligators raid their nests as well.

Still, in the late stage of development, Lou is considering making the gator in different sizes and possibly even in different colors.

It makes sense when you think about it; lure manufacturers make plastic worms, lizards, and other plastic baits in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Why not an alligator? It makes a good meal for a bass.

Whatever the reason, the bass we caught that day appeared to like the little alligator. If I had to guess, they probably thought it was searching along the bottom for their beds to eat their eggs.

One thing is for sure, the bass in our lakes have seen virtually every creature bait you can imagine, but I don’t think they’ve ever seen a fat little alligator!

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 9

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As summer approaches, I’m ready to start utilizing my grill again. There’s nothing quite like grilling on a nice, warm, sunny day, and my goal for this summer is to focus on fish and seafood. I truly am trying to eat lighter and healthier this year, and I know that fish and seafood have a reputation for being some of the best diet proteins. With all this in mind, I decided to try throwing my crappie fillets on the grill last time I made them. With a simple spice rub on top, these turned out absolutely delicious, and I can’t wait to make them throughout the entire summer. *This recipe makes enough for two Ingredients • 8 oz Crappie Fillets • 1 tsp Paprika • ½ tsp White Pepper • ½ tsp Garlic Powder • Olive Oil Directions 1. Mix the spices together in a small bowl until they are entirely incorporated.

2. Lightly drizzle the fillets in olive oil. Do not drench them; only put on enough to lightly coat all sides of the meat.

3. Sprinkle the spice rub all over the oiled fish, and rub it in. It’s possible that there will be some of the spice rub leftover. It all depends on how large the fillets are. Do not feel the need to use all of it.

Kitchen Tip: If you enjoy this fish spice rub, and frequently eat panfish, this spice mixture can be made up in a large batch and stored in a sealable jar for future use.

4. Brush a non-stick grilling tray with olive oil. Make sure it is thoroughly coated or the fish will stick.

5. Grill at 400 degrees for three minutes. Flip gently with a fork so the fish doesn’t break apart, and grill for another three minutes.

This fish is so easy to make, and is absolutely perfect for a hot summer day when the stomach can’t handle a heavy dinner. Served with a side of asparagus or other green veggie, this healthy dish can’t be passed up if you are trying to eat a little healthier.

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Capt. Dave Stephens'

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Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats

REPORT & FORECAST

A

fter coming off a wet and colder winter than normal, we hope things shift into a normal pattern mode this spring.

March is the time of year when our water temperatures begin to steadily warm up kicking off a feeding frenzy for some of our local game fish.

Snook is the fish that comes to most anglers' minds this time of year. These fish lay dormant in deeper, warm water during the winter months. With spring coming and the water temperatures rising, these guys will be beginning to feed to recover fat loss and prepare for spawning. If you can locate live bait such as pilchards and live herring, these will be the baits of choice. However, other baits, such as small mullet, pinfish, and large shrimp, will also work well.

If you prefer throwing artificial lures, I suggest something resembling the bait fish found in the waters you are fishing, such as a sardine or pinfish pattern on the flats. Tackle is the anglers' choice. However, I wouldn't recommend using less than a ten-pound test line paired with a thirty-pound test shock leader.

Snook have a very abrasive jaw and will chew through lighter leaders.

Local creeks and deep-water tributaries are great places to locate early spring fish. Also, the local miles of residential canals will hold good numbers of fish. The bite might be slower on cooler mornings if the water temperatures get too cool. Snook are tropical fish, so water temperatures above 70 degrees are normally the optimal temperature, so you might have to slow down and fish a little slower. I often use a small split shot to slow my bait down; this also seems to help get the laying fish to bite. Springtime will bring some exciting fishing to Southwest Florida. As we progress further into spring things should only get better.

If you would like to experience some of Southwest Florida's finest fishing?

Give us a call or send an email, all of our trips are private and customized to fit you and your party's needs. Capt. Dave Stephens 941-916-5769 www. backbayxtremes.com

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MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 11

Advocating for Cleaner Waterways:

A Call to Preserve Our Lakes and Wildlife

C

lean waterways are vital to the well-being of our environment, providing habitats for diverse wildlife and fostering recreational activities. However, plastic and litter pollution significantly threaten these precious resources, impacting lakes, the ecosystem, and recreational use.

It’s perplexing that those who derive the most enjoyment from our waterways often become contributors to the litter problem. The irony lies in the fact that individuals who appreciate the beauty and recreational benefits of our cherished lakes may unintentionally harm these environments by thoughtlessly discarding plastic and other pollutants. This contradiction underscores the importance of raising awareness and instilling a sense of responsibility among all water enthusiasts to ensure the longevity and health of our cherished water bodies.

Plastic, including items like beer bottles, when irresponsibly discarded, 12 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

can have severe consequences on water bodies. These pollutants not only mar the visual appeal but also endanger the well-being of aquatic life. Wildlife can mistake plastic for food, leading to ingestion and potential harm to their health. Additionally, the decomposition of plastic releases harmful chemicals, further contaminating the water and affecting the entire ecosystem.

Careless littering contributes to losing the ability to fish and enjoy a clean environment. When garbage accumulates in waterways, it disrupts the natural balance and can lead to the depletion of fish populations. Moreover, the ecosystem's overall health is compromised, affecting the water quality and vegetation.

Taking collective action to address this issue is crucial. Simple initiatives, such as instilling a sense of responsibility in children to pick up litter and dispose of it properly, can have a profound impact. By teaching kids that it’s cool to care for the environment, we cultivate a mindset of stewardship that extends into adulthood.

Community incentives for waterway trash removal programs provide an effective way to engage residents in the clean-up efforts. These initiatives raise awareness and foster a sense of community pride in maintaining the health of local water bodies. Creating accessible trash disposal options, like strategically placing trash cans on boats, encourages responsible waste management during recreational activities.

In conclusion, advocating for cleaner waterways is not only an environmental responsibility but a necessity for the well-being of our lakes, wildlife, and recreational spaces. By addressing the hazards of plastic pollution, promoting awareness, and implementing simple yet effective initiatives, we can collectively contribute to preserving these vital resources for current and future generations.

Let us all embark on a journey of stewardship, recognizing that the well-being of our waterways rests in our hands. Together, we can turn the tide against pollution and ensure that the beauty and abundance of our lakes endure, providing joy and sustenance for generations to come. The call to action is now, and our commitment today will shape the aquatic legacy we leave for tomorrow.

By Kristen Smoyer

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Tangie Neff

ISTOKPOGA FISHING FORECAST Fishing with a “Poga Gal”

S

ome anglers are reporting the bite is starting to slow down for Crappie.

The pattern has continued with fishing mixed vegetation with lily pads and reeds or cattails. However, some anglers have been pulling bedding crappie from lily pads and Arrowhead patches.

Look for deep water nearby, checking areas 3-4 feet deep. Using a long pole, dip, dab, or dob a minnow with a bobber and sinker.

Some anglers prefer the "Thump" of a jig dipping it into holes in and around vegetation. Spider rigging out the front of the boat, pushing poles in deeper water, is an option when the bedding crappie has moved to deeper water.

Another option is drifting with minnows and a bobber or trolling for crappies with jigs in deeper water. Whichever technique you try, it will be a fun day on the water fishing for Crappie in sunny Sebring, Fl. Refrain from being surprised if you find an occasional bonus bass or two while crappie fishing.

If you are fishing for a Florida Trophy bass, moving baits such as swim worms, swigs, chatter baits, or top water choices such as a hollow body frog or Swim bait is always fun and exciting. So get out on the water and fish; it's lots of fun for all, and you'll make memories that will last a lifetime!!!!!!!!

— “Imma Poga Gal” Tangie Neff.

For more information contact Corky & Tangie’s Bass and Crappie Fishing Tours, Sebring FL www.corkytangiesguidedfishingtours.com | 937-217-8076

Bass & Seasonal Crappie / Bluegill Tours “My brother and I had a blast fishing with Corky. The fishing was pretty good, as long as you were moving around. Corky never kept us at a standstill, recognizing each time it was time to move to the next one to avoid a doldrum, we were constantly busy. The boat was clean and ready to fish, the waters were cold and Corky was quick and eager to get us fishing. It was a great way to burn up the afternoon, I’m sure we’ll be fishing with Corky again.”

- Christian G “My father and I had a time crappie fishing with Tangie. The fishing was tough but Tangie was persistent in finding the right spots and we ended up having a very productive day. Plus Tangie is just a joy to be around. Thanks for a great day!”

- David D.

Seabring, Florida - 937-217-8076

www.corkytangiesguidedfishingtours.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MARCH 2024

LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE 13

The

Braggin’ Board Submit your pictures to The Angler Magazine don@theanglermagazine.com

Darion Hinson

Brenda Nemec -D

iaz

James Dyer

Dennis Crenshaw

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a Carlos G

Jay Tremb ly

Steven Luengo

Joe Conley

Jody Rale y

Syl Simms Roger Cicotte

e Winker Melody Rose Daniels & Mik

Henry Shumat e Charlie Peck

and Son

Chasity Raley

Capt. Angie Doughit Okeechobee

REPORT & FORECAST

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Trash Pickup

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L

ake June Pontoons organizes and sponsors a local trash pick-up every year, extending their commitment to cleaner waterways beyond their business. Last year alone, the community removed 21 tons of litter from waterways and rural areas.

This remarkable effort highlights the transformative power of a little bit of giving, turning into a significant difference. With the collaboration of other local small businesses, the collected trash is creatively repurposed into free merchandise, gift certificates, and a sense of fun enjoyed by all involved.

16 LAKE ISTOKPOGA • LAKE OKEECHOBEE

MARCH 2024

F

ishing on Okeechobee has been a mixed bag with catching numbers and big bass, and on other days, fishing has been slow due to the crazy winter weather we are experiencing, ranging from wind, rain, and cold temperatures. I am hopeful that moving forward through the winter and into springtime will bring much-needed steadier weather patterns and, with that said, a steadier, more consistent bite. I firmly believe in the Farmer’s Almanac and do look/ plan because my profession is working in the outdoors alongside Mother Nature and always having areas/spots to fish with my customers.

Nothing is a given in this World and fishing is no different.

I have days I work harder despite knowing/fishing Okeechobee for over 24 years, and I absolutely love putting smiles on people’s faces when they land that big bass or jig up limits of crappie. Regarding fishing and guiding, it’s the whole experience, not just one thing. My priority has always been to give my customers a fun experience, catch fish, and gain knowledge so that they can apply it when fishing other bodies of water or their home lake.

The bass and crappie spawn will continue through most of April so now is the time to book your fun-filled day fishing Lake Okeechobee. If you’re fishing for bass, some lures I’ve been having success with are senkos, rigged weedless; topwater lures such as a devils horse or pop-r worked slow and rattle-free clear colored spook; chatter bait (crawdad or bluegill colored skirts); flipping/pitching creature-style lures such as a tube, small crawdad or senkos; shallow running crankbaits in colors bluegill, tilapia or shad; and some spinner baits (chartreuse/ white or crawdad colored skirts, single Colorado blade worked slow).

For the crappie anglers, depending on your style, fishing with live-small minnows while anchored has been producing limits, especially in the Harney Pond and Indian Praire canals as well as the Kissimmee River, fishing at night and during the daylight hours. If you prefer to jig, some colors can be white, chartreuse, green, yellow (depending on water clarity), and orange; the jig head color will depend on water clarity/sun/clouds. Areas to try: range from spots on the Shoal and Monkey Box, Dupree Bar, around Dyess Ditch, Worm Cove to Tin House, and some spots around 3rd-4th point and some spots on/around Kings Bar and Grassy. On the East Side, try around Hendry Creek and close to the J&S lock area. I hope this information will help you to have a better, more productive day fishing the lake.

To book you’re next fun-filled day on the water call 863-228-7263 or log onto my website at www.southfloridabassfishing.com where you’ll find updated customer pics; a link to purchase fishing licenses; guide rates, accommodations etc. A big thank you to my Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Toho Marine, BnM Poles, Real Magic, Mid-South Tackle, Gill, Bullet Weights, G-Loomis, Lews, Navionics, Maui Jim, and Mega Strike.

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CCA FLORIDA STAR STREAMLINED FOR 2024

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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha, boasts amazing prizes, is the largest familyfriendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida and it begins May 25.

A unique combination of conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at over $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s not-to-miss-summer-long fishing competition. No other fishing tournament in Florida has the ability to engage participants

of all ages and experience levels, and even nonanglers can win, just by collecting trash and debris.

Heading into the tenth year, CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha has made it easier than ever to participate. The summer long fishing competition encourages thousands of anglers of all ages to fish with a purpose – conservation and winning.

STAR is simplifying the competition to make it easier for participants to enter their catches

and win big. It’s not just about anglers winning but helping the fishery win too.

Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app. This format promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who, at the time of their catch are members of CCA and registered in STAR to upload photos of their catch for an entry in the competition. STAR has set the bar for other fishing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation friendly alternatives, such as a trash division and conservation division with rewards of some really big prizes.

The CCA Florida STAR competition presented

by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler and targets inshore and offshore species. For the 2024 competition, CCA Florida STAR will once again offer over $500,000 in prizes and scholarships but has pared down the number of divisions to make participation simpler. STAR will offer a Tagged Redfish Division, Tagged Dolphin Division, an Inshore and Offshore Division, Native Watercraft Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division.

With so many ways to win amazing prizes and help protect our marine resources, now is the time to get registered and make fishing in Florida more rewarding this summer.

For more information on STAR, become a member and register, call 844-387-7827 or visit their Facebook page and ccaflstar.com.

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LIFE IS A BEACH

By Richard L. Matteson

COOL WATER SNOOK&THE MARCH FISHING FORECAST

I

t’s not like summer, but there are still snook on the beach here on the Treasure Coast. I caught a 21-incher a few days ago in the surf and released it. My main artificial rig is a 4-inch DOA pearl white paddletail on a chartreuse 3/8-ounce DOA jighead.

Snook are looking for warmer water, so they’ll be around inlets and bridges where the water is deeper. Sometimes they run the beach because the ocean is better for them than the shallow water in the lagoon. Some large snook are being caught in deeper water of the St. Lucie, both North and South Forks, Crossroads and around deep piers and bridges as well as around deep water in both the St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce inlets. Large jigs and live or cut bait fished early morning, at dusk or at night work best. Live 6-inch croaker seem to be the preferred live bait. This month, you can harvest one snook in the 28- to 32-inch slot here in the IRL Zone.

March is windy and will be the last good month for many of the winter fish like pompano, mackerel and bluefish. Some fish, especially bluefish, will remain, but the numbers are relatively small.

Pompano can be caught on the beach with orange fish bites and sand fleas. In the lagoon, try jigging from bridges with pompano jigs on moving tides.

Chartreuse or hot pink are good colors. Permit have been caught on the beach on small crabs, fish bites or large sand fleas. Both permit and pompano are 50 to 70 yards offshore.

The mackerel bite is good on the beach early in the morning when bait is present. This bite is in the trough around the close breakers. Small spoons like silver 1-ounce Krocodiles or gold Johnson spoons with treble hooks work best, but they will hit any lure retrieved quickly near the surface. There are mackerel still in the Peck’s Lake area where you’ll need a boat. The bluefish bite has been sporadic with fish chasing bait in early morning or when bait is present.

Trout are scattered in the lagoon and can be caught on jigs and topwaters like Skitterwalks and Zara Spooks on warm afternoons. The best trout areas are north from the power plant to the Vero Beach flats. The flounder bite is still good on small the 5- to 10-pound range have been taken on jigs jigs and live bait on the flats and around the bridges. and shallow-running crankbaits.

Some redfish have been caught on jigs tipped Remember, see the birds, find the bait, catch with live shrimp from the power plant north. the fish!

Target mangroves on high tide in the afternoon or Richard L. Matteson Jr. is a long-time Coastal mangroves with deep water.

As usual, there are scattered schools of ladyfish Angler contributor and staff writer for Stuart Rod & Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440. and jacks cruising the beaches. Some nice jacks in

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TIPS FROM A PRO

ISOLATED TARGETS FOR BIG BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

A

round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year.

In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing.

They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from.

What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better!

For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for.

Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers

go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day.

I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure.

Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug.

When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin.

You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water.

Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

Good luck out there this spring and always

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DECEMBER GIVEAWAY WINNER ZIPPING AROUND WITH HER NEW OUTBOARD

ENTER TO WIN!

A PAIR OF WILEY X SUNGLASSES THROUGH MARCH!

I

n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach.

“I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!”

The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters.

Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring.

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REDFISH TIP:

THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG

H

ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!”

Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod.

For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com.

12 NATIONAL

MARCH 2024

E

very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head.

Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together.

According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing.

In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions.

With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation.

The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions.

We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.

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GRAND LAKE TO HOST

2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T

he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla.

Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history

of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake.

During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win.

“The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country.

“GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.”

On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100.

The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.

“Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”

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With more than 60,000 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the largest outdoor destinations in Oklahoma. Located on the Grand River, the lake is hugely popular with boaters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Anglers are sure to have a blast searching for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and the rare paddlefish on Grand Lake waters. And Grand Lake’s shores are lined with so many unique attractions, shops, restaurants, state parks and casinos that seeing everything in one trip is next to impossible.

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