The Angler Magazine - Feb. / Southeast & Coastal Georgia

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Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO LIMIT ADVENTURES GUIDE MATTHEW DEROSA

JANUARY 2017

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264

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EDITOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794 BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (407) 960-2340 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Ed Gocher • (305) 587-9101 • ed@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com

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flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Thomas Hauer, Jr. • (321) 445-1557 • thomash@coastalanglermagazine.com Thomas Hauer • tomh@coastalanglermagazine.com PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.

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Catching Winter Cobia In The Keys

By John Steinhorst

F

ebruary through April offers some of the most productive fishing of the year in the Florida Keys. An amazing variety of migratory fish species travel to the Keys as cold water temperatures push them south in the Gulf of Mexico and on the east coast.

The most convenient place to base a Keys fishing adventure is directly out of Marathon, which comfortably rests in the middle of this tropical island chain. Marathon encompasses a unique collection of islands, creating the ideal boating and family destination with access to both ocean and gulf waters but far enough from the crowded streets of Key West. Capt. Chris Morrison, a 20-year Keys veteran who guides out of Marathon, enjoys hooking excited anglers up with these hungry migrating species, which include record-breaking cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, trophy sailfish and several species of jacks.

Versatility is the name of the game, and options are abundant. Most often the best plan is to just decide where you want to fish, from the immense Gulf or blue ocean waters to the many reefs and wrecks surrounding the islands. Then be ready for anything when you get there. There are several techniques that work for each species, and Morrison utilizes a wide variety to keep his 8

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Temple Fork Outfitters’ Gary Loomis Inshore boat, although cobia sometimes swim with bull sharks and rays. Start drifting live shrimp back Series rods bending and his clients smiling.

Live bait and jigs are most productive to with light monofilament leader and small hooks, ensure positive results. Pinfish and live shrimp and you are bound to get action from one of are among the easiest to obtain, since most local several species of snapper. If you start getting bit bait shops carry them. Deep jigs, such as butterfly off clean, add a piece of leader wire and you will types, and ¼- to 1-ounce bucktails are essential likely get hooked into a cero or king mackerel. to carry in your arsenal. For catching cobia, If you decide to fish the bay or gulf side of the present the pinfish on ocean-side wrecks and Keys island chain, you might want to anchor reefs as well as Gulf waters from 15 to 100 feet in 10 to 15 feet of water and hang that chum using the same rig for grouper down deep. Limit bag for landing Spanish mackerel. Head out to is one per person with a 33-inch size minimum. deeper Gulf waters and expect more cobia, king On sunny days, Morrison likes to spot cobia mackerel, and goliath and gag grouper. The with his polarized sunglasses from the tower of wintertime fishing action in the Florida Keys will his SeaVee boat above the reef line or in blue be sure to heat up your reel.

If you need an expert light-tackle fishing water when a color change edge is present. When you see a cobia on the surface, cast the bait in guide, Capt. Chris Morrison has guided anglers front with no weight and at least 60-pound to more than 100 world records and received monofilament leader. Wire is usually necessary a Lifetime Achievement Award from the on your jigs as king, Spanish, and cero mackerel International Game Fishing Association. Visit are numerous throughout these prime fishing www.captchris.com for more info. grounds.

John Steinhorst has contributed to many If you do not have a guide, the reef line on the ocean side from 25 to 40 feet is a good place publications during the last 20 years and can to start. Anchor and hang a chum bag over the be contacted at www.JohnSteinhorst.wix.com/ IslandMedia. side with ground-up frozen baitfish. Chum brings the For more Cobia fishing in the Keys, go to party to the back of your COASTALANGLERSALTWATER.COM

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Captain Fantastic.

How have so many of Marathon’s light-tackle guides achieved super-hero status? Because whether it’s tailers in the shallows, migrating tarpon out front or snook and redfish out back, our professional captains come to the rescue by putting you onto some amazing angling action. fla-keys.com/marathon 1.800.262.7284 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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RodsandReels Product Review AVET REELS SXJ 6/4 RAPTOR Since 1999, Avet Reels has been bringing to the market revolutionary reel designs that set the standard for performance.

Their innovative SXJ 6/4 Raptor lever drag casting reel features Avet’s patented dual carbon fiber drag system, which produces twice the drag of the original Avet reels. The powerful system features adjustable strike pre-set and a strike stop button to prevent accidental advancement.

The reel’s one-piece frame is precision machined 6061 T-6 marine grade aluminum with stainless steel components and is anodized for superior corrosion resistance. An offset machined handle arm reduces center-line profile and cranking wobble and is capped with a comfortable soft-touch handle knob.

The two-speed transmission has a user-friendly shifting mechanism. Avet’s silent dog and gear anti-reverse system and M.C. Cast adjustable magnetic anti-backlash cast control system, both patented, are some of the most innovative and reliable in the industry.

The SXJ 6/4 Raptor has nine stainless ball bearings, an alarm clicker and a light, narrow spool designed for optimal jig casting efficiency and less line leveling on the retrieve. It’s proudly made in the U.S.A.

CANYON REELS EX-80 TWO SPEED TROLLING REEL In case you hadn’t heard, Canyon Reels has redesigned its powerful EX-80 Two Speed Trolling Reel to give anglers the edge when pulling spreads for huge fish.

The original EX-80 was extensively tested and matched up very well against the giants off the Northeast coast. When the captains made suggestions, Canyon listened, and the result is an even better EX-80, which features multiple upgrades that make it smoother, and easier to use.

The EX-80 is a monster reel. It boasts a max drag of 105 pounds at strike and more than 155 pounds at full drag. A pre-set feature allows for accurate drag settings with an easy one-touch shifter.

Upgrades include additional harness lugs that provide better balance control, an all new double drag system for drag runs that are even smoother than the original, and an oversized T-bar handle for additional cranking power. Several other improvements have also been made to increase the durability of this already remarkable reel.

The end result is an incredibly smooth and user-friendly reel with the power to stop any fish in the ocean.

WWW.AVETREELS.NET

WWW.CANYONREELS.COM

ENIGMA HPT TITANIUM CASTING RODS

JP ROSS BEAVER MEADOW

Enigma Fishing is raising the bar on performance, while lowering the price point.

Every aspect of their HPT Titanium Casting Rods were designed with extreme attention to detail. These high-performance tournament level rods are designed with premium, ultra-light Japanese Toray Carbon proprietary blend blanks.

The HPT rods were designed and tested with input from professional anglers such as three-time Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, Aaron Martens. Enigma Fishing has customized and precision balanced each individual HPT rod to be ultra functional, exceptionally beautiful and tailored to exacting actions and specifications demanded by today’s tournament anglers.

All rods feature premium American Tackle components, including the multiaward winning MicroWave Line Control System, which increases casting distance and accuracy. The blank-through reel seats offer finger-to-blank contact for unparalleled sensitivity and incredible ergonomics and palmable comfort, while further reducing weight as well. Premium cork grips balance out each rod perfectly!

Enigma Fishing’s new HPT series features a sleek black rod blank, cork handles, stylish purple wraps and chrome accents. Delivering technique-specific performance second-to-none, the all-new HPT series raises the bar for all others!

WWW.ENIGMAFISHING.COM

MUD HOLE TURNKEY INSHORE ROD KIT

The JP Ross Beaver Meadow is a fly rod meticulously designed to fish the beaver dams and plunge pools of small trout streams where an 11-inch fish is a trophy.

That’s not to say this rod can’t handle an 18-inch brown on big water, but blue lines are where it shines. It is a short, sensitive rod with the feel needed for the gentlest of nibbles but enough power to reach out 50-plus feet with a hopper-dropper rig.

The Beaver Meadow is available in a 5’ 2/3-weight, two-piece and a 6’6” 2/3-weight four-piece for fishing small streams with wet flies and dry flies. The 6’6” also has the ability to cast medium weighted streamers. The 7’6” 4-weight four-piece, the 7’9” 3-weight fourPhoto by Draper White piece, and the 8’0” 5-weight four-piece all have the shorter length required for tight quarters but the backbone to land larger fish and cast streamers and multi-fly rigs.

JP Ross rods are custom-made by hand in Upstate New York. Each rod is made to order, so the details are exquisite, and components can be customized from the grip and reel seat to the guides and thread color. The Technology used to achieve this awesome balance of sensitivity and power is breakthrough technology, the joining of carbon fiber and fiberglass that JP Ross calls Carbon Silica Hybrid interface. It makes a beautiful casting and wonderfully sensitive rod.

WWW.JPROSSFLYRODS.COM

Mud Hole Custom Tackle is offering amazing value with its inshore fishing rod building kit. This turnkey kit includes everything you need to build your own custom inshore trout and redfish fishing rod.

The kit features the extremely popular and versatile SJ842 rod blank. This 7’0” medium-light power rod features a fast action for throwing soft plastics and topwater lures at wary flats fish. Along with the blank, the kit includes a matched guide set, handle kit and everything from the CRB Wrapper, a CRB rod dryer and ProPaste and ProKote Rod Finish along with all the tools needed to build your own custom rod. This is a great set for the avid fisherman who wants to take his or her fishing to the next level.

To get started custom building your own high quality rod, visit www.mudhole.com and check out all our Turn Key Kit options or simply Google: Mud Hole Turnkey.

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RodsandReels Product Review OKUMA KOMODO SS BAITCAST REELS

The original Komodo 350 size baitcast reel has been the recipient of tremendous accolades. It is considered an extremely tough reel and an excellent value.

For 2017, the Komodo family welcomes the Komodo SS, featuring a new 450 size and stainless steel drive system.

The Komodo SS is built around a heavy-duty stainless steel main gear, pinion gear, drive shaft and spool shaft to deliver an internal foundation of unrelenting strength and corrosion-resistance. Komodo SS reels use rigid, machined aluminum frame and spool, aluminum side plates, high-output Carbonite drag system capable of a maximum drag output of 30 pounds, and updated 6-pin Velocity Cast Control System.

Performance features include six or seven (depending upon size) stainless steel High Performance Bearings, plus roller bearing, for outstanding corrosionresistance. The synchronized level-wind system does not disengage for casting, which allows it to maintain alignment at all times and eliminated drag pressure spikes when using braided lines. Bait clickers are standard on all models.

The Komodo SS series includes two sizes, 350 and 450. The 350 size includes a 6.4:1 gear ratio and maximum drag output of 25 pounds. There are four models in the 350 size. The 450-size Komodo is available in a 6.3:1 gear ratio and a hyperfast 7.1:1 ratio.

Komodo SS series baitcast reels are covered by the Okuma 3-Year Limited Warranty.

WWW.OKUMAFISHING.COM

UGLY STIK BIGWATER SERIES Ugly Stik has refreshed its iconic Bigwater series with all-new Ugly Tuff saltwater guides and an updated look.

Beginning with Ugly Tech construction, the Bigwater series maintains the toughness for which all Ugly Stiks are known. One-piece Ugly Tuff stainless steel guides eliminate insert pop-outs and provide durability and corrosion resistance for those harsh saltwater applications.

The Bigwater series retains the traditional Ugly Stik Clear Tip design for more strength at the tip of the rod. Comfortable EVA handles and conventional reel seats give anglers a non-slip, comfortable grip no matter the conditions. The fly, standup, downrigger/dipsy diver, surf, spinning and casting models have also been upgraded to include a standard seven-year limited warranty.

Four Bigwater spinning combos and two trolling combos for downrigger applications are also available. The combos feature a graphite spinning reel, available in sizes 50, 60 and 70, and have a durable aluminum spool. The reel featured on the Bigwater downrigger combos is a size 30 line counter round reel with a metal handle and power knob.

PENN SLAMMER III The Penn Slammer III, which won Best of Show in the saltwater reel category at iCast 2016, is the reintroduction of the heavy-duty reel that has become trusted by charter captains around the world.

Slammer III reels feature a new IPX6 Sealed System, which keeps water out of the gear box and drag system in heavy spray and sea conditions. An updated Slammer Drag System now utilizes a proprietary Dura-Drag material. With the computer-controlled CNC gear technology system, the precision brass main, pinion and oscillation gears are individually machined for exact tolerances to provide the smoothest operation.

Eight models of the Slammer III are available, ranging in size from 3500 to 10500 models. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1 with 37 inches of line retrieve on the smaller reels to 4.2:1 with 43 inches of line retrieve on the largest.

Maximum drags start at 30lbs in the smaller models and run to 60lbs on the largest. The oversized reel handle grip gives the angler added control during the fight.

The 3500 Slammer III is the smallest of the family weighing 13.9oz while the 10500 weighs 43.1oz.

WWW.PENNFISHING.COM

DANCO BAIT STIK Danco’s Bait Stik is the original rod and reel combo developed specifically for catching bait with a sabiki rig, and it is still the best.

The rod in this combo is 7’3” and features two-piece construction with an extra-hard phenolic tip for superior strength and extreme sensitivity. Comfortable EVA grips and a gimbal butt with cover means anglers will be yanking bait from the water with ease.

Anyone who has ever tried to store a sabiki rigs knows the frustration of attempting to keep them from becoming a tangled mess. With the Bait Stik, that is not a problem.

While not in use, the sabiki rig can be safely and conveniently stored inside the rod, which is a huge plus.

The combo comes with either a casting or spinning reel. The spinning reel comes with an anodized aluminum spool, a graphite body and rotor and an oversized eggshaped knob. The casting reel has an aluminum body and side covers, brass gearing and a star drag.

Catching bait has never been so easy. When the bait tank is full, rinse everything down with fresh water, store the sabiki rig in the rod and forget about it.

Look for the Danco Bait Stik in your tackle store.

WWW.SHAKESPEARE-FISHING.COM

OCEAN 2 RIVER TOURNAMENT COMBO

ZEBCO BIG CAT SERIES Zebco is launching an impressive offering of beefedup rods and reels called “Big Cat” to accommodate serious value-minded anglers who passionately pursue catfish.

The spincast reels are built with a titanium nitride plated stainless steel spinnerhead to add durability and reduce friction. Big Cat XT conventional-style reels will likely be the top pick for the most avid trophy hunters from the Mississippi River to Santee Cooper and all waters in between. Two conventional reels will be offered. The Big Cat XT 30 conventional trolling reel will hold 455 yards of 30-pound test. The Big Cat XT 350 round baitcasting reel holds 200 yards of 20-pound test.

Worth noting is that a headlamp handy for nighttime catfishing will be free to consumers who purchase rods and reels within the very affordable Big Cat and Big Cat XT series.

WWW.ZEBCO.COM

Ocean 2 River (O2R) Tournament spinning combos are designed to perform to the exacting standards of serious tournament anglers while standing up to the grueling conditions and treatment offered up by hard-core fishermen in the marine environment.

The IM-7 fast action graphite rods come with Seaguide Atlas Performance aluminum oxide guides, comfortable cork split grips and a graphite reel seat with a cork inlay and cushioned stainless steel hoods. These rods combine strength with sensitivity and excellent casting power. They are available in medium and medium heavy weights to suit a range of line and lure weights.

The reels feature a solid aluminum frame, graphite side covers and rotor and a double anodized aluminum spool to stand up to the saltwater environment. A 5.1:1 gear ratio is suitable for fishing a wide range of lures all day long without wearing out the angler’s wrists and hands. Stainless ball bearings and a comfortable oversized T-knob provide for longer casts, smoother drag runs and comfort while fighting fish.

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ON THE COVER

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Editor’s Note:

Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers.

With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.

COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE The Florida Keys, Marathon

FREE

BIG BEND EDITION

The February edition of Coastal Angler Magazine features a cover image of Capt.

James Platt with a 35-pound cobia he landed onboard a SeaVee boat about 10 miles out from Marathon’s Tarpon Creek Marina on the ocean side of the Florida Keys. The photo was provided by Capt. Chris Morrison of Keys Light Tackle Fishing Charters, who Local was fishing with Platt when they caught a limit of cobia, along with king mackerel, mangrove snapper and grouper. Morrison uses medium-heavy, Gary Loomis-designed Inshore Series rods from Temple Fork Outfitters along with 30-pound test Cortland Master Braid line to handle cobia and many species he targets in winter months.

Home to the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge, Marathon is a group of tropical islands perfectly situated in the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. This ideal boating and family destination offers easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, Everglades and Gulf of Mexico waters for an amazing diversity.

Wintertime in the Florida Keys means anglers see large numbers of migratory fish such as cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, wahoo, sailfish and blackfin tuna pushed down from colder northern waters.

Marathon is an excellent destination to base your Keys vacation for an unforgettable adventure. See writer John Steinhorst’s article on winter and early spring fishing out of Marathon in this month’s issue.

Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 265

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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Ice Fishing On Golden Pond, New Hampshire

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This month’s cover image for The Angler Magazine was taken by Chuck Fritz on the ice at Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire. Old Timers might remember the 1981 movie “On Golden Pond.” It was filmed on Squam Lake, and the most interesting storyline in the film had to be the cantankerous Local character Norman’s obsession with catching a humongous rainbow trout named Walter.

Squam Lake looks a lot different with a layer of ice over it than it does in the movie, which was shot in the summer.

The fishing is still good, though. Just ask Tim Moore, the ice fishing guide who was photographed for the cover with a pretty yellow perch he caught through a hole in the ice.

The ice fishing season on Squam and nearby Lake Winnipesaukee generally runs from January through March each year, and anglers target giant white perch and lake trout as well as smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish and yellow perch.

If there’s anyone out there who knows where Walter is hiding after all these years, it has to be Tim. See Tim’s story inside this months issue and check out his website at www.timmooreoutdoors.com.

Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264

F R A N C H I S E

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MERCURY MARINE’S VESSELVIEW MOBILE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

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ercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile app is now available for free download on the App Store and Google Play in North America. Available for iOS and Android mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, the VesselView Mobile app instantly provides users access to their boat’s SmartCraft digital data in the palm of their hand. The product recently won a prestigious IBEX innovation award.

The VesselView Mobile module, which is needed to fully utilize the app, is available for purchase at participating Mercury Marine dealers, from the VesselView Mobile app or on www.vesselviewmobile.com. The product is compatible with all Mercury SmartCraftcapable engines built since 2003. One module supports single through quad engine applications.

SmartCraft is a fully integrated suite of digital technologies, including marine gauges, sensors, vessel systems and computercontrolled features, giving users a higher level of control over their boat’s propulsion and electrical systems. Now, with Mercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile, users can see SmartCraft engine data right on the screen of their mobile device. The app also includes useful new features such as Fuel Information, Maintenance Reminders, Mapping, Performance Summary, and Fault Code Diagnostics.

VesselView Mobile makes preparing for and spending a day on the water easier, safer 14

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and more enjoyable by letting users perform the following functions from their mobile device: • Connect to the SmartCraft data network in your boat from your iOS or Android mobile device via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0) • See SmartCraft engine parameters like engine hours, fuel burn, water temperature, battery voltage, RPM, etc. (parameters available are specific to each engine family).

• Get fault code diagnostic information so you know and understand if that fault is something to be addressed when you return to the dock, or is more urgent.

• Fuel Management provides accurate fuel usage data along with fuel remaining plus indicates time and distance to empty when the user enters fuel added via the app.

• Locate your nearest Mercury Marine dealer • Get points of interest information for your body of water, including fuel and restaurant locations, and more • Record a moment on the water for future reference • Access checklists associated with your boating lifestyle • Get maintenance reminders and access historical maintenance information logs.

Mercury Marine’s VesselView Mobile app also provides users with a Web-based account that gives them and their preferred dealer app and module will be on display at the 2017 an even deeper connection to their boat. The Miami International Boat Show.

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Core Concepts Make

Ice Fishing Easier

By Tim Moore

S

pending hours on a frozen lake isn’t easy. Your body works overtime just to stay warm. Then, add the activity level that often accompanies ice fishing, such as drilling or chiseling holes and chasing tip up flags, and it can be downright exhausting. The degree of difficulty extreme cold temperatures add to fishing is what keeps most people from trying ice fishing. While there is a ton of gear designed to make ice fishing easier, core concepts, such as efficiency and mobility go a long way to make ice fishing easy enough for even the most warm blooded people.

When you strengthen your core muscles with exercise, you train the rest of your 16

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muscles to work in harmony, which leads to better balance and stability. The same can be said for ice fishing.

Exercising core concepts on a regular basis not only improves technique and lure control, but ice fishing actually becomes easier.

The hottest new lures and trending techniques might catch a few fish, but they do little to improve your ability as an angler, especially when everything is frozen.

Efficiency is arguably the foundation of any core.

A highly efficient ice angler accomplishes more tasks in a shorter amount of time, and therefore catches more fish. Being efficient means eliminating unnecessary steps. Fewer steps means more time fishing, and more time fishing means more fish caught.

Every second you spend with your line out of the water is time spent not catching fish.

Efficiency begins off the ice. There are many things you can do before you leave your house that will make you more efficient. Start by leaving equipment and lures you won’t need at home.

If you’re going fishing for panfish and you have larger rods mixed in with panfish rods, you will have extra gear to deal with on the ice.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal until you’re fishing in subzero temperatures and the rods you need get tangled with the rods you don’t need.

Rigging multiple rods with different lures before you leave your house will also reduce steps on the ice. Then you can cycle through pre-rigged rods rather than tie new jigs in the cold, wind or snow. Have you ever seen the deck of a tournament bass angler’s boat? They have many rods rigged with different lures so they don’t have to re-tie while they are fishing. The same goes for ice fishing, especially when it’s freezing out.

The work you do at home pays off on the ice, but there is more you can do while fishing to make things easier, such as putting gear back in its place when you’re not using it. Then when you want to move you have less equipment to put away. Sometimes we are so

excited to get fishing that we tend to lay gear on the ice when we are done using it rather than put it back where it belongs. By the time we decide to move there is gear all over the place, which makes moving harder.

The Godfather of modern ice fishing Dave Genz always says, “If it’s easy you’ll do it.” Focus on ways to make everything easier and you will be more productive. The little things add up. Just as backpackers try to shave ounces off their packs to make hiking easier, successful ice anglers are always trying to shave off unnecessary tasks to make fishing easier.

The equipment you use also contributes to your efficiency. A Vexilar sonar flasher removes a lot of the guesswork. Figuring out if there are fish under you and their depth could take hours without a flasher. A sonar flasher is easy to use. It will instantly show you the entire water column including the bottom, your jig, and anything else that shows up under you, such as a fish. All in real time!

Clam Outdoors makes a number of items specifically designed to make certain tasks easier on the ice. Prices range from a few dollars into the $1,000 range. The simple lowcost products often make a big difference. The Clam Can allows you to carry bait in your pocket. Not a big thing, but it makes a huge difference when it’s cold. Rod Slicks keep ice rods from getting tangled, and Fish Trap shelters get you out of the cold quickly and allow you to move around easier. The parts all have a sum that equals success.

Mobility is another important core element of ice fishing. Mobility allows you to cover more water, which allows you to put your lure in front of more fish. Think of ice fishing the same way you do when open water fishing. We rarely head out onto the water and cast in the same spot over and over again. Ice fishing is no different. Every hole you drill is a cast. Make more casts and you’ll catch more fish. If you make a lot of casts in an area and don’t catch anything, move to another area and repeat.

Give yourself a time limit, and don’t stay in the same area if you’re not catching fish.

Ice Fishing doesn’t have to be cold and difficult. Core concepts that make ice fishing easier also make it more fun. Establish a routine and it will become second nature. By constantly thinking of ways to strengthen your core, you make ice fishing easier. Before you know it, you will be catching more fish than ever before. And who doesn’t love catching more fish?

Tim Moore is a full-time licensed fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns Tim Moore Outdoors and the New England Ice Fishing Academy. For more information visit www.

TimMooreOutdoors.com.

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15TH ANNUAL SAVANNAH BOAT SHOW IS MARCH 3-5

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fishing experts are on-hand for seminars and demonstrations.

The show also features boats overlooking the Savannah River and other maritime displays and exhibits. In its history, the show has held shag contests, seafood festivals, live music and other family entertainment. It’s one of the few winter boat shows in the country fortunate enough to have a waterfront view. Whether it’s sunny or inclement weather, there is something interesting for everyone at the Savannah Boat Show.

The Savannah Boat Show was launched in 2003 at the Savannah Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island

by JBM & Associates, long-time producers of the Charleston Boat Show. Since then it’s become a coastal empire tradition and boating and fishing enthusiasts make this an annual outing with family and friends. Each year, the region’s best boat dealers showcase their new products and services to kick off the boating season. It’s one stop shopping at the Savannah Boat Show, with boat manufacturers on-hand to answer questions, along with financial and marine insurance companies to assist with everything necessary for life on the water.

LOCATION Savannah International Trade and Convention Center 1 International Drive Savannah, GA 31402

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he Savannah Boat Show, now in its 15th year, is located on Hutchinson Island, Ga., overlooking the Savannah River on the South Carolina border. This show’s strength is its location. Two hours north of Jacksonville, Fla. and two hours south of Charleston, S.C., it is a natural magnet for attracting boating enthusiasts and exhibiting companies from all three states and beyond.

The show primarily showcases powerboats. Savannah, like Charleston, is on the coast, which makes it a strong saltwater fishing location.

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GEORGIA

WILD AND CRAZY FEBRUARY

By Jimmy Harris

I

f you’re like me and have traditionally spent a lot of time outside in February, you’ve already got a pre-conceived idea of what to expect. What I typically advise clients who are coming from out of state to fish with us here in Georgia is to be prepared for absolutely any kind of weather. It’s good advice wherever trout live across the Southeast.

The fishing will be great and the crowds will be small, but the weather is totally unpredictable. Bring plenty of layers of clothing and adjust as necessary.

Snow events are most likely to occur in February, as are ice events. Snow is good. Ice is bad! My advice is, if it’s snowing and not hazardous to drive, go fishing. Something about the barometric pressure just really turns the fish on, kind of like me. During snowy weather, I’ll eat two bowls of chili, three pieces of cornbread and a big warm piece of apple pie all under the notion of preparing my body for the storm. And that’s what the fish are doing. We really have had some epic fishing days when it’s snowing. My good friend and guide Henry Cowen tells

me the stripers on Lake Lanier are the same way.

If you like dry fly fishing in winter, February is your month.

Good hatches of blue winged olives and midges happen on a regular basis, so don’t leave home without those patterns. If there’s no surface action, you simply resort to your typical winter strategies of dredging with an indicator. You’ll know when it’s time to change.

Now for a reality check. If you look at the historical data for February weather in north Georgia, you’ll swear they’ve mixed it up with another month. Average daily lows run from 34 to 40 degrees and the highs are 54 to 60! Does that sound like winter to you? More like spring? Problem is, we don’t go fishing on the averages.

You’ll also find that the record low in February is -9 degrees. Now I’ve been fishing on days when the air temperature was in the single digits, but I don’t have to do that any more.

That’s a young person’s game, and I wish them all the luck in the world at it. It was fun when I was doing it, and the fishing was pretty darn good.

I recall a day when every rock in the river had a shelf of ice around it. The water as clear as glass and a trout was under almost every one of those ice shelves. You had to drift a Bead Head Pheasant Tail right in front of their noses and watch for the take, but they would take it, and I had a blast. You can, too. Just dress warmly, and by all means, don’t fall in!

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1/17/17 12:55 PM

COLD WATER CRANKIN’ FOR BASS

By Randy “C-note” Cnota

I

f you’re the type to leave the comfort of a warm wife and bed early on a winter morning to go chase little green fish, then we have something besides insanity in common.

Getting bass to bite in cold water can be a daunting task at times. With that notion, I automatically go into search mode. I think most anglers would agree that the best search bait for bass is a shad- or crawdad-imitating bait that wiggles, dives, rattles and vibrates. Crankbaits offer all this, and they cover water quickly and efficiently.

A bass’s metabolism slows in cold water, but this does not mean they don’t feed. Quite the contrary… bass are opportunistic creatures that will eat when the opportunity presents itself. Even in the coldest waters, a bass will move with lightning speed to crush a crankbait when the presentation convinces the fish

it’s looking at a feeding opportunity.

Weather is the biggest factor to consider this time of year. Cold fronts can kill any bite you have going, but after a few days of stable weather, it can be great even if water temps haven’t warmed.

In most lakes, bass have the option to move deep during winter’s chill, but this doesn’t mean all of them do. Between the shad die-off and crawfish molt, there’s plenty of food for winter bass both shallow and deep. Find the bait, find the bass.

If you were to peek into my cold-water crankbait box, you’d see a variety to cover multiple depths, water conditions and cover. If it’s a lake with shallow grass, I’ll rip a lipless bait through the grass before moving deeper with a flat-sided crank like the Spro Little John or a Norman DD22. In very clear water, it’s hard to beat a Rapala Shad Rap to get finicky fish to eat. This tight wiggling rattle-free balsa bait is hard for bass to resist. I use both shad and crawfish colors for stained and clear water conditions.

When ripping a bait through grass, I use a medium-heavy action rod. A 7’2” stick has enough length and backbone to rip a bait free from the grass… a technique proven to get violent reaction strikes. If I’m working over rocks and wood, I prefer a longer medium action rod with more give in the tip for decreasing snags and keeping fish buttoned up. When casting balsa baits, I opt for a light action rod with a very forgiving baitcasting reel, or I’ll use a spinning rod and light line to cast these featherweight lures.

In most all of these applications, I spool up with Seaguar InvizX 100% fluorocarbon line. Occasionally I’ll use braid in thick grass, but even then I use a fluorocarbon leader. To get a bait as deep as possible, don’t be afraid to use 8-pound test, but 10-pound test usually works best for me.

It’s cold outside and spring is a long way off for the die-hard bass angler. So get out of your warm bed and get your crankbaits in that cold water to see for yourself how effective they can be this time of year.

Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.

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1/17/17 12:55 PM

Chasing Big Bulls In BC

By Cam Sigler Jr.

B

ack in 2014, I went north of the Canadian border to fish for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout with Gordon Silverthorne, who owns the Kootenay Fly Shop in Fernie, British Columbia. This area west of Calgary is littered with good waters. I have taken large groups up to fish the Elk and surrounding rivers with him. It was on these trips that I found myself focused on catching bull trout. Big bulls on a fly became my quest. I had caught many, up to nine in a day, but had yet to break the 27-inch mark.

Bull trout are in the char family with brook trout and Dolly Varden. They range from northern parts of California and Nevada in the south to the Northern Territories of Canada and East to Montana and Alberta. They can grow in excess of 40 inches long and to weights heavier than 30 pounds. They migrate up and down systems based on food sources and into feeder creeks to spawn.

They typically inhabit waters that stay under 59 degrees and are one of the most sensitive of the chars, requiring pristine waters to thrive. They are recognized as endangered in most states and protected in most systems in the provinces. A bull trout of 12 pounds might be 10 years old.

I was back in Fernie in 2015 chasing trout with a few friends. As usual, we had good fishing for beautiful cutthroats, but I was chasing bulls.

We spent a few days on the Elk River and caught a few bulls longer than 20 inches, but not in great numbers.

My attention turned to a small pristine river south of Fernie called the Wigwam. In the past I had sent anglers from my groups there, but because of limited daily access, I had not fished it myself.

Access is difficult. From the parking area, it’s 800 feet down to the river. It’s a hang-onto-trees steep.

It reminded me of some streams I guided in Alaska, cold and clear enough to see pebbles 20 feet deep.

The first hole was full of bull trout. After many casts, I landed one longer than 30 inches. As a group, we

CANGL_FIL1-FIL4.indd 1

caught many cutts that averaged about 16 inches and juvenile bulls of the 19-inch variety.

In conversation, Gordon spoke of the nearby Kootenay River bull trout fishery and about setting up an operation there. The Kootenay is a glacial-fed river formed by runoff and feeder streams primarily out of Kootenay National Park above Cranbrook, Canada. I told him to count me in for an expedition that fall. It didn’t happen because of a landslide in the river’s headwaters that blew the river out for an entire season. It’s tough to fish a fly without visibility.

Because of water levels and clarity, the window for fly fishing the Kootenay is about six weeks in fall, if you are lucky.

I finally got my chance to fish it in late October of 2016. Author Tom Boyd, who is writing a book on all the char species, and I made the 6-hour drive north from my second home in Washington to a tent camp Gordon and big-game outfitter Eric Grinnell had erected on the river. The camp was great, complete with a stove in every tent and a generator for lights. It was located a good distance between put-in points, and we saw only four other boats over three days.

The four of us had a terrific time. We saw a few deer on the river and kept an eye out for grizzly and black bears but saw no evidence of them. I did wake one night to the sound of wolves howling in the distance. Water levels dropped over the three days we fished, and the water cleared even more. The weather was clear and cold.

The fishing is primarily from 16-foot boats with outboard jet pumps. The river is braided and skinny in places, so the driver must pay attention. It is glacial fed and there are quarter-mile log jams on the banks. When this river is running 15 feet above the level we fished at, it must be roaring.

This is a 7- to 9-weight show with sink tips. I have caught many bulls dead drifting a rabbit strip or synthetic-based fly that swims with this method.

This trip, stripping seemed to work the best. We

were on the tail end of the kokanee salmon spawn.

Once spawned out, these landlocked sockeye salmon float downriver, and the bull trout key on the spent fish. So we threw lots of 10-inch flies.

Bull trout are very aggressive and opportunistic.

They have to be in these systems. Bulls can move daily, but once we found them in a section they readily took most flies we threw. Bull trout, like many trout, like structure. Snags, logs, and big rocks in the river often hold them.

I caught the biggest fish of our trip on the last cast of the last day in a tail out. It topped 29 inches and took a crawfish pattern I tie for smallmouth. We caught a few juvenile bulls in the 19-inch range and a few cutthroat, but our average bull trout was about 23 inches. I saw a few fish that were clearly bigger than our biggest catch. My guess is there are bulls in the Kootenay pushing the 40-inch mark. The largest we heard of on a fly weighed about 30 pounds.

The bull trout fishery in the U.S. and Canada is fragile. I suggest chasing them sooner than later. If you decide to fish the Kootenay next fall, look for the guy holding up the 35-inch fish. Hopefully that’s me, as I will keep going back.

For information or to set up a trip, contact Gordon Silverthorne at info@kootenayflyshop.com.

For more Bull Trout Fishing in BC, go to

FISHORDIE.CO

1/18/17 2:08 PM

A WINTER WADE

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik • Photo Courtesy of My Coast Outdoors

A FLY FISHING

s we idled away from the dock on a mild mid-winter morning, we all anticipated that telltale thump of a solid wintertime trout. Although the fall and winter weather had been mild, the big trout had already started finding their way to the normal winter feeding areas where we hoped to intercept them. Armed with slow-sinking soft plastics, we were confident we would be giving our cameras a workout on this trip.

As we quietly drifted into our first and what would be our only stop of the day, we noticed a lone angler had beat us to our target area. Showing him the

CHOOSING A SALTWATER FLY ROD

C

hoosing the right fly rod is a personal choice. There are so many rods and various rod actions (fast, moderate, tip flex, full flex, slow etc.) that selecting a rod can be very confusing. It’s confusing to me, and I live a breathe this stuff!

Rod Length: 9 feet or Shorter?

In most saltwater fly fishing situations the 9-foot rod is standard. It provides enough length to keep a back cast off the water, to pick up fly line off the water to redirect a cast and is the best option for making longer casts.

However, in recent years many companies have developed wonderful fly rods that are much shorter and can cast with the best 9-footers on the market. The new short rods are 7 to 8 feet in length and have a moderate (slow) action. The combination of a shorter rod and slower action make these rods a deadly tool when casting larger flies and poppers at close range.

Fly fishing for redfish, baby tarpon or other fish that hold tight to cover does not require long casts. And when making short cast, the short rod is a more accurate tool.

The Grip And Feel Find a fly rod that feels good while you’re holding it. The feel can be the difference between casting the rod well and not. I have picked up some very high-end rods with grips that felt like tree trunks. I believe a grip with a narrower diameter is best because it allows you to feel the rod load much better.

Rod Guides The guides on a fly rod are an important part of the overall

CANGL_FIL1-FIL4.indd 2

courtesy he deserved, we anchored up short of the sweet spot and made our first wade out deeper. We pecked away at some mediumsized specks and kept an eye on the lone angler who we felt had the upper hand based on location. We watched him land one trout before he boarded his skiff and slowly idled out of the area. Although we had more action in deeper water than he had up shallow, we still decided to ease into our original planned area as the rising sun increased the water temp on the shallow flat.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the baitfish became more active and helped fine tune our target areas to cast. The water here was shin deep and clear with the bottom structure composed of soft mud with abundant grass and potholes.

Using a white, slow-sinking paddle shad, I was slowly swimming it across the flat, pausing to let it slowly descend, and then I’d continue the retrieve and repeat. On one pause, I felt that telltale solid thump and then listened to the drag scream after the hookset. They were here! This was our first solid fish of the day, a thick-shoulder 6-pound trout. After a quick photo and release, we continued to ease down the shoreline sight casting to potholes or mullet. The next strike was hit and run, with the fish staying low and burning drag. After spinning me around a few times, I landed a solid upper-slot red.

After several hours on this wade, I finally saw what I had been looking for, fleeing mullet at the edge of a pothole. A few cranks of the reel handle and I was hooked up. Not what I anticipated, but it was a medium-sized trout. I made a second cast to the same pothole, reeled my lure to the far edge and as soon as it paused it was inhaled!

This trout sent foaming water sailing through the air while shaking her massive head. She tail walked four times before I had her close enough to verify her true size. The icing on the cake, an 8-pound trout in clear shin-deep water on a south Texas grass flat.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

For more wading in the Texas winter waters, go to

PEACEFULWATERS.CO performance. Many rods today are equipped with flexible snake guides, better known as REC Recoil guides, that are lighter than standard snake guides. These REC guides allow the rod to flex between the stripping guides’ footings for a more efficient transfer of energy during the cast. These REC guides add to the rod’s casting performance, creating greater line speed. Another added bonus to these REC guides is they will bend and not break if bumped on a boat rail.

Rod Action Rod actions vary greatly. It’s kind of comparing apples and oranges. Some anglers prefer a fast action; some prefer a moderate action. There are benefits to both, but for the beginning or intermediate fly angler, a moderate action rod is the best choice. A moderate action rod will cover a wide spectrum of casting situations and is easier to cast and cast efficiently into a stiff wind. These rods also load a fly line using more of the fly rods taper, making it easier for the angler to feel the rod load.

You can always purchase a fast action rod down the road as your skills progress.

Rod Balance So, now that you have picked out that perfect saltwater stick, ask yourself… How does it feel in my hand? Is the rod tip heavy?

Is the rod butt heavy? Does the rod feel too heavy overall? Too light? These are all question that need to be answered. The best rod is the one that feels well balanced from tip to butt. Balance the rod on your index finger at the top of the full wells grip. A well-balanced rod will balance evenly on your index finger. This is a fly rod’s sweet spot. It will be the optimum place for the thumb of your casting hand every time you cast.

For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to

CAMFLYFISHING.COM

1/18/17 2:08 PM

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Coastal Georgia Fishing Forecast February and fishing are probably not used in unison very often when talking about fishing, but for anglers in the know, and with somewhat of a tolerance for cool temps, the fishing can be very good. You’ll have to pick your windows, but the average high temps for February is a balmy 66 degrees. Although, there are quite a few days this month where we will have negative low tides, the high tides are not extreme which should translate to clean water. Looking back, January brought us a mix of warm, cold, wet and windy weather, but I still received some great reports. Sheepshead fishing has been very good from Savannah to St. Mary’s, with many fish in excess of 5 lbs. Midday low tides have yielded banner days on redfish, for anglers willing to a little searching.

Shallow water and oysters are two constants when pursuing red fish.

With the unseasonably warm January weather this past month, anglers were able to target speckled trout in the main rivers and sounds, using a a fall pattern. If water temperatures stay in the mid-fifties or higher, this pattern should continue.

Going forward, anglers will have to a little work in February, but it will be worth it. While I don’t put up the shallow popping corks this month, I save them for the warmer days. Often, this time of year, when fishing live bait, I will concentrate my efforts in slightly deeper water using slip floats.

This time of year often brings a slightly western movement of trout in our area.

In the southern region of our area this can mean working your way a little further up the St. Mary’s and Crooked River. Trout will be found closer to the I-95 corridor in search of warmer and deeper haunts. In the central regions

By Capt Tim Cutting

of the Satilla, Little Satilla and White Oak rivers, the same applies. In and around Brunswick and Turtle Rivers, this can mean fishing west of the I-95 corridor. Further north, Troupe Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway around the mouth of the Hampton River can be very productive. There are a few key elements this time of year that can up your odds. Float your offerings around rocks, docks, and bridge pilings. Often these man-made structures will not only hold bait fish, they create eddies where fish, during these months of low metabolism, can rest easier. Keep your shrimp floating as close to the bottom as possible and maintain a slow and steady float, with larger corks and heavier sinkers.

These structures frequently hold heat as the day warms, and attract prey and predators. A much underutilized method of locating speckled trout in the winter is trolling. Maintain a very slow boat speed and hang your lines approximately 75-100 ft. behind the boat. Use a jig head and plastic combo with the jig head weight varying around ¼ to ½ ounce. Both curly and paddle tails will produce. For those who don’t mind getting on the trolling motor and entering the land of a thousand cast, pick your favorite plastic or D.O.A ¼ ounce shrimp and work the lure along the bottom slowly, with small twitches. Be ready, as the bight will be very light, and set the hook immediately.

Red fish seem to be least effected by cold snaps, and many anglers have had their best days catching red fish during the colder months. One of the keys to catching red fish (and tout as well) is a stealthy approach. Avoid any unnecessary noise or boat turbulence if possible. Try to avoid running your

vessel over any areas you wish to target fish if possible. Anchor or position your boat as far away from the target area as possible.

In recent years there has been a sheepshead resurgence of sorts.

Anglers not just in Georgia but throughout the south are becoming aware of how abundant these tasty fish are. While quite adept at avoiding the hook at times, once dialed in, anglers can enjoy very successful days targeting these crafty creatures.

One of the keys, of course, is locating their lairs. Concrete or rock, is a good place to start while wood and timber are a close second. Looking for good clean (saltier the better), slow moving water will be an important element.

Choice baits include fiddler crabs, clams, oysters and small pieces of fresh shrimp. Sheepshead are best targeted from directly above with a vertical presentation. Presenting your bait directly alongside of dock or bridge pilings is the key. Jetties and rock piles also are also tried and true sheepshead producers. A Carolina Rig (fish finder), is the most common rigging, but anglers are also having good success with float rigs and jig heads. Often, many structures need to be probed before finding these fish, so I encourage mapping out several potential spots and work each one thoroughly.

-Capt. Tim Cutting Coastal Georgia Inshore Charters St Simons Island, Georgia 912-230-1814 www.fishthegeorgiacoast.com

2 SOUTHEAST & COASTAL GEORGIA | FEBRUARY 2017 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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offshore • inshore

redfish • shark • flounder

light tackle • fly

Capt. Tim Cutting 912.230.1814

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Dead Bai t Char ters inshore - offshore fishing guides

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Tide Chart

Correction Table Harriets Bluff Dover Bluff Turtle River Jekyll Harbor Marina Hampton River Marina St Simons Pier Golden Isles Marina Two Way Fish Camp St Marys Entrance

2hr 09min 1hr 10min 1hr 10min 25min 40min 25min 50min 2hr 15min

ST. Simons Bar Date Day 2017/02/01 Wed 2017/02/02 Thu 2017/02/03 Fri 2017/02/04 Sat 2017/02/05 Sun 2017/02/06 Mon 2017/02/07 Tue 2017/02/08 Wed 2017/02/09 Thu 2017/02/10 Fri 2017/02/11 Sat 2017/02/12 Sun 2017/02/13 Mon 2017/02/14 Tue 2017/02/15 Wed 2017/02/16 Thu 2017/02/17 Fri 2017/02/18 Sat 2017/02/19 Sun 2017/02/20 Mon 2017/02/21 Tue 2017/02/22 Wed 2017/02/23 Thu 2017/02/24 Fri 2017/02/25 Sat 2017/02/26 Sun 2017/02/27 Mon 2017/02/28 Tue -

Time 05:03 AM 05:57 AM 12:29 AM 01:29 AM 02:34 AM 03:43 AM 04:51 AM 05:53 AM 12:45 AM 01:39 AM 02:28 AM 03:14 AM 03:57 AM 04:38 AM 05:19 AM 06:02 AM 12:32 AM 01:17 AM 02:07 AM 03:02 AM 04:00 AM 04:56 AM 05:46 AM 12:17 AM 01:06 AM 01:52 AM 02:36 AM 03:20 AM --

Hgt Time Hgt Time Hgt Time -0.62 L 11:08 AM 6.57 H 05:36 PM -0.73 L 11:34 PM -0.37 L 12:01 PM 6.34 H 06:28 PM -0.61 L 6.55 H 06:59 AM -0.11 L 12:58 PM 6.1 H 07:28 PM 6.56 H 08:10 AM 0.04 L 02:00 PM 5.89 H 08:34 PM 6.59 H 09:23 AM 0.02 L 03:08 PM 5.78 H 09:41 PM 6.7 H 10:32 AM -0.15 L 04:18 PM 5.85 H 10:46 PM 6.91 H 11:36 AM -0.41 L 05:24 PM 6.07 H 11:47 PM 7.18 H 12:34 PM -0.71 L 06:23 PM 6.37 H -1.24 L 06:49 AM 7.41 H 01:28 PM -0.97 L 07:16 PM -1.4 L 07:39 AM 7.52 H 02:16 PM -1.13 L 08:05 PM -1.43 L 08:26 AM 7.49 H 03:00 PM -1.14 L 08:52 PM -1.3 L 09:11 AM 7.31 H 03:41 PM -1.01 L 09:37 PM -1.02 L 09:55 AM 7.01 H 04:19 PM -0.76 L 10:21 PM -0.63 L 10:38 AM 6.65 H 04:55 PM -0.44 L 11:04 PM -0.2 L 11:21 AM 6.28 H 05:31 PM -0.1 L 11:48 PM 0.23 L 12:05 PM 5.92 H 06:09 PM 0.21 L 5.94 H 06:50 AM 0.59 L 12:49 PM 5.6 H 06:52 PM 5.77 H 07:43 AM 0.85 L 01:37 PM 5.36 H 07:43 PM 5.66 H 08:41 AM 0.96 L 02:29 PM 5.21 H 08:38 PM 5.64 H 09:38 AM 0.93 L 03:25 PM 5.19 H 09:36 PM 5.74 H 10:33 AM 0.78 L 04:22 PM 5.32 H 10:32 PM 5.97 H 11:25 AM 0.53 L 05:16 PM 5.57 H 11:26 PM 6.28 H 12:14 PM 0.2 L 06:03 PM 5.9 H -0.13 L 06:31 AM 6.62 H 01:00 PM -0.15 L 06:47 PM -0.46 L 07:13 AM 6.93 H 01:43 PM -0.49 L 07:28 PM -0.75 L 07:53 AM 7.15 H 02:25 PM -0.78 L 08:09 PM -0.95 L 08:34 AM 7.26 H 03:05 PM -0.97 L 08:51 PM -1.02 L 09:17 AM 7.24 H 03:47 PM -1.03 L 09:36 PM -

Hgt 6.53 H -0.5 L -0.48 L -0.57 L -0.76 L -1.0 L 6.62 H 6.78 H 6.81 H 6.73 H 6.56 H 6.36 H 6.14 H 0.46 L 0.63 L 0.69 L 0.63 L 0.45 L 0.19 L 6.27 H 6.62 H 6.93 H 7.16 H 7.3 H -

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Craig James’ Top 3 picks for February success February is without a doubt one of the toughest months to fish in South Georgia. Variable winds and temperatures that can swing from the teens to the eighties in just a matter of days make for some flat out tough conditions. I guess that would explain why so many anglers just sit it out until the warmer days of April are upon us.

That’s a real shame because there are a few red hot bites this month involving several different species of fish. For this column I will give you my top three picks for this month.

on a Carolina rig. I prefer to simplify the process by using a Catfish Catcher Jig head. This makes for easy rigging and the circle hook does all the work for you.

Made by Capt. Bert Deener, these Jig heads can be purchased at Winges Bait and tackle in Waycross.

The key to catching a mess in Woodbine is to keep moving. If you’re in the right place you should be catching 7 to ten fish every half hour. If you’re not, then move! Target creek mouths on the outgoing tide and deep holes in the river on the incoming tide for success.

Paradise PFA (near Tifton) is without a doubt my favorite place to fish this month. The bass are active My final pick for this month would have to be and haven’t seen many lures in the past three or four the Okefenokee Swamp. Cooler temperatures this months. To top it off whatever lake you choose to month mean you can spend more time fighting fish, you will more then likely have it all to yourself. fish then bugs! If you’re taking a child fishing then At Paradise my favorite two winter time lakes are target fliers anywhere there are weeds. You can fish Patrick and Bobbin. In the mornings fish In lake a pink swamp sally under a cork to catch millions!

Patrick around islands and target structure near Well maybe just hundreds, either way it will be hard drop offs. My favorite setup for this is a 7ft spinning to keep count. You can also try a swamp spider with rod spooled with 8lb trilene xl. Work a shaky head a small weight fished slowly around cypress trees. with a green pumpkin green trick worm slowly This is a new product I have designed recently.

Slightly larger than a Sally, the warmouth love it! around these areas.

You want catch near as many fish but expect some In the afternoon I like to fish in lake Bobbin, big bruisers to slam the swamp spider.Both of these particularly any time the high reaches 75 or more. lures can be purchased at Winges Bait and tackle in Use your depth finder to locate flats less than 6ft Waycross. deep and fish a KVD square bill across them to Regardless of what you decide to fish for, be locate active fish. If this doesn’t produce, a small white spinnerbait or a strike king red eye shad are sure to get out and fish. If you stay home you want catch any...and you may find yourself working on both great choices. the honey-do list! Hitch up the boat, head out, and Pick number two for February fishing would have a great month. have to be the white catfish found in Woodbine.

These brackish water catfish make for some excellent eating. On Februarys milder days it is a Craig James perfect place to take a younger angler.

912-282-3838 Most catfish here will run around a pound so tackle selection is important. I like a medium spinning outfit with 12 pound trilene xt. shrimp is the best bait and many anglers like to fish them

craigajames052886@gmail.com

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1/17/2017 1:44:23 PM

Speckled Trout - Winning Winter Strategies As water temperatures plummet during the winter months, one of our year round residents, the speckled trout, change their habits as well.

While trout continue to feed during the winter months, their eating habits and locations change. It becomes increasingly important to recognize these “windows” of opportunities, and the presentations that will optimize your catch. As the temperatures drop, trout will adjust their feeding patterns to the warmest water, during the warmest parts of the day. Often this means deeper water and midday feeding times. Targeting these areas and times is paramount.

Once trout are located, there are a few presentations that are tried and true. When using live baits, anglers can reduce leader size. Six to twelve pound fluorocarbon leaders will provide all the line strength you will need. The lighter line allows for a more natural, livelier bait. As the water cools, the water becomes much clearer, and the lighter line is less visible. Presentations with floats, small weighted Carolina Rigs, split shot, or even freelined offerings will all have a distinct advantage with lighter and less visible leader material.

Although I generally use small hooks year round, during periods of low water temperature, this will also increase your odds. Small hooks are less

visible, and the reduced line and hook size will allow your bait more freedom of movement. I like kahle hooks in the #4 and #2 sizes, and mosquito hooks in the #1 or 1/0 sizes. Another advantage lighter hooks provide is less stress or damage to your bait. Lethargic winter trout will be more prone to attacking a nice lively bait opposed to something that looks like the rest of the debris rolling with the tide. One addition I add is a loop knot tied to the hook. This is just one more step to let your bait swim freely.

One of the keys for me is to target winter trout as the water slows around the changing of the tides.

As the trout’s metabolism slows, they are often less likely to work as hard for a meal, and slow current seems to increase feeding. In the trout’s winter domain, the world is clearer, time slows down, and it takes a little extra to trigger the bite. Lighten up this winter, and you will see your catches increase!

-Capt. Tim Cutting Coastal Georgia Inshore Charters St Simons Island, Georgia 912-230-1814 www.fishthegeorgiacoast.com

Brent and Camp Tatum

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pr int’s N o t De Ad SE & Coastal Georgia

BUILDING BRAND LOYALTY IS WHO WE ARE.

Becoming part of the Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine Team provides your company with access to our loyal readership.

Average Days of Fishing Yearly 60 Days or More.....33.6%

Age of Reader ..............82% at 35+ years old

86%

72%

Gender of Reader...................82% are Male ................................................ 18% are Female

68%

36%

Average Reader Income................$66,012

Owns truck, van, or SUV

Owns a boat

Owns 2 or more automobiles

Owns 2 or more boats

Plans On Buying a Boat In The Next 18 Months ......

95.1%

Readers’ boats use an outboard

29% 81.3%

trailer their boat to different fishing locales

College/Post-graduate Degree..........35%

Average Household Income...........$82,301 Home Ownership of Readers......... 79.5%

41.6%

Readers own 11 or more fishing rods

34.7% Readers own 11 or more fishing reels

Reader Survey: Global Marketing Research International ™

Allow us an opportunity to serve your company Travis Harper Tony Martin travis@theanglermagazine.com tony@theanglermagazine.com (912) 266-1430 (912) 269-9679 Distribution partners needed in Camden, Lowndes, and Laurens County COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2017 | SOUTHEAST & COASTAL GEORGIA 7

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1/17/2017 1:44:24 PM

Southeast GA Lakes and Ponds This is my favorite month to catch a trophy fliers around a pound. The Okefenokee is the best destination to target fliers. The east entrance at Folkston is the entrance to fish for the biggest fish in the swamp.

At the time of writing this, the water level is high enough that getting around is no problem. However, high water spreads the fish out, and they are more difficult to find. After a couple warm days, the water coming off the prairies is warmer than the deeper canals, and that warmer water often draws the canal fish to the areas connecting the flats and the canal.

Start your search by moving from one connection to the next until you find the fliers. Once you find them, fish hard in that area, as fliers are schooling fish. My most effective presentation, by far, is pitching an Okefenokee Swamp Sally with a bream buster pole.

This month I usually use a small balsa float about 18 inches above the small fly. Set the hook at the slightest twitch, as fliers will often swim up and inhale the fly but not move. If you do not set the hook quickly, they will blow it back out. If the smaller fliers are not your desire, bowfin (mudfish) and chain pickerel (jackfish) can also be caught this month. An in-line spinner or diving minnow plug are hard to beat. Fish your offering fast, and you will trigger jackfish to slam it, but if you slow it down, a mudfish will catch up to it. Many people are disappointed to see a mudfish surface, but I love to target the feisty fish with DuraSpin Spinners. They grow big and fight hard. The most difficult part is getting the hook out of them. A pair of

gloves, a lip-gripping took, and a good hook remover all help to subdue the hard-to-handle fish. Bullhead catfish are numerous, especially at the west entrance.

Put shrimp or worms on a Catfish Catcher jighead and let it tightline out behind the boat to catch them.

Dodge County Public Fishing Area (PFA) near Eastman has been a great February bass destination for decades. The lake produces double-digit fish pretty much every year. Cast small worms around the edge for smaller bass, and patiently work bigger worms and jigs around offshore structure for the trophies. For information on all of Georgia’s Public Fishing Areas and for licensing requirements, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com.

Crappie fishing should be great this month. I like to long-line troll with 2-inch Assassin Curly Shads on the colder days and cast them to shoreline cover during warm spells. Late in the month you may be able to find some fish moving shallow to spawn during extended warm spells, but most of the shallow bite will be next month.

Capt. Bert Deener Capt. Bert’s Lures 912-287-1604 bertdeener@yahoo.com

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Coastal Cookin’ with Mrs. Susan This is a traditional Maryland recipe for Cream of Crab Soup- just creamy broth and crabmeatdelicious!

Cream of Crab Soup Ingredients: 6 tablespoons butter 6 tablespoons flour ½ tablespoon chicken base (like Better Than Bouillon) Dash white pepper 1 quart whole milk 2 tablespoons cooking sherry (optional) Old Bay seasoning

Directions: Melt butter.

Add flour, chicken base and pepper. Combine and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly so it does not burn.

Add milk. Simmer until thickened- stirring constantly. (Have a good book nearby to read while you stir- this does take a while, but it’s worth it!) Add crabmeat and cooking sherry.

Remove from heat and serve with a sprinkle of Old Bay. Enjoy!

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South Georgia Rivers February river fishing will all hinge upon river levels.

At the time of writing this, all southeast Georgia rivers, except the St. Marys are in or at the edge of the flooplain.

If the water levels stay up, we will likely have a good spring fishing season on the rivers, but it will likely not be like the record catches that were made a couple of years ago.

So far this winter, the crappie fishing on the Altamaha River has been very good for those fishing minnows in the oxbows under floats. With the high water right now, the fish will be scattered, but are still around. If the water is flowing through the woods usually 11-12 feet or higher at the Doctortown gage, then fish somewhere else. If you can catch 5 or 6 warm days in February and the water levels aren’t too high, then you should be able to catch some nice crappie in the backs of the lakes. Big spawners will head that direction in preparation for the spring ritual. You can catch them with either minnows or jigs, and keep moving around until you find a concentration. My favorite lures are 2-inch Assassin Curly Shads for swimming and 2-inch Tiny Shads for fishing under a float. My most productive colors are chartreuse shades and shad hues. I haven’t tried my new Specktacular Jigs on the river yet, but they have caught crappie everywhere else anglers have tried them.

The big channel catfish bite should be going full-swing in the Darien area of the river. Cut baitfish (shad is a perennial favorite) fished in the deep holes will produce the trophies.

If you want to set the hook more often, fish a smaller offering of shrimp, worms, or small pieces of cut bait in the tidal river for white catfish. They are very numerous and are typically very cooperative during winter, especially during warm spells.

produce good crappie catches (most fish are 8 to 12 inches and you can expect to catch about a dozen per trip) for those pitching artificials to shoreline cover or trolling minnows in the deep holes in oxbow lakes. The white catfish bite in the lower river (White Oak Creek is a great location) is truly impressive. Worms or shrimp fished on the bottom should produce lots of bites. Carolina rigs or Catfish Catcher hooks will both produce.

The lower St. Marys River has some striped bass available this time of year. Look for boiling water around pilings, points, or rice ditch mouths and fish shad-looking baits (both soft plastics or hard minnow imitations). The high outgoing tide is often the most productive for this presentation. Remember that there is a 22-inch minimum size limit on striped bass in the St. Marys River (as well as the Satilla and Altamaha).

The first shad will start appearing in the lower Ogeechee and Savannah rivers this month. You can catch them with curly-tailed jigs or spoons either trolled or cast. Georgia’s most productive hook-and-line fishery is just below the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. You will need a boat to effectively fish the area, as the wing-wall is closed to bank angling due to safety concerns. This month, most of the fish will be either hickory shad or blueback herring. A few American shad will be mixed in, but they are typically a little behind the others.

To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt.

Capt. Bert Deener Capt. Bert’s Lures 912-287-1604 bertdeener@yahoo.com

The upper Satilla River will likely be too high and cold to effectively fish this month, but the lower river is teeming with crappie and white catfish. The Burnt Fort area will

CAPT. BERT’S Specktacular Jig

Ned Albright landed this slab on the Ogeechee last month along with several other nice fish. Both jigs and minnows worked for he and his fishing partner, Prince Preston.

Catches Slab Crappie

Sickle Hook Holds Slabs Durable

Available at Southeast GA Bait and Tackle Stores For a Complete Catalog of Hand-Crafted Lures Call (912) 287-1604 email BertDeener@yahoo.com

10 SOUTHEAST & COASTAL GEORGIA | FEBRUARY 2017 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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southeast georgia angling

Hailei Williams (pictured) caught this pile of convictfish in the Brunswick area in early January on fiddler crabs.

Scout Carter caught this quality bass on a tan shad colored Specktacular Jig while crappie fishing.

send photos to: tony@theanglermagazine.com

Joshua Barber caught this 4-pound bass from the Altamaha River over the holidays. It inhaled a jig.

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A DREAM WEDDING

By CAM Staff

From left, Capt. Kevin Rose and Capt. Judy Helmey officiated and witnessed the wedding of Erin Bodnar and Casey Maday, of Des Moines, Iowa, aboard the Miss Judy Too before catching a pile of fish for the reception.

L

ove and the smell of sheepshead were in the air on Jan. 6 aboard the Miss Judy Too out of Savannah, Ga. It was a dream wedding for bride Erin Bodnar and groom Casey Maday, of Des Moines, Iowa.

The couple got hitched while bobbing over an artificial reef off the coast of Georgia with captains from Miss Judy Charters officiating and witnessing the event.

“It was a grand day for a wedding and fishing,” wrote Capt. Judy Helmey in a special edition of her weekly fishing report. She added that it was a, “one fiddler one fish kind of a catching deal.”

And it’s a good thing the bite was so hot. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and the crew burned through 267 fiddler crabs to boat this mixed bag of sheepshead and black drum. They were on a mission, because fish is on the menu for the couple’s wedding reception back in Iowa.

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CASTING DISTANCE POWER AND REEL SETTINGS

By Tobin Strickland • Photo Courtesy of Lews Reels

O

ne of the first things any angler can improve to catch more fish without getting new gear is to increase his casting distance. The first adjustment to make is the “spool tension” knob on the right hand side of any baitcaster. With the lure just hanging from the end of the rod tip, first tighten the knob, then release your thumb and slowly unscrew the tension knob until the lure just begins to fall.

On the left side plate, you’ll see the centrifugal brake external setting.

If you are new to throwing a baitcasting reel, start with a setting of about 4-6. If you have an internal centrifugal brake, set at least two brakes “out / engaged.”

If you want to cast far, you have to make a powerful, rod-loading, casting stroke. It’s compact and uses 2 hands. It’s not a big one-armed cast. Tighten the spool tension knob about a quarter turn and practice casting hard. Once you’re throwing your hardest without backlash, slowly begin loosening the settings and feathering the spool edge a little.

Slowly adjust the centrifugal brake setting looser, one click, or one brake, to maximize cast distance. Then slightly re-adjust the spool tension knob. In the end, I find that I can still adjust slightly lighter and manually feather the spool edge with the thumb. This is where you’ll get your longest cast distances.

Cast hard my friends.

Tobin Strickland (aka TroutSupport) is a field staff angler for Lews Reels.

ATLANTA FLY FISHING SHOW IS FEB. 3-4

W

all-to-wall displays of the newest fly rods, reels, boots, waders, clothing, flies and fishing watercraft, will greet visitors to the inaugural Atlanta Fly Fishing Show Feb. 3-4 at the Infinite Energy Center, 2029 Satellite Rd., Duluth. Parking is free.

In addition to the sold-out aisles filled with merchandise, lodges and exotic destinations, show visitors can view continuous fly-tying demonstrations, how-to-do-it seminars and hourly audio/visual presentations ranging from brown trout in Patagonia to Alaska’s Kenai River.

Casting demonstrations are scheduled by Lefty Kreh, Gary Borger, Bob Clouser, George Daniel, Simon Gawesworth and Joe Humphreys.

Tying Classes will be offered for an additional fee from experts like Blane Chocklett, Kevin Arculeo, Jason Randall and Henry Cowen. For space availability and enrollment in tying classes call (814) 443-3639.

Fly Fishing Show admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days.

Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under 16 in uniform. Active military with an ID are $10. Film Festival admission is $15 or $10 with paid admission to the show.

For a list of fly-fishing films, classes, seminars and demonstrations, visit flyfishingshow.com/atlanta/ or phone (814) 443-3638.

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BY JAKE DARLING, UNICOI OUTFITTERS

Black Caddis Dry Hook: #14-18 dry fly hook Thread: UTC 70, black Body: Black Superfine dubbing Rib: X-Sm wire, black Hackle: Black (neck cape hackle) Wing: Elk hair, natural During this month, many tailwater streams will begin to have black caddis buzzing around on warmer days. These hatches often happen during the afternoons, and have great potential to force many fish to the surface to feed aggressively.

The black caddis hatch is a very fun hatch to fish due to the larger size of bugs that usually come off. Most days a #14 or 16 will do the trick on many tailwaters, making it much easier to spot your fly on the water. Make sure to have plenty of black caddis in your box this month, because you are definitely going to be seeing them.

Contact Jake Darling at jake@unicoioutfitters.com.

KICKING FISH TAIL WITH CAPT. JUDY

I

By Capt. Judy Helmey

Bill Hunter, his son Dallas and Dallas’ grandfather Al Hunter raced the rain back to dock after a good trip with Capt. Matt Williams.

t had been dry in coastal Georgia until then that line of storms we had been watching last month, when the rains came. This was now upon us. We all rushed up from the winter’s unseasonably warm, yet wet, dock and the Hunter fishing team got in the weather didn’t do anything to hurt the car with a bag of fish fillets. Off they went to fishing. find another adventure!

Capt. Matt Williams of Miss Judy Inshore, we are still catching the Savannah Charters took Bill Hunter, his son Dallas, slam, which is redfish, spotted sea trout, and and his father Al out and they had a great flounder. We are also catching sheepshead, time. It wasn’t the perfect weather day, black drum and a few whiting. The best bait either. Early in the morning, we were all for all these fish is live shrimp, but if you can trying to decide whether or not Capt. Matt get them, mud minnows will work. For those should leave the dock. The winds were fish that prefer to eat something wrapped in a howling and there was a strong line of shell, purple-back fiddlers are going to be your showers moving in from the northwest. best bait.

As soon as I talked to Bill, he decided to The artificial reefs are offering short boat go. It does seem that every time Bill leaves rides to big fish. They continue to amaze me the dock the winds are howling. It is his for sure! There is plenty of catching to be signature weather event. had if you just keep looking. We are catching Here’s how it went: After departing sheepshead, black drum, flounder, black sea with Capt. Matt, they searched for the bass, ocean perch, triggerfish and trophy perfect spot, which was somewhere out redfish as well as other bottom biters. The best of the wind. Capt. Matt found it and they bait to use on the bottom is squid. I have never caught quite a few fish, with young Dallas met a fish that didn’t like this stuff. I guess you catching the biggest redfish. I was watching could call it the universal bait of all times. the weather from the house and Matt was keeping an eye to the sky. After taking a Miss Judy Charters has been operating quick look at the radar on their phones, it out of Savannah since 1956. See their website was time to make a run to the dock, where at www.missjudycharters.com and be sure to I met them and took a few photos while check out the Inshore School dates.

Capt. Matt hurriedly cleaned the fish.

To learn more about Miss Judy and the History of Georgia Fisheries, go to As he was finishing up, we all felt drops of rain and

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WILD TROUT ON THE EAST FORK PIGEON RIVER, N.C. (An excerpt from Flyfisher’s Guide To North Carolina & Georgia)

By Nick Carter

A

t its top end, high in the Shining Rock Wilderness halfway between Brevard and Waynesville, N.C., the headwaters of the East Fork of the Pigeon River are about as pretty a place as I’ve ever been. I don’t know if she takes me seriously, but I told my wife I want my ashes scattered up a particularly beautiful and hard-toget-to tributary of the East Fork. I see it as a parting gift to my brothers, who will likely be tasked with the mission. Hopefully they’ll take their 3-weights and put the urn in the rear pouch of a fly vest.

Tumbling from more than 5,500 feet of elevation from Black Balsam knob, Yellowstone Prong, the creek’s largest high tributary, and the East Fork itself offer close to 8 miles of wilderness trout fishing in some of the most picturesque gin-clear plunge pools and brawling pocket water anywhere.

Along with East Fork tributaries, there are untold miles of water worth exploring for native brook trout on the river’s upper end, which is accessed by relatively short hikes from several locations off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A word of warning, though: these flows are steep… you-might-need-a-rope steep, and it’s a long way to help if one were to get into trouble up these prongs. Even those in relatively good physical shape will find fishing these waters to be grueling.

On the lower end of its publicly accessible waters, the East Fork is flatter and much larger than it is in the brook trout waters above. The terrain is not nearly as treacherous, and with the influx of multiple

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tributaries, it has become a small river by the time it crosses off the eastern edge of the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. A trail gives the only viable access to several miles of river before it begins to parallel the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This stream appears to receive surprisingly light fishing pressure. There are a lot of backpackers and waterfall watchers who use the area extensively, but I guess most anglers don’t typically go this far into the woods to catch small trout.

Although the majority of the rainbows and browns you’ll catch on dries and droppers in the pocket water will range from 6 to 10 inches, there are some bruisers hanging out in the deeper holes. These deep holes are plentiful, but the bigger fish are notoriously hard to fool.

Take a few minutes to stop and watch one of the large plunge pools on the river just upstream of the trailhead. In clear water, you’ll see the smaller fish first, feeding high in the water column. Look a little longer and deeper, and fish 14 to 16 inches or longer will make themselves visible hanging near the bottom.

Flyfisher’s Guide To North Carolina & Georgia is 218 pages of extensively researched information on the area’s best trout fishing. It includes more than 40 full-color maps, photos, driving directions, GPS coordinates and tips and tactics. It is available on wildadvpress.com, Amazon and at fly shops, and signed copies are available by contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

SWEET STICKS:

RODS FOR KAYAK FISHING

By Paul Lebowitz

I

n nearly 20 years of kayak fishing, I’ve seen the boats radically change. These days they are purpose-built for angling, and much more stable and forgiving. On the other hand, the thinking on what makes a good kayak rod has scarcely evolved.

There’s been little need.

For most applications, off-the-shelf gear made for the general fishing market works fine. A standard bass or flats quiver will suit you well whether you’re fishing from a ’yak, a powerboat or the shore, although the adjustable butt of Manley Rods’ offerings is a nice feature. It’s only when you get to big game that the need for specialized kayak sticks is magnified.

Let’s cover the big exception: the rod tip. When landing a fish from a kayak, you’d do well to have some glass for shock absorption.

High-sticking is almost inevitable.

Most big game kayak anglers fight their fish while sitting. An intermediate length butt is an advantage, something on the order of 12 to 13 inches, about 2 to 4 inches shorter than normal. That’s just right for tucking into your belly while seated.

A strong backbone is a plus for easier fish management, particularly when the battle is in its closing stages. Rod length is a matter of preference. It’s nice to have enough reach to get the tip around the bow, but it isn’t strictly necessary. If you’re hooked up and you point your rod tip at the bow, the fish will pull the kayak around to face it.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

1/17/17 1:31 PM

UNDER THE SEA

r spread SPEARGUN SELECTION

S

SHERI DAYE

peargun selection is one of the most hotly debated topics on spearfishing forums. Fortunately, there are many great brands nowadays – such as Wong, AB Biller, Riffe, Hammerhead, Cressi, SEAC, Mares, Rob Allen, Koah, Mako, JBL and more.

Over the last century, spearfishing equipment has evolved from very simple muscle-powered slings and polespears, made with wood and rubber bands, to the modern-day spearguns equipped with a trigger mechanism and more exotic materials. Interestingly, slings and polespear are making a comeback—but that’s a topic for another month—so let’s concentrate on how to select a modern-day speargun.

If you walk into your local dive shop, you will notice there are two main categories of band-powered spearguns: the American style, usually recognized by the wood stock, and the Eurogun, which has a tubular shaped barrel and a rear handle. The Eurogun originated in Europe where most spearfishing is freedive-only, fairly deep, and for small, easily spooked fish.

Hence these spearguns have a low-profile, streamlined design and thinner shafts. If you are diving in similar conditions, the Eurogun style might be for you. On the other hand, if you want a sturdy, durable and easy-to-load gun that will handle bigger fish, you might lean toward the American/wood-style gun. This is also the style used for big powerful tuna guns, because they can be ballasted and accommodate up to six bands. There’s also a hybrid design, which incorporates the best elements of both with wood stock in the back and a carbon fiber tube in the front.

Once you’ve chosen between styles, the next question is length. Most Eurogun sizes are 90 to 160 centimeters, and most American guns are between 36 and 65 inches. So, with the conversion from centimeters to inches, they have pretty much the same length range. If you are diving in low visibility or hunting in rocks like they have in California or Rhode Island, you would choose a shorter gun. If you are hunting spooky fish in clear waters like mutton snappers in Florida, you would opt for a longer gun.

If you are just getting started and expect to dive in variable visibility, 130 centimeters or 50 inches would be a good medium length for an all-around reef gun.

Sheri Daye hunts with a Wong Hybrid Speargun.

Photo by Joe Marino.

Here are some additional tips: 1) Join a local spearfishing club and learn from the more experienced people. Observe what equipment they use and ask for advice.

22) Shop at a dive store that caters to spearfishing. They carry more choices and have experienced personnel to help you choose. These include Austin’s in Miami; Florida Freedivers in Palm Beach; James & Josephs in San Diego, Calif.; Freedive Shop in Sacramento, Calif. and more.

3) Check out the custom-gun builders. There are some high-quality builders who will work with you directly, give you advice, and design it to your specs—such as Wong Spearguns from Hawaii or Sea Sniper from California.

Most importantly, you should pick a style that suits you and the conditions you dive in. Chances are you will get hooked and add more spearguns to your arsenal in the future!

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TIPS FROM A PRO

FRESHWATER THE REBIRTH OF 8- TO 10FOOT BASS RODS BRANDON LESTER

E

ver since I can remember, there has been a rule in B.A.S.S. tournaments barring the use of rods longer than 8 feet. To my knowledge, it is because Dee Thomas and other Californians were using 10-foot and longer rods for “flipping” when the technique was first invented. Evidently the powersthat-be back then didn’t like this new way of fishing, so they banned the use of long rods. At the conclusion of 2016, B.A.S.S. decided to change this rule and allow us to use any rod up to 10 feet in length.

Bass fishing has evolved

they fight. The extra rod length will help keep the line tight during the fight, giving the fish less opportunity to escape. For the small wooden crankbaits, the longer rod gives control over how deep the bait dives. Hold the rod tip up, and the bait dives shallower. Stick a couple feet of the blank in the water, and it runs deeper. Add longer casting distance and you will be hitting depths never before achieved with some baits.

A longer rod will also be beneficial for flipping and pitching. We all know what

tremendously in the past several years, and there is no doubt this rule change will be another big breakthrough. Will long rods become the norm in everyone’s boat? I don’t think so, but I believe these rods will have a time and place in bass fishing.

I have been busy building and testing a few of these longer rods with the guys at Mud Hole Custom Tackle. We’ve made encouraging findings.

The first long rod I built is a 8’6” medium power spinning rod. I wanted a rod to cast small, wooden crankbaits on light line for more distance. I also wanted this rod to act as a drop shot rod for open-water smallmouth fishing. Although I don’t see myself using this rod all the time for drop shotting, imagine a scenario where you are casting a drop shot in current and need that extra length to control the way the line drifts. Also, anyone who has ever fought a river smallmouth knows how hard

happens when we set the hook on a 12-inch bass with a 7’6” rod, well imagine what will happen when you set the hook on one with a 9-foot flipping stick.

We’ll be jerking 3-pounders out of the thickest cover! When that 10-pounder bites, she might not be the one that got away anymore. There might be cases where a long flipping rod is more efficient, as well. The technique of flipping, as it was done originally, by stripping line through the guides and never using the reel, will probably come back to light because we can now use a rod long enough put a bait where it needs to go. I will be building a long flipping stick before the elite series heads to Lake Okeechobee. What better place to try it out than the land of the giants?

Keep tabs on 8-foot-plus rod building by visiting www.

MudHole.com, and hit me up on Facebook with any questions.

Get more tips from Lester at

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I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly

at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth.

There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point.

Second, the fruit just taste

better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature.

Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together.

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ackle geeks have climbed high rungs of reel optimization for decades.

Their basic game remains the same today: super-tune fishing reels by adding premium components and applying best cleaning and maintenance practices. But better materials and technology have elevated expectations of what fishing reels can be made to do.

Russ Lane, who has earned six appearances in the Bassmaster Classic, took his habitual tackle tinkering to high-tech heights several seasons back. Lane today replaces standard reel parts with premium components that extend reel life and enable spools to spin at dazzling RPMs. What’s the fisherman’s takeaway after these reel transformations? The clearest advantages are longer casting distances, better control, heightened casting accuracy, and improved feel and sensitivity. Some premium reel components—strikingly colorful multi-textured reel knobs and anodized star drags and cast control caps, for example—can practically turn reels into showpieces, too.

“Fishermen can’t believe what custom components can add to a reel’s capability,” said Noah Arroyo, owner of Off the Hook Reels. “And some fishermen are just as attracted to the unique colors and finishes you can bring to a reel and the rich look of premium parts.”

Consider replacing standard reel parts with these upgrades: • Ceramic bearings – Ceramic bearings or ceramic hybrid bearings (the latter feature ceramic balls in a stainless steel or plastic cage) can elevate reel performance dramatically. Ceramic bearings can range up to 60 percent lighter than stainless steel bearings. They generate less heat and lower vibration levels, too, reducing friction as the spool revolves. Spool RPMs may climb dramatically, extending casting distance and improving accuracy by reducing the effort required to execute a cast. They also possess five times the life expectancy of stainless steel bearings. The one downside is that they produce a very audible hum, a turn-off to some anglers. HawgTech promotes its ABEC-7 hybrid bearings in nylon cages as allowing “a more free spinning bearing that also runs quieter.”

• Carbon Fiber Reel Handles – Lightweight carbon fiber reel arms are

the most common reel upgrade. The difference in weight and sensitivity from conventional reel handles is discernible.

They also give a sleek, skeletal look to the reel.

• Winn Reel Knobs – Reel knobs made from Winn’s patented WinnDry polymer deliver the same all-weather “tacky” feel and security that Winn grips bring to fishing rods. “The Winn knobs available from HawgTech are so good, your grip never slips even when hands are wet or coated with fish slime,” said Arroyo. Two of Lew’s Best of Show awards at ICAST 2016 featured fishing reels with Winn reel knobs.

HawgTech offers these knobs in several bold colors.

• Anodized Aluminum Star Drags, Cast Control Caps – Colorful anodized aluminum can give a reel an “auto show” glow. You can go with matching or complementary color options for star drag controls, cast control caps and related parts.

Maintenance steps: Of course, flashy parts alone won’t optimize reel performance. Make sure the internal workings of your reel are flawlessly cleaned and lubricated, too.

“You have to optimize everything when you super-tune. Polish and clean ends and shafts and pinion gears,” said Arroyo. “When you do and then add your ceramic bearings and premium parts, you really end up with a great piece of machinery.”

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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TAUTEN LINEWELDER Sick of having to learn and tie complex knots? The Tauten LineWelder creates a weld that is actually stronger than any knot.

The device creates a “sleeve” of thermoplastic polymer around both ends of a looped line, holding the loop in place without bending or weakening the line. Knots weaken the line, and most lines’ strengths are rated with a knot, so using a Tauten LineWelder in place of tying a knot lets you get a connection that’s stronger than the advertised strength of most lines!

The process is quick, easy, consistent and doesn’t require you to tie complicated knots. It’s perfect for new fishermen or veteran anglers who don’t want to bother with finicky knot tying. Just loop the line in the device, pull it taut and push the button to create a weld. This device can help fishermen who don’t want to tie complicated knots by removing the need entirely and allowing anglers to focus on the sport they love.

The LineWelder works best on 10- to 12-pound-test monofilament nylon and fluorocarbon lines and 10- to 50-pound-test braided lines. Using an experimental technique, it can even join braided lines with monofilament nylon or fluorocarbon leaders to eliminate the need for a swivel.

Accessories to weld a wider variety of lines are currently in development and will be available in the future.

Visit tauten.com for more information and to see videos of the LineWelder in action. The Tauten customer service staff is always eager to answer any questions, so don’t hesitate to contact them.

WWW.TAUTEN.COM

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UR-Cut

Fillet Knives

The only custom moldable handle fillet knife.

Ergonomically perfect.

Virtually non-slip.

Unmatched comfort.

Unmatched control.

Takes minutes to do.

UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXSTEEL, super-sharp edge, and just-right flexibility that you are used to with Dexter...

1.Dip handle in boiling water for 2 minutes.

2. Dip in cold water for 1 second.

3. Grip and form handle for 10 seconds.

4. Put back in cold water for 10 seconds and your done.

DEXTER UR-CUT FILLET KNIFE Dexter UR-Cut Fillet knives are the only fillet knives that allow you to custom mold the handle to your hand. UR-Cut provides the ultimate in comfort and control and is virtually non-slip in your hand.

It’s simple and takes only minutes to customize UR-Cut to fit your hand. First, grip the handle and determine your grip position, paying attention to your thumb position. Dip and completely submerge the handle in boiling water for 2 minutes. Make sure the pot is deep enough so the handle does not contact the bottom or the sides of the pot. Then dip in cold water for 1 second, grip, squeeze, and hold the handle for 10 seconds. Dip back in cold water for 10 seconds and let cool. You now have a custom fillet knife, molded to fit your hand.

Just like other Dexter knives, UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXTSTEEL blade, with super-sharp edges that are easy to re-sharpen and have just-right flexibility. UR-Cut fillet knives are made in the U.S.A. and are available in 6”, 7” and 8” lengths. Available at your local and online retailer. For more information and to view all Dexter fishing knives visit dexteroutdoors.com.

WWW.DEXTEROUTDOORS.COM

dexteroutdoors.com

NEVER WAX AGAIN! RESTORE AND PROTECT YOUR BOAT Poli Glow does what wax can’t!

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THE ONLY LURE WITH THE PATENTED

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• Jet Trail • Action Lip • Rattle Chamber • Works with all predatory fish 386•310•7165 • Designed and tested by fisherman PiranaFishingLures.com

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

1/17/17 12:53 PM

FISH & FISHING

A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN

A

small sign on the corner of my attorney’s desk warns his clients to “Assume Nothing.”

That caveat is just as valid on the water as it is in the practice of law. If an angler does not start catching fish within minutes of arriving at a spot, he begins to assume that his quarry must be elsewhere. The assumption, of course, is that he has chosen the right bait or lure and presented it in a natural and appealing manner to a fish that is ready to eat.

A fish’s behavioral patterns, honed over eons, follow very specific guidelines with few deviations. Anything that differs from the norm instinctively alerts a fish that something may be amiss and it thinks of its own safety first. Regardless of size, a predator does not expect to be charged or attacked by its prey no matter how small the prey is in relation to the predator. That’s why a 3-inch fly made of feathers can spook a 100-pound fish. And remember that fish do not feed constantly for a variety of reasons.

Most species use tidal currents, water flow, or the neck of a funnel to their advantage as they search for food. They either hold facing the current, swim against the flow, or work across it. Whenever you present a bait or lure, it should be upcurrent from where you expect the fish to be so that your offering appears to go with the flow. That tenet even applies when you are casting to a cruising fish. The more natural the presentation, the better the chance of a strike.

Your quarry automatically measures energy tradeoff. The idea is to exploit each situation so they will expend the least amount of energy for the value received. That translates into the fact that they frequently refuse to chase a bait or lure very far before turning away.

An ambush feeder merely wants to dart out, grab its prey and return to its lair.

Bottom denizens follow a similar practice. If your offering isn’t close to the sea floor, it’s difficult to get them to swim toward the surface to get it. Successful bottom bouncing starts upcurrent and allows the bait to drag along in the productive zone. Once it sweeps above the quarry, the potential for getting a strike diminishes rapidly.

Water temperature enters the energy tradeoff equation. In cold or even cool water, fish react sluggishly because the water temperature slows down their metabolism. It might even force them out of their usual lair in search of warmer water. In those situations, choose baits or lures that are easy for a fish to catch and slow down the retrieve or the trolling speed. And remember, in cooler water it takes fish longer to digest food so they feed less frequently.

Those who catch fish consistently study and comprehend the basics of feeding strategy. You can be sure that the behavioral patterns of each species are not about to change. That puts the onus on you to modify your tactics until you uncover the combination that works. Before you abandon a spot because you think it doesn’t hold fish, make sure you have explored the full gamut of options.

If you do make any assumptions, convince yourself that a fish is looking at your bait or lure right now. The results might surprise you.

For More Mark Sosin Visit

CAMFISHING.COM Fishing Lights Dock Lights Flounder Lights 785-621-2646

fishinglightsetc.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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WAHOO “COWBELLS’’ & ‘’SNAGGER’’ DOLPHIN LURES

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NEW INTERLUX MICRON WA BOAT PAINT Micron WA (Water-Activated) is the newest addition to the AkzoNobel’s Interlux industry leading Micron Technology product range. It is a showcase antifouling paint that offers long-lasting, multi-seasonal protection in a water-based formulation. Micron WA combines powerful antifouling performance while reducing impact on the environment, leaving a smooth, clean hull. This paint is ideal for cruise, power and sailboats and suitable for all waters.

Using a novel paint technology called Water Activated Matrix, Micron WA delivers a crisp, vibrant color and uniform appearance to provide a striking, attractive finish, while at the same time efficiently releasing the active ingredients to deliver powerful antifouling performance.

More information is available at: www.yachtpaint.com/usa/diy/ products/antifouling/micron-wa.aspx

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Cu

LIMIT 800-4 purch Offer prese

Cus

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NAT_0217.indd 33 hft_coastalangler_0217_M-REG100629 R1.indd 1

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Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

comp at

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SUPER COUPON Customer Rating Weighs 73 lbs.

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20"

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800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase be purchases after 30 dayss last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must day.

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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,

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