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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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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.

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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.

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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.

Look for the O2R combo and other fine Danco products in your tackle store.

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ON THE COVER

RHODAN INTRODUCES 72” SHAFT GPS GUIDED TROLLING MOTOR

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

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

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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.

For more Tim Moore, go to

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12/15/16 1:24 PM

15TH ANNUAL SAVANNAH BOAT SHOW IS MARCH 3-5

SOUTHEAST

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

T

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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HOURS Friday, March 3, 2017 Noon to 6:00pm Saturday, March 4, 2017 10:00am to 6:00pm Sunday, March 5, 2017 11:00am to 5:00pm TICKETS Adults: $8.00 Children 4 to 12: $5.00 Children 3 & Under: Free Seniors (65+) & Military: $5.00 Parking: $5.00 or take the River Street Ferry for Free

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A COASTAL EMPIRE TRADITION...

March 3-5, 2017 Savannah International Trade & Convention Center

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Friday: Noon - 6pm • Saturday: 10am - 6pm • Sunday: 11am - 5pm

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1/17/17 1:31 PM

NORTH CAROLINA

ATLANTA FLY FISHING

CASTING DISTANCE POWER

W

By Tobin Strickland • Photo Courtesy of Lews Reels

SHOW IS FEB. 3-4

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.

AND REEL SETTINGS

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.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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1/17/17 1:03 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

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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

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TIDEWATER AND THE OUTER BANKS JIM’S BEER-STEAMED CHICKEN WINGS

By Jim Baugh

February 2017

CATCHIN’ AND COOKIN’ TIME TO BUY BOATS, EAT WINGS & WATCH JBOTV

I

ts boat show season and here in the Mid Atlantic we kicked off the season with a huge winter blizzard dropping a foot of snow right on top of the Chesapeake Bay. Yes, we were snowed in but fortunately had lots of footage to edit from our 2016 filming season which is one of our best yet!

Technology sure has changed things a lot over the years including television and the television business. Ove the last thirty years Jim Baugh Outdoors has broadcast on too many stations to mention all here. Some of the long running broadcast has been on The Family Channel, the Outdoor Channel, the Sportsman Channel, and the past several years on NBC Sports.

This does not include the myriad of broadcast affiliates we have broadcast on throughout the Mid Atlantic and South East.

We continue to syndicate through regional and national outlets. One thing that for me has brought great joy is our on line channel on You Tube for two important reasons: First, now our programs can be seen worldwide in HD 24\7 free of charge to anyone at any time. Second, we have been able over the last two years to re-edit programs over our thirty year span and upload them to our You Tube Channel.

Without out our online distribution, there simply is no way it would be possible for viewers to view our popular archives. JBOTV is very unique in doing this because it takes a great deal of time and expense to get these programs remastered and available on line, plus our shows span close to 30 years.

The interesting thing is that our #1 playlist on our channel is our archives. Viewers log on and check out what’s new, then head for the archives to see some of the features we have filmed since 1988.

Enter the link below in your browser or just search on you tube Jim Baugh Outdoors and look for a pic of Jim and Donna and it will take you to our channel https://www.youtube.com/c/ JimBaughOutdoors We will continue to put all sorts of expanded features on our channel and many of which are not available on our broadcast so stay tuned and check in often! We will have some interesting insights and reviews regarding the February boat shows coming up in March.

• Cheap Beer • Cheap Chicken Wings • Cheap Butter, unsalted • Your favorite hot sauce for wings Wings are my favorite and February is certainly a good time to enjoy these hot tasty delights. I had seen online the idea of par boiling or pre-steaming wings before frying to make them super crunchy. This I had to try and I am sure glad I did.

So since this was going to be a two stage process, then why not add an additional flavor profile. Beer! Yes I used cheap skunk light beer to steam the wings for about 12 minutes.

Next, pat dry the wings and place in the fridge until they have completely cooled. Next re-pat dry the wings then fry in a deep fryer or cast iron skillet until very brown. Finish the wings by tossing in your favorite sauces.

These no doubt are the best

wings I have ever had and I have had enough wings to disable about a million chickens. The only thing to consider is that this does add about an hour to the overall preparation.

That extra hour just build into the party time and your good to go.

A note on sauce, for traditional I use Franks Red Hot with butter and a dash of vinegar. For Asian style I use a mix of soy, fresh ginger, sesame oil, and garlic. For southern wings I simply season with salt pepper and a dash of bam spice. All wings are always cooked naked, never floured.

Remember my favorite saying from Top Gun I always tell my wife Donna “Ms 11”… “Never leave your wing man!”

Jim Baugh Jimbaugh.net Jim Baugh Outdoors TV

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Virginia Beach SPORTFISHING RUNDOWN

By Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach

F

ebruary is always a challenging month for anglers due to unpredictable winter weather conditions. But anglers are also facing slim fishing prospects right now, which is a disturbing trend for the sport.

With seasonal closures, less that optimal availability of fishing opportunities, and even more fisheries management regulations up for consideration, folks are becoming disheartened. Hopes are high that the spring fishing season will bring better days.

As water temperatures plummet and with a limited selection of species to target inshore, most anglers will head to offshore wrecks in search of tautog during rare weather windows.

Most boats will target mid-range wrecks, such as the Triangle Wreck area. Some decent fish weighing to over 15-pounds are commonly encountered from these areas this month. Be prepared to weed through some jumbo seabass to obtain your limit of three togs per person at 16-inches, but be sure to release the seabass since they are out of season right now. With tog bait hard to come by, plan ahead to secure your bait. Clams, mussels, blue crabs, peelers, hermit crabs, green crabs, Jonah crabs, or stone crabs will work.

If the big rockfish follow the same pattern as recent years, schools of fish will continue to roam 15 to 20 miles off the coast for the winter, well out of reach of boats. Targeting striped bass for any reason past the 3-mile demarcation line is illegal, including for catch and release activity. The coastal regulations for striped bass allow for one fish per person at 28-inches or larger. These fish will begin heading back into the Chesapeake Bay to spawn soon, where anglers may intercept them for catch and release activity in bay waters, but most folks will show little interest.

Speckled trout is usually a mainstay during the winter months for anglers willing to brave the elements. Although the trout fishery has improved over the past two years, it will likely never again attain world class status due to the devastating blow to the famous Hot Ditch stock in the Elizabeth River.

Anglers will continue to target specks in the usual backwater haunts, with

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Rudee, Lynnhaven, and Little Creek providing decent action with keeper-sized fish. With the cold water this time of year, a very slow retrieve is the key to enticing strikes. Regulations allow up to five speckled trout per angler measuring a minimum of 14-inches, with one of the fish allowed to be larger than 24-inches. Puppy drum and school-sized striped bass are also a possibility in these same areas.

Another species that has not shown the potential of years’ past is the elusive Bluefin tuna.

Each winter, these giants migrate southward to spend the winter off the Carolinas. During this journey, it has not uncommon for schools of big tuna to follow bait in close to the coastal areas off Virginia, often mixing among the schools of rockfish, well within reach of recreational boats. Bluefin tuna encounters off Virginia can be swift, or they can last a few weeks. It has been a few years since these highly regulated pelagic fish have made a showing along our coastline, but boats will continue to search for them with high hopes. By February, it is likely these fish have already debuted in their winter haunts off North Carolina, likely making headlines on the popular television series, “Wicked Tuna.”

Deep dropping can be good this time of year when the weather allows boats to get to deeper water. Nice blueline tilefish are still the staple species along the 50-fathom curve, with plenty of fish available weighing in over the 10-pound minimum for a Virginia state citation. Deeper areas along the Canyon edges will offer blackbellied rosefish and scattered golden tilefish. A variety of grouper and barrelfish are also a possibility, but dog fish make fishing for these deep-water species a challenge this time of year. A by-catch of black seabass is a given in these areas, but they are illegal to keep. Be sure to watch for changes in the regulations for deep water species, as restrictions are currently under consideration.

Dr. Julie Ball IGFA Representative,Virginia Beach For more information, go to www.drjball.com

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One fish that I haven’t been able to fish for over the last couple of years is the striped bass or rockfish. I learned to catch rockfish when I was 5 years old in the Pasquotank River and Albemarle Sound. I later graduated to catching rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean off of Virginia Beach. Then in 2011 the rockfish made their way all the way down to Oregon Inlet and I really got the opportunity to fish for them on a weekly basis. However over the last few years, the rockfish have not been showing up at Cape Henry or off the coast of the OBX. Several factors for rockfish not appearing near shore off the coasts are weather, water temperatures, lack of bait near shore, and migration patterns.

Regardless of why they have not shown up the last couple of years, I know that it has left a large gap in my fishing plans. For years I knew I could look forward to days on the water in December and January fishing for these trophy fish.

One of my favorite ways to fish for Rockfish is live baiting them with eels. When we fish for rockfish using eels, one of my favorite places to go is the Chesapeake Bay. This type of fishing usually heats up between November and December. Generally the harvesting of rockfish within the Chesapeake Bay stops at midnight on December 31st of the year and after that it is a catch and release fishery only. After several years of not fishing for rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay, I decided I was going to go and give it a try regardless of the fishing reports or weather. So on the day after Christmas this past year, my Dad and I hooked up our Parker Center Console and make the trek from Camden, NC to Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore. We left early in the morning and we were waiting for the folks at Oceans East on Northampton Blvd. to open so we could buy some eels. While we were getting the eels, I also bought two Trophy Stalker Planer Boards to try in addition to my usual tactics.

We arrived at Cape Charles and launched the boat and headed out to the fishing grounds. On this trip, since I was using planer boards, I had to bump the motor in and out of gear. Bumping the boat in and out of gear kept my lines straight behind the boat. I was running a seven rod spread with live eels on corks set at different depths and one weighted down close to the bottom. I fished from early morning until I got my first and only bite of the day. After a short fight, I was rewarded with a 43.5 pound rockfish. It had been a few years since I have landed one of these wonderful fish, and I look forward to my next trip out looking for them.

Checkout my Facebook page Jakes Outdoor Adventures.

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FUELING UP: On the Water or In Town, Tips for Safe and Convenient Filling For safety and environmentally conscious boaters, there’s always the question of filling up: where to do it? If your home waters have lakeside filling marinas, this is the easiest and safest choice. Most marinas keep a careful eye on filling operations, keeping spillage to a minimum.

COST-BENEFIT Marina gas is more expensive than fuel bought in town or out on the highway. Cost savings can be substantial. There are other potential benefits too; here are some pros and cons of both: • Service stations typically sell a lot more gas than marinas. So what, you say? So, their fuel gets refreshed much more frequently, leaving less chance for water/condensation contamination and time-diminished octane (“going stale”).

• If your boat requires premium fuel, it’s possible that the high-volume stations will have higher-octane fuel than most marinas.

• Be especially mindful of ethanol-enriched fuel. E-10 fuel (10% alcohol content) is standard at filling stations in town or on the lake. However, many marinas (and possibly service stations located near waterways) stock non-ethanol fuel, as they’re mindful of the damage that the alcohol can wreak on boat fuel systems.

Non-ethanol fuel is always better for a boat than E-10 fuel, so despite the increased pump cost per gallon, it pays dividends in the long run due to reduced potential for service problems.

FUELING FROM YOUR DOCK If you’re lucky enough to live on the water, it may seem attractive to fuel your boat from your dock, considering the savings---especially if you put a lot of hours per season on your boat.

However, there are potential hurdles to consider: • Some waterways prohibit boat owners from fueling their own boats from their own docks, for fear of spillage. Sounds crazy, but it’s true; check your local regulations.

• You’ll need a large container to make the hassle of buying and transporting the fuel worthwhile; a few 5-gallon cans will soon prove to be more hassle than convenience. There are several options. Large-capacity, wheeled tanks with built in manual or electric pumps are readily available, but they’re relatively expensive and must be stored and used cautiously (http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarket/ fuel_storage_tanks/wheeled_transport_tanks/), (http://www.plastic-mart. com/category/354/fuel-tanks).

• A simple siphon hose such as the Turbo Siphon (http://www. turbosiphon.com/) can make transferring fuel from a portable can to your boat cleaner and safer.

However you do it, be especially mindful of the potential for environmental damage and real danger should you spill fuel into the water. Take extra precautions; use a large-mouth filtered funnel that fits securely into your boat’s fuel filler neck. Have someone help you and be a second set of eyes and hands.

Watch for rough water approaching your dock and boat, which could cause a spill. These are all good precautions to heed whether you fill up at the marina or at your home dock.

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OFF SEASON MAINTENANCE

By Mike Buss

The weather hasn’t cooperated so far this year to allow much in the way of local fishing opportunities. Since we can’t get out now, it might be a good time for some gear maintenance.

Many of us give our rods and reels a quick rinse with the garden hose after each trip, but this doesn’t get all of the salt off. If you look at the instructions that came with your reel, you will probably see something that says after each day of saltwater exposure you should do the following: separate the spool from the reel frame, loosen the drag all the way, soak for 20 minutes in warm clear water, manipulate the spool release and drag knob several times during the soaking to dislodge any salt or debris, flush under running water to force out loosened particles, and then allow to air dry before putting together and storing.

Your rods should get the same type of treatment. First find something that can hold your rods and still cover them with water. My bathtub fits this bill perfectly. Fill the bathtub with warm clear water and then let your rods soak for at least 20 minutes. Take them out and use an old toothbrush to clean the guides to remove any salt or grime. Put them aside to dry thoroughly before putting them away.

If you tie your own flies, now might be a good time to take inventory and replace those that were lost on the wrecks, pilings,

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bottom, weeds, and maybe even a large fish. Or maybe you came across a good pattern in a magazine or fishing show and think it might be just the ticket for you to increase your catch this year.

If you do a lot of wading like me, you may need to get out your waders and clean them off. Get some renew and renew the waterproofing on your favorite fishing jacket. Or how about sitting in front of the tv with a hook sharpener and go through and sharpen the hooks on all of your flies.

Now would also be a good time to check all of your lines for nicks or small cuts and repair or replace them.

As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to get ready for the next season. Like I said last month, one of the most overlooked things is to review your logbook to see when and where you went out, what worked or didn’t work, what tides seemed to be best, and any other hints you might get to make this year more productive.

Another thing to consider is to work real hard on the “Honey, do it now” list to build up some brownie points for the coming season to make it easier to get out when the fish finally show!

By putting this offseason to some productive use, you should give yourself a better shot at having a great fishing year.

Thanks and tight lines

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OBX INSHORE FISHING

By Aaron Kelly Knot gonna lie about the fishing (is that a pun and an oxymoron?), but fishing has been tough. There are rewards for those willing to brave the cold! Fished couple of days ago and hooked a big thresher shark but pulled the hook after a few minutes. Did find a chance encounter with some big blues in the 17lb range off an inshore wreck. We landed seven of those on jigs.

Strips of squid could produce dog sharks and clear nosed skates. No ocean stripers of late. The Mann’s Harbor reports have been sparse.

Not sure if it’s an indication of slow fishing, everyone duck hunting, or both. Last few trips around Oregon Inlet area were slow, getting one to three bites per half-day trip. We have been getting togs and seabass. The seabass have to go back overboard right now since the season is closed. The puppy drum are biting at times along the jetty and beaches. That always surprises me. But, with the weather and water acting crazy, I guess it really shouldn’t. The inland blackwater creeks have been producing little stripers, trout, and reds on little jigs! Fun stuff on a light action rod! So enjoy a warm winter day get outside and wet a line!

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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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WIN EB. 14 th

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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

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.

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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

44 TOURNAMENT WINS

TROLLS 6-10 OR UP TO 20 KNOTS — NO WEIGHTS NEEDED

RIGGED N’ READY!

“TOP GUN” SALTWATER TROLLING LURES

714-545 0196

FREE SHIPPING!

6-pak Special $69.00 w/ FREE Case

www.BALLYHOOD.com

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

WWW.YACHTPAINT.COM

www.power-pole.com

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LIMIT 800-4 purch Offer prese

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LIMIT 800-4 purch Offer prese

Cus

LIMIT 800-4 purch Offer prese

100 SW TR

ITEM 410

SU

$

$

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hft_coa

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $149

4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNING WATTS 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS GENERATORS ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY

212 CC 70 dB ENGINE SUPER QUIET LOW OIL SHUTDOWN

$

SUPER COUPON

$28999

339$43999 comp at

Wheel kit sold separately.

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 69606/61173 68099 shown

SUPER COUPON

$3999

SAVE $130

$

Customer Rating comp at

49

99

$169.99

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

20% OFF

SUPER COUPON

$9

99

$

99 19 $34.95

2.5 HP, 21 GALLON, 125 PSI VERTICAL AIR COMPRESSOR

2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH WITH WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL SUPER COUPON

ITEM 69091/61454 61693/62803 67847 shown

ITEM 61258 shown 61840/61297 68146/63476

Customer Rating

SAVE $296

$

$5499

Customer Rating

LIMIT 6 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER

ITEM 69474/62861 60626 shown

SUPER COUPON

SAVE 51%

$2999

$

99 $62.27

39

1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK ITEM 69780 41005 shown

SUPER COUPON

$1 999

$

2499

44", 13 DRAWER INDUSTRIAL QUALITY ROLLER CABINET

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

SAVE 49% comp at

$39.94

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

NAT_0217.indd 33 hft_coastalangler_0217_M-REG100629 R1.indd 1

SAVE $65

8999 comp at

$119.99

$149

comp at

Customer Rating ITEM 69387 62744/63271 68784 shown

SUPER COUPON

9 9 $17999

• Weighs 245 lbs.

$349

99

$446.61

$ LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

379

SAVE $330

comp at 99 $679.99

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES SAVE PACK OF 100

Customer Rating • 5 mil

thickness

Item 68498 shown

62%

YOUR CHOICE

$5

99

SIZE MED LG X-LG

7

ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359

$ 99

Customer Rating

Includes hook, mirror, magnet accessories, and video-out cable.

2.4" COLOR LCD DIGITAL INSPECTION CAMERA ITEM 61839 62359 shown

Customer Rating

$15.99

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $135 $ 99

79

comp at

LIMIT 6 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

94

$

SUPER COUPON

$84

99

11999 $179

comp at

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

700+ Stores Nationwide

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

SAVE 66%

$599 $899

Customer Rating

$

comp at

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

Customer Rating

ITEM 63056/63057/60405/63094 63150/61524/62322/90984 shown

$205.75

SUPER COUPON

$

SAVE 77%

$6999

10" SLIDING COMPOUND 72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET MITER SAW ITEM 69505/62418/66537 shown SAVE ITEM 61971 61972 98199 shown

SUPER COUPON 4 PIECE 1" x 15 FT. RATCHETING TIE DOWNS

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

comp at

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

VALUE

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

ITEM 63100

4

$ 97

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

12 VOLT MAGNETIC TOWING LIGHT KIT

SAVE 71%

ANY PURCHASE 3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT NINE LED ALUMINUM FLASHLIGHT

WITH

ITEM 69111 62522/62573 69052 shown

Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, StormCat, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/17.

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating

FREE

ANY SINGLE ITEM

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

1/2" ELECTRIC IMPACT WRENCH

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

$8499

LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

$34.95

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating Weighs 73 lbs.

185 99 $

20"

94 $269.99

comp at

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

Offer good while supplie 6/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per presented. Valid through

• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

11

® RAPID PUMP 3 TON LOW PROFILE HEAVY DUTY STEEL • FLOOR JACK SAVE

SUPER COUPON

comp at

99 $7 99

LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

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

ITEM 61282 shown $ 61253/62326

$17.97

SUPER COUPON

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location.

No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

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PENNFISHING.COM

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,

COMMON CVRS_0217.indd 3

and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.

1/16/17 3:39 PM

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